Arthur was the only actor seen for the entire half-hour. The Black experience wasn't portrayed muchor at allon television prior to the 1970s. Checking In lasted only four episodes, after which Florence returned to The Jeffersons with the story that the hotel had burned down in a fire. [7], In its first season (197475), the show ranked at number four, surpassed by its parent series All in the Family (which landed at number one for the fifth year in a row). It was funny and entertaining. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The series also featured Danielle Brisebois as Stephanie, the young daughter of Ediths step-cousin who had moved in with the Bunkers in the final season of AITF. Brisebois had been a hit in Broadways Annie. (She later became an Oscar-nominated songwriter.). Communications Company from 19751982 and by Embassy Television from 19821985. WhenAll In The Familydebuted in 1971, few people suspected it would be responsible for more spin-offs than any other sitcom in television history. We actually enjoy working together." The Jeffersons avoided that by making the titular characters move to a different neighborhood. WebThe Jeffersons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through June 25, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. Archie Bunker's Placestarted out with both Archie and Edith, but Jean Stapleton left the show and was killed off shortly after the series began. Factory. WebIn 1975, George Jefferson was eager to move out of Queens. Television historians know that while the character of George Jefferson was introduced on All in the Family in 1971, he didn't actually show up on screen until 1973. Thanks to Lear and his characters, 70s TV audiences saw and heard things they never had before in primetime. Eventually this tactic worked, and the writers stopped using the offensive terms. Roxie Roker was asked during a casting interview if she'd be comfortable with her character having a white husband. Most television is ephemeral. Evans and Tolbert appeared in the two-part episode together; Evans made his final appearance in two episodes during the series' eleventh and final season. As of 2022[update], the members still alive from the main cast include Marla Gibbs, Berlinda Tolbert, and Damon Evans. As noted by The New York Times, the ostensible reason given was that he was uncomfortable walking into a white man's house, setting up the character as a foil for Archie Bunker's racism. More importantly, as one of the writers on the show, Jay Moriarty, told The Hollywood Times, Archie Bunker's bigotry is "pure prejudice" while George Jefferson's bigotry is a reaction to that prejudice. Sitcom following a successful African-American couple, George and Louise Weezy Jefferson as they move on up from working-class Queens to a ritzy Manhattan apartment. [8] The characters of Lionel's multiracial fiance, Jenny, and her family, all of whom first appeared in the 1974 All in the Family episode "Lionel's Engagement", were also written into the new series. [21], It returned to the Top 10 in 197980, and at the end of the 198182 season, The Jeffersons finished third overall, only surpassed by fellow CBS series Dallas and 60 Minutes. [1] The Jeffersons is one of the longest-running sitcoms in history,[2] the second-longest-running series with a primarily African American cast by episode count behind Tyler Perry's House of Payne[1][3] and the first to prominently feature a married interracial couple. OConnor didnt like it either, apparently. As noted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, this began to change in the 1970s, especially with the work of Norman Lear. The cast commonly visited the bar for a drink or to attend a party. Although this backstory wasn't explicitly referenced, it showed up in the writing. Florence Johnston (Marla Gibbs) worked for the Jefferson family on their show, but Checking In focused on her life as the executive housekeeper of the St. Frederick Hotel in New York City. Almost as well known, but less controversial was the Nov. 10, 1975, episode of Maude talking to her psychiatrist. WebFor her full interview, see http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/isabel-sanford In his autobiography, Lear wrote that three members of the Black Panther Party came to his office at CBS, complaining about Good Times: Every time you see a Black man on the tube, he is dirt poor, wears shit clothes, cant afford nothing. s noted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, as one of the writers on the show, Jay Moriarty, told The Hollywood Times, In a contemporary review by The New York Daily News. Today were heading back to Manhattan, to revisit our favorite family, The Jeffersons. RELATED:10 Iconic Black TV Shows That Defined The Culture. The Jeffersons ended up lasting 11 seasons, beating All In The Family's 9 seasons. Sherman Hemsley even appeared in the premiere. [46], Isabel Sanford was nominated for seven consecutive Best Actress Emmys, from 1979 until 1985. 