the jeffersons was a spinoff of what show

A national phenomenon was born. Checking In premiered on CBS on April 9, 1981, and lasted for only four episodes in the Thursday, 8:00p.m. EST timeslot. 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. It was funny and entertaining. 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. But he's actually one of the most complex characters in TV history. [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]. Theres certainly no human alive who believesArchie Bunkers Placeis better thanAll In The Family,and theres probably a few of us who would rather it didnt exist at all. Even though it flopped,704 Hauserhas a special place in the heart of many Norman Lear fans. 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. Most television is ephemeral. released season 7 on DVD in Region 1. 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?). George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) doesnt make his debut until season four, because Hemsley was committed to the Broadway showPurlie. 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). [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. Almost as well known, but less controversial was the Nov. 10, 1975, episode of Maude talking to her psychiatrist. It brought back the star ofGood Times John Amos in an update ofAll In The Familythat uses a plot point (interracial relationship) ofThe Jeffersons. Marla Gibbs of The Jeffersons got her own sitcom as Florence, who left her job as a housekeeper to work in a hotel. Maudealso introducedJohn Amosas Floridas husband Henry later changed to James and established their marital dynamic in preparation for the spinoff. 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). If you loveAll In The Familyand its iconic characters, the concept alone is problematic. Luckily, producer (and future network president) Fred Silverman fought to keep the scene in, and protest was muted. WebThe Jeffersons had one spin-off, titled Checking In. [8] The Jeffersons' sixth season peaked at No. A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants. 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. 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. [42][43], On April 28, 2015, Shout! 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 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. [23] Bentley also had a bad back, and frequently needed George to walk on it. It's remarkable that seven shows followed All in the Family and belong to its universe. Russell) who dated the girl down the block (Maura Tierney). Evans 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. Many people can't help but note that the main difference between The Jeffersons and other successful sitcoms that both enjoyed stable a time slot and received a formal finale episode is the color of the cast's skin. Gloria and Mike are no longer together, so Gloria and her son, Joey, leave California and go home to New York. [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 series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. George Jefferson was, in some ways, a black version of the white anti-hero Archie Bunker. Stage actressEsther Rolleshows up in the third episode ofMaudeas Florida, an AfricanAmerican housecleaner who has little patience for Maudes political correctness. ), 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. Hemsley was very experienced and took his performance very seriously. 704 Hauserflips the Archie/Meathead dynamic by making Ernie Cumberbatch (John Amos) the liberal and his son Thurgood Marshall Cumberbatch (T.E. Dont miss on getTV:While theres no direct Bunker connection,Checking Indoes featureLiz Torresas Florences assistant. Today were heading back to Manhattan, to revisit our favorite family, The Jeffersons. The show was launched as the second (and longest running) spin-off of All in the Family, on which the Jeffersons had been the neighbors of Archie and Edith Bunker. 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. 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. 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. 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 as Ebony writes, this was a deliberate calibration by the show's creators to make the show and the character of George Jefferson more palatable to audiences not quite ready to accept Blacks as their equals. The show was a spin-off ofThe Jeffersons. 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. Another sparring partner for Archie is neighbor George Jefferson, and the twocriticize one another's race. The Jeffersons spawned the television show Checking In. This show followed the Jeffersons maid Florence Johnston as she worked at a hotel in Manhattan. 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 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. Today were heading back to Manhattan, to revisit our favorite family, The Jeffersons. 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. Lear agreed to let OConnor continue the series without him, but under one condition: he couldnt call itAll In The Family. 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). Sometimes the best, and most intelligent, TV shows never get a chance! As noted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, this began to change in the 1970s, especially with the work of Norman Lear. 