The Jeffersons

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CBS (ended 1985)
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Show Summary

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The Jeffersons first aired in January of 1975 on CBS as a mid-season replacement. The series was a spinoff of All in the Family in which the Jeffersons were Archie and Edith Bunker's next door neighbors. In 1975, The Jeffersons moved on up when George found success in a dry cleaning business. This allowed him and his wife, Louise and their son Lionel to "move on up" into a spacious high rise apartment. At the beginning of the series, Lionel was attending college and graduated in February 1976. He married Jenny Willis in December of the same year and they had a daughter in 1979, Jessica Jefferson. Other members of the cast include, Tom and Helen Willis were upstairs neighbors and also Jenny's parents. Florence Johnston was the Jefferson's sassy maid who was hired as a part-time maid in the first episode but in October 1976 moved in and became a full-time maid. Mother Jefferson was George's fiesty mother who forever put Louise down but deep down loved her. Harry Bentley was the British, next door neighbor. Besides being quite eccentric and forever borrowing things from the Jeffersons, Bentley worked as a translator at the United Nations. In 1981, Bentley was written out as being transferred to Russia, but returned in 1983. Ralph was the building doorman who forever begged for tips from George and the other tennents in the building. Tom and Helen Willis were controversial characters since they were most likely TV's first interracial couple. Helen was Louise's best friend and they ran a Help Center which opened in 1977. As for Tom and George, it took the entire run of the series to develop their love/hate friendship. The series was unceremoniously pulled from the air with no warning, so the cast, bitter that they never got to shoot an appropriate finale episode, later reunited for a theatrical stage play. Sherman and Isabel also reprised their roles as George and Louise Jefferson on a couple episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in the mid-90's and have most recently reprised their roles on Denny's commercials. Spinoff of: All in the Family Spinoffs: Checking In CBS Broadcast History January-August 1975----Saturdays----8:30 p.m. September 1975-October 1976----Saturdays----8:00 p.m. November 1976-January 1977----Wednesdays----8:00 p.m. January 1977-August 1977----Mondays----8:00 p.m. September 1977-March 1978----Saturdays----9:00 p.m. April-May 1978----Saturdays----8:00 p.m. June-September 1978----Mondays----8:00 p.m. September 1978-January 1979----Wednesdays----8:00 p.m. January-March 1979----Wednesdays----9:30 p.m. March-June 1979----Wednesdays----8:00 p.m. June 1979-September 1982----Sundays----9:30 p.m. September 1982-December 1984----Sundays----9:00 p.m. January-March 1985----Tuesdays----8:00 p.m. June-July 1985----Tuesdays----8:00 p.m. Nielsen Ratings: (Top 30 or Better) #4 in the 1974-1975 Season #21 in the 1975-1976 Season #24 in the 1976-1977 Season #8 in the 1979-1980 Season #6 in the 1980-1981 Season #3 in the 1981-1982 Season #12 in the 1982-1983 Season #19 in the 1983-1984 Season #56 in the 1984-1985 Season Never hit the top 30 First Telecast: January 18, 1975 Last Telecast: July 23, 1985 Episodes: 253 Color Episodes Theme Song: "Movin' On Up" Written by: Jeff Barry and Ja'net DuBois Sung by: Ja'net DuBois Well we're movin on up,to the east side. To a deluxe apartment in the sky. Movin on up, to the east side. We finally got a piece of the pie. Fish don't fry in the kitchen; Beans don't burn on the grill. Took a whole lotta tryin', just to get up that hill. Now we're up in the big leagues, gettin' our turn at bat. As long as we live, it's you and me baby, and there ain't nothin' wrong with that. Well we're movin on up, to the east side. To a deluxe apartment in the sky. Movin on up, to the east side. We finally got a piece of the pie.moreless
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Episode Guide

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S 11 :  Ep 24 Aired 7/2/85
S 11 :  Ep 24
S 11 :  Ep 23 Aired 6/25/85
S 11 :  Ep 22 Aired 6/11/85
S 11 :  Ep 21 Aired 6/4/85

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Fan Reviews (21)

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  • Nice one!

