1.Bringing in another actor to play Lionel Jefferson in 1975

2.Bringing in another actor to play Alan Willis in 1978

3. Not addressing the Death of the Actress who played Mother Jefferson at All

4.Bringing Back the Actor who Originally Played Lionel in 1979

5.Adding a Child to the show in the 80's-Baby Jessica





These will always be my Top 5 BLUNDERS of the Jeffersons Era on CBS. The Show was still Great because of Sherman but could have been so much better without the foolish Decisions above.

2.Bringing in another actor to play Alan Willis in 1978


Hey, I like Jay Hammer, I thought he was good as Alan, and I liked him on Guiding Light. I wish he were still on the show.

2.Bringing in another actor to play Alan Willis in 1978


Hey, I like Jay Hammer, I thought he was good as Alan, and I liked him on Guiding Light. I wish he were still on the show.


The problem I had with Jay Hammer's character was him trying to act too much like the original Allan Willis in 1975 and by doing that he made his version of Allan Willis look like a complete idiot. Atleast we can say that Damon Evans never tried to act like the original Lionel

I hated Alan Willis - he was such a pointless character. But, he was in the season that I'd call a transition season for The Jeffersons. I thought the show was good in the early seasons, but it definitely hit its stride after season 6, where the episodes seemed funnier to me. Still, the show was always good to me. These may have been blunders, but I don't think they really hurt the show.

I hated Alan Willis - he was such a pointless character. But, he was in the season that I'd call a transition season for The Jeffersons. I thought the show was good in the early seasons, but it definitely hit its stride after season 6, where the episodes seemed funnier to me. Still, the show was always good to me. These may have been blunders, but I don't think they really hurt the show.


I just wish it was better decisions behind the scenes like saying after Mike Evans left that the Lionel character went to school over seas and then have ocassional phone scenes. That way it wouldn't have looked to weird to see Mike Evans back for a second time. And if they couldn't get the Original Actor to make a guest appearance in 1978 who played Alan Willis then they should have got rid of the idea all together. Damm I hate BLUNDERS-lol

they metioned mother jeffersons death on episode whe alen willis came back and about george want have his father buried next to his mama

they metioned mother jeffersons death on episode whe alen willis came back and about george want have his father buried next to his mama


they were supposed to do more than mentioned it, it should have been a ep about it with a off screen funeral

I just wish it was better decisions behind the scenes like saying after Mike Evans left that the Lionel character went to school over seas and then have ocassional phone scenes. That way it wouldn't have looked to weird to see Mike Evans back for a second time. And if they couldn't get the Original Actor to make a guest appearance in 1978 who played Alan Willis then they should have got rid of the idea all together. Damm I hate BLUNDERS-lol

Mike Evans was by far the best Lionel, obviously - Damon was good, and he grew on me, but Mike was the original, and the best. It's also probably a main reason why ratings dipped so low seasons 2-5.

Mike Evans was by far the best Lionel, obviously - Damon was good, and he grew on me, but Mike was the original, and the best. It's also probably a main reason why ratings dipped so low seasons 2-5.


Surprised they didn't get a third lionel after damon evans left in 1978-lol

Mike Evans was by far the best Lionel, obviously - Damon was good, and he grew on me, but Mike was the original, and the best. It's also probably a main reason why ratings dipped so low seasons 2-5.
I agree. No offense to Damon, but Mike created the role and made it his own. It would be a tough act for anyone to follow.

Off topic, Sol, but Cactus Jack is ordering you to this thread: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=241176

1.Bringing in another actor to play Lionel Jefferson in 1975

2.Bringing in another actor to play Alan Willis in 1978

3. Not addressing the Death of the Actress who played Mother Jefferson at All

4.Bringing Back the Actor who Originally Played Lionel in 1979

5.Adding a Child to the show in the 80's-Baby Jessica





These will always be my Top 5 BLUNDERS of the Jeffersons Era on CBS. The Show was still Great because of Sherman but could have been so much better without the foolish Decisions above.

I agree with your list and I feel the same way.

1.Bringing in another actor to play Lionel Jefferson in 1975

2.Bringing in another actor to play Alan Willis in 1978

3. Not addressing the Death of the Actress who played Mother Jefferson at All

4.Bringing Back the Actor who Originally Played Lionel in 1979

5.Adding a Child to the show in the 80's-Baby Jessica





These will always be my Top 5 BLUNDERS of the Jeffersons Era on CBS. The Show was still Great because of Sherman but could have been so much better without the foolish Decisions above.

I disagree about Lionel since Damon Evans was good in his own right and his own comedic style seperate from Michael Evans. If you never saw All in the Family and never knew about the original Lionel then Damon would have been fine.

Why did Mike Evans leave and refuse to come back anyway?? The payday would've been pretty good.

I disagree about Lionel since Damon Evans was good in his own right and his own comedic style seperate from Michael Evans. If you never saw All in the Family and never knew about the original Lionel then Damon would have been fine.

Why did Mike Evans leave and refuse to come back anyway?? The payday would've been pretty good.


He left because he felt his role was too small but then returned in 1979 after running into Sherman Hemsley while he was unemployed.

Wait a minute, what did the original Alan look like? For some reason, I can only remember the latter.

