At least stories featuring Black people were being told, and Black actors were getting significant roles on TV. George Jefferson was, in some ways, a black version of the white anti-hero Archie Bunker. It starred Sherman Hemsley and Isobel Sanford, with Marla Gibbs as the Jeffersons maid Florence and Roxie Roker and Franklin Cover as the racially mixed couple upstairs, a real sitcom innovation. In some ways, 1975 doesn't seem so long agobut it was truly a different time in more ways than one. Almost as well known, but less controversial was the Nov. 10, 1975, episode of Maude talking to her psychiatrist. As of 2022[update], the members still alive from the main cast include Marla Gibbs, Berlinda Tolbert, and Damon Evans. Members of the Black Panther Party set up a meeting with Lear to discuss Good Times. Lear created this series, which had an inventive concept: an African-American family moves into the house formerly occupied by Archie Bunker. Lear called the704 Hausercharacters "responsible" and explained they knew what they were talking about in arguments. Sanford was also the recipient of five of the eight Golden Globe Awards nominations the program received.[48]. The song also adamantly drew from Black culture, styled almost as a spiritualcomplete with 35-member choirthat wouldn't have been out of place in church. 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. ALL IN THE FAMILY 7 Spin-Offs From TVs Most Spun-Off Sitcom, Charlies Angels: 10 Things You May Not Know (or Do You? 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. Larry M. Harris won the Emmy for Outstanding Video Tape Editing for a Series in 1983. A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants. So when shows like Norman Lear's Good Times hit the airwaves in the early 1970s, it was seen as huge progress. Florence was only supposed to be a bit part, but audiences loved her, and the character of Florence was promoted to full-time status. [19] The Jeffersons premiered the following week, on January 18, 1975.[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. [6][20][21] Cully, who had first appeared in the 1974 All in the Family episode "Lionel's Engagement", reprised her role. Today, a transgender person has been nominated to be part of the president's cabinet, and the Vice President of the United States is in an interracial marriage. As reported by New Ravel, network executives weren't happy about taking things that far, and pressured the producers to remove the scene. The epithets nigger and honky were used occasionally, especially during the earlier seasons.[2][4]. CreatorNorman Learwas just happy the Bunkers were on the air. 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. They were guests in the fictional hotel and their voices were dubbed by Italian actors Enzo Garinei (George) and Isa di Marzio (Louise), who also dubbed their characters for the full series. Lead actors Rolle and John Amos felt a huge responsibility for that. Many great shows and movies turn 50 years old in 2021, andAll in the Familyis one of the most iconic. Happy Daysalso had five spin-offs between 1976 and 1979. The show was launched as the second (and longest running) spin-off of All in the Family, on which the Jeffersons had been the neighbors of Archie and Edith Bunker. Before we go any further, a few words about math. [2] Lionel, played by Mike Evans, first appeared in "Meet the Bunkers", the premiere episode of All in the Family.[2]. As noted by Ebony, many of the actors working on The Jeffersons were serious artists with a lot of training. The series was created byMike MilliganandJim Moriarity, both longtime writer/producers onThe Jeffersons. The song was co-written by Ja'Net DuBois, who portrayed Willona on Norman Lear's other show, Good Times, and Jeff Barry. All In The Family(19711979 205 episodes plus two un-aired pilots). They were saying, essentially, We wont have anything to do with this show.. The cast was not informed until after the July 2, 1985, episode, "Red Robins"; actor Sherman Hemsley, who portrayed George Jefferson, said he learned that the show was canceled by reading it in the newspaper. [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. OConnor didnt like it either, apparently. The character of George Jefferson was conceived of as a mirror image in some ways of Archie Bunker. 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). [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. See Amos in the episodeA Visit From Lena Horne(January 12, 1973) and DuBois inSanford And Son And Sister Makes Three(December 1, 1972). [44] Season 8 was released on August 11, 2015. It took until 1975 until television finally gave Black audiences a family that looked like them and that wasn't struggling. Gloria Bunker Stivic became a single mom after Mike left her, so she got a job in a veterinary office. Lionel is introduced in the pilot, and is a core cast member for season one. is Movin' On Up to a 'Season 7' Separate Release! Portrayed by Mel Stewart, Henry got the lines and screen time that would have gone to George. Michael J. ), 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. Arthur was the only actor seen for the entire half-hour. In 1975, Norman Lear was possibly the most powerful man working in television. I remember watching Checking In in the early 80s and even remember the theme song. 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. 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.". When shows featured Black characters, they were often portrayed as stereotypes, as clownish fools or ominous criminals. That's exactly what happened withGood Times. [1] In an episode of Tyler Perry's House of Payne in 2011, Sherman Hemsley and Marla Gibbs reprised their roles of George Jefferson and Florence Johnston. In that regard,Good Timesis more like a reboot of Rolle and Amoss characters than a spinoff. 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. Bunker has no reason to hate Blacks or to view them as inferior. NEXT:Younger & 9 Other Shows Or Movies That Couldn't Have Existed Before Social Media, All In The Family And Its 7 Spin-offs, In Chronological Order, shows and movies turn 50 years old in 2021, 10 Sitcom Characters With Supernatural Abilities, Ranked By Power, Mike is usually portrayed as being liberal. a disclaimer before the first episode said. [24][25] He also became known for addressing the Jeffersons as "Mr. J" and "Mrs. And Louises brother-in-law Henry (Mel Stewart) appears for the first time in the last episode of season one. 