I really think it all began when Mike and Gloria moved out of the house and into the Jeffersons old house. The show really didn't seem the same after that.

I really think it all began when Mike and Gloria moved out of the house and into the Jeffersons old house. The show really didn't seem the same after that.



I totally agree, and when Mike and Gloria moved to California the show really went down the toilet.

Fo shure!!!! That was the beginning of the end.

After the 1975-76 season because we no longer saw the Jeffersons or the Lorenzos

After the 1975-76 season because we no longer saw the Jeffersons or the Lorenzos


So even with Mike and Gloria still in the house, you didn't like it?

So even with Mike and Gloria still in the house, you didn't like it?


Mike and Gloria moved out in the 75-76 season, I was saying it lost steam AFTER that season

After the 1975-76 season because we no longer saw the Jeffersons or the Lorenzos


Well the Jeffersons were hardly on the show unlike the Lorenzo's. The Stephanie years were hard to watch, although there were some good episode, it just wasn't the same with Mike and Gloria out of the picture.

Well the Jeffersons were hardly on the show unlike the Lorenzo's. The Stephanie years were hard to watch, although there were some good episode, it just wasn't the same with Mike and Gloria out of the picture.


Hardly on the show? They would have never gotten their own spinoff if they were not seen that much-lol

Mike and Gloria moved out in the 75-76 season, I was saying it lost steam AFTER that season

Oh ok, I guess what I mean is, you think the Jeffersons and the Lorenzos were the straws that stirred the drink?

Oh ok, I guess what I mean is, you think the Jeffersons and the Lorenzos were the straws that stirred the drink?


Yup, Frank Lorenzo was a underrrated character on AITF

Yup, Frank Lorenzo was a underrrated character on AITF


Perhaps, but he was hardly on the show.

Perhaps, but he was hardly on the show.

um HELLOOO!!!!!!!! That's why I said he was underratted, the little time he was on there he stole the show-lol

um HELLOOO!!!!!!!! That's why I said he was underratted, the little time he was on there he stole the show-lol


I doubt that.

I doubt that.


You Doubt What?

um HELLOOO!!!!!!!! That's why I said he was underratted, the little time he was on there he stole the show-lol


Solomon, you can be underrated and still be on the show frequently.

You Doubt What?


Why do you ask questions that you know the answers too.

Solomon, you can be underrated and still be on the show frequently.


I know, I just wish they used him more, Frank was all that-lol

I know, I just wish they used him more, Frank was all that-lol


I will admit, I enjoyed Frank, but he wasn't the be all or end all for me. I didn't miss him when he was gone.

I would say Season 5 is the last consistantly good season. While Season 6 is still great, there are a lot of filler episodes and the show becomes more of a sit-com. This has a lot to do with changes in the country; the end of Vietnam and the Nixon White House and changes in personnel behind the scenes. The new crew were TV veterans so the show starts to get a more old time feel to it and I don't think it ever bounced back from there. Whereas, say seasons 1-5 were more edgy, seasons 6-9 were more Honeymooners / I Love Lucy-esque in their approach overall with some powerful exceptions and, of course, the AITF touch.

I also notice that they seem to pepper the soundtrack more with laughs and applause starting with Season 6 which irritates me. It feels like when Scatman Cruthers would walk on in Chico and the Man and the whole audience would clap for him for what seemed an eternity. He and Jack Albertson would just look at each other, smile, and shake their heads until the applause died down. UGH! The scene in the season opener where Edith is running back and forth between Archie and Gloria is so irritating because of the applause. It had the feeling like the sign went on in the audience and they applauded.

The show (because of the behind the scenes changes) is filmed a little differently and not as 'stagy' as the first 5 seasons. You see more camera movement and also more 'inserts' that show the sides of the Bunkers house where the audience would normally be sitting. It definately has a feeling that there was more post-production going into the show beginning with Season 6. I 'think' this is where you can trace the beginning of the applause that occurs during a dissolve between two scenes (which I believe would happen in post-production as well) which I don't recall happening before this season.

The other thing I notice about Season 6 is that once G&M move out, there really doesn't seem to be a reason for either of them to visit. Gloria is missing from a few episodes and Rob Reiner seems to show up at the house just to remind the viewer that he's still on the show. The whole character has a Frank Burns, post Margaret engagement, feeling to it. In several episodes, he comes in the house to annoy Archie, Archie gets irritated and throws him out, or Mike gets irritated and says he's gonna go home. Then, "boom" back to the story in progress. It actually interrupts the action.

And I agree...the episodes that focus on Mike and Gloria UGH!! I wonder if something came down from the network to film episodes like this to keep a younger viewership so the show wouldn't look 'old' (a criticism that would haunt AITF and ABP until its final days on the network). I really don't find their relationship all that interesting and they act more like whiny kids with their problems instead of adults.

Still a strong season (as 7-9 are as well) but we start seeing a few dead spots in the overall episodes.

