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 Familydirectly spun off five situation comedies between 1972 and 1994. 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. The Jeffersons 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. 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. I remember watching Checking In in the early 80s and even remember the theme song. 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. is Movin' On Up to a 'Season 7' Separate Release! 704 Hauserflips the Archie/Meathead dynamic by making Ernie Cumberbatch (John Amos) the liberal and his son Thurgood Marshall Cumberbatch (T.E. [19] The Jeffersons premiered the following week, on January 18, 1975.[8]. WebThe Jeffersons had one spin-off, titled Checking In. A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants. Untold Truth Of The Jeffersons Mike Evans would leave The Jeffersons to work behind the camera for another show in the All in the Family family tree Good Times. One other reason she kept her job despite becoming famous on a top-rate television show? Florence was only supposed to be a bit part, but audiences loved her, and the character of Florence was promoted to full-time status. Sally Struthers was next to get her own show as Gloria Bunker Stivic, Archie and Edith's daughter. 8 in the summer of 1980. "HONKY IN THE HOUSE Writing & Producing The Jeffersons," Antler Publishing, LA, CA, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 18:06. WebSynopsis. The two-part season opener for Maude in 1973 dealt with the alcoholism of her husband Walter (Bill Macy). Untold Truth Of The Jeffersons 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.". Sherman Hemsley even appeared in the premiere. Jefferson has plenty of reason to distrust white people and the power structures they use to oppress him. Rather than cast someone else, Lear decided to keep George offscreen until Hemsley was available. Florence Johnson returned toThe JeffersonsafterChecking Inended. [5][6] The show was the creation of Norman Lear. The Jeffersons spawned the television show Checking In. This show followed the Jeffersons maid Florence Johnston as she worked at a hotel in Manhattan. [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. 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 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. The Jeffersons a disclaimer before the first episode said. 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. George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) doesnt make his debut until season four, because Hemsley was committed to the Broadway showPurlie. Hemsley was so good, show creator Norman Lear waited years to be able to hire him. 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. Stage actressEsther Rolleshows up in the third episode ofMaudeas Florida, an AfricanAmerican housecleaner who has little patience for Maudes political correctness. The Jeffersons Sign up for the newsletter to get the latest updates about getTV. The shows spin-off series continued to break boundaries with discussions of abortion, alcoholism and racism. 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. Arthur was the only actor seen for the entire half-hour. [36], The Jeffersons changed time slots at least 15 different times during its 11-year run, unusual for a popular long running series. Lear created this series, which had an inventive concept: an African-American family moves into the house formerly occupied by Archie Bunker. WebThe Jeffersons: Created by Norman Lear, Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, Bernard West. 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. Other lost, short-lived classics of the late 70s/early 80s I'd like to see--"It's a Living," about the friends who worked on top of the Bonaventure Hotel in downtown LA; "All's Fair," with Bernadette Peters; "On Our Own," with Bess Armstrong; "Best of the West," an amusing big budget comedy/western series. Also worth noting: in the fifth season, Janet Jackson joined the cast. Russell) who dated the girl down the block (Maura Tierney). WhenAll In The Familydebuted in 1971, few people suspected it would be responsible for more spin-offs than any other sitcom in television history. 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. Ratings for the first season were poor, and the network didnt exactly shout about it from the antenna-covered rooftops. 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. Spin-off Checking Infound Florence as executive housekeeper at a New York City Hotel. In the 1984-85 season, CBS aired a forgotten comedy called E/R, starring Elliot Gould. The Jeffersons(19751984 253 episodes plus pilot onAll In The Family). The successful series ran for six seasons and, like its predecessor, dealt with some serious issues during its day. 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. THE FAMILY 7 Spin-Offs From Stapleton expressed a desire to distance herself from the role of Edith. At least stories featuring Black people were being told, and Black actors were getting significant roles on TV. Gloria and Mike are no longer together, so Gloria and her son, Joey, leave California and go home to New York. 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. Checking In [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. 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. But just because Lear could push those characters and storylines onto the screen didn't mean everyone was happy about it. 0. [8] Damon Evans's last episode was "Lionel Gets the Business". The Jeffersons (1975 TV Show The series gave John Amos and Norman Lear another chance to work together after tensions on set led Amos to leaveGood Times. 