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. As a result, the series remained among the Top 20 for the next two seasons. Even before All in the Familyended, Stapleton expressed a desire to distance herself from the role of Edith. It was surprisingly thoughtful on issues of race and class within the confines of a broad comedy in prime time national television. For further instructions click the link below to your TV model. The Bunkers and their neighbors, the Jeffersons,developed relationships with other characters, many of whom got spin-offs of their own. And the series (which co-starred Oscar nomineeBurgess Meredithas a vet) didnt do much to win anybody over. Archie Bunkers Place(19791983 97 episodes). Both men are bigoted, and both use sarcasm and insults as weapons. [7], In its first season (197475), the show ranked at number four, surpassed by its parent series All in the Family (which landed at number one for the fifth year in a row). Sally Struthers was next to get her own show as Gloria Bunker Stivic, Archie and Edith's daughter. After a 1972 backdoor pilot onAll in the Family, Maude got a show of her own. 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. Only five of the six taped episodes were aired, in April and May 1994. 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. The series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. His alcohol problem isn't referenced anymore throughout the series, but it is assumable Charlie overcame it. After eight seasons, Lear thoughtAll In The Familyhad run its course, but OConnor didnt agree. 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. Florida and James have three children: J.J., Michael, and Thelma. 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. 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. John Amos (who played James Evans onGood Times) is the father, Ernie Cumberbatch. Sign up for the newsletter to get the latest updates about getTV. 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. In response she showed a picture of her husband, Sy Kravitz, who was white. 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. But we dont have those fights on704 Hauser. Other failed spin-off attempts were Gloria in the 1982-1983 season and 704 Hauser in 1994. 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. This ill-advised spinoff featured Struthers returning as the title character, now a single mom raising her son Joey (Christian Jacobs) after Mike left her and moved to a commune with one of his students. Marla Gibbs portrayed the role of Florence Johnston, the Jeffersons' back-talking, tough, wisecracking, and devoutly religious housekeeper. Lionel is the first Jefferson to be seen onAll in the Family, but his parents become an important part of the show, too. Also worth noting: in the fifth season, Janet Jackson joined the cast. [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. 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. 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. [37] The most common time slot was on Sunday night. WebSpun-off from The Jeffersons (1975) This spin-off of The Jeffersons came out about 8 years before Marla Gibbs' second series, "227." Zara Cully played George's mother, Olivia "Mother" Jefferson, who constantly disparaged her daughter-in-law. [1] In an episode of Tyler Perry's House of Payne in 2011, Sherman Hemsley and Marla Gibbs reprised their roles of George Jefferson and Florence Johnston. As of 2022[update], the members still alive from the main cast include Marla Gibbs, Berlinda Tolbert, and Damon Evans. The show was produced by the T.A.T. Arthur was the only actor seen for the entire half-hour. Thanks to Lear and his characters, 70s TV audiences saw and heard things they never had before in primetime. In that regard,Good Timesis more like a reboot of Rolle and Amoss characters than a spinoff. 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. 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. Mike Evans ("Lionel") left the show after the first season; his replacement was Damon Evans (no relation),[6] who took over the role until halfway through the fourth season. See Amos in the episodeA Visit From Lena Horne(January 12, 1973) and DuBois inSanford And Son And Sister Makes Three(December 1, 1972). The show was produced by the T.A.T. Many great shows and movies turn 50 years old in 2021, andAll in the Familyis one of the most iconic. 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. The series also featured Danielle Brisebois as Stephanie, the young daughter of Ediths step-cousin who had moved in with the Bunkers in the final season of AITF. Brisebois had been a hit in Broadways Annie. (She later became an Oscar-nominated songwriter.). The Jeffersons spawned the television show Checking In. This show followed the Jeffersons maid Florence Johnston as she worked at a hotel in Manhattan. 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. Lead actors Rolle and John Amos felt a huge responsibility for that. Ned Wertimer played their tip-hungry doorman, Ralph Hart, throughout the series. Lesa Kite, Cindy Begel, Howard Bendetson & Bob Bendetson. The third episode, "Whose Side Are You On? [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. 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. Lionel is introduced in the pilot, and is a core cast member for season one. 1. 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 It became Tandems longest running show, with 11 seasons. It only WebSpun-off from The Jeffersons (1975) This spin-off of The Jeffersons came out about 8 years before Marla Gibbs' second series, "227." The series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. Today were heading back to Manhattan, to revisit our favorite family, The Jeffersons. Jefferson has plenty of reason to distrust white people and the power structures they use to oppress him. The cast commonly visited the bar for a drink or to attend a party. OConnor didnt like it either, apparently. The cast reunited in a stage play based on the sitcom. 