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. 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. Stapleton expressed a desire to distance herself from the role of Edith. The show was a spin-off of The Jeffersons. Almost as well known, but less controversial was the Nov. 10, 1975, episode of Maude talking to her psychiatrist. Evans and Tolbert appeared in the two-part episode together; Evans made his final appearance in two episodes during the series' eleventh and final season. And then there's The Jeffersons. For airdates and times, visit theAll In The Familyshow page. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. s noted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, as one of the writers on the show, Jay Moriarty, told The Hollywood Times, In a contemporary review by The New York Daily News. George Jefferson was, in some ways, a black version of the white anti-hero Archie Bunker. Unlike Arthur and Rolle, who were spun-off quickly, the Jeffersons were onAll In The Familyfor five seasons before they got their own show. 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. The show was produced by the T.A.T. 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. Marla Gibbs portrayed the role of Florence Johnston, the Jeffersons' back-talking, tough, wisecracking, and devoutly religious housekeeper. [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. 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. [10] Sherman Hemsley guest-starred as George in two episodes of the series, which lasted for one season. It only 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. The series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. The series is bookended in a very creative way. It was funny and entertaining. His alcohol problem isn't referenced anymore throughout the series, but it is assumable Charlie overcame it. The show was a spinoff from "All in the Family." 0. I remember watching Checking In in the early 80s and even remember the theme song. Jefferson has plenty of reason to distrust white people and the power structures they use to oppress him. Theres certainly no human alive who believesArchie Bunkers Placeis better thanAll In The Family,and theres probably a few of us who would rather it didnt exist at all. Maude(19721978 141 episodes plus pilot onAll In The Family). I remember watching Checking In in the early 80s and even remember the theme song. [3] At the beginning of The Jeffersons, he was operating five stores throughout New York City, with another two opening during the following seasons. Mike Evans would leave The Jeffersons to work behind the camera for another show in the All in the Family family tree Good Times. Evans A spin-off of All in the Family. It was funny and entertaining. Lionel is introduced in the pilot, and is a core cast member for season one. In a reversal ofAll in the Family, Ernie is liberal while his son is quite conservative. Maude becomes yet another person for Archie to disagree with politically. The sitcoms breakout star was Jimmie J.J. Walker, with his trademark phrase Dy-no-mite!. After eight seasons, Lear thoughtAll In The Familyhad run its course, but OConnor didnt agree. 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. Lear is more willing to listen nowadays. 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 Familytook a leaf out of its own book and spawned yet another sitcom afterthe series ended. Gibbs then returned to her regular role on The Jeffersons and it was explained that the St. Frederick Hotel had burned down. 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? Just fifteen months after Hemsley debuted onAll In The Family, George and Wheezy moved on up from Queens to the East Side of Manhattan. Your subscription to our list has been confirmed. Even though it flopped,704 Hauserhas a special place in the heart of many Norman Lear fans. [8][21] Lionel and Jenny experienced marital issues as evidenced in a two-part season 8 episode "The Separation", and divorced in the final season two-parter "Sayonara".[8]. Its like a Norman Lears Greatest Hits! WebSpun-off from The Jeffersons (1975) This spin-off of The Jeffersons came out about 8 years before Marla Gibbs' second series, "227." It's also one of the more thoughtful and meaningful theme songs in TV history. Other failed spin-off attempts were Gloria in the 1982-1983 season and 704 Hauser in 1994. WebIn 1975, George Jefferson was eager to move out of Queens. Sherman Hemsley even appeared in the premiere. Here's the untold truth of The Jeffersons. 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. 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. He also used it in a blackmail manner, usually requiring George to pay more in order to keep his mouth shut about something such as a stock tip. And as The New York Daily news reports, it was the first time in American television history that an interracial marriage was depicted in a regular series with the characters of Helen and Tom Willis. [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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. 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 Another interesting connection of the sitcom universe is that Mike Evans (who played Lionel Jefferson on All in the FamilyandThe Jeffersons) createdGood Timeswith Eric Monte. 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). Ja'Net DuBois and Jeff Barry co-wrote The Jeffersons theme song, "Movin' on Up", which was sung by DuBois with a gospel choir. The actors found out through the media reports or when friends contacted them to ask about it. The shows spin-off series continued to break boundaries with discussions of abortion, alcoholism and racism. Ralph was also known for making up stories of him struggling to fulfill the Jeffersons request to get more tips. Fox tried out for a role on this show but was turned down. 