It took until 1975 until television finally gave Black audiences a family that looked like them and that wasn't struggling. Gloria and Mike are no longer together, so Gloria and her son, Joey, leave California and go home to New York. Florence Johnson returned toThe JeffersonsafterChecking Inended. Gibbs then returned to The Jeffersons.. After 25 episodes, Lear had finally found someone who could go toe-to-toe withCarroll OConnors Archie. Before the 1970s, there hadn't been any TV shows with majority Black casts in decades, and the Black characters that did appear on television were usually not particularly grounded in reality. 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. 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 12 Most Unexpected Spinoffs in TV History Back in 1975, issues like these were much more shockingas noted by The Hollywood Times, interracial marriage had only become legal throughout the country in 1967! Fame10 notes that executives worried depicting an interracial kiss would lead to violenceand, worse, to affiliate stations dropping the show. Fun fact: Both Macy and Rodd played different characters onAll In The Familyjust weeks before Lear cast them onMaude. Florence was only supposed to be a bit part, but audiences loved her, and the character of Florence was promoted to full-time status. 0. Here are the shows that make up the Archie Bunker Extended Universe a.k.a. 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. To make matters worse, when the show finally debuted on CBS, it was largely ignored by the public. And the series (which co-starred Oscar nomineeBurgess Meredithas a vet) didnt do much to win anybody over. Lead actors Rolle and John Amos felt a huge responsibility for that. According to Encyclopedia.com, Hemsley had built a reputation as a powerhouse performer, and Lear had caught his performance in Purlie in New York in 1970 and knew he wanted him for the character of George. It's rare for a television comedy to lead cultural change like this, and it puts The Jeffersons into historical perspective. The series began after a backdoor pilot on Archie Bunker's Placecalled "Gloria: The First Day." The show was produced by the T.A.T. [21], It returned to the Top 10 in 197980, and at the end of the 198182 season, The Jeffersons finished third overall, only surpassed by fellow CBS series Dallas and 60 Minutes. As with Maude and Good Times , the main character of the new series was a maid on her previous series. You might think this classic situation comedy is a relic of the 1970s, and in some ways you'd be right. Lyle throws a party at the hotel, but his high school rival (now a pro football coach) and his team decide to crash it. Communications Company from 19751982 and by Embassy Television from 19821985. Norman Lear's 1975 spinoff of All in the Family remains a unique show. I remember watching Checking In in the early 80s and even remember the theme song. The show was a spin-off of The Jeffersons. [24][25] He also became known for addressing the Jeffersons as "Mr. J" and "Mrs. [46], Isabel Sanford was nominated for seven consecutive Best Actress Emmys, from 1979 until 1985. 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. Checking In It was funny and entertaining. Marla Gibbs was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series each year from 1981 to 1985. Spin-off The Jeffersons The show was a spin-off of The Jeffersons. A spin-off of All in the Family. 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. On their own show, the Jeffersons interact with new friends and neighbors while inhabiting a new lifestyle. Maude arrives at the Bunker home to help out when the family gets hit with the flu. [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. 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. At least, he did until Hemsley became availableStewart's last appearance as Henry was Hemsley's first appearance as George. 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. [49] Marla Gibbs reprised her role as Florence Johnston. The sitcom was about the black family who had lived next door to the Bunkers, but Good Times was partly responsible. 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. The Jeffersons spawned the television show Checking In. This show followed the Jeffersons maid Florence Johnston as she worked at a hotel in Manhattan. 10 Unforgettable Black Sitcom Families - cbr.com Portrayed by Mel Stewart, Henry got the lines and screen time that would have gone to George. Gloria Bunker Stivic became a single mom after Mike left her, so she got a job in a veterinary office. ", "How 'All in the Family' Spawned the Most Spinoffs of Any Sitcom", "All in the Family Season 5, Episode 16 The Jeffersons Move Up", "Actor Paul Benedict, 70, Leaves the Stage", "Zara Cully: Known for Role as 'Mother Jefferson' on the Jeffersons", "Ned Wertimer, character actor known as 'The Jeffersons' doorman, dies at 89", "The Jeffersons Season 10 Episode 16: My Guy, George", https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/78-OCR/1978-05-01-BC-OCR-Page-0036.pdf, https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/79-OCR/BC-1979-06-18-OCR-Page-0056.pdf#search=%22rounding%20up%20the%20ratings%22, "The Norman Lear Experience: His Shows, His Honesty and One Thing He Wanted to Do", "Mill Creek Entertainment Signs Deals With Sony Pictures Home Entertainment To Expand Their Distribution Partnership", "Mill Creek's Re-Releases for Next Month Get Great DVD Package Art", "The Jeffersons CORRECT DATE, Packaging for 'The Complete Series: The Deee-luxe Edition', "Great Extras Revealed for 'The Complete Series: The Deee-luxe Edition', "The Jeffersons Shout! Gibbs then returned to her regular role on The Jeffersons and it was explained that the St. Frederick Hotel had burned down. 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. 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. 