[45], The Jeffersons received 14 Emmy Award nominations during its time on the air. Besides being set in the same house, the only directAll In The Familyconnection comes withCasey Siemaszkoplaying grown-up Joey Stivic. While many of the shows connected toAll in the Familydid extraordinarily well,Checking Inonly lasted for four episodes. WebSpun-off from The Jeffersons (1975) This spin-off of The Jeffersons came out about 8 years before Marla Gibbs' second series, "227." 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?). [23] Bentley also had a bad back, and frequently needed George to walk on it. 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). [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. 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. Today were heading back to Manhattan, to revisit our favorite family, The Jeffersons. 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. 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. So when shows like Norman Lear's Good Times hit the airwaves in the early 1970s, it was seen as huge progress. 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. All in the Family was notable for many things including the fact that it spawned seven other TV series. The series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. That's exactly what happened withGood Times. The Jeffersons [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. The Jeffersons is an American sitcom television series that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, to July 2, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. 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. 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. 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. 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. Florence is caught between Lyle and Elena when they have an argument, but she won't take anyone's side. Sometimes the best, and most intelligent, TV shows never get a chance! CBS quickly pivoted, scheduling rebroadcasts of the first 13 episodes that summer. Everybody knows it, and you can't help but sing along. 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.". Dont miss on getTV:Archie Gets The Business(October 2, 1977) for the episode where Archie buys the bar from Kelsey (Frank Maxwell) andLittle Miss Bunker(September 24, 1979) for the introduction of Stephanie. The Jeffersons As progressive as it was when it came to race relations, it hedged its bets in many ways. The Jeffersons was notable because it depicted a Black family as upper-middle class. Many spinoffs tend to set themselves up for comparison by using the same location as the original show. After a 1972 backdoor pilot onAll in the Family, Maude got a show of her own. WebIn 1975, George Jefferson was eager to move out of Queens. The two-part season opener for Maude in 1973 dealt with the alcoholism of her husband Walter (Bill Macy). 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 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. [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. THE FAMILY 7 Spin-Offs From Untold Truth Of The Jeffersons Bunker has no reason to hate Blacks or to view them as inferior. All in the Familyis famous for its prejudiced patriarch, Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor). The character of George Jefferson was conceived of as a mirror image in some ways of Archie Bunker. You might think this classic situation comedy is a relic of the 1970s, and in some ways you'd be right. Sherman Hemsley even appeared in the premiere. 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. [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. The cast commonly visited the bar for a drink or to attend a party. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. Sherman Hemsley even appeared in the premiere. It was surprisingly thoughtful on issues of race and class within the confines of a broad comedy in prime time national television. The epithets nigger and honky were used occasionally, especially during the earlier seasons.[2][4]. 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 misadventures of Florence Johnson, a hotel maid who was previously seen serving the Jeffersons. The Jeffersons 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 series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. J".[25]. Maude becomes yet another person for Archie to disagree with politically. 0. [6][20][21] Cully, who had first appeared in the 1974 All in the Family episode "Lionel's Engagement", reprised her role. Other failed spin-off attempts were Gloria in the 1982-1983 season and 704 Hauser in 1994. 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. 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). 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. A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants. As with Maude and Good Times , the main character of the new series was a maid on her previous series. After eight seasons, Lear thoughtAll In The Familyhad run its course, but OConnor didnt agree. 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. A top 20 show for most of its 11 seasons, The Jeffersons was canceled abruptly without an official series finale. WebSynopsis. Archie Bunkers Place(19791983 97 episodes). A top 20 show for most of its 11 seasons, The Jeffersons was canceled abruptly without an official series finale. Gloria Bunker Stivic became a single mom after Mike left her, so she got a job in a veterinary office. [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]. 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 episode marked the final appearance of Henry throughout the series. The 12 Most Unexpected Spinoffs in TV History Gibbs then returned to The Jeffersons.. The show was a spin-off of The Jeffersons. Five is a lot, but its not a record. Larry M. Harris won the Emmy for Outstanding Video Tape Editing for a Series in 1983. 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 idea of the Jeffersons "moving on up" came after three members of the Black Panthers who were fans of Lear's productions visited Lear's CBS office, raising issues with the creator over the portrayal of Black people on television, including his "Maude" spin-off series "Good Times." Unlike Arthur and Rolle, who were spun-off quickly, the Jeffersons were onAll In The Familyfor five seasons before they got their own show. 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. 