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). [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. Gibbs then returned to The Jeffersons.. 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. The Jeffersons A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants. 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. In that regard,Good Timesis more like a reboot of Rolle and Amoss characters than a spinoff. [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. Isabel Sanford on not wanting to do "The Jeffersons" spin off Checking In premiered on CBS on April 9, 1981, and lasted for only four episodes in the Thursday, 8:00p.m. EST timeslot. A spin-off of All in the Family. But Gibbs knew how quickly fortunes turned in Hollywood. Lear agreed to let OConnor continue the series without him, but under one condition: he couldnt call itAll In The Family. 3. 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. Maude arrives at the Bunker home to help out when the family gets hit with the flu. 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 12 Most Unexpected Spinoffs in TV History Sherman Hemsley even appeared in the premiere. Sherman Hemsley was nominated for Best Actor in 1984. In a reversal ofAll in the Family, Ernie is liberal while his son is quite conservative. The Jeffersons (1975 TV Show The Jeffersons Florence is caught between Lyle and Elena when they have an argument, but she won't take anyone's side. George is an obstreperous, often rude guy who thinks his wealth should get him anywhere he wants to go. So when shows like Norman Lear's Good Times hit the airwaves in the early 1970s, it was seen as huge progress. Just fifteen months after Hemsley debuted onAll In The Family, George and Wheezy moved on up from Queens to the East Side of Manhattan. The series was created byMike MilliganandJim Moriarity, both longtime writer/producers onThe Jeffersons. 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. Show Lear originally intended for George to appear in the first season of the series, however, Hemsley was starring in the Broadway musical Purlie at the time, and Lear decided to postpone introduction of the character until Hemsley was available. WebFor her full interview, see http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/isabel-sanford Sherman Hemsley even appeared in the premiere. [27] He was known for constantly stalling at the Jeffersons' door with his hand out waiting for a 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. The Jeffersons' Left Lasting Television Legacy THE FAMILY 7 Spin-Offs From WebIn 1975, George Jefferson was eager to move out of Queens. The epithets nigger and honky were used occasionally, especially during the earlier seasons.[2][4]. It was funny and entertaining. All in the Familyis famous for its prejudiced patriarch, Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor). J".[25]. [6][20][21] Cully, who had first appeared in the 1974 All in the Family episode "Lionel's Engagement", reprised her role. The Jeffersons A top 20 show for most of its 11 seasons, The Jeffersons was canceled abruptly without an official series finale. As with Maude and Good Times , the main character of the new series was a maid on her previous series. This spin-off of The Jeffersons came out about 8 years before Marla Gibbs' second series, "227." Spin-off We cant talk about the offspring without a few words about the parent. No episode was centered on Mother Jefferson's death, but it was occasionally mentioned that she had died in future episodes. The Jeffersons 1. The series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. 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. WebThe Jeffersons: Created by Norman Lear, Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, Bernard West. 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. Situation comediesaka "sitcoms"aren't always noted for their complex writing and deeply-imagined characters. OConnor didnt like it either, apparently. After eight seasons, Lear thoughtAll In The Familyhad run its course, but OConnor didnt agree. Fox tried out for a role on this show but was turned down. 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. After the huge success of shows like All in the Family, Maude, Good Times, and Sanford and Sonin terms of ratings as well as critical receptionhe had the ability to do things other showrunners couldn't. 7 Spin-offs, In Chronological Order 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. Maude Findlay (Bea Arthur) first appears as Edith Bunker's cousin in a 1971All in the Familyepisode called "Cousin Maude's Visit." As withMaudeandGood Times, the main character of the new series was a maid onher previousseries. WebSynopsis. ), 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. 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. The show was a spinoff from "All in the Family." 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. The characters and mood set by All in the Family left a big mark on television history, including these seven spin-offs: The title character, played by Bea Arthur, was a tall, ultra-liberal feminist who drove Archie crazy; she was introduced in as Ediths cousin in two All in the Family episodes in the 1971-72 season. 4. It only TV shows can be huge, massive hits for yearsand then vanish into near-obscurity (seriously, when was the last time you had a conversation about Lost?). "Jeffersons" redirects here. 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. The Jeffersons' Left Lasting Television Legacy 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). Checking In