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. Norman Lear created the character of George Jefferson specifically for Hemsley. Archie and Mike are always butting heads since Archie is politically conservative and Mike is usually portrayed as being liberal. [23] A frequent sight-gag of the show was George slamming the door in Bentley's face mid-conversation, usually during one of Bentley's stories which George invariably perceived as boring. is Movin' On Up to a 'Season 7' Separate Release! All In The Familyis one of the most transformative sitcoms in the history of the medium, if not the most. Checking Infound Florence as executive housekeeper at a New York City Hotel. 6. And then there's The Jeffersons. But, if you love Carroll OConnors Archie, its a gift that we got to see more of him (even if the show isnt as good). 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. [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. His mother Louise (Isabel Sanford) showed up seven episodes later when the Jeffersons bought the house next door. Almost as well known, but less controversial was the Nov. 10, 1975, episode of Maude talking to her psychiatrist. The Jeffersons All In The Familyfans will recognize Torres as Teresa Betancourt, the hospital worker who rents Mike And Glorias room when they move out. 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. The Jeffersons ended up lasting 11 seasons, beating All In The Family's 9 seasons. Often, people calling in to book flights would tell her that her voice sounded familiar, and she'd just laugh it off. 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. 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. 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. The Jeffersons avoided that by making the titular characters move to a different neighborhood. 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. Tolbert became a regular guest star throughout the rest of the series. WebThe Jeffersons: Created by Norman Lear, Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, Bernard West. 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. Edith and Gloria appeared occasionally at first, then Jean Stapleton wanted to make a clean break and Sally Struthers got her own show. Florida Evans (Esther Rolle) was Maude Findlay's maid in Tuckahoe, New York,andGood Timesmovedon to develop Florida's life with her family in Chicago. Many spinoffs tend to set themselves up for comparison by using the same location as the original show. A top 20 show for most of its 11 seasons, The Jeffersons was canceled abruptly without an official series finale. A spin-off of All in the Family. 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. 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. ", was added as a bonus feature on The Jeffersons: The Complete Series 33-disc DVD set issued by Shout! It was a spinoff of a spinoff, centering on Maudes maid Florida (Esther Rolle) and her family. THE FAMILY 7 Spin-Offs From But as Variety reports, this didn't satisfy everybody. Show All in the Familytook a leaf out of its own book and spawned yet another sitcom afterthe series ended. Over the course of its 11-year run, the series was almost always one of the most-watched on television. The Jeffersons This page was last edited on 9 December 2022, at 13:35. [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. Weve both mellowed. It's also one of the more thoughtful and meaningful theme songs in TV history. The Jeffersons Maudealso introducedJohn Amosas Floridas husband Henry later changed to James and established their marital dynamic in preparation for the spinoff. 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. Lionel is introduced in the pilot, and is a core cast member for season one. Marla Gibbs portrayed the role of Florence Johnston, the Jeffersons' back-talking, tough, wisecracking, and devoutly religious housekeeper. 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. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Unlike Arthur and Rolle, who were spun-off quickly, the Jeffersons were onAll In The Familyfor five seasons before they got their own show. This show wasnt very successful, however. With Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover. 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. 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. Gloria was created by Joe Gannon, Patt Shea and Harriett Weiss, developed by Dan Guntzelman and Steve Marshall; all episodes were directed by Dan Claver. Besides being set in the same house, the only directAll In The Familyconnection comes withCasey Siemaszkoplaying grown-up Joey Stivic. Show The misadventures of Florence Johnson, a hotel maid who was previously seen serving the Jeffersons. All In The Family(19711979 205 episodes plus two un-aired pilots). 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 And Louises brother-in-law Henry (Mel Stewart) appears for the first time in the last episode of season one. RELATED:10 Sitcom Characters With Supernatural Abilities, Ranked By Power. 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. Checking In, created by Mike Milligan and Jay Moriarty, only lasted for four episodes, one of the few Tandem/TAT sitcoms that wasnt a success. 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. 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. The 12 Most Unexpected Spinoffs in TV History WebFor her full interview, see http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/isabel-sanford The Jeffersons had many two-part episodes, either over two consecutive weeks, or aired as an hour-long episode. 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 WebThe Jeffersons: Created by Norman Lear, Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, Bernard West. 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. This spin-off of The Jeffersons came out about 8 years before Marla Gibbs' second series, "227." 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. 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). 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. Lear created this series, which had an inventive concept: an African-American family moves into the house formerly occupied by Archie Bunker. The sitcom featured Burgess Meredith and Jo de Winter, and lasted one season. 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. 