8 in the summer of 1980. The show was produced by the T.A.T. As noted by Ebony, while it's easy to view George Jefferson as a "Black Archie Bunker," that's not accurate. Jenny and Lionel became a couple, married on December 24, 1976, and later became the parents of a daughter, Jessica (played by Ebonie Smith). A top 20 show for most of its 11 seasons, The Jeffersons was canceled abruptly without an official series finale. Many people can't help but note that the main difference between The Jeffersons and other successful sitcoms that both enjoyed stable a time slot and received a formal finale episode is the color of the cast's skin. But whatHappy Daysdidnt have were spin-offs of spin-offs. As noted by BET, The Jeffersons was a consistently high-rated showonly the second sitcom with a majority Black cast to land in the Top Five of the Nielsen Ratings, in fact. Even before All in the Familyended, Stapleton expressed a desire to distance herself from the role of Edith. It became Tandems longest running show, with 11 seasons. Marla Gibbs remains best-known to many people as the sarcastic housekeeper, Florence, on The Jeffersons. 1. [36], The Jeffersons changed time slots at least 15 different times during its 11-year run, unusual for a popular long running series. WebThis spinoff from "All in the Family" is about literal upward mobility - African- American couple George and Louise Jefferson move into a swanky high-rise building. WebChecking In is an American sitcom television series and a spin-off of The Jeffersons that aired for four episodes on CBS from April 9 to April 30, 1981. Gibbs then returned to her regular role on The Jeffersons and it was explained that the St. Frederick Hotel had burned down. As discussed by critic Robert E. Crafton, an insurance settlement allowed George to quit his job and launch his first dry-cleaning business, which in turn allowed the Jeffersons to move from Harlem to Queens (becoming Archie Bunker's neighbors in the process), and finally to make the move to Manhattan. In the 1984-85 season, CBS aired a forgotten comedy called E/R, starring Elliot Gould. Theres certainly no human alive who believesArchie Bunkers Placeis better thanAll In The Family,and theres probably a few of us who would rather it didnt exist at all. Web3. [12] Isabel Sanford (Louise Jefferson), who heard about the cancellation through her cousin who read it in the tabloids, has publicly stated that she found the cancellation with no proper finale to be disrespectful on the network's part. Dont miss on getTV:Lionel Moves Into The Neighborhood(March 2, 1971) for Sanfords first appearance,Henrys Farewell(October 20, 1973) for Hemsleys debut,Lionels Engagement(February 9, 1974) for Mother Jeffersons (Zara Cully) and the Willis familys (played by different actors) first appearances, andThe Jeffersons Move Up(January 11, 1975) for the backdoor pilot. All in the Family was notable for many things including the fact that it spawned seven other TV series. It starred Sherman Hemsley and Isobel Sanford, with Marla Gibbs as the Jeffersons maid Florence and Roxie Roker and Franklin Cover as the racially mixed couple upstairs, a real sitcom innovation. But the moment you read the title you heard its iconic theme song in your head, and no matter your age or background you've probably seen an episode or a dozenand maybe not that long ago. And Louises brother-in-law Henry (Mel Stewart) appears for the first time in the last episode of season one. Oddly, whenGood Timesbegan in February of 1974, no mention was made of Maude or how the Evanses got from New York to the Chicago. NEXT:Younger & 9 Other Shows Or Movies That Couldn't Have Existed Before Social Media, All In The Family And Its 7 Spin-offs, In Chronological Order, shows and movies turn 50 years old in 2021, 10 Sitcom Characters With Supernatural Abilities, Ranked By Power, Mike is usually portrayed as being liberal. The Jeffersons ended up lasting 11 seasons, beating All In The Family's 9 seasons. Henry Jefferson was never seen again. A spin-off of All in the Family. But as Ebony writes, this was a deliberate calibration by the show's creators to make the show and the character of George Jefferson more palatable to audiences not quite ready to accept Blacks as their equals. Here's the untold truth of The Jeffersons. ), Dueling Detectives: Kojak and Jim Rockford, getTV talks CASEY JONES and 1950s Westerns An Interview with Toby Roan, 10 Times Farrah Fawcett Was an Undercover Angel on CHARLIES ANGELS, 10 Times HART TO HART Was Relationship Goals, TV Like It Used To Be A Guide to Crimetime on getTV, Christmas with the Evans