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. All In The Familyis one of the most transformative sitcoms in the history of the medium, if not the most. The series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. I would like to see this forgotten TV show resurrected on TV Land or Nick at Night, or maybe a special DVD release. The series began after a backdoor pilot on Archie Bunker's Placecalled "Gloria: The First Day." Dont miss on getTV:Lear got the name Cumberbatch from an early episode of ofAll In The FamilycalledWriting The President(January 19, 1971). Ratings for the first season were poor, and the network didnt exactly shout about it from the antenna-covered rooftops. 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. No episode was centered on Mother Jefferson's death, but it was occasionally mentioned that she had died in future episodes. Web3. Marla Gibbs was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series each year from 1981 to 1985. Arthur was the only actor seen for the entire half-hour. Over the course of its 11-year run, the series was almost always one of the most-watched on television. 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. [13] Per an article in the May 8, 1985, Los Angeles Times, the series was cancelled by announcement at the CBS network "upfront" presentation the day before, nearly two months before the airing of the final episode. 6. Gloria works as the assistant to two veterinarians. 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. A spin-off of All in the Family. The Jeffersons was notable because it depicted a Black family as upper-middle class. It was almost totally unlike any other theme song you would hear on TV at the time, and that was the whole point. 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. [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. [23] Bentley also had a bad back, and frequently needed George to walk on it. All in the Family was notable for many things including the fact that it spawned seven other TV series. Archie Bunker's Place extended Archie's role to over twelve years on television. Lionel is introduced in the pilot, and is a core cast member for season one. It brought back the star ofGood Times John Amos in an update ofAll In The Familythat uses a plot point (interracial relationship) ofThe Jeffersons. George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) doesnt make his debut until season four, because Hemsley was committed to the Broadway showPurlie. [15], In 1985, Hemsley and Sanford made a special joint guest appearance in the Canale 5 comedy show Grand Hotel, starring the Italian actors Paolo Villaggio, the comic duo Franco & Ciccio, and Carmen Russo. In reality, Joey (born 1975) would have only been 19, but Siemaszko was 33. 3). The Jeffersons avoided that by making the titular characters move to a different neighborhood. They live in a public housing project and struggle to get by at times. 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. She got unlimited passes from the airline. 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. [42][43], On April 28, 2015, Shout! Most television is ephemeral. 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. Archie and Edith Bunker (Jean Stapleton) share their home with their daughter, Gloria (Sally Struthers), and her husband, Mike Stivic (Rob Reiner). Both men are bigoted, and both use sarcasm and insults as weapons. Sherman Hemsley, for example, came out of the revered Negro Ensemble Company (NEC), as did Roxie Roker (Helen Willis). The list of firsts achieved by The Jeffersons is impressive. [37] The most common time slot was on Sunday night. [27] He was known for constantly stalling at the Jeffersons' door with his hand out waiting for a tip. All in the Familyis famous for its prejudiced patriarch, Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor). Zara Cully played George's mother, Olivia "Mother" Jefferson, who constantly disparaged her daughter-in-law. 8 in the summer of 1980. But he's actually one of the most complex characters in TV history. He used that power to push the envelope, depicting the first transgender character in a situation comedy and the first recurring interracial marriage. MeTV points out that it was the first situation comedy on prime time television to depict a transgender characterGeorge's old Navy pal Eddie, revealed to now be Edie. The Jeffersons spawned the television show Checking In. This show followed the Jeffersons maid Florence Johnston as she worked at a hotel in Manhattan. It was funny and entertaining. The successful series ran for six seasons and, like its predecessor, dealt with some serious issues during its day. Roxie Roker was asked during a casting interview if she'd be comfortable with her character having a white husband. Only five of the six taped episodes were aired, in April and May 1994. By clicking SIGN UP, I certify that I am a United States resident, I agree to receive email updates from Game Show Network, I acknowledge that my information will be handled and used by Game Show Network in accordance with the Game Show Network Privacy Policy, and I agree to such handling and use by Game Show Network. 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 Jeffersons was in many ways a broad, superficial comedy that relied on racially-charged jokes and physical comedy to get laughs. As he had done with Bea Arthur onAll In The Family, Lear immediately recognized a breakout character and quickly began developing a spinoff for Florida with writersEric Monte(Cooley High) andMike Evans(Lionel onAll In The Family). Another sparring partner for Archie is neighbor George Jefferson, and the twocriticize one another's race. 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. Gloria(19821983 21 episodes plus unaired pilot). The Jeffersons(19751984 253 episodes plus pilot onAll In The Family). Many spinoffs tend to set themselves up for comparison by using the same location as the original show. Sherman Hemsley was nominated for Best Actor in 1984. Although Archie and George (Sherman Hemsley) argue a lot, Louise Jefferson (Isabel Sanford) is a dear friend to Edith Bunker, and it's hard for the two to say goodbye when the Jeffersons move away. Gloria and Mike are no longer together, so Gloria and her son, Joey, leave California and go home to New York. The Jeffersons spawned the television show Checking In. This show followed the Jeffersons maid Florence Johnston as she worked at a hotel in Manhattan. While many of the shows connected toAll in the Familydid extraordinarily well,Checking Inonly lasted for four episodes. J".[25]. [40] They subsequently re-released the first two seasons on DVD on May 20, 2014.