The Jeffersons

This was a great sitcom. The show had great writing and great actors/actresses to perform it. Above everyone else, Sherman Hemsley was the funniest. With all these characters and great writing, could anyone be surprised that this show lasted for ten years? I would think not.

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

Very funny comedy of an affluent black family living the American dream in achieving success in their dry good business.

Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford provided terrific chemistry as the husband and wife team. Sanford always knew how to crack those one-liners at a vulnerable but lovable Hemsley. Militant son Lionel was always good for a laugh and as the mother-in-law, Zarra Cully, proved that having the typical mother-in-law to deal with wasn't only an Italian or Jewish problem.

Franklin Cover and Roxie Roker successfully showed that with understanding, inter-racial marriages could work.

For the first few years, this had to be one of the funniest shows on C.B.S.. It pretty much took the concept of the show it came from, "All in the Family", and moved it uptown and instead of a bigoted middle class white man, we have a bigoted rich black man. George Jefferson proved that bigotry comes in all colors and sometimes his big mouth got him in trouble. However, just like Archie, beneath that gruff exterior was an old softy. I especially loved the episodes that showed that side of George. This show will always be one of the all time classics.

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!