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One of the most recognizable and catchy TV themes: The Jeffersons. Based on the names of the cast members listed, this is from the second season, I believe. Didn't you love Mother Jefferson and eccentric neighbor Mr. Bentley?
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Jeffersons
theme
Added: 17th January 2008
Views: 1425
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Posted By: Lava1964 |
 
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The Jeffersons was a hugely successful spinoff from All in the Family, running for 10 seasons from 1975 to 1985. It also inspired a not-so-successful spinoff: Checking In.
On The Jeffersons, Marla Gibbs played Florence Johnston, the sassy, wisecracking maid who regularly exchanged insults with George Jefferson. Her character was so well liked by viewers that CBS figured it would be a smart move to give Gibbs her own series. Accordingly, in episode #154 and #155 of The Jeffersons, a hotel manager was so impressed by Florence that he offered her the job as supervisor of maids at his St. Frederick Hotel. Florence accepted and Checking In was born. It premiered on Thursday, April 9, 1981. Larry Linville (Major Frank Burns from MASH fame) played Lyle Block, the hotel's weasly manager and, naturally, Florence's nemesis. After four weeks, though, Checking In was floundering in the ratings and CBS pulled the plug after the April 30 episode. Smartly, the network had Gibbs return to the Jeffersons' household as their maid. In her return episode, #161, Florence arrives at the Jeffersons' door explaining that the hotel burned down! (Her clothing and hair had traces of soot and fire damage to add credibility to the plot twist!) She had to compete with new maid Carmen to get her old job back. After missing just five shows, Gibbs' Florence character remained on The Jeffersons until the series ended in 1985.
Marla Gibbs was nominated for an Emmy as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy in for five stright years (1981 through 1985) for her role as Florence Johnston. Gibbs' career accomplishments are even more impressive when one considers she was married at age 13 and had three children by age 20! She still managed to graduate from Wendell Phillips High School in Chicago. A performer in amateur theatricals, Gibbs was working as a customer service agent for United Airlines when she got her role on The Jeffersons. Cautiously, she waited until The Jeffersons was a bonafide hit show before quitting her job at United!
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Marla
Gibbs
checking
In
Jeffersons
sitcom
Added: 28th August 2011
Views: 2403
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Posted By: Lava1964 |
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Mike Evans was familiar to TV viewers as Lionel Jefferson on both All In the Family and its spinoff, The Jeffersons. Lionel was the first opinionated young black character on televsion. A complex character, Lionel was more amused than annoyed by neighbor Archie Bunker's bigotry, but sensitive about being seen as a representative of the black race by Mike Stivic rather than as an individual. Evans left the Jeffersons after one season to pursue a career as a TV writer. He was replaced by Damon Evans (no relation) for the next four seasons. Mike Evans then reprised the role in later seasons until The Jeffersons was cancelled. When Evans died of throat cancer in 2006, his passing was barely noticed by the media. He was 57 years old.
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Mike
Evans
television
Lionel
Jefferson
Added: 25th November 2009
Views: 1631
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Posted By: Lava1964 |
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ABC had high hopes when its risque and controversial sitcom Hot L Baltimore debuted in 1975. Ultimately, though, the show never captured the hearts of TV viewers and was summarily axed less than five months into its run. The show, based on a successful off-Broadway play, took place in the rundown Hotel Baltimore in Baltimore, MD. It drew its title from the cheap establishment's neon marquee, which had a burned-out letter "e" that had never been replaced. The half-hour series premiered on January 24, 1975 and was produced by Norman Lear for ABC. (It was, in fact, the first Lear property to air on ABC.) The cast included Conchata Ferrell, James Cromwell, Richard Masur, Al Freeman, Jr., Gloria LeRoy, Jeannie Linero, and Charlotte Rae. The show's plots focused on the lives of the odd assemblage of disparate characters who called the seedy hotel home. The series had several controversial elements, including two primary characters who were prostitutes--one of whom was an illegal immigrant--and one of the first gay couples to be depicted on an American television series. Because of its storylines, Hot L Baltimore was the first network television show to have a warning during its opening, cautioning viewers about mature themes. ABC gave Hot L Baltimore a full publicity campaign, but it failed to win an audience and was canceled after just 13 episodes; its last telecast was June 6, 1975.
This series is notable as the first failure for producer Norman Lear after a very successful streak of mega-hit TV series beginning with All in the Family in 1971 and continuing with Sanford and Son, Maude, Good Times, and The Jeffersons, among others.
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Hot
L
Baltimore
sitcom
flop
Norman
Lear
ABC
Added: 29th August 2011
Views: 3282
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Posted By: Lava1964 |
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Sherman Hemsley, known for his starring role on "The Jeffersons," has died at age 74.
Although the cause of Hemsley's death is unclear, TMZ reports that the actor passed away at his El Paso, Texas, home. Hemsley had no wife or kids.
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Sherman
Helmsley
aka
George
Jeffereson
Passes
Age
74
The
Jefferesons
Added: 24th July 2012
Views: 1131
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Posted By: Old Fart |
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