Ned Wertimer played their tip-hungry doorman, Ralph Hart, throughout the series. Maude becomes yet another person for Archie to disagree with politically. All in the Familyprimarily takes place at the Bunker residence on 704 Hauser Street. Almost as well known, but less controversial was the Nov. 10, 1975, episode of Maude talking to her psychiatrist. The Jeffersonsis the next spin-off to come directly fromAll in the Family. 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?). 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 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. But whatHappy Daysdidnt have were spin-offs of spin-offs. Maude(19721978 141 episodes plus pilot onAll In The Family). 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. This article is about the 1981 sitcom. 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. 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. The ninth season feels more like the first ofArchie Bunkers Place, with the introduction of Stephanie (nine-year-oldDanielle Brisebois), less screen time for Jean Stapleton as Edith, and a greater reliance on the bar. 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. A top 20 show for most of its 11 seasons, The Jeffersons was canceled abruptly without an official series finale. 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. Sally Struthers was next to get her own show as Gloria Bunker Stivic, Archie and Edith's daughter. Here's the untold truth of The Jeffersons. They live in a public housing project and struggle to get by at times. WebIn 1975, George Jefferson was eager to move out of Queens. 3. In the 1984-85 season, CBS aired a forgotten comedy called E/R, starring Elliot Gould. The influential sitcom was controversial when it first aired on 50 years ago on Jan. 12, 1971, and it went on to confront numerous issues that hadnt previously been portrayed on television. 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. Besides being set in the same house, the only directAll In The Familyconnection comes withCasey Siemaszkoplaying grown-up Joey Stivic. Weve both mellowed. Many spinoffs tend to set themselves up for comparison by using the same location as the original show. 3). The Jeffersons avoided that by making the titular characters move to a different neighborhood. In 1975, Norman Lear was possibly the most powerful man working in television. [27] He was known for constantly stalling at the Jeffersons' door with his hand out waiting for a tip. [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. Thanks to Lear and his characters, 70s TV audiences saw and heard things they never had before in primetime. I felt I shouldve been more involved in the development of scripts. So when shows like Norman Lear's Good Times hit the airwaves in the early 1970s, it was seen as huge progress. The successful series ran for six seasons and, like its predecessor, dealt with some serious issues during its day. Gloria and Mike are no longer together, so Gloria and her son, Joey, leave California and go home to New York. In the 1984-85 season, CBS aired a forgotten comedy called E/R, starring Elliot Gould. The Jeffersons spawned the television show Checking In. This show followed the Jeffersons maid Florence Johnston as she worked at a hotel in Manhattan. [49] Marla Gibbs reprised her role as Florence Johnston. [8] Damon Evans's last episode was "Lionel Gets the Business". 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. The Jeffersons spawned the television show Checking In. This show followed the Jeffersons maid Florence Johnston as she worked at a hotel in Manhattan. 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. Florence Johnston (Marla Gibbs) worked for the Jefferson family on their show, butChecking Infocused on her life as the executive housekeeper of the St. Frederick Hotel in New York City. Sometimes the best, and most intelligent, TV shows never get a chance! 6. The Jeffersons ended up lasting 11 seasons, beating All In The Family's 9 seasons. WebIn 1975, George Jefferson was eager to move out of Queens. [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. Many spinoffs tend to set themselves up for comparison by using the same location as the original show. And The Jeffersons was in many ways a broad, superficial comedy that relied on racially-charged jokes and physical comedy to get laughs. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. Ralph was also known for making up stories of him struggling to fulfill the Jeffersons request to get more tips. Gloria(19821983 21 episodes plus unaired pilot). [21], Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released the first six seasons of The Jeffersons on DVD in Region 1 between 2002 and 2007. [17] Lear consulted with his associate Al Burton on the concept. 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. Lionel is introduced in the pilot, and is a core cast member for season one. In the 1984-85 season, CBS aired a forgotten comedy called E/R, starring Elliot Gould. But white audiences could feel good about being more racially sensitive and evolved than Bunker, whereas George Jefferson's upward mobility could be seen as threatening. Sherman Hemsley even appeared in the premiere. All in the Family was notable for many things including the fact that it spawned seven other TV series. Most of the cast usually didn't respond, but George almost always gave in. Over the course of its 11-year run, the series was almost always one of the most-watched on television. 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. As progressive as it was when it came to race relations, it hedged its bets in many ways. The final spin-off of this world of Norman Lear shows is704 Hauser. George owns a profitable dry-cleaning chain, so he and the family move to a nice apartment on the Upper East Side of New York City in a backdoor pilot onAll in the Family. Dont miss on getTV:While theres no direct Bunker connection,Checking Indoes featureLiz Torresas Florences assistant. Almost as well known, but less controversial was the Nov. 10, 1975, episode of Maude talking to her psychiatrist. 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. Unlike Arthur and Rolle, who were spun-off quickly, the Jeffersons were onAll In The Familyfor five seasons before they got their own show. Looking back on decades past, it'sremarkable how seven shows followedAll in the Familyand belong to its universe. 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. Lead actors Rolle and John Amos felt a huge responsibility for that. "HONKY IN THE HOUSE Writing & Producing The Jeffersons," Antler Publishing, LA, CA, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 18:06. 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. Archie Bunker's Place extended Archie's role to over twelve years on television. 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. WebSynopsis. 