227 (1985–1990)

This series took place in an apartment building, numbered 227. The cast would frequently be found sitting outside on a large set of stone stairs, in some discussion that would unfold into the weekly plot line.

Creators:

Bill Boulware, Michael G. Moye

Stars:

Helen Martin, Marla Gibbs, Hal Williams

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Helen Martin	...	Pearl Shay (116 episodes, 1985-1990)
Marla Gibbs	...	Mary Jenkins (115 episodes, 1985-1990)
Hal Williams	...	Lester Jenkins (115 episodes, 1985-1990)
Alaina Reed-Hall	...	Rose Lee Holloway (113 episodes, 1985-1990)
Regina King	...	Brenda Jenkins (106 episodes, 1985-1990)
Jackée Harry	...	Sandra Clark (99 episodes, 1985-1989)
Curtis Baldwin	...	Calvin Dobbs (79 episodes, 1985-1990)

Storyline

Based on a play about the lives of women residing in a black apartment building in 1950s Chicago, by Christine Houston, Marla Gibbs, who first shot to stardom for playing the sarcastic housekeeper to Louise & George Jefferson, Florence Johnston, in "The Jeffersons," got her own series. In this sitcom, she starred as Mary Jenkins, a tart-tongued, sharp housewife, who enjoyed a great deal of gossip, and often spoke of what she'd believed, not-so-good results. 227 was also about the many African-Americans who resided in a Washington, D.C. apartment building, among the many of her residents were Lester Jenkins, Mary's husband who was a construction worker, Brenda Jenkins, a teenaged daughter of Mary's & Lester's, whose very scholarly, when at times, she overdoes things and apologizes, Pearl Shay, an annoying, yet open-minded neighbor, who believes in gossip, the same topic Mary believes in, and Rose Halloway, a best friend of Mary's who show sympathy to the neighbors, who in turn, had a ...

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Plot Keywords:

apartment | apartment building | neighbor | african american | washington d.c. | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 September 1985 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Columbia/Sunset Gower Studios - 1438 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Television, ELP Communications, Embassy Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When acquiring rights to develop the play of the same name for television, Marla Gibbs original intent was to adapt it as a TV movie.

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Quotes

Rose Lee: [referring to Sandra] Mary, this woman has got me at the end of my rope!
Sandra: [muttering] It should be around your neck.

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Connections

Referenced in Family Guy: Untitled Griffin Family History (2006)

User Reviews

Very standard

I don't understand all the 'rave' reviews for this show. This was the most standard of sitcoms. There was nothing new or innovative about it at all. Sure, it might provide a few chuckles, but even that would be stretching it. It's basically just like any other bad sitcom: sophomoric writing, rehashed plots from other bad sitcoms, poor performances (including the horrid Helen Thomas). Though Jackee' Harry did supply a few laughs, overall the show didn't add anything new to the medium.