Always travel back and forth from Harlem by herself??-lol I mean would a woman her age and the way she walked have been able travel alone back and forth to harlem without any assistance?


I think this may have been the most realistic thing about watching the jeffersons

Now that you mention it, yes, that did seem a little odd -- I'm surprised that they didn't have George ordering a car service for her -- or something along those lines -- since otherwise, he did seem to dote on her.

Now that you mention it, yes, that did seem a little odd -- I'm surprised that they didn't have George ordering a car service for her -- or something along those lines -- since otherwise, he did seem to dote on her.


Exactly, No way a woman that old and the way she walked around could go back and forth to Harlem alone without any assistance

While she could have traveled via taxi or car service, I've seen plenty of women Mother Jefferson's age that did and still do travel by themselves with no assistance at all (even though personally some could have used an Attendant) they still have that independent streak. Also Harlem is in Manhattan (many people seem to "forget" that) so it isn't like she had to travel say from Queens or Brooklyn to get to George & Louise's apt.

While she could have traveled via taxi or car service, I've seen plenty of women Mother Jefferson's age that did and still do travel by themselves with no assistance at all (even though personally some could have used an Attendant) they still have that independent streak. Also Harlem is in Manhattan (many people seem to "forget" that) so it isn't like she had to travel say from Queens or Brooklyn to get to George & Louise's apt.


But she wasn't a person who looked like she could get around ike the woman who came to visit her in season 2 who played her sister. I'm not talking about so much her age it was HOW she got around which was in a very slow way

Good question - I have no idea! :lol:

But she wasn't a person who looked like she could get around ike the woman who came to visit her in season 2 who played her sister. I'm not talking about so much her age it was HOW she got around which was in a very slow way


I understand what your saying, but let's assume that George paid for her to take a cab back Mother Jefferson don't seem like the type that would refuse that type of 1st class treatment. Also trust me every now and again I'll an elderly man or woman who look to be 90 yrs old walking 2 miles a minute with groceries in both hands, stooped over with no help at all, when they clearly need assistance. I remember riding the subway 1-2 am with my sister coming back from Atlantic City and we saw an elderly lady out on the train by herself trust me come hell or high water those old folks get around! And without Mother Jefferson whose going to tell Louise how to run her house and take care of George properly ?:lol:

I understand what your saying, but let's assume that George paid for her to take a cab back Mother Jefferson don't seem like the type that would refuse that type of 1st class treatment. Also trust me every now and again I'll an elderly man or woman who look to be 90 yrs old walking 2 miles a minute with groceries in both hands, stooped over with no help at all, when they clearly need assistance. I remember riding the subway 1-2 am with my sister coming back from Atlantic City and we saw an elderly lady out on the train by herself trust me come hell or high water those old folks get around! And without Mother Jefferson whose going to tell Louise how to run her house and take care of George properly ?:lol:


I could have did without Mother Jefferson

I could have did without Mother Jefferson


Well, I certainly didn't like the way she treated Louise--which often was disgusting. I'm sure there were many times Louise was tempted to belt her one.

But in term of the dynamics of the show, Mother J added to the mosaic. I would have liked to see her really mellow toward Louise --but alas, no show is perfect, and to me this was one of the very few minor flaws of The J's --otherwise a SUPERB and cleverly done show.

Well, I certainly didn't like the way she treated Louise--which often was disgusting. I'm sure there were many times Louise was tempted to belt her one.

But in term of the dynamics of the show, Mother J added to the mosaic. I would have liked to see her really mellow toward Louise --but alas, no show is perfect, and to me this was one of the very few minor flaws of The J's --otherwise a SUPERB and cleverly done show.
Some of the best comedy coming out Isabel Sanford was Louise's scenes with Mother Jefferson. Her comebacks on Mother Jefferson was hilarious.

So many people hate on Mother Jefferson and she was a great character. The actress who played her was up in age when the show started. The same as the actor who played Rolly on Amen. He was up in age already when the show began and he was a scream on the show.

It's not too unrealistic because there are many elderly people still driving and have no business driving. They have been independent for so long and they don't want that taking away from them no matter what condition they might be in.

Some of the best comedy coming out Isabel Sanford was Louise's scenes with Mother Jefferson. Her comebacks on Mother Jefferson was hilarious.

So many people hate on Mother Jefferson and she was a great character. The actress who played her was up in age when the show started. The same as the actor who played Rolly on Amen. He was up in age already when the show began and he was a scream on the show.