Family Holiday Episodes of GOOD TIMES, Christmas on getTV 10 Holiday Highlights, Alfonso Ribeiro: 10 Facts About the Star of CATCH 21. Marla Gibbs of The Jeffersons got her own sitcom as Florence, who left her job as a housekeeper to work in a hotel. A sitcom world must be a good one for a spin-off to spawn another spin-off! Although Archie and George (Sherman Hemsley) argue a lot, Louise Jefferson (Isabel Sanford) is a dear friend to Edith Bunker, and it's hard for the two to say goodbye when the Jeffersons move away. The show was a spinoff from "All in the Family." The show's time slot, for example, changed a ridiculous 15 times over those 11 years. The show was a spinoff from "All in the Family." While the character was initially conceived as a Black antagonist for Bunkerclearly a racistJefferson was also conceived almost from the very beginning as being beyond Bunker. [22] One episode featured George requesting Florence to insult him, in order to get to a prospective business partner who was fond of her wisecracks. And in one episode when George is told a white worker should be referred to as a "custodian" he remarks that if he was black, he'd be called a "janitor.". WebThe Jeffersons had one spin-off, titled Checking In. A top 20 show for most of its 11 seasons, The Jeffersons was canceled abruptly without an official series finale. For airdates and times, visit theAll In The Familyshow page. WebSpun-off from The Jeffersons (1975) This spin-off of The Jeffersons came out about 8 years before Marla Gibbs' second series, "227." But the real reason was more pragmatic: Norman Lear had created the character for Sherman Hemsley, but Hemsley was under contract for the play Purlie and refused to break his contract. [26] She appeared regularly in the first two seasons, but made sporadic appearances over the next two years, much thinner due to a severe case of pneumonia. WebThe Jeffersons: Created by Norman Lear, Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, Bernard West. In a reversal ofAll in the Family, Ernie is liberal while his son is quite conservative. a disclaimer before the first episode said. In the season two episodeCousin Maudes Visit, Ediths liberal cousin Maude Findlay (Beatrice Arthur) comes to help out when the Bunkers are sick with the flu. It was funny and entertaining. On one level, The Jeffersons is just a silly sitcom, and George Jefferson is a very silly character, prone to foolish schemes (like buying a piano he doesn't know how to play only to discover there's no way to fit it through his front door) and loud, boorish outbursts. [14] In season 5 episode 17 of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, titled "Will Is from Mars" (1995), the Jeffersons made a guest appearance as a couple in therapy class. The Jeffersons (19751984 253 episodes plus pilot on All In The Family) Unlike Arthur and Rolle, who were spun-off quickly, the Jeffersons were on All In The Family for five seasons before they got their own show. Over the course of its 11-year run, the series was almost always one of the most-watched on television. It was funny and entertaining. They live in a public housing project and struggle to get by at times. The Bunker-Verse! Similar to its parent sitcom, All in the Family, the Jeffersons explored controversial issues such as alcoholism, racism, suicide, being transgender, and much more, certainly making it one of the most importantsitcoms of all time. By what name was Checking In (1981) officially released in Canada in English? All in the Familytook a leaf out of its own book and spawned yet another sitcom afterthe series ended. Many spinoffs tend to set themselves up for comparison by using the same location as the original show. Larry M. Harris won the Emmy for Outstanding Video Tape Editing for a Series in 1983. 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The patriarch of the Evans family, they noted, had to work several jobs to support his large family, and they noted that Black characters in general were often depicted in cheap clothing and in other negative ways. In the spring of 1981, Paul Benedict left the show for a season and a half, returning in the final two seasons of the series. The successful series ran for six seasons and, like its predecessor, dealt with some serious issues during its day. It was funny and entertaining. Lionel is introduced in the pilot, and is a core cast member for season one. They were saying, essentially, We wont have anything to do with this show.. Over the course of its 11-year run, the series was almost always one of the most-watched on television. