It was a sort-of spin-off of The Jeffersons, as it featured Lynne Moody as Nurse Julie Williams, the niece of George and Louis Jefferson. The show was produced by the T.A.T. In his autobiography, Even This I Get to Experience, Lear wrote that a relatively small group of agitators, especially when convinced God is on their side, can move corporate America to quake with fear and make decisions in total disregard of the Constitution.. All In The Family(19711979 205 episodes plus two un-aired pilots). [41], On August 8, 2014, it was announced that Shout! In the seventh-season finale episode of The Jeffersons, "Florence's New Job", the Jeffersons' maid, Florence Johnston (Marla Gibbs), accepted a job to become the executive housekeeper at the fictional St. Frederick Hotel in New York City. Danny Wells played Charlie, the owner and a bartender of a nearby bar to the Jeffersons apartment building. You might think this classic situation comedy is a relic of the 1970s, and in some ways you'd be right. Over the course of its 11-year run, the series was almost always one of the most-watched on television. As noted by The New York Times, the ostensible reason given was that he was uncomfortable walking into a white man's house, setting up the character as a foil for Archie Bunker's racism. This was perceived as an act of deep disrespect by many of the cast members, and it also meant that one of the most successful and longest-running comedies of all time didn't get to have a proper series finale. But we dont have those fights on704 Hauser. Actor Franklin Cover, who played Tom Willis, also heard about the cancellation while watching Entertainment Tonight. While Florida's husband onMaudewas a firefighter named Henry (John Amos), her husband onGood Timeswas James, a hard worker often taking on multiple jobs to support the family. To make matters worse, when the show finally debuted on CBS, it was largely ignored by the public. The third episode, "Whose Side Are You On? The Jeffersons had many two-part episodes, either over two consecutive weeks, or aired as an hour-long episode. ), Dueling Detectives: Kojak and Jim Rockford, getTV talks CASEY JONES and 1950s Westerns An Interview with Toby Roan, 10 Times Farrah Fawcett Was an Undercover Angel on CHARLIES ANGELS, 10 Times HART TO HART Was Relationship Goals, TV Like It Used To Be A Guide to Crimetime on getTV, Christmas with the Evans Family Holiday Episodes of GOOD TIMES, Christmas on getTV 10 Holiday Highlights, Alfonso Ribeiro: 10 Facts About the Star of CATCH 21. Faced with low ratings, the series was cancelled, and the final episode aired on April 30, 1981. Dont miss on getTV:TwoAll In The Familyepisodes set up the circumstances ofGloria:The Stivics Go West(March 19, 1978) where Mike takes a job as a teacher andCalifornia, Here We Are(December 17, 1978) where Mike and Gloria separate (but reconcile). released season 7 on DVD in Region 1. It was a sort-of spin-off of The Jeffersons, as it featured Lynne Moody as Nurse Julie Williams, the niece of George and Louis Jefferson. [38] The show's ratings for the following two seasons placed it in the Top 30, but during the 197778 and 197879 seasons (the show's fourth and fifth seasons), it fell out of the top 30, ranking 52nd in Season 4 and 49th in Season 5. But whatHappy Daysdidnt have were spin-offs of spin-offs. They complained that shows featuring Black casts always portrayed Black people as poor, reinforcing some stereotypes even as they undermined others. Communications Company from 19751982 and by Embassy Television from 19821985. ", "The Jeffersons 'The Complete 8th Season' Getting a DVD Release this Summer", "Isabel Sanford, Emmy-Winning Actress Who Created "Weezie" Jefferson on TV and Stage, Dead at 86", "See the star-studded 'All in the Family/The Jeffersons' live cast get into character", The Interviews: An Oral History of Television, Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons, The 200th Episode Celebration of All in the Family, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Jeffersons&oldid=1141363779, Television series by Sony Pictures Television, All articles with bare URLs for citations, Articles with bare URLs for citations from March 2022, Articles with PDF format bare URLs for citations, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2022, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles needing additional references from January 2017, All articles needing additional references, Articles with MusicBrainz work identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Ebonie Smith as Jessica Jefferson (season 11), Moriarty, Jay (2020). Lear created this series, which had an inventive concept: an African-American family moves into the house formerly occupied by Archie Bunker. Archie was used as a device for commentary on important social issues in the 1970s. Lear called the704 Hausercharacters "responsible" and explained they knew what they were talking about in arguments. WebThis spinoff from "All in the Family" is about literal upward mobility - African- American couple George and Louise Jefferson move into a swanky high-rise building. 10 Iconic Black TV Shows That Defined The Culture, Another interesting connection of the sitcom universe, Lionel is the first Jefferson to be seen on. It was funny and entertaining. In the 1996 series finale of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, the Jeffersons made a guest appearance as the buyers of the Banks family house. All In The Familydirectly spun off five situation comedies between 1972 and 1994. Lionel is introduced in the pilot, and is a core cast member for season one. I would like to see this forgotten TV show resurrected on TV Land or Nick at Night, or maybe a special DVD release. But just because Lear could push those characters and storylines onto the screen didn't mean everyone was happy about it. