Just curious to know.

Just curious to know.
The 70s. I've been watching the show in syndication and while I enjoy the show all the way through when they cycled back and showed a few episodes from season 4 recently the difference in quality was quite noticeable- the live studio audience really affected the actors more - they put more zest into their performances. The studio audience lasted through year 5. The real demarkation for me is after year 7, that's when the quality shifts most dramatically and the actors begin to slow down- but even in its more seasoned era it is still good TV- better than what is being made now.

Interesting. Anymore?

The 70's

the 70's, but i like them both

I prefer the 70's episodes.

The 70s episodes of the Jeffersons rocked. After the 6th season the show became more whitewashed and the cutting edge of it was gone. George changed too drastically and it was done overnight. Louise became more unlikeable becoming too snobbish and holier than thou. When Louise wore her hair in a bun when she was on All In the Family and in the first season of the Jeffersons she showed more backbone towards George compared to the later seasons.

The later years had too many high-concept and fantasy episodes and guest stars, and I think they used a laugh track instead of a studio audience.

The 70's... and through 1981. After that it was still good, but a different show IMO.

I like the 70's episodes better.

The 70's episodes were much better. I saw the 80's episodes for the first time during the marathon and it was like watching a different show. George was nice and I forget the name of the episode, but George was saying that Tom was his best friend. I was like what am I watching here? :lol: That's not to say the 80's episodes were bad, just different.

I like the 70's episodes much better.

Could it also be that some of the characters became stereotypes of their former selves? Or do you think keeping it firmly in the 80s might have something do with it...just curious to know.

The 80s were a more conservative era which is why they moved away from race issues. I noticed that after Reagan came into office in 1981 this show began to move away from race issues. There's an episode in year 8 where Louise and Helen consider quitting the Help Center and they actually say that since Reagan took over the social service agencies have been suffering. That episode has Lynne Moody in it as a hooker who looks down on Louise and Helen and truthfully the two of them are very out of place in a bar in a poor neighborhood (what on earth were they thinking anyway?) The characters did get more watered down by the 80s, but the actors were some of the best working in situation comedies at that time so the show kept on going and going and had CBS not moved it I think it would have ran a couple seasons more.
In his few appearances in seasons 7 and 8 Mike Evans still brought some soul to the show (and to a lesser extent in his last 2 episodes), but once he was gone except for an appearance by someone like Garrett Morris or an occasional episode written around Florence this show could have just as easily been about white people.

Could it also be that since the race jokes were put aside, they made Mr. Willis a target for fat jokes? In somewhere in either 8 or 9 Season, the Jeffersons and Willises both appeared on reality court T.V about a chocolate stain on Tom's pants.

Could it also be that since the race jokes were put aside, they made Mr. Willis a target for fat jokes? In somewhere in either 8 or 9 Season, the Jeffersons and Willises both appeared on reality court T.V about a chocolate stain on Tom's pants.
Anatomy of A Stain was the first show taped for year 9. Yes, I think that since they laid the honky jokes to the side they had to pull out the fat jokes (and Florence's jokes about George going bald). Also since George was no longer a racist they had to play up his self-centeredness, arrogance and two-facedness. In Anatomy of A Stain he admits that Tom Willis is his friend which is to me very strange to watch. The last time I remember him using the term honky is in the Hawaii episodes in year 7.

That could be it.

You know, those fantasy episodes reallly did the show in a way.

The whole show was good to me, but I still like the 70's era better.

Did he dance at all in the 80s one? I don't seem to recall that at all...

The 70s episodes of the Jeffersons rocked. After the 6th season the show became more whitewashed and the cutting edge of it was gone. George changed too drastically and it was done overnight. Louise became more unlikeable becoming too snobbish and holier than thou. When Louise wore her hair in a bun when she was on All In the Family and in the first season of the Jeffersons she showed more backbone towards George compared to the later seasons.

The earlier episodes also had a bit of a dark edge to them. For example, in one of the early seasons, Florence is worried because they are tearing down the building that she lives in. So she comes to work and tells Louise she is going to go home and commit suicide.

The earlier episodes also had a bit of a dark edge to them. For example, in one of the early seasons, Florence is worried because they are tearing down the building that she lives in. So she comes to work and tells Louise she is going to go home and commit suicide.


I think you have the eps mixed up. Season 2 is when florence was going to commit suicide and the first episode of season 3 is when her building was being torn down which led her to moving in with the Jeffersons

I love both. The Jeffersons is an awesome show!

Definitely the 70s version

Honestly, I LOVE both. The decade does not matter.

The Jeffersons is one of those rare/unique shows where I enjoyed EVERY episode from the first episode to the last. In fact, I think the show could of lasted another season or two. The characters were/are like family to me and I love seeing their journey and adventures. I was so sad when they cancelled it. It's one of my all-time favorite shows and very underrated.

Oh, well, I'm just glad that I have so many wonderful episodes to enjoy.

However, if forced to choose, I think I have more favorites in the later years. So I will give a slight edge to the 80s era.