8 in the summer of 1980. Over the course of its 11-year run, the series was almost always one of the most-watched on television. [8] However, the ratings sank below the top 30, and The Jeffersons aired its last episode, "Red Robins", on July 2, 1985.[28]. The idea of the Jeffersons "moving on up" came after three members of the Black Panthers who were fans of Lear's productions visited Lear's CBS office, raising issues with the creator over the portrayal of Black people on television, including his "Maude" spin-off series "Good Times." Florence and Elena suspect that a ghost is roaming the building, and Florence decides to spend the night alone in a room to prove that it's not haunted. Russell) who dated the girl down the block (Maura Tierney). "HONKY IN THE HOUSE Writing & Producing The Jeffersons," Antler Publishing, LA, CA, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 18:06. 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. This CBS spin-off of "All in the Family" featured an African-American couple, George and Louise, who rose from their humble beginnings and moved into an expensive high rise. The character of George Jefferson was conceived of as a mirror image in some ways of Archie Bunker. More importantly, as one of the writers on the show, Jay Moriarty, told The Hollywood Times, Archie Bunker's bigotry is "pure prejudice" while George Jefferson's bigotry is a reaction to that prejudice. The Black experience wasn't portrayed muchor at allon television prior to the 1970s. You might think this classic situation comedy is a relic of the 1970s, and in some ways you'd be right. It was funny and entertaining. So when he flubbed lines during episode tapings, it's safe to assume it wasn't due to nerves or incompetenceas reported by Fame10, it was a form of passive resistance. [1][4], The show focuses on George and Louise Jefferson, a prosperous African-American couple who have been able to move from Queens to Manhattan owing to the success of George's dry-cleaning chain, Jefferson Cleaners. WebSpun-off from The Jeffersons (1975) This spin-off of The Jeffersons came out about 8 years before Marla Gibbs' second series, "227." Checking In lasted only four episodes, after which Florence returned to The Jeffersons with the story that the hotel had burned down in a fire. Here are the shows that make up the Archie Bunker Extended Universe a.k.a. Arthur was the only actor seen for the entire half-hour. I remember watching Checking In in the early 80s and even remember the theme song. 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. I remember watching Checking In in the early 80s and even remember the theme song. Lear said Good Times (created by Mike Evans and Eric Monte) was the first full Black family on television, meaning two parents and more than one kid. The series began after a backdoor pilot on Archie Bunker's Placecalled "Gloria: The First Day." 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. George Jefferson was, in some ways, a black version of the white anti-hero Archie Bunker. As of 2022[update], the members still alive from the main cast include Marla Gibbs, Berlinda Tolbert, and Damon Evans. 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. For further instructions click the link below to your TV model. Mike Evans would leave The Jeffersons to work behind the camera for another show in the All in the Family family tree Good Times. The Jeffersons (19751984 253 episodes plus pilot on All In The Family) Unlike Arthur and Rolle, who were spun-off quickly, the Jeffersons were on All In The Family for five seasons before they got their own show. All In The Family(19711979 205 episodes plus two un-aired pilots). Many spinoffs tend to set themselves up for comparison by using the same location as the original show. Archie Bunker's Place extended Archie's role to over twelve years on television. 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. Florence was only supposed to be a bit part, but audiences loved her, and the character of Florence was promoted to full-time status. On one level, The Jeffersons is just a silly sitcom, and George Jefferson is a very silly character, prone to foolish schemes (like buying a piano he doesn't know how to play only to discover there's no way to fit it through his front door) and loud, boorish outbursts. As Smithsonian Magazine notes, when Diahann Carroll debuted in 1968's Julia, portraying a Black woman working as a nurse and raising her son as a widow, it was controversial because it avoided any reference to the racial politics of the time and presented what many felt was a "white" character simply played by a Black actress. 4. 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. This show wasnt very successful, however. The Jeffersons avoided that by making the titular characters move to a different neighborhood. WebSynopsis. [6][20][21] Cully, who had first appeared in the 1974 All in the Family episode "Lionel's Engagement", reprised her role. It was her breakout role; as noted by The History Makers, Gibbs had started taking acting classes when her job with United Airlines transferred her from Detroit to Los Angeles, but prior to being cast as Florence the actress had only appeared in a handful of theater roles and one film, 1973's Sweet Jesus, Preacher Man. 1. Checking In was the first All in the Family spin-off series that was not successful, unlike The Jeffersons, Maude and Maude spin-off Good Times. Gloria Bunker Stivic became a single mom after Mike left her, so she got a job in a veterinary office. 