See production, box office & company info, Metromedia Square - 5746 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA. For other uses, see, Learn how and when to remove this template message, List of awards and nominations received by The Jeffersons, "The Jeffersons: A look at life on black America's new 'Striver's Row', "Sherman Hemsley dies: Watch George Jefferson at his finest", "The Jeffersons and Happy Days and Valerie Bertinelli Bio", "Tyler Perry's House of Payne: Paying Homage to Sherman Hemsley", "Are Any of 'The Jeffersons' Cast Members Still Alive Today? I remember watching Checking In in the early 80s and even remember the theme song. [46] Her victory in 1981 made her the first African-American actress to win an Emmy for Best Actress in a Comedy Series,[1][21][47] and the second to win any Emmy Award; Gail Fisher, who played Peggy on the TV show Mannix, preceded her in 1970. As with Maude and Good Times , the main character of the new series was a maid on her previous series. 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. George Jefferson was, in some ways, a black version of the white anti-hero Archie Bunker. is Movin' On Up to a 'Season 7' Separate Release! Russell) who dated the girl down the block (Maura Tierney). Many spinoffs tend to set themselves up for comparison by using the same location as the original show. Gibbs then returned to The Jeffersons.. 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. Louise made friends with Tom and Helen Willis, an interracial couple with two adult children of their own[8] (whom George derided as "zebras"):[1][20] son Allan (played by Andrew Rubin in the first-season finale, and by Jay Hammer throughout season 5), a white-passing college drop-out; and daughter Jenny, an aspiring fashion designer. Web3. [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). [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 FAMILY 7 Spin-Offs From Archie was used as a device for commentary on important social issues in the 1970s. And in one episode when George is told a white worker should be referred to as a "custodian" he remarks that if he was black, he'd be called a "janitor.". At least stories featuring Black people were being told, and Black actors were getting significant roles on TV. Fun fact: Both Macy and Rodd played different characters onAll In The Familyjust weeks before Lear cast them onMaude. But just because Lear could push those characters and storylines onto the screen didn't mean everyone was happy about it. To make matters worse, when the show finally debuted on CBS, it was largely ignored by the public. This article is about the 1981 sitcom. 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. Gibbs then returned to her regular role on The Jeffersons and it was explained that the St. Frederick Hotel had burned down. The Jeffersons While the character was initially conceived as a Black antagonist for Bunkerclearly a racistJefferson was also conceived almost from the very beginning as being beyond Bunker. [8] 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. If you loveAll In The Familyand its iconic characters, the concept alone is problematic. 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. 8 in the summer of 1980. [8] However, the ratings sank below the top 30, and The Jeffersons aired its last episode, "Red Robins", on July 2, 1985.[28]. The Jeffersons 7 Spin-offs, In Chronological Order 4. THE FAMILY 7 Spin-Offs From Before we go any further, a few words about math. CBS quickly pivoted, scheduling rebroadcasts of the first 13 episodes that summer. His writers onArchie Bunkers Placewrote a pilot for Struthers that CBS rejected and OConnor had no further involvement, despite the fact that he was still playing Archie Bunker. We cant talk about the offspring without a few words about the parent. Over the course of its 11-year run, the series was almost always one of the most-watched on television. Checking In [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. 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. The 12 Most Unexpected Spinoffs in TV History The influential sitcom was controversial when it first aired on 50 years ago on Jan. 12, 1971, and it went on to confront numerous issues that hadnt previously been portrayed on television. If you include those inAll In The Familys grand total and you must, because they wouldnt exist otherwise All In The Familybegat 7 shows, 860 episodes, and more than 400 hours of network television. Evans The song was co-written by Ja'Net DuBois, who portrayed Willona on Norman Lear's other show, Good Times, and Jeff Barry. 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. 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. Florence misunderstands and thinks an elderly salesman is coming on to her, but he's really trying to make a sales pitch. 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. Show Isabel Sanford on not wanting to do "The Jeffersons" spin off 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. In response she showed a picture of her husband, Sy Kravitz, who was white. But the real reason was more pragmatic: Norman Lear had created the character for Sherman Hemsley, but Hemsley was under contract for the play Purlie and refused to break his contract. [8] The characters of Lionel's multiracial fiance, Jenny, and her family, all of whom first appeared in the 1974 All in the Family episode "Lionel's Engagement", were also written into the new series. His mother Louise (Isabel Sanford) showed up seven episodes later when the Jeffersons bought the house next door. 0. Weezy is initially reluctant to hire a housekeeper in the first episode in part because she's had that experience herself. Other failed spin-off attempts were Gloria in the 1982-1983 season and 704 Hauser in 1994. 