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. Mike Evans would leave The Jeffersons to work behind the camera for another show in the All in the Family family tree Good Times. The series endured for nine seasons, but the show we think of when we think ofAll In The Familyreally ended in season 8 when Gloria (Sally Struthers) and her husband Meathead (Reiner) moved to California. "Jeffersons" redirects here. Members of the Black Panther Party set up a meeting with Lear to discuss Good Times. WebThe Jeffersons had one spin-off, titled Checking In. Early seasons of the show used racial epithets for both Black and white characters fairly often, but as time went on Hemsley thought his character should be evolving and stop using expressions like "honky." Lear called the704 Hausercharacters "responsible" and explained they knew what they were talking about in arguments. [1][4], The show focuses on George and Louise Jefferson, a prosperous African-American couple who have been able to move from Queens to Manhattan owing to the success of George's dry-cleaning chain, Jefferson Cleaners. With Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover. [38] The show's ratings for the following two seasons placed it in the Top 30, but during the 197778 and 197879 seasons (the show's fourth and fifth seasons), it fell out of the top 30, ranking 52nd in Season 4 and 49th in Season 5. It's remarkable that seven shows followed All in the Family and belong to its universe. The twist was that the older generation were the liberals (with John Amos again starring, but in a different role, and Lynnie Godfrey) while their son was an arch-conservative (T.E. After the huge success of shows like All in the Family, Maude, Good Times, and Sanford and Sonin terms of ratings as well as critical receptionhe had the ability to do things other showrunners couldn't. It took until 1975 until television finally gave Black audiences a family that looked like them and that wasn't struggling. It only TV shows can be huge, massive hits for yearsand then vanish into near-obscurity (seriously, when was the last time you had a conversation about Lost?). [41], On August 8, 2014, it was announced that Shout! As noted by BET, The Jeffersons was a consistently high-rated showonly the second sitcom with a majority Black cast to land in the Top Five of the Nielsen Ratings, in fact. The series was created byMike MilliganandJim Moriarity, both longtime writer/producers onThe Jeffersons. His alcohol problem isn't referenced anymore throughout the series, but it is assumable Charlie overcame it. Lionel is introduced in the pilot, and is a core cast member for season one. [2] Lionel, played by Mike Evans, first appeared in "Meet the Bunkers", the premiere episode of All in the Family.[2]. For other uses, see, Learn how and when to remove this template message, List of awards and nominations received by The Jeffersons, "The Jeffersons: A look at life on black America's new 'Striver's Row', "Sherman Hemsley dies: Watch George Jefferson at his finest", "The Jeffersons and Happy Days and Valerie Bertinelli Bio", "Tyler Perry's House of Payne: Paying Homage to Sherman Hemsley", "Are Any of 'The Jeffersons' Cast Members Still Alive Today? In the seventh-season finale episode of The Jeffersons, "Florence's New Job", the Jeffersons' maid, Florence Johnston (Marla Gibbs), accepted a job to become the executive housekeeper at the fictional St. Frederick Hotel in New York City. In the 1984-85 season, CBS aired a forgotten comedy called E/R, starring Elliot Gould. Archie mentions a friend from the old neighborhood named Cumberbatch. [17] Lear consulted with his associate Al Burton on the concept. One other reason she kept her job despite becoming famous on a top-rate television show? She reprised her role several times onArchie Bunker's Placeand then took center stage onGloria, the last series to focus on a member of the Bunker family. WebThe Jeffersons had one spin-off, titled Checking In. In reality, Joey (born 1975) would have only been 19, but Siemaszko was 33. Thats not just impressive, its historic. All Rights Reserved. See production, box office & company info, Metromedia Square - 5746 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA. Gloria was created by Joe Gannon, Patt Shea and Harriett Weiss, developed by Dan Guntzelman and Steve Marshall; all episodes were directed by Dan Claver. The Jeffersons is an American sitcom television series that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, to July 2, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. His mother Louise (Isabel Sanford) showed up seven episodes later when the Jeffersons bought the house next door. Today were heading back to Manhattan, to revisit our favorite family, The Jeffersons. In some ways, 1975 doesn't seem so long agobut it was truly a different time in more ways than one. A spin-off of All in the Family. The two-part season opener for Maude in 1973 dealt with the alcoholism of her husband Walter (Bill Macy). We cant talk