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Other failed spin-off attempts were Gloria in the 1982-1983 season and 704 Hauser in 1994. With Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover. Before we go any further, a few words about math. As a result, the series remained among the Top 20 for the next two seasons. A top 20 show for most of its 11 seasons, The Jeffersons was canceled abruptly without an official series finale. [1] The Jeffersons is one of the longest-running sitcoms in history,[2] the second-longest-running series with a primarily African American cast by episode count behind Tyler Perry's House of Payne[1][3] and the first to prominently feature a married interracial couple. The series also featured Danielle Brisebois as Stephanie, the young daughter of Ediths step-cousin who had moved in with the Bunkers in the final season of AITF. Brisebois had been a hit in Broadways Annie. (She later became an Oscar-nominated songwriter.). The Jeffersons ended in controversy after CBS abruptly canceled the series without allowing for a proper series finale. [26] She appeared regularly in the first two seasons, but made sporadic appearances over the next two years, much thinner due to a severe case of pneumonia. And issues like these were also almost never addressed on televisionuntil The Jeffersons came along. Television historians know that while the character of George Jefferson was introduced on All in the Family in 1971, he didn't actually show up on screen until 1973. See Amos in the episodeA Visit From Lena Horne(January 12, 1973) and DuBois inSanford And Son And Sister Makes Three(December 1, 1972). ", was added as a bonus feature on The Jeffersons: The Complete Series 33-disc DVD set issued by Shout! Variety said it underscored that sitcoms this year are treading more realistic areas than the dramatic series., Also in the second season, Maude decided to have an abortion. According to The Washington Post, she'd been working for United Airlines for 11 years when she got the job on The Jeffersonsand she kept working there for two more years, not wanting to give up a good job for an acting role that might disappear at any moment. 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. a disclaimer before the first episode said. In the 1984-85 season, CBS aired a forgotten comedy called E/R, starring Elliot Gould. A spin-off of All in the Family. Sherman Hemsley even appeared in the premiere. Fame10 notes that executives worried depicting an interracial kiss would lead to violenceand, worse, to affiliate stations dropping the show. 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. WebThe Jeffersons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through June 25, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. The show was a spinoff from "All in the Family." Gibbs says that she worked out an adjusted schedule with United that allowed her enough time to film her scenes and then race into work, where she worked the phones in their reservations office. Checking In premiered on CBS on April 9, 1981, and lasted for only four episodes in the Thursday, 8:00p.m. EST timeslot. It's remarkable that seven shows followed All in the Family and belong to its universe. Checking In lasted only four episodes, after which Florence returned to The Jeffersons with the story that the hotel had burned down in a fire. DuBois wanted to do more than just act, and when she approached Lear about branching out he suggested she write the theme song for his new show. 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. Portrayed by Mel Stewart, Henry got the lines and screen time that would have gone to George. Archie and Edith travel up to wealthy Tuckahoe, New York for the wedding of Maudes daughter Carol (played in this episode byMarcia Roddand in the series byAdrienne Barbeau). Florence Johnston (Marla Gibbs) worked for the Jefferson family on their show, but Checking In focused on her life as the executive housekeeper of the St. Frederick Hotel in New York City. It only Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. As with Maude and Good Times , the main character of the new series was a maid on her previous series. Hes mellowed. During the January 11, 1975 episode of All in the Family, titled "The Jeffersons Move Up", Edith Bunker gave a tearful good-bye to her neighbor Louise Jefferson as her husband George, their son Lionel, and she moved from a working-class section of Queens, New York, into the luxurious Colby East, a fictitious high-rise apartment complex on East 63rd Street in Manhattan. More than 20 years after AITF, Lear created 704 Hauser, the address of the Bunkers former house, again inhabited by two battling generations. Almost as well known, but less controversial was the Nov. 10, 1975, episode of Maude talking to her psychiatrist. Jefferson has plenty of reason to distrust white people and the power structures they use to oppress him. [45], The Jeffersons received 14 Emmy Award nominations during its time on the air. As noted by MeTV, Barry is something of a legendhe co-wrote (with his wife, Ellie Greenwich) a long list of classic songs, including "Da Doo Ron Ron," "Then He Kissed Me," "Be My Baby," "River DeepMountain High," and "Leader of the Pack.". Arthur was the only actor seen for the entire half-hour. Russell) the conservative. As discussed by critic Robert E. Crafton, an insurance settlement allowed George to quit his job and launch his first dry-cleaning business, which in turn allowed the Jeffersons to move from Harlem to Queens (becoming Archie Bunker's neighbors in the process), and finally to make the move to Manhattan. Ralph was also known for making up stories of him struggling to fulfill the Jeffersons request to get more tips. Stapleton expressed a desire to distance herself from the role of Edith.
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