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

One of the very few TV series set in Washington, DC not to center around any political or governmental themes.

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Quotes

Sandra: By this summer, I can buy anything I want. I wonder if the Washington Redskins are for sale.

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Connections

Featured in NBC 75th Anniversary Special (2002)

User Reviews

One of the best series, comedy or drama ever.

I think that 227 is one of the best series, comedy or drama to ever be on television. It blended humour and drama into each episode, over the course of it's run it tackled topics such as homelessness and popularity (character of Brenda). Sandra was my personal favourite!