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Storyline
"The Jeffersons" was perhaps the most-successful spinoff series to "All in the Family." George Jefferson was the black version of Archie Bunker in many respects, both were loud-mouthed, opinionated and set in their bigoted ways. By 1975, Jefferson's fledging dry-cleaning business, Jefferson Cleaners, had successfully grown into a small chain; his newfound wealth led to moving his family to a "deluxe apartment in the sky" in Manhattan. His family included his wife, Louise, a level-headed and open-minded woman who often had to scold George when his mouth got him into trouble; and Lionel, an engineering major at a local college. He especially disliked Tom and Helen Willis, a mixed couple (he was white, she was black) whose daughter, Jenny, was dating and later married Lionel; Florence, his sharp-tongued maid; and Harry Bentley, the esoteric Englishman who lived next door. George often flaunted his wealth and displayed rude, arrogant, bigoted behavior; however, he often found that money ...
Written by
Brian Rathjen <briguy_52732@yahoo.com>
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Paul Benedict left the series after the eighth season to pursue other acting opportunities. Bentley was written out by being sent to Russia by the UN after a romantic indiscretion with a Delegate's wife. Benedict had a change of heart and returned for the show's final two seasons.
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Goofs
Numerous times on and off throughout the course of the series, people make a left when they leave through the exit of the Jeffersons' apartment. The layout of the hallway has Harry Bentley's apartment at the end about a couple feet away at corner on the left side of the Jeffersons' apartment. So it means logically they are just walking right into the door of Bentley's apartment instead of going straight across to the elevator.
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Quotes
Louise Jefferson:
[
to George]
Your nose is so high you need a 10 foot pole to pick it!
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Alternate Versions
Syndicated reruns in the US are cut by 2 to 3 minutes. One particularly bad cut is of a key sequence in the first episode: after Helen and Tom leave George's apartment after being insulted, they are talking in the hallway, and the scene ends with them kissing. This was a controversial scene back in 1975, but its editing was so that stations and cable networks airing the show could fit in more commercials.
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Connections
Referenced in
Malibu, CA: Movin' on Out (2000)
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Soundtracks
Movin' On Up
Written by
Jeff Barry and
Ja'net DuBois
Performed by
Ja'net DuBois &
Oren Waters See more »
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!