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. A spin-off of All in the Family. I remember watching Checking In in the early 80s and even remember the theme song. RELATED:WandaVision& 9 Other Shows That Have Paid Homage To Sitcoms. All in the Familyprimarily takes place at the Bunker residence on 704 Hauser Street. Ratings for the first season were poor, and the network didnt exactly shout about it from the antenna-covered rooftops. Situation comediesaka "sitcoms"aren't always noted for their complex writing and deeply-imagined characters. The Jeffersons ended in controversy after CBS abruptly canceled the series without allowing for a proper series finale. All In The Familydirectly spun off five situation comedies between 1972 and 1994. The Jeffersons had many two-part episodes, either over two consecutive weeks, or aired as an hour-long episode. A sitcom world must be a good one for a spin-off to spawn another spin-off! 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. 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). They live in a public housing project and struggle to get by at times. Hes mellowed. 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. [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. Florence often teased George, mostly about his short stature and receding hairline. 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. Florence is caught between Lyle and Elena when they have an argument, but she won't take anyone's side. 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. I remember watching Checking In in the early 80s and even remember the theme song. 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! This show wasnt very successful, however. 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. See production, box office & company info, Metromedia Square - 5746 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA. But just because Lear could push those characters and storylines onto the screen didn't mean everyone was happy about it. Actor Franklin Cover, who played Tom Willis, also heard about the cancellation while watching Entertainment Tonight. Maude becomes yet another person for Archie to disagree with politically. As with Maude and Good Times , the main character of the new series was a maid on her previous series. It only Edith and Gloria appeared occasionally at first, then Jean Stapleton wanted to make a clean break and Sally Struthers got her own 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. It only Paul Benedict arrived as Harry Bentley, an amiable, kind, loyal yet somewhat obtuse British next-door neighbor,[8] who worked as an interpreter at the United Nations. George Jefferson was, in some ways, a black version of the white anti-hero Archie Bunker. It's rare for a television comedy to lead cultural change like this, and it puts The Jeffersons into historical perspective. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. With Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover. Groundbreaking and performed by some of the most talented actors and actresses of its time, The Jeffersons has remained a cultural touchstone for some very good reasons. On their own show, the Jeffersons interact with new friends and neighbors while inhabiting a new lifestyle. Here are the shows that make up the Archie Bunker Extended Universe a.k.a. The two-part season opener for Maude in 1973 dealt with the alcoholism of her husband Walter (Bill Macy). Sherman Hemsley even appeared in the premiere. They were saying, essentially, We wont have anything to do with this show.. After 25 episodes, Lear had finally found someone who could go toe-to-toe withCarroll OConnors Archie. In the 1984-85 season, CBS aired a forgotten comedy called E/R, starring Elliot Gould. Sherman Hemsley, for example, came out of the revered Negro Ensemble Company (NEC), as did Roxie Roker (Helen Willis). Before we go any further, a few words about math. 0. All In The Family(19711979 205 episodes plus two un-aired pilots). A top 20 show for most of its 11 seasons, The Jeffersons was canceled abruptly without an official series finale. Maude arrives at the Bunker home to help out when the family gets hit with the flu. Dont miss on getTV:Cousin Maudes Visit(December 11, 1971) andMaude(March 11, 1972). 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. [41], On August 8, 2014, it was announced that Shout! Five is a lot, but its not a record. The series began after a backdoor pilot on Archie Bunker's Placecalled "Gloria: The First Day." Evans It was funny and entertaining. Sherman Hemsley even appeared in the premiere. 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. This show wasnt very successful, however. 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. The Jeffersons avoided that by making the titular characters move to a different neighborhood. No episode was centered on Mother Jefferson's death, but it was occasionally mentioned that she had died in future episodes. Faced with low ratings, the series was cancelled, and the final episode aired on April 30, 1981. Arthur was the only actor seen for the entire half-hour. [17] Lear consulted with his associate Al Burton on the concept. 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. George was introduced in the episode "Henry's Farewell", and Hemsley and Stewart share their only scene together in its final minutes. 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. Norman Lear's 1975 spinoff of All in the Family remains a unique show. In reality, Joey (born 1975) would have only been 19, but Siemaszko was 33. 3). The song was co-written by Ja'Net DuBois, who portrayed Willona on Norman Lear's other show, Good Times, and Jeff Barry. 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). Web3. Communications Company from 19751982 and by Embassy Television from 19821985.

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