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. Arthur was such a hit as Maude that Lear developed a series for her, with the second season finale ofAll In The Familyacting as the backdoor pilot for the spinoff. The Jeffersons The Jeffersons avoided that by making the titular characters move to a different neighborhood. Larry Linville(Frank Burns on MASH) plays her manager. Show 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. WebThe Jeffersons had one spin-off, titled Checking In. [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. 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. RELATED:10 Iconic Black TV Shows That Defined The Culture. The show was a spinoff from "All in the Family." 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. Evans 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. Stapleton expressed a desire to distance herself from the role of Edith. The list of firsts achieved by The Jeffersons is impressive. All in the Familyprimarily takes place at the Bunker residence on 704 Hauser Street. 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. At least stories featuring Black people were being told, and Black actors were getting significant roles on TV. 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. But he's actually one of the most complex characters in TV history. The show was a spinoff from "All in the Family." Henry Jefferson was never seen again. 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. A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants. Checking In premiered on CBS on April 9, 1981, and lasted for only four episodes in the Thursday, 8:00p.m. EST timeslot. The show was a spin-off ofThe Jeffersons. You would be, too, if your neighbor was Archie Bunker. Situation comediesaka "sitcoms"aren't always noted for their complex writing and deeply-imagined characters. 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. A spin-off of All in the Family. 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. 10 Unforgettable Black Sitcom Families - cbr.com The series follows Florence's misadventures at the hotel with her co-workers: Lyle Block, her stuffy manager; Elena Beltran, her assistant; Earl Bellamy, the inept house detective; Hank Sabatino, the lewd handyman; Betty, the floor supervisor; Dennis, the bellboy; and Mr. Claymore, the hotel owner.[1]. The Jeffersons 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. Ratings for the first season were poor, and the network didnt exactly shout about it from the antenna-covered rooftops. Edith and Gloria appeared occasionally at first, then Jean Stapleton wanted to make a clean break and Sally Struthers got her own show. 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. 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. Only five of the six taped episodes were aired, in April and May 1994. Communications Company from 19751982 and by Embassy Television from 19821985. 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. Sherman Hemsley, for example, came out of the revered Negro Ensemble Company (NEC), as did Roxie Roker (Helen Willis). [8] The Jeffersons' sixth season peaked at No. 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 show was a spinoff from "All in the Family." On one level, The Jeffersons is just a silly sitcom, and George Jefferson is a very silly character, prone to foolish schemes (like buying a piano he doesn't know how to play only to discover there's no way to fit it through his front door) and loud, boorish outbursts. Florence misunderstands and thinks an elderly salesman is coming on to her, but he's really trying to make a sales pitch. The Bunker-Verse! I would like to see this forgotten TV show resurrected on TV Land or Nick at Night, or maybe a special DVD release. The show was a spin-off of The Jeffersons. 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. All In The Familydirectly spun off five situation comedies between 1972 and 1994. The 12 Most Unexpected Spinoffs in TV History [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. [3] At the beginning of The Jeffersons, he was operating five stores throughout New York City, with another two opening during the following seasons. Thats not just impressive, its historic. It became Tandems longest running show, with 11 seasons. Here are the shows that make up the Archie Bunker Extended Universe a.k.a. Show The series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. Marla Gibbs of The Jeffersons got her own sitcom as Florence, who left her job as a housekeeper to work in a hotel. 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. 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! 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But as Variety reports, this didn't satisfy everybody. Web3. Here's the untold truth of The Jeffersons. ", was added as a bonus feature on The Jeffersons: The Complete Series 33-disc DVD set issued by Shout! Mike Evans would leave The Jeffersons to work behind the camera for another show in the All in the Family family tree Good Times. WandaVision& 9 Other Shows That Have Paid Homage To Sitcoms, Younger & 9 Other Shows Or Movies That Couldn't Have Existed Before Social Media, Abby's Mother Reveal In Night Court Resolves The Harry/Christine Romance, Big Bang Theory Secretly Hinted At Paiges Dark Young Sheldon Future, One Big Bang Theory Main Character Was Only Meant To Be A Guest Role. Archie's bigotrywas never meant to be accepted; rather,the entire sitcom wasmeant to "throw a humorous spotlight" on human "frailties, prejudices, and concerns," as a disclaimer before the first episode said. Rather than cast someone else, Lear decided to keep George offscreen until Hemsley was available. The show's time slot, for example, changed a ridiculous 15 times over those 11 years. It only CreatorNorman Learwas just happy the Bunkers were on the air. Fame10 notes that executives worried depicting an interracial kiss would lead to violenceand, worse, to affiliate stations dropping the show. 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. As The NWI Times notes, George worked as a janitor for a large apartment building while his wife, Louise "Weezy" Jefferson, worked as a housekeeper. But just because Lear could push those characters and storylines onto the screen didn't mean everyone was happy about it. Checking In Jenny and Lionel became a couple, married on December 24, 1976, and later became the parents of a daughter, Jessica (played by Ebonie Smith).