As noted by The Wall Street Journal, that backstory went back to the Jefferson family's roots in Alabama as sharecroppers, a detail that spoke volumes about George Jefferson's obsession with wealth, status, and the visual signs of both. Lear created the character of Henry Jefferson, George's younger brother, who was portrayed by Mel Stewart which replaced George with Henry in the series's scripts until Purlie finished its run. 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. Even when shows remain in the popular culture after their cancellation, they're usually relegated to a murky backwater on the cable or streaming menu. And The Jeffersons was in many ways a broad, superficial comedy that relied on racially-charged jokes and physical comedy to get laughs. That's exactly what happened withGood Times. The show's time slot, for example, changed a ridiculous 15 times over those 11 years. 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. And the series (which co-starred Oscar nomineeBurgess Meredithas a vet) didnt do much to win anybody over. You would be, too, if your neighbor was Archie Bunker. But he's actually one of the most complex characters in TV history. The series' eighth season was the first African-American sitcom in years (since Sanford and Son) to peak in the top 5 (the series' eighth season debuted at No. A top 20 show for most of its 11 seasons, The Jeffersons was canceled abruptly without an official series finale. [42][43], On April 28, 2015, Shout! The cast reunited in a stage play based on the sitcom. Maude Findlay (Bea Arthur) first appears as Edith Bunker's cousin in a 1971All in the Familyepisode called "Cousin Maude's Visit." John Amos (who played James Evans onGood Times) is the father, Ernie Cumberbatch. Rather than cast someone else, Lear decided to keep George offscreen until Hemsley was available. It was surprisingly thoughtful on issues of race and class within the confines of a broad comedy in prime time national television. The list of firsts achieved by The Jeffersons is impressive. 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. 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. In the 1984-85 season, CBS aired a forgotten comedy called E/R, starring Elliot Gould. 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. It was funny and entertaining. You would be, too, if your neighbor was Archie Bunker. A top 20 show for most of its 11 seasons, The Jeffersons was canceled abruptly without an official series finale. Your subscription to our list has been confirmed. Shows like Sanford and Son and Good Times had all-Black main casts and made an attempt to depict Black American life more realistically. As noted by Ebony, many of the actors working on The Jeffersons were serious artists with a lot of training. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. WebThe Jeffersons: Created by Norman Lear, Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, Bernard West. George's career as a dry-cleaner began in the first season of All in the Family in the third episode "Oh, My Aching Back" (though the character himself did not appear on-camera). As noted by The Baltimore Sun, many Black Americans found aspects of the showfrom George Jefferson's "pimp walk" strut to his general foolishnessto be offensive. The show was a spin-off of The Jeffersons. The misadventures of Florence Johnson, a hotel maid who was previously seen serving the Jeffersons. With Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover. Arthur was the only actor seen for the entire half-hour. The series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. The series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. 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. [3] At the beginning of The Jeffersons, he was operating five stores throughout New York City, with another two opening during the following seasons. 3. [41], On August 8, 2014, it was announced that Shout! WebThe Jeffersons had one spin-off, titled Checking In. [21], Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released the first six seasons of The Jeffersons on DVD in Region 1 between 2002 and 2007. The Bunkers and their neighbors, the Jeffersons,developed relationships with other characters, many of whom got spin-offs of their own. [7], In its first season (197475), the show ranked at number four, surpassed by its parent series All in the Family (which landed at number one for the fifth year in a row). Members of the Black Panther Party set up a meeting with Lear to discuss Good Times. In his autobiography, Lear wrote that three members of the Black Panther Party came to his office at CBS, complaining about Good Times: Every time you see a Black man on the tube, he is dirt poor, wears shit clothes, cant afford nothing. a disclaimer before the first episode said. With Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover. They live in a public housing project and struggle to get by at times. 