It's not too unrealistic because there are many elderly people still driving and have no business driving. They have been independent for so long and they don't want that taking away from them no matter what condition they might be in.



she didn't seem like a active person for someone in that age bracket

Maybe I'm just silly or naive or something, but I just assumed that when the Jeffersons got their high-rise apartment, George bought Mother Jefferson an apartment in their ritzy neighborhood too. I mean, just because she wasn't living in the same building (thank God for Louise's sake!!!) doesn't mean she wasn't living in an equally nice apartment building closeby. But then again, I'm out in the sticks where I live...what would *I* know about Manhattan??? :lol:

No I don't think it was unrealistic. It's not as if she walked all the way over to her son’s house, She took a cab. Just because you're old doesn't mean that you have to stay in the house all day watching TV, napping and talking to your cat or dog.

No I don't think it was unrealistic. It's not as if she walked all the way over to her son’s house, She took a cab. Just because you're old doesn't mean that you have to stay in the house all day watching TV, napping and talking to your cat or dog.


But she didn't move that well from Day 1 so to have it like she was traveling all the way from Harlem alone was a bit much

But she didn't move that well from Day 1 so to have it like she was traveling all the way from Harlem alone was a bit much

It's 9 miles for Manhattan to Harlem. So it's not like she was traveling to another county, she was still in the same city :lol:

You make it seems as if she had to take 5 buses, to trains and walk 2 miles.

I take that back, if they lived in East Manhattan that would only be 2 miles away from Harlem, so it would have taken her like 6 minute to get her George and Lousie apartment

Two miles??? Good research Brie. ;)

I don't know abt you Solomon, but I have met many senior citizens who didn't like being pampered or treated as if they can't do anything because of their age or being frail. It wasn't like the woman walked with a cane or had only one leg. I can see her being the kind of woman who wants to get around without being treated like a baby.

I know plenty of elderly people who stay active and on the go....cause they figured once they slow down, they won't be able to do for themselves. A person's dignity and self-respect mean a lot--you have to respect that. My mom's older sister basically gave up when her b/f passed on......and now she is in a nursing home, while many of her peers are still driving around town, volunteering, still living full lives.

Thank you. Dignity and self-respect are two things older folks have a lot of. That is why they become defensive when you offer to help them at times because any sign of help sometimes means to them they are not able to do things. That can happen to anyone of any age really, especially someone who has become temporarily or permanently disabled. The feeling of no longer being able to do the simplest tasks is awful. Mother Jefferson was always on the go and gave the impression she can take care of herself and didn't want people to treat her like a baby.

Now, I remember that one episode where she wanted attention...:rofl:

Two miles??? Good research Brie. ;)

I don't know abt you Solomon, but I have met many senior citizens who didn't like being pampered or treated as if they can't do anything because of their age or being frail. It wasn't like the woman walked with a cane or had only one leg. I can see her being the kind of woman who wants to get around without being treated like a baby.


Google Map and Mapquest does wonders LOL

So those are my sources.

Google Map and Mapquest does wonders LOL

So those are my sources.
They work for me. ;)

It just seemed like since she lived in a rough part of Harlem that she would have assistance in coming over to her Son's home. Then when she left she had to go back to the rough part of Harlem ALONE without assistance, So I'm just saying that wouldnt happy in real life.

What do you mean? Safety wise? The woman lived in Harlem most of her adult life and doesn't seem worried abt living there. If she did, she'd tell George to get her out of there.

And who said that she lived in the bad part of Harlem? Was it ever said that she lived in Harlem?

And who said that she lived in the bad part of Harlem? Was it ever said that she lived in Harlem?


Yes it was said she lived in Harlem her entire life

Yes it was said she lived in Harlem her entire life
There it is. She was comfortable living there. She never raised a stink abt living there. So what is the issue here? :lol: Merely because YOU think she shouldn't have been walking? Me thinks YOU'D have an issue with walking somewhere. ;) It is NOT unrealistic. Old ladies live in ghettos, bad parts of town, all over the U.S.

And I'm pretty sure that all of Harlem wasn't bad. From Mother Jefferson point of view, George lived in a nice house, so I'm pretty sure that's the house she lived in until the day she died...In TV world :lol:

But at some point in rthe HOOD a older needs a assistant because they easy targets for robbers

But at some point in rthe HOOD a older needs a assistant because they easy targets for robbers


You are old enough to know, that if a older person can still walk, talk and if they are in their right mind, and if they aren't sick, they can live on their own. Just because a person gets old doesn't mean that they need assistance and it doesn't mean that they aren't capable of living on their own. Not all people who live in a bad part of town are targets. MOST of the time criminals leave old people alone, at lease they respect them if no one else. Also if you live in a neighborhood for over 30+ years chances are you will have neighbors and others looking out for you and your well being, and I'm pretty sure that Mother Jefferson knew everyone in her neighborhood and on her block.