6. Its like a Norman Lears Greatest Hits! 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. Until then, Lear created the character of Henry Jefferson, George's brother. A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants. His alcohol problem isn't referenced anymore throughout the series, but it is assumable Charlie overcame 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. Marla Gibbs was the breakout star onThe Jeffersonsas Florence, George and Louises maid, so it made perfect sense to spin her off. 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). In the 1984-85 season, CBS aired a forgotten comedy called E/R, starring Elliot Gould. Just fifteen months after Hemsley debuted onAll In The Family, George and Wheezy moved on up from Queens to the East Side of Manhattan. 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. Stage actressEsther Rolleshows up in the third episode ofMaudeas Florida, an AfricanAmerican housecleaner who has little patience for Maudes political correctness. Danny Wells played Charlie, the owner and a bartender of a nearby bar to the Jeffersons apartment building. WebThe Jeffersons had one spin-off, titled Checking In. Tolbert became a regular guest star throughout the rest of the series. The third episode, "Whose Side Are You On? [49] Marla Gibbs reprised her role as Florence Johnston. Happy Daysalso had five spin-offs between 1976 and 1979. Which makes it curious that its network, CBS, treated it as if the show was in trouble. Your subscription to our list has been confirmed. [5][6] The show was the creation of Norman Lear. CBS was nervous,Rob Reiner(Mike aka Meathead) told PBS in 2016. 704 Hauserflips the Archie/Meathead dynamic by making Ernie Cumberbatch (John Amos) the liberal and his son Thurgood Marshall Cumberbatch (T.E. Jenny and Lionel became a couple, married on December 24, 1976, and later became the parents of a daughter, Jessica (played by Ebonie Smith). It's unsurprising then that once The Jeffersons aired, it remained on television for almost a decade.The Jeffersons was a spin-off that took the blueprint provided by All in the Family and made minor changes by making the The show was a spinoff from "All in the Family." You might think this classic situation comedy is a relic of the 1970s, and in some ways you'd be right. Fame10 notes that executives worried depicting an interracial kiss would lead to violenceand, worse, to affiliate stations dropping the show. It's rare for a television comedy to lead cultural change like this, and it puts The Jeffersons into historical perspective. 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. The Black experience wasn't portrayed muchor at allon television prior to the 1970s. There was one episode that was actually sort of scary, involving a flute-playing ghost that haunted one of the rooms in the old hotel. Edith and Gloria appeared occasionally at first, then Jean Stapleton wanted to make a clean break and Sally Struthers got her own show. It took until 1975 until television finally gave Black audiences a family that looked like them and that wasn't struggling. Sherman Hemsley even appeared in the premiere. Stapleton expressed a desire to distance herself from the role of Edith. No episode was centered on Mother Jefferson's death, but it was occasionally mentioned that she had died in future episodes. 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. Web3. [39], On August 27, 2013, it was announced that Mill Creek Entertainment had acquired the rights to various television series from the Sony Pictures library including The Jeffersons. The misadventures of Florence Johnson, a hotel maid who was previously seen serving the Jeffersons. One other reason she kept her job despite becoming famous on a top-rate television show? The show was produced by the T.A.T. Lionel is introduced in the pilot, and is a core cast member for season one. 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. Members of the Black Panther Party set up a meeting with Lear to discuss Good Times. All In The Familyis one of the most transformative sitcoms in the history of the medium, if not the most. However, Mike Evans appeared for only one more season, along with Tolbert. Show 2023 Variety Media, LLC. It took until 1975 until television finally gave Black audiences a family that looked like them and that wasn't struggling. Even before All in the Familyended, Stapleton expressed a desire to distance herself from the role of Edith. Maude Findlay (Bea Arthur) first appears as Edith Bunker's cousin in a 1971All in the Familyepisode called "Cousin Maude's Visit." [6][20][21] Cully, who had first appeared in the 1974 All in the Family episode "Lionel's Engagement", reprised her role. WebFor her full interview, see http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/isabel-sanford But as BET notes, The Jeffersons was a real departure not only because it was just the second African-American sitcom to hit the top five in ratings, or because Isabel Sanford was just the second Black actress to win an Emmy Award for Best Actress. [42][43], On April 28, 2015, Shout! The Jeffersons The epithets nigger and honky were used occasionally, especially during the earlier seasons.[2][4]. Isabel Sanford on not wanting to do "The Jeffersons" spin off 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. 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.
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