about the offspring without a few words about the parent. Weezy is initially reluctant to hire a housekeeper in the first episode in part because she's had that experience herself. Sherman Hemsley even appeared in the premiere. It was a sort-of spin-off of The Jeffersons, as it featured Lynne Moody as Nurse Julie Williams, the niece of George and Louis Jefferson. And The Jeffersons was in many ways a broad, superficial comedy that relied on racially-charged jokes and physical comedy to get laughs. Before we go any further, a few words about math. Situation comediesaka "sitcoms"aren't always noted for their complex writing and deeply-imagined characters. No episode was centered on Mother Jefferson's death, but it was occasionally mentioned that she had died in future episodes. Maude Findlay (Bea Arthur) first appears as Edith Bunker's cousin in a 1971All in the Familyepisode called "Cousin Maude's Visit." Florence Johnson returned toThe JeffersonsafterChecking Inended. Bunker has no reason to hate Blacks or to view them as inferior. Another sparring partner for Archie is neighbor George Jefferson, and the twocriticize one another's race. It was a sort-of spin-off of The Jeffersons, as it featured Lynne Moody as Nurse Julie Williams, the niece of George and Louis Jefferson. The cast was not informed until after the July 2, 1985, episode, "Red Robins"; actor Sherman Hemsley, who portrayed George Jefferson, said he learned that the show was canceled by reading it in the newspaper. Another interesting connection of the sitcom universe is that Mike Evans (who played Lionel Jefferson on All in the FamilyandThe Jeffersons) createdGood Timeswith Eric Monte. You might think this classic situation comedy is a relic of the 1970s, and in some ways you'd be right. During the January 11, 1975 episode of All in the Family, titled "The Jeffersons Move Up", Edith Bunker gave a tearful good-bye to her neighbor Louise Jefferson as her husband George, their son Lionel, and she moved from a working-class section of Queens, New York, into the luxurious Colby East, a fictitious high-rise apartment complex on East 63rd Street in Manhattan. WandaVision& 9 Other Shows That Have Paid Homage To Sitcoms, Younger & 9 Other Shows Or Movies That Couldn't Have Existed Before Social Media, Abby's Mother Reveal In Night Court Resolves The Harry/Christine Romance, Big Bang Theory Secretly Hinted At Paiges Dark Young Sheldon Future, One Big Bang Theory Main Character Was Only Meant To Be A Guest Role. [8] However, the ratings sank below the top 30, and The Jeffersons aired its last episode, "Red Robins", on July 2, 1985.[28]. The characters of Lionel and Jenny were written out by stating that they had marital problems, the result of which became a two-part episode storyline as the series' eighth-season premiere. In the 1984-85 season, CBS aired a forgotten comedy called E/R, starring Elliot Gould. The sitcom was about the black family who had lived next door to the Bunkers, but Good Times was partly responsible. Florence is caught between Lyle and Elena when they have an argument, but she won't take anyone's side. [8] The Jeffersons' sixth season peaked at No. Affluent and successful, the Jeffersons still had to deal with race, prejudice, and economic pressures, and the show represented a more nuanced and more complex view of the Black American experience. Arthur was the only actor seen for the entire half-hour. This show wasnt very successful, however. Lear created this series, which had an inventive concept: an African-American family moves into the house formerly occupied by Archie Bunker. Lear created the character of Henry Jefferson, George's younger brother, who was portrayed by Mel Stewart which replaced George with Henry in the series's scripts until Purlie finished its run. George Jefferson was, in some ways, a black version of the white anti-hero Archie Bunker. WebThe Jeffersons: Created by Norman Lear, Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, Bernard West. [8] Checking In lasted only four episodes, after which Florence returned to The Jeffersons with the story that the hotel had burned down in a fire. Marla Gibbs was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series each year from 1981 to 1985. This spin-off of The Jeffersons came out about 8 years before Marla Gibbs' second series, "227." It's unsurprising then that once The Jeffersons aired, it remained on television for almost a decade.The Jeffersons was a spin-off that took the blueprint provided by All in the Family and made minor changes by making the The character of George Jefferson was conceived of as a mirror image in some ways of Archie Bunker. The series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. As New Ravel notes, when his requests for change were ignored he began deliberately flubbing