    6.6
    "Fair"
    By da_dunker, May 11, 2007
    The Jeffersons happened to be a spin off from All in the Family. I loved the relationship between George's mother played the wonderful Zara Cully who passed away during the series long run and Louise known as Weezy played by the wonderful Isabel Sanford. Then they brought in Florence as the maid played by the hilarious Marla Gibbs, the sparks flew between her and George. Not those kind of sparks but a funny rapport between the two to last for years. The show explored everything like interracial relationships and race with tact and dignity. My most memorable moments from the show were about George being secret Santa to a Harlem family who now lived in his building. But then who could forget George opening the George Jefferon Museum. I am glad to watch this show again one night a week on a local station which pays homage to the seventies shows like the Jeffersons. The show had a stellar supporting cast like Roxie Roker and Franklin Cover as the interracial couple, the Willises, who become dear friends of the Jeffersons. Isabel Sanford passed away about a year ago. She was the first African American woman to win an Emmy for Best Leading Actress in a Comedy Series. She was very worthy to be a pioneer for the rest. The fact that Sanford was twenty years older than Helmsley is fascinating. Isabel always looked fabulous and younger than her actual age. I miss Isabel. She was one of a kind!moreless

  • Better then All In The Family And All of Norman Lear Other Shows.the best show ever on television the chemistry between Isabel Sanford and Sherman Hemsley is wonderful to watch on and off camra.moreless

    10
    "Perfect"
    By salois, Apr 26, 2007
    the greatest show of all time With the Greatest Characters Of all Time The chemistry Between Isabel Sanford And Sherman Hemsley is wonderful And You Can Tell they clicked off camra too,and the show Had The Best Supporting Cast Ever with The Willis,Florence who trade insult with George And Mother Jefferson who also trade insult with Louise and lionel and jenny jeffersons.
    A Must see For Any Body That Want Some Real Comedy,It Al Here the insult,wisecracks,Racial remarks,put downs and one liners and arguments in every episodes. The Jeffersons Have The Greatest Ensemble Cast Of All Time Period.moreless

  • This is an awesome show, funny and a great family show

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Nick1323, Dec 16, 2006
    To bad this show ended it is really a good show. The Jeffersons is about George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley), Louise Jefferson (Isabel Sanford), and their son Lionel that "move on up" into a spacious high rise apartment. George found success in a having his own dry cleaning business. Lionel was attending college and graduated in February 1976, and he married Jenny Willis in December of the same year and they had a daughter in 1979, Jessica Jefferson. Tom and Helen Willis were upstairs neighbors, also known as Jenny's parents and Florence Johnston was the Jefferson's sassy maid who was hired as a part-time maid in the first episode but in October 1976 moved in and became a full-time maid.moreless

  • Excellent.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By ANT890, Nov 05, 2006
    Funny thing, I never did see an episode of the Jeffersons before the year 2006. Then one night they were showing a marathon of it on Nick-at-Nite. It was both funny at times and intersting at times. My favorite episode in particular was when Louise slapped Lionel when he was talking smack to her about dropping out of school. I think that episode was both influential to both children and adults. I watch the show now on TV Land at 7:00 and 7:30 PM weekdays. My favorite characters were Florence and George. I liked Florence because she never let anyone take advantage of her and she was nice. I like george because he's just the short smart allecky guy, and I like that.moreless

  • A great classic sitcom, ahead of it's time in some ways. I'm glad it lasted as long as it did. This is one sitcom that's worth it.

    8.5
    "Great"
    By KkMc7080, Oct 17, 2006
    The Jeffersons was a great sitcom dealing with many issues of the time. The Jeffersons aired before I was born, but I remember some of the later episodes. It was a show that probably started contraversy at first, being one of the few black shows on the air. Back then I'm sure it wasn't well received at first. I'm glad it lasted a long time, it was a sitcom that you could actually laugh at. It was your typical put down sitcom like a lot others are now days and even a decade or so ago. The Jeffersons is one sitcom I think everyone can agree with.moreless
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abrasive parent, city living, edgy sitcom, interracial families, laugh track

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