Looking back on decades past, it'sremarkable how seven shows followedAll in the Familyand belong to its universe. Shows like Sanford and Son and Good Times had all-Black main casts and made an attempt to depict Black American life more realistically. 1. 1. [5][6] The show was the creation of Norman Lear. Marla Gibbs was the breakout star onThe Jeffersonsas Florence, George and Louises maid, so it made perfect sense to spin her off. 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 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 song was co-written by Ja'Net DuBois, who portrayed Willona on Norman Lear's other show, Good Times, and Jeff Barry. It only It was funny and entertaining. 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! WhenAll In The Familydebuted in 1971, few people suspected it would be responsible for more spin-offs than any other sitcom in television history. Web3. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Luckily, producer (and future network president) Fred Silverman fought to keep the scene in, and protest was muted. I remember watching Checking In in the early 80s and even remember the theme song. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. Marla Gibbs remains best-known to many people as the sarcastic housekeeper, Florence, on The Jeffersons. 1. Sherman Hemsley even appeared in the premiere. Florence is caught between Lyle and Elena when they have an argument, but she won't take anyone's side. Portrayed by Mel Stewart, Henry got the lines and screen time that would have gone to George. Here are the shows that make up the Archie Bunker Extended Universe a.k.a. Thats not just impressive, its historic. 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. As Black America Web reports, when the show was canceled in 1985 the network didn't even bother to inform the cast. The series endured for nine seasons, but the show we think of when we think ofAll In The Familyreally ended in season 8 when Gloria (Sally Struthers) and her husband Meathead (Reiner) moved to California. 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. But we dont have those fights on704 Hauser. 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. The Bunker-Verse! Almost as well known, but less controversial was the Nov. 10, 1975, episode of Maude talking to her psychiatrist. Arthur was the only actor seen for the entire half-hour. [41], On August 8, 2014, it was announced that Shout! 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. The series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. With Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover. A spin-off of All in the Family. Today were heading back to Manhattan, to revisit our favorite family, The Jeffersons. Over the course of its 11-year run, the series was almost always one of the most-watched on television. 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. 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 series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. [37] The most common time slot was on Sunday night. All In The Familyis one of the most transformative sitcoms in the history of the medium, if not the most. Communications Company from 19751982 and by Embassy Television from 19821985. 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. 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. [8] The characters of Lionel's multiracial fiance, Jenny, and her family, all of whom first appeared in the 1974 All in the Family episode "Lionel's Engagement", were also written into the new series. WebThe Jeffersons had one spin-off, titled Checking In. Mike Evans would leave The Jeffersons to work behind the camera for another show in the All in the Family family tree Good Times. 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. [8] However, the ratings sank below the top 30, and The Jeffersons aired its last episode, "Red Robins", on July 2, 1985.[28]. Other NEC graduates include John Amos, Richard Roundtree, Denzel Washington, and Angela Bassett. [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. Ratings for the first season were poor, and the network didnt exactly shout about it from the antenna-covered rooftops. Russell) who dated the girl down the block (Maura Tierney). 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. 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. In the 1984-85 season, CBS aired a forgotten comedy called E/R, starring Elliot Gould. 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. As of 2022[update], the members still alive from the main cast include Marla Gibbs, Berlinda Tolbert, and Damon Evans. The series began after a backdoor pilot on Archie Bunker's Placecalled "Gloria: The First Day." And issues like these were also almost never addressed on televisionuntil The Jeffersons came along. They complained that shows featuring Black casts always portrayed Black people as poor, reinforcing some stereotypes even as they undermined others. 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. Archie was used as a device for commentary on important social issues in the 1970s. 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). 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. 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. For airdates and times, visit theAll In The Familyshow page. Ralph was also known for making up stories of him struggling to fulfill the Jeffersons request to get more tips. Lead actors Rolle and John Amos felt a huge responsibility for that. Almost as well known, but less controversial was the Nov. 10, 1975, episode of Maude talking to her psychiatrist. [39], On August 27, 2013, it was announced that Mill Creek Entertainment had acquired the rights to various television series from the Sony Pictures library including The Jeffersons. This show wasnt very successful, however. 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 spinoffs tend to set themselves up for comparison by using the same location as the original show. 