OllieSuave-007 My mom and I would often catch this show when I was a kid, videotaping a good handful of episodes when it ran in syndication, and then we bought six seasons of it years later when the show finally was available on DVD.Sherman Hemsley as George and Isabel Stanford as Louise were hilarious as the rich black couple living in that "apartment in the sky," often bickering with one another, with Louise as the sensible one and George the one with fiery talk and a proud businessman attitude. Marla Gibbs plays Florence, the Jeffersons' sassy maid who doesn't take gut from anybody and backtalks when needed, especially to George - creating that love-hate relationship that is classic and funny throughout the entire show.Franklin Cover and Roxy Roker play Tom and Helen Willis, the first interracial couple portrayed in a TV show. They have occasional run-ins with the Jeffersons as they live in the same apartment building, as did U.N. Interpreter Harry Bentley (Paul Benedict), who lives next door to the Jeffersons. And, rounding up the cast are the Jeffersons' son, Lionel (portrayed alternatively by Mike Evans and Damon Evans), the Willis' daughter and girlfriend to Lionel, Jenny (Berlinda Tolbert), the helpful but money-grubbing doorman Ralph (Ned Wertimer), bartender Charlie (Danny Wells) and George's mother, Mother Jeffersons (Zara Cully). Each character offered his/her own unique and interesting twist to the show, but much of the laughs come from the trio of George, Louis and Florence.It's a very funny show to watch again and again, filled with comedic misadventures and tastefully done humor. So, get your slice of the pie and watch The Jeffersons! Grade A

[email protected] If the Television Hall of Fame selected television programs as a whole to win a gold plaque similar to Cooperstown N.Y. for MLB, or Canton Ohio for the NFL, "The Jeffersons" would be there front and center.The long running CBS sitcom which aired from 1975 through 1985, won several Emmys, including Isabel Sanford for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. To me "The Jeffersons" is one of television's top fifty All-Time Programs, and the best one with a predominately African American cast, better than "The Cosby Show" and "Sanford and Son". As a child it was a thrill to be able to watch this program when schoolwork or bedtime did not get in the way.I now own the first two seasons of "The Jeffersons" on DVD, and I enjoy the performances of all the characters. The show is of course centered around bigoted and avaricious George (Sherman Helmsley), and his long suffering wife Louise "Weezy" Jefferson (Isabel Sanford), but the performances of the character actors are also well above par. Paul Benedict as George's goofy, bizarre neighbor, Ned Wertimer as the not so modest or polite (when it comes to tips) doorman, Mike Evans as wisecracking son Lionel, and Marla Gibbs as wisecracking live-in-maid Florence, and of course the interracial couple who are usually the butt of George's racist jokes, Tom and Helen Willis played by Franklin Cover and Roxie Roker. And of course don't forget going way back in the day when people born in the 1890's were alive, well and entertaining us all, Zara Cully as George Jefferson's quick witted Mother, Olivia. She was hilarious when seeking attention from George and Weezy she intentionally tackles herself to the ground in a season 2 episode.But "The Jeffersons" at least the first two seasons centers around George and his vices, which often outweigh his virtues, similar to the Archie Bunker character introduced in the early 1970's. Like Archie George is set in his ways, avaricious, sometimes crude, and often bigoted. Like Archie he is a bigot without a mean streak. He is a lovable bigot, and his racist views are played out for laughs, but George is not a carbon copy of Archie. They're not twins. Archie makes fun of everyone that is not his race, religion creed, or sexual orientation. George sticks to the basics. Just make fun of whitey, and those whites that don't offer him anything in return for his efforts.There are some whites like Wittendale, the banker who holds the key to George's future of a dry cleaning monopoly. George always wants to pander to this guy. However George has no use for "honkies" like Tom Willis and his black wife Helen. Like Archie Bunker he despises mixed marriages. (Although Archie is all for Irish marrying Italian). Mostly because Weezy has him on a short leash, George reluctantly accepts Tom and Helen Willis as neighbors and in-laws.One major reason why Archie's ethnic and racial slurs often spiral out of control and George's doesn't is the nature of the women they're married to. Edith is tolerant, dingbatty, and naive, while Weezy is sharp, quick witted, and as shrewd as George. She puts her foot down faster on George, than Edith does on Archie. Edith tends to push Archie in the direction he's going, with some first class dingbat punchlines added in.George is a little bit of a thing, with an obsession for power and control, much like Danny DeVito in the movies. He lusts for money and power, and he's got it, a wife a family and a full chain of cleaning stores. Archie doesn't have all this. Archie needs to shut other people down to better his own situation. George doesn't. George has money and power. However, like Archie he is set in his ways, and his lack of modesty always gets him into trouble.What this show was missing was a crossover appearance by Archie and Edith from the slums of Flushing to the penthouses in Manhattan. Carroll O' Connor and Jean Stapleton never appeared on "The Jeffersons." "The Jeffersons" was not the greatest TV sitcom. "All in the Family" along with "Seinfeld", "The Honeymooners" and "Cheers" were better. However there was a certain charm with this show that lasted from the Gerald Ford through the second half of the Ronald Reagan presidency. This was one fine show.

leighabc123 This show was so funny that it lasted 11 seasons. I watched this show from the time before I was born until I was in the 5th grade. The funniest episodes were, are, and always will be the episodes that had BOTH Mother Jefferson AND Florence the maid. This was also one of the first sitcoms that replaced a main character with another actor and the first actor came back. Two Lionels! Confusing to all people who are not devout Jefferson fans. Damon Evans married Jenny and Mike Evans was there when Jenny had the baby. RIP Mike Evans AKA the 1st and 3rd Lionel. This show also had the two actors who were the longest reoccurring guest stars in t.v. history. Charlie the Bartender and Ralph the Doorman. They played on a sitcom for 11 consecutive years without ever being a regular character. George would do something zany every episode. And Louise would have a smart remark every episode. Helen would always argue with George, but Tom would listen to him. There were so many great guest stars in this show. Sammy Davis Jr., Sister Sledge, Andre Crouch, Billy Dee Williams, Gladys Knight. Look for Ernest Thomas and Jaleel White before they became stars in episodes of this show. There are still some mysteries in this show. Whatever happened to Jenny's brother?

juliafwilliams A year short of its 30th (pearl) anniversary, The Jeffersons will be remembered for continuing the tradition of groundbreaking that was started by the show that started it all , All in the Family, from which, lest you forget, The Jeffersons is a spin-off.Yes, George Jefferson is somewhat like Archie Bunker, opinionated to the point of sometimes being rude but never at a loss for words.Chances are the characters of the Willises were inspired by the All in the Family episode 'Lionel Steps Out', in which he did so with Archie Bunker's visiting niece -- I had the experience of seeing that episode and then and there sensed that change was in the wind.It is noted that Ja'Net DuBois sang theme, but few people mention that she actually CO-WROTE the theme. Just goes to show you that show business is a thinking person's business.Happy 30th anniversary to the Jeffersons, albeit one year early!!