his lines or saying the offensive words too low for the microphones to pick up, forcing the producers to reshoot scenes again and again. Faced with low ratings, the series was cancelled, and the final episode aired on April 30, 1981. Sherman Hemsley, for example, came out of the revered Negro Ensemble Company (NEC), as did Roxie Roker (Helen Willis). When shows featured Black characters, they were often portrayed as stereotypes, as clownish fools or ominous criminals. WebFor her full interview, see http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/isabel-sanford WebChecking In is an American sitcom television series and a spin-off of The Jeffersons that aired for four episodes on CBS from April 9 to April 30, 1981. Back in 1975, issues like these were much more shockingas noted by The Hollywood Times, interracial marriage had only become legal throughout the country in 1967! Gibbs says that she worked out an adjusted schedule with United that allowed her enough time to film her scenes and then race into work, where she worked the phones in their reservations office. As noted by The Wall Street Journal, that backstory went back to the Jefferson family's roots in Alabama as sharecroppers, a detail that spoke volumes about George Jefferson's obsession with wealth, status, and the visual signs of both. Ratings for the first season were poor, and the network didnt exactly shout about it from the antenna-covered rooftops. [27] He was known for constantly stalling at the Jeffersons' door with his hand out waiting for a tip. It was her breakout role; as noted by The History Makers, Gibbs had started taking acting classes when her job with United Airlines transferred her from Detroit to Los Angeles, but prior to being cast as Florence the actress had only appeared in a handful of theater roles and one film, 1973's Sweet Jesus, Preacher Man. Thats bullshit.. 0. A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants. I remember watching Checking In in the early 80s and even remember the theme song. The Jeffersons (19751984 253 episodes plus pilot on All In The Family) Unlike Arthur and Rolle, who were spun-off quickly, the Jeffersons were on All In The Family for five seasons before they got their own show. Most of the cast usually didn't respond, but George almost always gave in. Florence often teased George, mostly about his short stature and receding hairline. Paul Benedict arrived as Harry Bentley, an amiable, kind, loyal yet somewhat obtuse British next-door neighbor,[8] who worked as an interpreter at the United Nations. Sherman Hemsley even appeared in the premiere. Arthur was such a hit as Maude that Lear developed a series for her, with the second season finale ofAll In The Familyacting as the backdoor pilot for the spinoff. WebThis spinoff from "All in the Family" is about literal upward mobility - African- American couple George and Louise Jefferson move into a swanky high-rise building. [13] Per an article in the May 8, 1985, Los Angeles Times, the series was cancelled by announcement at the CBS network "upfront" presentation the day before, nearly two months before the airing of the final episode. 704 Hauserflips the Archie/Meathead dynamic by making Ernie Cumberbatch (John Amos) the liberal and his son Thurgood Marshall Cumberbatch (T.E. Marla Gibbs portrayed the role of Florence Johnston, the Jeffersons' back-talking, tough, wisecracking, and devoutly religious housekeeper. On their own show, the Jeffersons interact with new friends and neighbors while inhabiting a new lifestyle. The show was launched as the second (and longest running) spin-off of All in the Family, on which the Jeffersons had been the neighbors of Archie and Edith Bunker. George Jefferson was, in some ways, a black version of the white anti-hero Archie Bunker. After his car was rear-ended by a bus, he filed a civil action and won $5000, enough to open his first store in Queens. 10 Iconic Black TV Shows That Defined The Culture, Another interesting connection of the sitcom universe, Lionel is the first Jefferson to be seen on. As BET reports, it was the first TV show to directly address suicide in an episode where Florence the housekeeper falls into a depression and contemplates ending her life. He had endured a tortured development process that included two pilots rejected by ABC and multiple recasts. As Black America Web reports, when the show was canceled in 1985 the network didn't even bother to inform the cast. See Amos in the episodeA Visit From Lena Horne(January 12, 1973) and DuBois inSanford And Son And Sister Makes Three(December 1, 1972). But white audiences could feel good about being more racially sensitive and evolved than Bunker, whereas George Jefferson's upward mobility could be seen as threatening.
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