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. I remember watching Checking In in the early 80s and even remember the theme song. Back in 1975, issues like these were much more shockingas noted by The Hollywood Times, interracial marriage had only become legal throughout the country in 1967! They were saying, essentially, We wont have anything to do with this show.. [16], Louise Jefferson, played by Isabel Sanford, first appeared in the All in the Family episode "Lionel Moves Into the Neighborhood", which was broadcast on March 2, 1971. [22] One episode featured George requesting Florence to insult him, in order to get to a prospective business partner who was fond of her wisecracks. WebThe Jeffersons had one spin-off, titled Checking In. 3). Most television is ephemeral. The Jeffersons ended up lasting 11 seasons, beating All In The Family's 9 seasons. Roxie Roker was asked during a casting interview if she'd be comfortable with her character having a white husband. Similar to its parent sitcom, All in the Family, the Jeffersons explored controversial issues such as alcoholism, racism, suicide, being transgender, and much more, certainly making it one of the most importantsitcoms of all time. Sitcom following a successful African-American couple, George and Louise Weezy Jefferson as they move on up from working-class Queens to a ritzy Manhattan apartment. As noted by Ebony, while it's easy to view George Jefferson as a "Black Archie Bunker," that's not accurate. As reported by New Ravel, network executives weren't happy about taking things that far, and pressured the producers to remove the scene. The show was produced by the T.A.T. Florence is caught between Lyle and Elena when they have an argument, but she won't take anyone's side. In the 1984-85 season, CBS aired a forgotten comedy called E/R, starring Elliot Gould. The sitcom was about the black family who had lived next door to the Bunkers, but Good Times was partly responsible. [14] In season 5 episode 17 of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, titled "Will Is from Mars" (1995), the Jeffersons made a guest appearance as a couple in therapy class. [8] However, the ratings sank below the top 30, and The Jeffersons aired its last episode, "Red Robins", on July 2, 1985.[28]. The series gave John Amos and Norman Lear another chance to work together after tensions on set led Amos to leaveGood Times. He used that power to push the envelope, depicting the first transgender character in a situation comedy and the first recurring interracial marriage. As noted by Ebony, many of the actors working on The Jeffersons were serious artists with a lot of training. This show wasnt very successful, however. [23] Bentley also had a bad back, and frequently needed George to walk on it. Before the 1970s, there hadn't been any TV shows with majority Black casts in decades, and the Black characters that did appear on television were usually not particularly grounded in reality. The characters of Lionel and Jenny were written out by stating that they had marital problems, the result of which became a two-part episode storyline as the series' eighth-season premiere. [5][7] The Jeffersons eventually evolved into more of a traditional sitcom, but episodes occasionally focused on serious issues such as alcoholism, racism, suicide, gun control, being transgender, the KKK, and adult illiteracy. George Jefferson was, in some ways, a black version of the white anti-hero Archie Bunker. The series is bookended in a very creative way. [11] The cancellation of The Jeffersons cleared the way for Marla Gibbs, who played Florence Johnston on the series, to move on to the NBC sitcom 227 in the fall of 1985, a year earlier than scheduled. Florence misunderstands and thinks an elderly salesman is coming on to her, but he's really trying to make a sales pitch. And the series (which co-starred Oscar nomineeBurgess Meredithas a vet) didnt do much to win anybody over. George was introduced in the episode "Henry's Farewell", and Hemsley and Stewart share their only scene together in its final minutes. The actors found out through the media reports or when friends contacted them to ask about it. The pilot even has the series signature catchphrase, God will get you for that, Walter, which Maude uses to express her displeasure with husband Walter (Bill Macy), owner of an appliance shop. Shows like Sanford and Son and Good Times had all-Black main casts and made an attempt to depict Black American life more realistically. Even before All in the Familyended, Stapleton expressed a desire to distance herself from the role of Edith. Archie mentions a friend from the old neighborhood named Cumberbatch. As New Ravel notes, when his requests for change were ignored he began deliberately flubbing his lines or saying the offensive words too low for the microphones to pick up, forcing the producers to reshoot scenes again and again. Often, people calling in to book flights would tell her that her voice sounded familiar, and she'd just laugh it off. Amoscontinued in the role of James until the character's death. Mike Evans would leave The Jeffersons to work behind the camera for another show in the All in the Family family tree Good Times. But as Ebony writes, this was a deliberate calibration by the show's creators to make the show and the character of George Jefferson more palatable to audiences not quite ready to accept Blacks as their equals. Arthur was such a hit as Maude that Lear developed a series for her, with the second season finale ofAll In The Familyacting as the backdoor pilot for the spinoff. The series was created byMike MilliganandJim Moriarity, both longtime writer/producers onThe Jeffersons. 