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. In the spring of 1981, Paul Benedict left the show for a season and a half, returning in the final two seasons of the series. Also worth noting: in the fifth season, Janet Jackson joined the cast. George Jefferson was, in some ways, a black version of the white anti-hero Archie Bunker. Hemsley was very experienced and took his performance very seriously. Gloria Bunker Stivic became a single mom after Mike left her, so she got a job in a veterinary office. The epithets nigger and honky were used occasionally, especially during the earlier seasons.[2][4]. Maudealso introducedJohn Amosas Floridas husband Henry later changed to James and established their marital dynamic in preparation for the spinoff. Other failed spin-off attempts were Gloria in the 1982-1983 season and 704 Hauser in 1994. The Jeffersons ended up lasting 11 seasons, beating All In The Family's 9 seasons. 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. 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 FAMILY 7 Spin-Offs From TVs Most Spun-Off Sitcom, Charlies Angels: 10 Things You May Not Know (or Do You? [19] The Jeffersons premiered the following week, on January 18, 1975.[8]. 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). 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. 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. WebSynopsis. 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. George is an obstreperous, often rude guy who thinks his wealth should get him anywhere he wants to go. It was almost totally unlike any other theme song you would hear on TV at the time, and that was the whole point. Mike Evans would leave The Jeffersons to work behind the camera for another show in the All in the Family family tree Good Times. As withMaudeandGood Times, the main character of the new series was a maid onher previousseries. Early seasons of the show used racial epithets for both Black and white characters fairly often, but as time went on Hemsley thought his character should be evolving and stop using expressions like "honky." You would be, too, if your neighbor was Archie Bunker. A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants. With Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover. WebThe Jeffersons: Created by Norman Lear, Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, Bernard West. However, Mike Evans appeared for only one more season, along with Tolbert. WebFor her full interview, see http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/isabel-sanford Lesa Kite, Cindy Begel, Howard Bendetson & Bob Bendetson. Its like a Norman Lears Greatest Hits! For airdates and times, visit theAll In The Familyshow page. As with Maude and Good Times , the main character of the new series was a maid on her previous series. Florence is caught between Lyle and Elena when they have an argument, but she won't take anyone's side. Ja'Net DuBois and Jeff Barry co-wrote The Jeffersons theme song, "Movin' on Up", which was sung by DuBois with a gospel choir. [8] However, the ratings sank below the top 30, and The Jeffersons aired its last episode, "Red Robins", on July 2, 1985.[28]. 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. Archie was used as a device for commentary on important social issues in the 1970s. Actor Franklin Cover, who played Tom Willis, also heard about the cancellation while watching Entertainment Tonight. Fox tried out for a role on this show but was turned down. 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. Over the course of its 11-year run, the series was almost always one of the most-watched on television. The episode marked the final appearance of Henry throughout the series. RELATED:WandaVision& 9 Other Shows That Have Paid Homage To Sitcoms. 1. As noted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, this began to change in the 1970s, especially with the work of Norman Lear. But the real reason was more pragmatic: Norman Lear had created the character for Sherman Hemsley, but Hemsley was under contract for the play Purlie and refused to break his contract. Everybody knows it, and you can't help but sing along. Mike Evans would leave The Jeffersons to work behind the camera for another show in the All in the Family family tree Good Times. 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. We actually enjoy working together." [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. WebThe Jeffersons: Created by Norman Lear, Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, Bernard West. 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. It's rare for a television comedy to lead cultural change like this, and it puts The Jeffersons into historical perspective. 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. 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. Lionel is introduced in the pilot, and is a core cast member for season one. Stage actressEsther Rolleshows up in the third episode ofMaudeas Florida, an AfricanAmerican housecleaner who has little patience for Maudes political correctness. A spin-off of All in the Family. The series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. 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. Lear and associate Al Burton talked about a possible show in which a Black family is moving on up to the East Side. The series was created by Don Nicholl, Michael Ross and Bernie West, and developed by Lear. As with Maude and Good Times , the main character of the new series was a maid on her previous series. Almost as well known, but less controversial was the Nov. 10, 1975, episode of Maude talking to her psychiatrist. ", "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! 2023 Variety Media, LLC. 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.". 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. She got unlimited passes from the airline. Mike Evans would leave The Jeffersons to work behind the camera for another show in the All in the Family family tree Good Times. Communications Company from 19751982 and by Embassy Television from 19821985. Which makes it curious that its network, CBS, treated it as if the show was in trouble. Jenny and Lionel became a couple, married on December 24, 1976, and later became the parents of a daughter, Jessica (played by Ebonie Smith). With Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover. WebThe Jeffersons had one spin-off, titled Checking In. 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. Thats bullshit.. This show wasnt very successful, however. 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. For the American Horror Story episode, see, The 200th Episode Celebration of All in the Family, Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Checking_In&oldid=1126465217, 1980s American workplace comedy television series, Television series by Sony Pictures Television, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0.