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. Early seasons of the show used racial epithets for both Black and white characters fairly often, but as time went on Hemsley thought his character should be evolving and stop using expressions like "honky." Larry Linville(Frank Burns on MASH) plays her manager. After eight seasons, Lear thoughtAll In The Familyhad run its course, but OConnor didnt agree. With Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover. The twist was that the older generation were the liberals (with John Amos again starring, but in a different role, and Lynnie Godfrey) while their son was an arch-conservative (T.E. A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants. 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. Weve both mellowed. 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. But white audiences could feel good about being more racially sensitive and evolved than Bunker, whereas George Jefferson's upward mobility could be seen as threatening. Edith and Gloria appeared occasionally at first, then Jean Stapleton wanted to make a clean break and Sally Struthers got her own show. But the moment you read the title you heard its iconic theme song in your head, and no matter your age or background you've probably seen an episode or a dozenand maybe not that long ago. Today were heading back to Manhattan, to revisit our favorite family, The Jeffersons. The show was a spinoff from "All in the Family." Eventually this tactic worked, and the writers stopped using the offensive terms. WebSynopsis. 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. Many great shows and movies turn 50 years old in 2021, andAll in the Familyis one of the most iconic. As withMaudeandGood Times, the main character of the new series was a maid onher previousseries. The epithets nigger and honky were used occasionally, especially during the earlier seasons.[2][4]. Jefferson has plenty of reason to distrust white people and the power structures they use to oppress him. CBS was nervous,Rob Reiner(Mike aka Meathead) told PBS in 2016. Sign up for the newsletter to get the latest updates about getTV. The show was a spinoff from "All in the Family." The series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. Tolbert became a regular guest star throughout the rest of the series. 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. Maude arrives at the Bunker home to help out when the family gets hit with the flu. Five is a lot, but its not a record. [36], The Jeffersons changed time slots at least 15 different times during its 11-year run, unusual for a popular long running series. In 1975, Norman Lear was possibly the most powerful man working in television. Normally successful shows are allowed to develop in a specific time slot in order to become an anchor for the network, but for some reason The Jeffersons was moved around constantly, forcing viewers to seek it out and figure out how to re-arrange their viewing schedules to accommodate it. DuBois infused the song with her own storyCNN reports that DuBois had always dreamed of moving her mother into a "deluxe apartment" when she achieved success. In reality, Joey (born 1975) would have only been 19, but Siemaszko was 33. 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. With the series' cultural relevance and fandom, it'sno surprise All in the Family,TheJeffersons, andGood Timeswere also revived for a live performance special in 2019. The Jeffersons was notable because it depicted a Black family as upper-middle class. Florence Johnston (Marla Gibbs) worked for the Jefferson family on their show, butChecking Infocused on her life as the executive housekeeper of the St. Frederick Hotel in New York City. She reprised her role several times onArchie Bunker's Placeand then took center stage onGloria, the last series to focus on a member of the Bunker family. The character of George Jefferson was conceived of as a mirror image in some ways of Archie Bunker. Lyle throws a party at the hotel, but his high school rival (now a pro football coach) and his team decide to crash it. Checking In is an American sitcom television series and a spin-off of The Jeffersons that aired for four episodes on CBS from April 9 to April 30, 1981. [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. 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. Many spinoffs tend to set themselves up for comparison by using the same location as the original show. All In The Familyfans will recognize Torres as Teresa Betancourt, the hospital worker who rents Mike And Glorias room when they move out. The episode, the eighth of the series, centers on Louise, her son Lionel, and her husband George moving next door to Archie and Edith Bunker in the working-class section of Queens. WebChecking In is an American sitcom television series and a spin-off of The Jeffersons that aired for four episodes on CBS from April 9 to April 30, 1981. Marla Gibbs was the breakout star onThe Jeffersonsas Florence, George and Louises maid, so it made perfect sense to spin her off. 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. Florence was only supposed to be a bit part, but audiences loved her, and the character of Florence was promoted to full-time status. A national phenomenon was born. 