8 in the summer of 1980. Many great shows and movies turn 50 years old in 2021, andAll in the Familyis one of the most iconic. It only getTV is a trademark of CPT Holdings, Inc. 2023 CPE US Networks III Inc. All rights reserved. Which makes it curious that its network, CBS, treated it as if the show was in trouble. A top 20 show for most of its 11 seasons, The Jeffersons was canceled abruptly without an official series finale. Arthur was the only actor seen for the entire half-hour. WebIn 1975, George Jefferson was eager to move out of Queens. Even though it flopped,704 Hauserhas a special place in the heart of many Norman Lear fans. The Bunker-Verse! a disclaimer before the first episode said. It was a spinoff of a spinoff, centering on Maudes maid Florida (Esther Rolle) and her family. This show debuted after the wrap of All in the Family. Archie Bunker (Carroll OConnor) and his new partner Murray (Martin Balsam) run a tavern in Queens. Almost as well known, but less controversial was the Nov. 10, 1975, episode of Maude talking to her psychiatrist. Unlike Arthur and Rolle, who were spun-off quickly, the Jeffersons were onAll In The Familyfor five seasons before they got their own show. See production, box office & company info, Metromedia Square - 5746 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA. Edith and Gloria appeared occasionally at first, then Jean Stapleton wanted to make a clean break and Sally Struthers got her own show. Both men are bigoted, and both use sarcasm and insults as weapons. The character of George Jefferson was conceived of as a mirror image in some ways of Archie Bunker. 3. It took until 1975 until television finally gave Black audiences a family that looked like them and that wasn't struggling. WebThe Jeffersons: Created by Norman Lear, Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, Bernard West. Charlie was also revealed to be an alcoholic in the season 11 episode "A Secret in the Back Room", in which Charlie is in denial, but the Jeffersons eventually get him to admit to his problem and advise him to get some help. As the Atlanta Black Star notes, the Panthers told Lear that there were successful Black people in the world whose stories could be compelling and funny. She got unlimited passes from the airline. The successful series ran for six seasons and, like its predecessor, dealt with some serious issues during its day. The song was co-written by Ja'Net DuBois, who portrayed Willona on Norman Lear's other show, Good Times, and Jeff Barry. The Jeffersonsis the next spin-off to come directly fromAll in the Family. Marla Gibbs of The Jeffersons got her own sitcom as Florence, who left her job as a housekeeper to work in a hotel. Arthur was the only actor seen for the entire half-hour. It's remarkable that seven shows followed All in the Family and belong to its universe. WebFor her full interview, see http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/isabel-sanford As with Maude and Good Times , the main character of the new series was a maid on her previous series. This ill-advised spinoff featured Struthers returning as the title character, now a single mom raising her son Joey (Christian Jacobs) after Mike left her and moved to a commune with one of his students. The location is the only concrete link fromAll in the Familyto the series, but it's a strong one despite the fact that704 Hauserwas only on the air for five episodes. Web3. After a 1972 backdoor pilot onAll in the Family, Maude got a show of her own. Gloria Bunker Stivic became a single mom after Mike left her, so she got a job in a veterinary office. [46], Isabel Sanford was nominated for seven consecutive Best Actress Emmys, from 1979 until 1985. Mike Evans ("Lionel") left the show after the first season; his replacement was Damon Evans (no relation),[6] who took over the role until halfway through the fourth season. Today were heading back to Manhattan, to revisit our favorite family, The Jeffersons. The Jeffersons spawned the television show Checking In. This show followed the Jeffersons maid Florence Johnston as she worked at a hotel in Manhattan. Dont miss on getTV:Lionel Moves Into The Neighborhood(March 2, 1971) for Sanfords first appearance,Henrys Farewell(October 20, 1973) for Hemsleys debut,Lionels Engagement(February 9, 1974) for Mother Jeffersons (Zara Cully) and the Willis familys (played by different actors) first appearances, andThe Jeffersons Move Up(January 11, 1975) for the backdoor pilot. 1. RELATED:10 Iconic Black TV Shows That Defined The Culture. As progressive as it was when it came to race relations, it hedged its bets in many ways. She appeared in seven episodes in 197677, so watch any of those! [2][3] Henry played as George when Louise felt embarrassed that George did not want to be in Archie Bunker's house due to prejudice. As with Maude and Good Times , the main character of the new series was a maid on her previous series. All In The Familyfans will recognize Torres as Teresa Betancourt, the hospital worker who rents Mike And Glorias room when they move out. As noted by BET, The Jeffersons was a consistently high-rated showonly the second sitcom with a majority Black cast to land in the Top Five of the Nielsen Ratings, in fact. OConnor didnt like it either, apparently. Members of the Black Panther Party set up a meeting with Lear to discuss Good Times. Sherman Hemsley, for example, came out of the revered Negro Ensemble Company (NEC), as did Roxie Roker (Helen Willis). Until then, Lear created the character of Henry Jefferson, George's brother. In a contemporary review by The New York Daily News, in fact, a scene in which Tom and Helen Willis engage in a long, tender kiss is explicitly noted for being unusual because they are an interracial couple. By what name was Checking In (1981) officially released in Canada in English? As BET reports, it was the first TV show to directly address suicide in an episode where Florence the housekeeper falls into a depression and contemplates ending her life.