You are old enough to know, that if a older person can still walk, talk and if they are in their right mind, and if they aren't sick, they can live on their own. Just because a person gets old doesn't mean that they need assistance and it doesn't mean that they aren't capable of living on their own. Not all people who live in a bad part of town are targets. MOST of the time criminals leave old people alone, at lease they respect them if no one else. Also if you live in a neighborhood for over 30+ years chances are you will have neighbors and others looking out for you and your well being, and I'm pretty sure that Mother Jefferson knew everyone in her neighborhood and on her block.
:thumbsup: Exactly.

And, again, Mother Jefferson NEVER COMPLAINED. I can see if the character talked abt wanting to leave Harlem or move uptown, but she never did. She did what she wanted to because SHE COULD.

Google Map and Mapquest does wonders LOL

So those are my sources.
Ditto!! :cool:

Well, I certainly didn't like the way she treated Louise--which often was disgusting. I'm sure there were many times Louise was tempted to belt her one.

But in term of the dynamics of the show, Mother J added to the mosaic. I would have liked to see her really mellow toward Louise --but alas, no show is perfect, and to me this was one of the very few minor flaws of The J's --otherwise a SUPERB and cleverly done show.

i didn't like the way mother jefferson would behave around louise. i thought it was rude. you would've expected her to accept louise as part of the family and for her to get along with her. but whilst she'd be nice and sweet to her son george, mother j would make a sarchastic remark or say something to ridicule louise when all she tries to do is be polite and considerate. i too wasn't a fan of mother J

Most mothers have their qualms with the person their child chooses to be his/her spouse. Mother Jefferson was really no different than any other mother-in-law in that regard. But while most mother-in-laws keep their opinions to themselves (for the most part), Mother J's mouth was always WIDE open. And also, she seemed to have NOTHING but qualms for Louise, whereas most mother-in-laws can find some kind of goodness in their daughter/son-in-law (and possibly even grow to love them as if they were blood). I may regret saying this as I'm in the minority, but I agree with Solomon on this one--- Mother J. was simply too feeble to do the whole "subway" thing at her age. Hey listen, I know as well as anybody that old people like their independence--- I have grandparents too. But their comes a time when the mind simply cannot outwill the body. And I think Mother Jefferson had reached that point by 1975. The writers should've addressed this issue in some way, but I guess nobody really thought of it at the time. They were just focusing on making the show as funny and as good as possible: logistics always come second on a sitcom. If this was a serialized drama or something, then logistics would've come first.

Most mothers have their qualms with the person their child chooses to be his/her spouse. Mother Jefferson was really no different than any other mother-in-law in that regard. But while most mother-in-laws keep their opinions to themselves (for the most part), Mother J's mouth was always WIDE open. And also, she seemed to have NOTHING but qualms for Louise, whereas most mother-in-laws can find some kind of goodness in their daughter/son-in-law (and possibly even grow to love them as if they were blood). I may regret saying this as I'm in the minority, but I agree with Solomon on this one--- Mother J. was simply too feeble to do the whole "subway" thing at her age. Hey listen, I know as well as anybody that old people like their independence--- I have grandparents too. But their comes a time when the mind simply cannot outwill the body. And I think Mother Jefferson had reached that point by 1975. The writers should've addressed this issue in some way, but I guess nobody really thought of it at the time. They were just focusing on making the show as funny and as good as possible: logistics always come second on a sitcom. If this was a serialized drama or something, then logistics would've come first.

yes, i guess because this was a sitcom its intention was to make people laugh in whichever way they did. even if it means mother jefferson squabbling with louise or george arguing with the willis's. but mother J came across as very protective of her son- not that there was anything wrong with that, but she seemed to drive a wedge between herself and louise, if not between louise and george and cause arguments. not saying she was a trouble maker, but at times she sure didn't make things easier between herself, george and louise

I never thought of that. I would assume in reality, that George would have purchased her an apartment in the building and most likely on that floor if not having her live with them.

I never thought of that. I would assume in reality, that George would have purchased her an apartment in the building and most likely on that floor if not having her live with them.


Exactly, someone her age and as slow as she moved around just didn't seem like she could go back and forth from Harlem in a cab without any assistance.

Yep! But I'm partial to Queens! Jamaica, Cambria Heights, Rosedale and St. Albans...lived in all of them!😊