........would she have been on the show for all 11 seasons until 1985? If healthy, I want to say yes, but being she got up there in age, they probably would have limited her episodes.

I would agree with you. Mother Jefferson wouldve probably been on the show a lot longer. She played a funny role as she insulted Weezy. ;)

........would she have been on the show for all 11 seasons until 1985? If healthy, I want to say yes, but being she got up there in age, they probably would have limited her episodes.


If she never became sick and was alive for the entire 10 year run, her and Louise would have eventually had to become friends by 1980 like George and Tom

If she never became sick and was alive for the entire 10 year run, her and Louise would have eventually had to become friends by 1980 like George and Tom

I agree

I couldn't agree with you more.:)

I couldn't agree with you more.:)


your life is that pathetic that you responded to a two year old thread to say-"I AGREE"

you really need a life

your life is that pathetic that you responded to a two year old thread to say-"I AGREE"

you really need a life

Solomon, maybe he bumped the thread and read it and really had nothing else to say. I don't see anything wrong with it.

Solomon, maybe he bumped the thread and read it and really had nothing else to say. I don't see anything wrong with it.


Why give life to an OLD THREAD if you have nothing to say???

Why give life to an OLD THREAD if you have nothing to say???

Wasn't he banned from here?

Wasn't he banned from here?


I'm not sure but if he was I'm sad to see the poster back on the site-lol

........would she have been on the show for all 11 seasons until 1985? If healthy, I want to say yes, but being she got up there in age, they probably would have limited her episodes.

Mother Jefferson was a great character and played off nicely on George and Louise. Had Zara's health held up she would have run the course of the entire series. She did a wonderful job in the role.

Mother Jefferson was a great character and played off nicely on George and Louise. Had Zara's health held up she would have run the course of the entire series. She did a wonderful job in the role.
I loved Mother Jefferson. She had some hilarious lines. Although I didn't like Louise being treated that way, Louise knew how to stand up to her and didn't take no crap from her.

I loved Mother Jefferson. She had some hilarious lines. Although I didn't like Louise being treated that way, Louise knew how to stand up to her and didn't take no crap from her.
Same here. Marie and Debra (ELR) never got along for the entire 9 season run of their show, so maybe Louise and Mother wouldn't have, either. Who knows??

I loved Mother Jefferson. She had some hilarious lines. Although I didn't like Louise being treated that way, Louise knew how to stand up to her and didn't take no crap from her.
I Agree.
Mother Jefferson Was Funny but I Never Like The Way She Treated Louise.
At 1 Point I Was Hoping George Would Stick For Louise.
And To Me Marie Liked Debra a Little More Then Mother Jefferson Likeing Louise.

I can't imagine that Zara Cully would've lasted the whole series- not that it's impossible, but she was in her 80s when the show started (and looked it), unlike the grandmother in Family Matters or Jester Hairston in Amen who were just as old but didn't seem so old when you watched them. Even if Zara lived to her 90s it seemed like she would have had to have either quit the show altogether or appeared in maybe one or 2 shows a year. I honestly couldn't see her being there in 1984 but if so she probably would've still been unkind to Louise. The last time she was shown was in a flashback scene in Florence Did it Different in the 8th season and her legacy as it were was her crusty two faced personality. Doubt that would've changed much.

I can't imagine that Zara Cully would've lasted the whole series- not that it's impossible, but she was in her 80s when the show started (and looked it), unlike the grandmother in Family Matters or Jester Hairston in Amen who were just as old but didn't seem so old when you watched them. Even if Zara lived to her 90s it seemed like she would have had to have either quit the show altogether or appeared in maybe one or 2 shows a year. I honestly couldn't see her being there in 1984 but if so she probably would've still been unkind to Louise. The last time she was shown was in a flashback scene in Florence Did it Different in the 8th season and her legacy as it were was her crusty two faced personality. Doubt that would've changed much.