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). Show A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants. ", "The Jeffersons 'The Complete 8th Season' Getting a DVD Release this Summer", "Isabel Sanford, Emmy-Winning Actress Who Created "Weezie" Jefferson on TV and Stage, Dead at 86", "See the star-studded 'All in the Family/The Jeffersons' live cast get into character", The Interviews: An Oral History of Television, Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons, The 200th Episode Celebration of All in the Family, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Jeffersons&oldid=1141363779, Television series by Sony Pictures Television, All articles with bare URLs for citations, Articles with bare URLs for citations from March 2022, Articles with PDF format bare URLs for citations, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2022, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles needing additional references from January 2017, All articles needing additional references, Articles with MusicBrainz work identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Ebonie Smith as Jessica Jefferson (season 11), Moriarty, Jay (2020). 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. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. George is an obstreperous, often rude guy who thinks his wealth should get him anywhere he wants to go. 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. The Jeffersons (1975 TV Show getTV is a trademark of CPT Holdings, Inc. 2023 CPE US Networks III Inc. All rights reserved. Almost as well known, but less controversial was the Nov. 10, 1975, episode of Maude talking to her psychiatrist. Everybody knows it, and you can't help but sing along. 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. But whatHappy Daysdidnt have were spin-offs of spin-offs. In the seventh-season finale episode of The Jeffersons, "Florence's New Job", the Jeffersons' maid, Florence Johnston (Marla Gibbs), accepted a job to become the executive housekeeper at the fictional St. Frederick Hotel in New York City. Although this backstory wasn't explicitly referenced, it showed up in the writing. 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. WebSpun-off from The Jeffersons (1975) This spin-off of The Jeffersons came out about 8 years before Marla Gibbs' second series, "227." The Jeffersons Arthur was the only actor seen for the entire half-hour. Cully was written out in season 4 due to her death in 1978, from lung cancer. Even before All in the Familyended, Stapleton expressed a desire to distance herself from the role of Edith. Evans The Jeffersons was notable because it depicted a Black family as upper-middle class. George Jefferson was, in some ways, a black version of the white anti-hero Archie Bunker. A spin-off of All in the Family. Sherman Hemsley even appeared in the premiere. Stage actressEsther Rolleshows up in the third episode ofMaudeas Florida, an AfricanAmerican housecleaner who has little patience for Maudes political correctness. The Jeffersons 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. Dont miss on getTV: Everything, but especially the first episodeMeet The Bunkers(airdate January 12, 1971) and the lastToo Good Edith(April 8, 1979). The patriarch of the Evans family, they noted, had to work several jobs to support his large family, and they noted that Black characters in general were often depicted in cheap clothing and in other negative ways. Lear agreed to let OConnor continue the series without him, but under one condition: he couldnt call itAll In The Family. George is an obstreperous, often rude guy who thinks his wealth should get him anywhere he wants to go. One other reason she kept her job despite becoming famous on a top-rate television show? The Bunkers and their neighbors, the Jeffersons,developed relationships with other characters, many of whom got spin-offs of their own. Today were heading back to Manhattan, to revisit our favorite family, The Jeffersons. Isabel Sanford on not wanting to do "The Jeffersons" spin off The Jeffersons In 1975, Norman Lear was possibly the most powerful man working in television. 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. Also worth noting: in the fifth season, Janet Jackson joined the cast. By what name was Checking In (1981) officially released in Canada in English? Factory had acquired the rights to the series; they subsequently released the complete series on DVD in a 33-disc collection on December 9, 2014. Members of the Black Panther Party set up a meeting with Lear to discuss Good Times. 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. Florence often teased George, mostly about his short stature and receding hairline. The series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. It was almost totally unlike any other theme song you would hear on TV at the time, and that was the whole point. WebSynopsis. [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. As progressive as it was when it came to race relations, it hedged its bets in many ways. It only Hes mellowed. Bunker has no reason to hate Blacks or to view them as inferior. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. Over the course of its 11-year run, the series was almost always one of the most-watched on television. Lionel is introduced in the pilot, and is a core cast member for season one. 10 Unforgettable Black Sitcom Families - cbr.com 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. Isabel Sanford on not wanting to do "The Jeffersons" spin off George Jefferson was, in some ways, a black version of the white anti-hero Archie Bunker. Lesa Kite, Cindy Begel, Howard Bendetson & Bob Bendetson. [17] Lear consulted with his associate Al Burton on the concept. Checking In premiered on CBS on April 9, 1981, and lasted for only four episodes in the Thursday, 8:00p.m. EST timeslot. In that regard,Good Timesis more like a reboot of Rolle and Amoss characters than a spinoff. 1. I remember watching Checking In in the early 80s and even remember the theme song. The third episode, "Whose Side Are You On? 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. [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.