I was watching a old reunion of the Jeffersons on Joan Rivers and Roxie Roker(Helen) stated that there was an attempt to give the Willises their own spinoff but it never took off. I don;t think that would surprise anyone-lol Who in the hell would have watched 30 min of Helen and Tom? I didn't prefer seeing those two on the Jeffersons that much

First I'm hearing of it.

Originally posted by Brian Damage
First I'm hearing of it.


ThAt's because it didn't Fly-lol

Tom was ok in small doses and Helen was totally unfunny.

Originally posted by Brian Damage
Tom was ok in small doses and Helen was totally unfunny.


Yeah that both needed to be in scenes with George in order for viewers to laugh.

I really think that's the case with the entire cast.

Originally posted by Brian Damage
I really think that's the case with the entire cast.



The First Lionel didn't need to be in scenes with George.

Lionel was only funny with either Archie Bunker or George Jefferson.

Originally posted by Brian Damage
Lionel was only funny with either Archie Bunker or George Jefferson.


Not true, He was funny in scenes with Louise, Jenny and Mike Stivic. I think that's it.

I'm curious about at what point they were thinking of spinning of Tom and Helen. In which season? I recall an episode in year 10 where they go on a second honeymoon; it was mostly them, very little of George, Louise or Florence.

I think they were needed more on the Jeffersons. Had they left they would have needed to add some new couple to fill the void. Also the Willises were just not leading type characters.

Originally posted by jamesanthony
I'm curious about at what point they were thinking of spinning of Tom and Helen. In which season? I recall an episode in year 10 where they go on a second honeymoon; it was mostly them, very little of George, Louise or Florence.

I think they were needed more on the Jeffersons. Had they left they would have needed to add some new couple to fill the void. Also the Willises were just not leading type characters.




Roxie didn't exactly say what season but the spinoff was supposed to be after the Jeffersos ended

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
Roxie didn't exactly say what season but the spinoff was supposed to be after the Jeffersos ended

It wouldn't have worked either way. Those characters were supporting players. Neither had enough pinache to be a lead. It reminds me of The Ropers.

Other than Florence (whose spin-off was a dud) the only one who could have carried a show was Mike Evans.

Originally posted by jamesanthony
It wouldn't have worked either way. Those characters were supporting players. Neither had enough pinache to be a lead. It reminds me of The Ropers.

Other than Florence (whose spin-off was a dud) the only one who could have carried a show was Mike Evans.



A TV Guide critic predicted that Mike Evans would get his own show eventually when the Jeffersons first premeired in 1975 but he had no idea Mike Evans would leave the show after season 1. I agree that Mike Evans could have carried a show on his own.

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
A TV Guide critic predicted that Mike Evans would get his own show eventually when the Jeffersons first premeired in 1975 but he had no idea Mike Evans would leave the show after season 1. I agree that Mike Evans could have carried a show on his own.

Mike Evans was very talented I must say. Considering that he was in his 20s he co-created a hit show, could sing, act and do comedy. If the actress who played Jenny were a stronger comic actress they definitely could have spun them off into another series without damaging The Jeffersons.

Helen was only funny when she interacted with George.

Lionel was funnier on All in the Family.

Originally posted by GARFIELDKOOL
Helen was only funny when she interacted with George.


You are right. Classic George/Helen Scene in episode Jenny's Low

Helen:Look man, I am happy with what i got because he(tom) is everything you are not

George: I know you are happy with what you got because you yourself ain't that red hot

Helen: Well when I go searching for a man my pet, a shrimp like you could never feel my neck

George:YOUR MOMMMA!!!!

Originally posted by Brian Damage
Lionel was funnier on All in the Family.


That's because the role of the Lionel character became too small which is why he left the show.

I really really wish Mike hadn't left the Jeffersons at all!!! He had a tremendous personality that really popped off the t.v! His facial expressions was the key to that character. Damon Evans totally missed the boat on that!

As far as the Willis' own show. That would have been a straight up BOMB!!!

Originally posted by marvin g
I really really wish Mike hadn't left the Jeffersons at all!!! He had a tremendous personality that really popped off the t.v! His facial expressions was the key to that character. Damon Evans totally missed the boat on that!


I don't think anyone could have done Lionel as well. It wasn't that Damon was terrible, but that he was filling the shoes of someone who was essentially irreplaceable. I prefer Damon to no Lionel at all.

Still once Mike Evans left he could have had his own series playing some other character but in 1976 he was a supporting character in an unmemorable Danny Thomas sitcom the Practice playing an unmemorable character.

When he came back to Jeffersons in 1979-81 he had lost a lot of the old spark.

Originally posted by jamesanthony
I don't think anyone could have done Lionel as well. It wasn't that Damon was terrible, but that he was filling the shoes of someone who was essentially irreplaceable. I prefer Damon to no Lionel at all.

Still once Mike Evans left he could have had his own series playing some other character but in 1976 he was a supporting character in an unmemorable Danny Thomas sitcom the Practice playing an unmemorable character.

When he came back to Jeffersons in 1979-81 he had lost a lot of the old spark.


And we also have to remember that Damon Evans was replacing someone who had played the Lionel Jefferson character for 4 years. So it was not a easy thing to do for Damon Evans.

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
And we also have to remember that Damon Evans was replacing someone who had played the Lionel Jefferson character for 4 years. So it was not a easy thing to do for Damon Evans.

Although he wasn't at all funny in the Jeffersons I've seen much worse performances than Damon Evans'. Compare him to the son in My Wife and Kids for example. George O Gore wasn't bad in NY Undercover, but on MW&K the performance and the writing of that part are just awful.