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. WebSynopsis. Florida and James have three children: J.J., Michael, and Thelma. 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. ", "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 was perceived as an act of deep disrespect by many of the cast members, and it also meant that one of the most successful and longest-running comedies of all time didn't get to have a proper series finale. Most television is ephemeral. 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. 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. Maude arrives at the Bunker home to help out when the family gets hit with the flu. See production, box office & company info, Metromedia Square - 5746 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA. 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. Even before All in the Familyended, Stapleton expressed a desire to distance herself from the role of Edith. Mike Evans and Tolbert returned in the 19791980 season, with Tolbert's character, Jenny, pregnant with a daughter named Jessica. Michael J. If you loveAll In The Familyand its iconic characters, the concept alone is problematic. Unlike Arthur and Rolle, who were spun-off quickly, the Jeffersons were onAll In The Familyfor five seasons before they got their own show. 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.). As Smithsonian Magazine notes, when Diahann Carroll debuted in 1968's Julia, portraying a Black woman working as a nurse and raising her son as a widow, it was controversial because it avoided any reference to the racial politics of the time and presented what many felt was a "white" character simply played by a Black actress. Checking In premiered on CBS on April 9, 1981, and lasted for only four episodes in the Thursday, 8:00p.m. EST timeslot. Your subscription to our list has been confirmed. Weve both mellowed. Roxie Roker was asked during a casting interview if she'd be comfortable with her character having a white husband. [38] The show's ratings for the following two seasons placed it in the Top 30, but during the 197778 and 197879 seasons (the show's fourth and fifth seasons), it fell out of the top 30, ranking 52nd in Season 4 and 49th in Season 5. It was surprisingly thoughtful on issues of race and class within the confines of a broad comedy in prime time national television. Marla Gibbs was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series each year from 1981 to 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. As with Maude and Good Times , the main character of the new series was a maid on her previous series. Sherman Hemsley even appeared in the premiere. 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 Johnson returned toThe JeffersonsafterChecking Inended. 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. 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. Marla Gibbs portrayed the role of Florence Johnston, the Jeffersons' back-talking, tough, wisecracking, and devoutly religious housekeeper. It was a spinoff of a spinoff, centering on Maudes maid Florida (Esther Rolle) and her family. The show was a spinoff from "All in the Family." 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. The cast reunited in a stage play based on the sitcom. [8] Damon Evans's last episode was "Lionel Gets the Business". 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. In some ways, 1975 doesn't seem so long agobut it was truly a different time in more ways than one. Almost as well known, but less controversial was the Nov. 10, 1975, episode of Maude talking to her psychiatrist. 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. In response she showed a picture of her husband, Sy Kravitz, who was white. A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants. Ernies wife is played byLynnie Godfreyand Goodies girlfriend who is white and Jewish is played byMaura Tierney. The sitcom featured Burgess Meredith and Jo de Winter, and lasted one season. The Jeffersons ended in controversy after CBS abruptly canceled the series without allowing for a proper series finale. 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). Florence often teased George, mostly about his short stature and receding hairline. This show wasnt very successful, however. Jenny and Lionel became a couple, married on December 24, 1976, and later became the parents of a daughter, Jessica (played by Ebonie Smith). See Amos in the episodeA Visit From Lena Horne(January 12, 1973) and DuBois inSanford And Son And Sister Makes Three(December 1, 1972). 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. While many of the shows connected toAll in the Familydid extraordinarily well,Checking Inonly lasted for four episodes. Rather than cast someone else, Lear decided to keep George offscreen until Hemsley was available. She appeared in seven episodes in 197677, so watch any of those! On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Its like a Norman Lears Greatest Hits! On May 22, 2019, ABC broadcast Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lears All in the Family and The Jeffersons, produced by Lear and Jimmy Kimmel and starring Woody Harrelson, Marisa Tomei, Jamie Foxx, Wanda Sykes, Ike Barinholtz, Kerry Washington, Ellie Kemper. A top 20 show for most of its 11 seasons, The Jeffersons was canceled abruptly without an official series finale. 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. 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. Gibbs says that she worked out an adjusted schedule with United that allowed her enough time to film her scenes and then race into work, where she worked the phones in their reservations office. The cast commonly visited the bar for a drink or to attend a party. Amoscontinued in the role of James until the character's death. They were saying, essentially, We wont have anything to do with this show.. Lear called the704 Hausercharacters "responsible" and explained they knew what they were talking about in arguments. 