It took until 1975 until television finally gave Black audiences a family that looked like them and that wasn't struggling. The Jeffersons had one spin-off, titled Checking In. However, Mike Evans appeared for only one more season, along with Tolbert. The Jeffersons 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?). In the 1996 series finale of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, the Jeffersons made a guest appearance as the buyers of the Banks family house. In the season two episodeCousin Maudes Visit, Ediths liberal cousin Maude Findlay (Beatrice Arthur) comes to help out when the Bunkers are sick with the flu. The episode marked the final appearance of Henry throughout the series. It was surprisingly thoughtful on issues of race and class within the confines of a broad comedy in prime time national television. The series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. Fun fact: Both Macy and Rodd played different characters onAll In The Familyjust weeks before Lear cast them onMaude. Happy Daysalso had five spin-offs between 1976 and 1979. See Amos in the episodeA Visit From Lena Horne(January 12, 1973) and DuBois inSanford And Son And Sister Makes Three(December 1, 1972). Produced by Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin, the working-class sitcom was set in Queens, New York and was based on a British sitcom calledTill Death Do Us Part. The Jeffersons The series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. 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. Lear agreed to let OConnor continue the series without him, but under one condition: he couldnt call itAll In The Family. WebIn 1975, George Jefferson was eager to move out of Queens. [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. Evans Sign up for the newsletter to get the latest updates about getTV. Sherman Hemsley even appeared in the premiere. The character of George Jefferson was conceived of as a mirror image in some ways of Archie Bunker. When it flopped, Florence returned to work for George and Louise. Spin-off It's remarkable that seven shows followed All in the Family and belong to its universe. 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). George is an obstreperous, often rude guy who thinks his wealth should get him anywhere he wants to go. Yes, Scream VI Marketing Is Behind the Creepy Ghostface Sightings Causing Scares Across the U.S. David Oyelowo, Taylor Sheridan's 'Bass Reeves' Series at Paramount+ Casts King Richard Star Demi Singleton (EXCLUSIVE), Star Trek: Discovery to End With Season 5, Paramount+ Pushes Premiere to 2024. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. [6][20][21] Cully, who had first appeared in the 1974 All in the Family episode "Lionel's Engagement", reprised her role. The Jeffersons spawned the television show Checking In. This show followed the Jeffersons maid Florence Johnston as she worked at a hotel in Manhattan. I felt I shouldve been more involved in the development of scripts. The shows spin-off series continued to break boundaries with discussions of abortion, alcoholism and racism. is Movin' On Up to a 'Season 7' Separate Release! As with Maude and Good Times , the main character of the new series was a maid on her previous series. 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. WebThe Jeffersons: Created by Norman Lear, Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, Bernard West. After his car was rear-ended by a bus, he filed a civil action and won $5000, enough to open his first store in Queens. Ernies wife is played byLynnie Godfreyand Goodies girlfriend who is white and Jewish is played byMaura Tierney. Even though it flopped,704 Hauserhas a special place in the heart of many Norman Lear fans. Cully was written out in season 4 due to her death in 1978, from lung cancer. Isabel Sanford on not wanting to do "The Jeffersons" spin off The sitcom was about the black family who had lived next door to the Bunkers, but Good Times was partly responsible. 4. [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. All in the Familyis famous for its prejudiced patriarch, Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor). [42][43], On April 28, 2015, Shout! 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. 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. 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. 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. And then there's The Jeffersons. ALL IN THE FAMILY 7 Spin-Offs From TVs Most Spun-Off Sitcom, Charlies Angels: 10 Things You May Not Know (or Do You? [1][4], The show focuses on George and Louise Jefferson, a prosperous African-American couple who have been able to move from Queens to Manhattan owing to the success of George's dry-cleaning chain, Jefferson Cleaners. [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. Checking In I remember watching Checking In in the early 80s and even remember the theme song. Oddly, whenGood Timesbegan in February of 1974, no mention was made of Maude or how the Evanses got from New York to the Chicago. Michael J. THE FAMILY 7 Spin-Offs From [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. Arthur was the only actor seen for the entire half-hour. All of that changed on May 9, 1971, whenAll In The Familywon Emmys for Best Comedy, Best New Series, and Best Actress forJean Stapleton(Edith Bunker). Ralph was also known for making up stories of him struggling to fulfill the Jeffersons request to get more tips. [46], Isabel Sanford was nominated for seven consecutive Best Actress Emmys, from 1979 until 1985. [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. Here's the untold truth of The Jeffersons. Today were heading back to Manhattan, to revisit our favorite family, The Jeffersons. Lear created the character of Henry Jefferson, George's younger brother, who was portrayed by Mel Stewart which replaced George with Henry in the series's scripts until Purlie finished its run. [8] The Jeffersons' sixth season peaked at No. One other reason she kept her job despite becoming famous on a top-rate television show? All in the Family was notable for many things including the fact that it spawned seven other TV series. The 12 Most Unexpected Spinoffs in TV History WebSynopsis. 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 12 Most Unexpected Spinoffs in TV History The Jeffersons was notable because it depicted a Black family as upper-middle class. 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.". 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. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. The Jeffersons The show was produced by the T.A.T. Jefferson has plenty of reason to distrust white people and the power structures they use to oppress him. [27] He was known for constantly stalling at the Jeffersons' door with his hand out waiting for a tip. 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 Jeffersons She appeared in seven episodes in 197677, so watch any of those! WhenAll In The Familydebuted in 1971, few people suspected it would be responsible for more spin-offs than any other sitcom in television history. That's exactly what happened withGood Times. Web3. In reality, Joey (born 1975) would have only been 19, but Siemaszko was 33. Marla Gibbs remains best-known to many people as the sarcastic housekeeper, Florence, on The Jeffersons. Fame10 notes that executives worried depicting an interracial kiss would lead to violenceand, worse, to affiliate stations dropping the show. 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. Dont miss on getTV: Everything, but especially the first episodeMeet The Bunkers(airdate January 12, 1971) and the lastToo Good Edith(April 8, 1979). 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. The Jeffersonsis the next spin-off to come directly fromAll in the Family. The series is bookended in a very creative way. George was introduced in the episode "Henry's Farewell", and Hemsley and Stewart share their only scene together in its final minutes. As noted by Ebony, while it's easy to view George Jefferson as a "Black Archie Bunker," that's not accurate. The Jeffersons It brought back the star ofGood Times John Amos in an update ofAll In The Familythat uses a plot point (interracial relationship) ofThe Jeffersons.