I would havbe to say after Mike and Gloria Left the sholw

I would say Season 5 is the last consistantly good season. While Season 6 is still great, there are a lot of filler episodes and the show becomes more of a sit-com. This has a lot to do with changes in the country; the end of Vietnam and the Nixon White House and changes in personnel behind the scenes. The new crew were TV veterans so the show starts to get a more old time feel to it and I don't think it ever bounced back from there. Whereas, say seasons 1-5 were more edgy, seasons 6-9 were more Honeymooners / I Love Lucy-esque in their approach overall with some powerful exceptions and, of course, the AITF touch.

I also notice that they seem to pepper the soundtrack more with laughs and applause starting with Season 6 which irritates me. It feels like when Scatman Cruthers would walk on in Chico and the Man and the whole audience would clap for him for what seemed an eternity. He and Jack Albertson would just look at each other, smile, and shake their heads until the applause died down. UGH! The scene in the season opener where Edith is running back and forth between Archie and Gloria is so irritating because of the applause. It had the feeling like the sign went on in the audience and they applauded.

The show (because of the behind the scenes changes) is filmed a little differently and not as 'stagy' as the first 5 seasons. You see more camera movement and also more 'inserts' that show the sides of the Bunkers house where the audience would normally be sitting. It definately has a feeling that there was more post-production going into the show beginning with Season 6. I 'think' this is where you can trace the beginning of the applause that occurs during a dissolve between two scenes (which I believe would happen in post-production as well) which I don't recall happening before this season.

The other thing I notice about Season 6 is that once G&M move out, there really doesn't seem to be a reason for either of them to visit. Gloria is missing from a few episodes and Rob Reiner seems to show up at the house just to remind the viewer that he's still on the show. The whole character has a Frank Burns, post Margaret engagement, feeling to it. In several episodes, he comes in the house to annoy Archie, Archie gets irritated and throws him out, or Mike gets irritated and says he's gonna go home. Then, "boom" back to the story in progress. It actually interrupts the action.

And I agree...the episodes that focus on Mike and Gloria UGH!! I wonder if something came down from the network to film episodes like this to keep a younger viewership so the show wouldn't look 'old' (a criticism that would haunt AITF and ABP until its final days on the network). I really don't find their relationship all that interesting and they act more like whiny kids with their problems instead of adults.

Still a strong season (as 7-9 are as well) but we start seeing a few dead spots in the overall episodes.

The real KILLER was STEPHANIE

The Show Lost It Steam when The Jeffersons Moved AwaY.
The Jeffersons Were one of the best thing that happend to All in the family, But Otherwise I Still Like The Jeffersons.

The whole premise of what made AITF such a hit from the beginning was the dynamic of having all four people living under the same roof. The tension was exacerbated by the fact that Mike wasn't working and Gloria was.

And I thought the Jeffersons were a big part of the success as well. Just the act of having a black family move next door to Archie was one thing... but then to have Edith become such good friends with Louise was great! And Lionel #1 was fantastic in that part as well, with the way he effortlessly played with Archie's head.

But when Mike and Gloria moved out, it became an entirely different show.

And of course, Stephanie came along...

Granted the 'Stephanie' years were a little painful but I look at it in a different way. The Archie of 1978 was accepting of having a little girl move into the house (maybe emotionally to replace the fact that his 'little goil' had moved out). The Archie of 1971 wouldn't have been so accepting. The point is that the character grew. Like one of my other favorite shows of all time, MASH, the success of these shows in part, comes from the fact that these characters grew and changed. All the experiences Archie went through that many of you pointed out on this thread leant themselves to his personal growth as a character. There are certain episodes Im drawn to depending on the kind of mood that Im in.

I know there are other shows like this but these two are my favorites because the characters are believable and, like most of us (hopefully that is :) ) they grew and changed with their life experiences which is why they are so relatable and real to some extent. I think its those qualities that kept them on the air for such a long time.

The whole premise of what made AITF such a hit from the beginning was the dynamic of having all four people living under the same roof. The tension was exacerbated by the fact that Mike wasn't working and Gloria was.

And I thought the Jeffersons were a big part of the success as well. Just the act of having a black family move next door to Archie was one thing... but then to have Edith become such good friends with Louise was great! And Lionel #1 was fantastic in that part as well, with the way he effortlessly played with Archie's head.

But when Mike and Gloria moved out, it became an entirely different show.

And of course, Stephanie came along...

The feel of the show changed when Mike and Gloria moved out and into the Jeffersons' house. Mike and Archie under the same roof gave us great comedy and some drama as well. At some point kids do move out but those four under the same roof was funny and gave us good theater at its best.

The 7th season of the show was horrible. It was not the same.

The 8th season was great and got back to its original premise somewhat. Very heartfelt episodes that season especially Edith's 50th birthday episode. Powerful episode to a point that I was in tears.

The Stephanie years was horrible. No need to go any further.