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 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. Larry Linville(Frank Burns on MASH) plays her manager. The epithets nigger and honky were used occasionally, especially during the earlier seasons.[2][4]. Eventually this tactic worked, and the writers stopped using the offensive terms. 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. WebThe Jeffersons: Created by Norman Lear, Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, Bernard West. I would like to see this forgotten TV show resurrected on TV Land or Nick at Night, or maybe a special DVD release. All in the Familyprimarily takes place at the Bunker residence on 704 Hauser Street. Weezy is initially reluctant to hire a housekeeper in the first episode in part because she's had that experience herself. The successful series ran for six seasons and, like its predecessor, dealt with some serious issues during its day. RELATED:WandaVision& 9 Other Shows That Have Paid Homage To Sitcoms. When it flopped, Florence returned to work for George and Louise. "HONKY IN THE HOUSE Writing & Producing The Jeffersons," Antler Publishing, LA, CA, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 18:06. 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?). Edith and Gloria appeared occasionally at first, then Jean Stapleton wanted to make a clean break and Sally Struthers got her own show. 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. 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. CreatorNorman Learwas just happy the Bunkers were on the air. I remember watching Checking In in the early 80s and even remember the theme song. A sitcom world must be a good one for a spin-off to spawn another spin-off! And the series (which co-starred Oscar nomineeBurgess Meredithas a vet) didnt do much to win anybody over. 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. Many spinoffs tend to set themselves up for comparison by using the same location as the original show. The pilot even has the series signature catchphrase, God will get you for that, Walter, which Maude uses to express her displeasure with husband Walter (Bill Macy), owner of an appliance shop. 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. What is the chronological order of these Norman Lear shows? 3. 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. As the Atlanta Black Star notes, the Panthers told Lear that there were successful Black people in the world whose stories could be compelling and funny. Lionel is introduced in the pilot, and is a core cast member for season one. 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. It was her breakout role; as noted by The History Makers, Gibbs had started taking acting classes when her job with United Airlines transferred her from Detroit to Los Angeles, but prior to being cast as Florence the actress had only appeared in a handful of theater roles and one film, 1973's Sweet Jesus, Preacher Man. [23] Bentley also had a bad back, and frequently needed George to walk on it. For further instructions click the link below to your TV model. 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). 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. Bunker has no reason to hate Blacks or to view them as inferior. [36], The Jeffersons changed time slots at least 15 different times during its 11-year run, unusual for a popular long running series. Sanford was also the recipient of five of the eight Golden Globe Awards nominations the program received.[48]. WebIn 1975, George Jefferson was eager to move out of Queens. The series gave John Amos and Norman Lear another chance to work together after tensions on set led Amos to leaveGood Times. [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. His alcohol problem isn't referenced anymore throughout the series, but it is assumable Charlie overcame it. Edith's death in the context of the spin-offmade Archie a widow, and though he missed Edith terribly, he continued on with his pub and focused on taking care of Edith's young relative, Stephanie Mills (Danielle Brisebois). Sherman Hemsley was nominated for Best Actor in 1984. They live in a public housing project and struggle to get by at times. Mike Evans would leave The Jeffersons to work behind the camera for another show in the All in the Family family tree Good Times. [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. Checking Infound Florence as executive housekeeper at a New York City Hotel. As reported by New Ravel, network executives weren't happy about taking things that far, and pressured the producers to remove the scene. Over the course of its 11-year run, the series was almost always one of the most-watched on television. Hemsley was very experienced and took his performance very seriously. Many great shows and movies turn 50 years old in 2021, andAll in the Familyis one of the most iconic. Lear created this series, which had an inventive concept: an African-American family moves into the house formerly occupied by Archie Bunker. 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. The show was produced by the T.A.T. Lyle throws a party at the hotel, but his high school rival (now a pro football coach) and his team decide to crash it. Lear agreed to let OConnor continue the series without him, but under one condition: he couldnt call itAll In The Family. [46], Isabel Sanford was nominated for seven consecutive Best Actress Emmys, from 1979 until 1985. Sherman Hemsley, for example, came out of the revered Negro Ensemble Company (NEC), as did Roxie Roker (Helen Willis). Maudealso introducedJohn Amosas Floridas husband Henry later changed to James and established their marital dynamic in preparation for the spinoff. He had endured a tortured development process that included two pilots rejected by ABC and multiple recasts. Most of the cast usually didn't respond, but George almost always gave in. It took until 1975 until television finally gave Black audiences a family that looked like them and that wasn't struggling.
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