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. He used that power to push the envelope, depicting the first transgender character in a situation comedy and the first recurring interracial marriage. 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. Evans Sally Struthers was next to get her own show as Gloria Bunker Stivic, Archie and Edith's daughter. Sanford was also the recipient of five of the eight Golden Globe Awards nominations the program received.[48]. But Gibbs knew how quickly fortunes turned in Hollywood. As groundbreaking as The Jeffersons was in terms of depicting Black America on the small screen, it still earns criticism for some of its choices. 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. A spin-off of All in the Family. 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. Unlike Arthur and Rolle, who were spun-off quickly, the Jeffersons were onAll In The Familyfor five seasons before they got their own show. Amoscontinued in the role of James until the character's death. As a result, the series remained among the Top 20 for the next two seasons. 3). [2] Lionel, played by Mike Evans, first appeared in "Meet the Bunkers", the premiere episode of All in the Family.[2]. Lesa Kite, Cindy Begel, Howard Bendetson & Bob Bendetson. For the American Horror Story episode, see, The 200th Episode Celebration of All in the Family, Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Checking_In&oldid=1126465217, 1980s American workplace comedy television series, Television series by Sony Pictures Television, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. While many of the shows connected toAll in the Familydid extraordinarily well,Checking Inonly lasted for four episodes. Groundbreaking and performed by some of the most talented actors and actresses of its time, The Jeffersons has remained a cultural touchstone for some very good reasons. The Jeffersonsis the next spin-off to come directly fromAll in the Family. Looking back on decades past, it'sremarkable how seven shows followedAll in the Familyand belong to its universe. [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. Dont miss on getTV:Both John Amos andJaNet DuBois(neighbor Willona Woods) appeared onSanford And Sonbefore they were cast onGood Times. [12] Isabel Sanford (Louise Jefferson), who heard about the cancellation through her cousin who read it in the tabloids, has publicly stated that she found the cancellation with no proper finale to be disrespectful on the network's part. Over the course of its 11-year run, the series was almost always one of the most-watched on television. Lead actors Rolle and John Amos felt a huge responsibility for that. The Jeffersons ended up lasting 11 seasons, beating All In The Family's 9 seasons. WebIn 1975, George Jefferson was eager to move out of Queens. [23] Bentley also had a bad back, and frequently needed George to walk on it. 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. All in the Family was notable for many things including the fact that it spawned seven other TV series. As with Maude and Good Times , the main character of the new series was a maid on her previous series. Archie is a working-class man who will never go beyond his working day and his easy chair in his modest house, whereas George and his family are destined to move on upand leave the Bunkers behind in a world they'll never escape. The conversation resonated with Lear, and he began to conceive of The Jeffersons as an effort to show a Black family having real economic success and living the American Dream. 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. Just fifteen months after Hemsley debuted onAll In The Family, George and Wheezy moved on up from Queens to the East Side of Manhattan. Hemsley was very experienced and took his performance very seriously. It became Tandems longest running show, with 11 seasons. Until then, Lear created the character of Henry Jefferson, George's brother. Which is why it's easy to forget that George Jefferson actually had a fascinating fictional background story that was more thoughtful than your typical sitcom fare. As with Maude and Good Times , the main character of the new series was a maid on her previous series. Everybody knows it, and you can't help but sing along. CreatorNorman Learwas just happy the Bunkers were on the air. George, Louise, and Lionel continued to appear on All in the Family until 1975, when the spin-off The Jeffersons, also created by Lear, premiered. "Jeffersons" redirects here. Archie Bunker's Placestarted out with both Archie and Edith, but Jean Stapleton left the show and was killed off shortly after the series began. [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. For further instructions click the link below to your TV model. Thats not just impressive, its historic. Edith's death in the context of the spin-offmade Archie a widow, and though he missed Edith terribly, he continued on with his pub and focused on taking care of Edith's young relative, Stephanie Mills (Danielle Brisebois).