I agree, but it should have been that way from the start, 5 or 8 eps a season. I think she was in damm near every ep in season 2

I can't imagine that Zara Cully would've lasted the whole series- not that it's impossible, but she was in her 80s when the show started (and looked it), unlike the grandmother in Family Matters or Jester Hairston in Amen who were just as old but didn't seem so old when you watched them. Even if Zara lived to her 90s it seemed like she would have had to have either quit the show altogether or appeared in maybe one or 2 shows a year. I honestly couldn't see her being there in 1984 but if so she probably would've still been unkind to Louise. The last time she was shown was in a flashback scene in Florence Did it Different in the 8th season and her legacy as it were was her crusty two faced personality. Doubt that would've changed much.

You have a good point so I have to qualify my previous post.

She would have been wonderful to see on the show to it's end--but yes, I do think she would have been on much less frequently. Too bad though, as she was a great character and I think the writer's would have developed her character; I would have liked to see her evolve a more kindly attitude to Louise. Also, as much as I like the Mother J character, having her on every ep would have been overkill.

The nice thing about the Jeffersons (and there are many) is that it had so many good supporting characters--of which Mother J was one.

I agree, but it should have been that way from the start, 5 or 8 eps a season. I think she was in damm near every ep in season 2
She's in 19 of the 24 episodes. They might as well have had her billed last in the credits with that many appearances. She was the most seen supporting player in the first 2 seasons. Florence took up where she left off in year 3.

She's in 19 of the 24 episodes. They might as well have had her billed last in the credits with that many appearances. She was the most seen supporting player in the first 2 seasons. Florence took up where she left off in year 3.



Hard to believe that's the only reason marla gibbs received more screen time

Hard to believe that's the only reason marla gibbs received more screen time
That wasn't the reason- it just coincided. But notice that the two shows that Mother Jefferson was in in season 3 didn't have Florence in them. The producers must have anticipated that Zara Cully wasn't going to be around to give full impact so when Florence caught on they ran with it.

That wasn't the reason- it just coincided. But notice that the two shows that Mother Jefferson was in in season 3 didn't have Florence in them. The producers must have anticipated that Zara Cully wasn't going to be around to give full impact so when Florence caught on they ran with it.


That was the reason, it was stated in a 1977 Jet Magazine that Marla Gibbs would be used more because of the absence of Zara Cully due to health issues

Yeah, Zara had some very funny moments and did a great job. Do you think if they tried real hard they could've found a replacement for her? It would've been hard since she had such a unique voice and mannerisms but if they found someone who was very similar to her they could've used her for just a few episodes after Zara died.

Yeah, Zara had some very funny moments and did a great job. Do you think if they tried real hard they could've found a replacement for her? It would've been hard since she had such a unique voice and mannerisms but if they found someone who was very similar to her they could've used her for just a few episodes after Zara died.


Yes, that's a good idea--maybe some old gal who could have been a long time crony with her own sassy personality--to help with Olivia's belongings and helping the J's work through their feelings abt Mom J's passing.

Yes, that's a good idea--maybe some old gal who could have been a long time crony with her own sassy personality--to help with Olivia's belongings and helping the J's work through their feelings abt Mom J's passing.


No, I meant someone to take the place of Mother Jefferson after she died. It would have been hard but if you got someone to mimick her style or have their own funny style it might have worked. They could've tried it for a few episodes and if it didn't work they could've written her out.

No, I meant someone to take the place of Mother Jefferson after she died. It would have been hard but if you got someone to mimick her style or have their own funny style it might have worked. They could've tried it for a few episodes and if it didn't work they could've written her out.
I just noticed that the picture at the top of this page is from the X-mas episode in season 4 when George is delivering gifts and money to his old address in Harlem (I noticed Jenny's unique skirt and remembered which episode that is from). Zara wasn't in that episode (but all the other actors pictured were). It is touching to note that Zara showed up to do this publicity photo because she had already taped her last episode for that season and for the whole series (the Last Leaf). She died not too long after this photo was taken. In Last Leaf she really looks ill. In that one she's in the opening scene with the other women and her old spunk just isn't there. She gets up and walks out the door and was never seen on the show in an original scene again.

........would she have been on the show for all 11 seasons until 1985? If healthy, I want to say yes, but being she got up there in age, they probably would have limited her episodes.
Heck yes. She was just too hilarious to get rid of.