Wait a minute, what did the original Alan look like? For some reason, I can only remember the latter.


Tall, Skinny, and Long Hair

A picture anyone??

Wait a minute, what did the original Alan look like? For some reason, I can only remember the latter.
I've never seen the episode with the other Alan so I don't know what he looks like either. lol

I've never seen the episode with the other Alan so I don't know what he looks like either. lol

He was a tall REALLY skinny dude who was just awkward and talked funny so the new Alan was better but it was really cool when the old Alan and George traded jive insults!

That was hilarious and one of the best moments of the Jeffersons or ANY comedy sitcom.

He left because he felt his role was too small but then returned in 1979 after running into Sherman Hemsley while he was unemployed.

Then why did he leave again?

Then didn't he basically disappear from the public spotlight. It's shocking he died so young like John Ritter.

I've never seen the episode with the other Alan so I don't know what he looks like either. lol
Make that three of us. :lol:

Then why did he leave again?

Then didn't he basically disappear from the public spotlight. It's shocking he died so young like John Ritter.


no that i don;t know so i have to put that on my research to do list-lol

I think we can add to the list that as the series went on, they made Louise a cartoon character of herself - acting like an idiot at times for a cheap laugh - which was too bad.

Compare Louise from 'AITF' and the early seasons of 'The Jeffersons' to what she became in the 1980s. Sad, sad, sad. (They basically did the same thing to Helen Willis as well).

I think we can add to the list that as the series went on, they made Louise a cartoon character of herself - acting like an idiot at times for a cheap laugh - which was too bad.

Compare Louise from 'AITF' and the early seasons of 'The Jeffersons' to what she became in the 1980s. Sad, sad, sad. (They basically did the same thing to Helen Willis as well).
To an extent, I agree with you. I don't really agree with all the folks who say that "The Jeffersons" went downhill in its later years. I agree with several folks, including somebody in this thread, who have said online that "The Jeffersons" really hit its stride and got better and better at and after season six. I TOTALLY feel that way, with the exception of the last season and the way the series ended....that was about as tragic as the Titanic!

When it comes to the last season, I do agree with what you've said, that they basically turned the Louise Jefferson character into a "cartoon character of herself" to use your expression. I actually heard a rumor a long time ago that when The Jeffersons was cancelled at CBS was when CBS was taken over by new managers or whatever, and that they were racist and wanted to sabatoge the show. I've looked at the eleventh season eps and it would not surprise me one bit if that were really the case. All of my least favorite eps surrounding Louise, such as Jessica's piano-playing competition with Van Van Morris and the ep about Louise's ridiculous ugly painting, were from season eleven. I understand that it's good and healthy to be able to laugh at yourself every once in a while and that we all have times when we embarrass ourselves, but I hated eps like those in which Louise just TOTALLY makes an idiot out of herself. That was very disrespectful not only to this beautiful, strong character we've all loved for many years, but to fans who have loved her, and of course to Isabel who brought this character to life for us. And God bless her, she was strong and she pulled it off and amazingly, still made Louise seem loveable, in spite of the slap-in-the-face scripts she'd been stuck with.

But I think what is ultimately sad is the last episode of The Jeffersons, the way the series ended, the episode "Red Robins." It makes Louise look sooooo stupid that she can't figure out what George is up to with the whole nestmother routine of his in the beginning of the episode. And what is infinitely worse, little Jessica was basically dragged into it by her jerk grandfather George and her vicious little friends...she herself did not do anything wrong and it was entirely George's fault that she was in that position to start with, yet Louise totally gets on Jessica's case and shows her absolutely no understanding whatsoever, making Louise look like almost as big of a jerk as George is! Now that is SOOOOOOOOOOO sad...not even sad....downright TRAGIC!!!!! Talk about a Titanic sinking!!!!!!! :rolleyes:

Mike Evans was by far the best Lionel, obviously - Damon was good, and he grew on me, but Mike was the original, and the best. It's also probably a main reason why ratings dipped so low seasons 2-5.
Damon Evans was a good actor, but he just seemed more miscast than anything. He played the role of Lionel too dorky. :eek: :lol: But then, maybe I'm biased because I liked Mike Evans so much.

If I was Norman Lear I would have just made the decision to let Berlinda Tolbert go or minimize her role a lot since Mike Evans left the show.

I defintely wouldn't have hired another actor to play Lionel

If I was Norman Lear I would have just made the decision to let Berlinda Tolbert go or minimize her role a lot since Mike Evans left the show.

I defintely wouldn't have hired another actor to play Lionel
Ditto. They should've married Lionel & Jenny while Mike was still on the show, and written both of them off.

I thought Damon Evans was actually better than Mike Evans in some ways.

He was absolutely HILARIOUS in that episode where George had Ralph and Florence play an interracial married couple to another interracial couple George was hosting since Tom and Helen wouldn't show up.

When Damon asks George why are Ralph and Florence together like that George keeps trying to get rid of Lionel and Damon goes "But pop, But pop...But pop....."

I can't describe it but you have to see it and it's got to be the funniest Lionel scene ever including both Lionels.

I thought Damon Evans was actually better than Mike Evans in some ways.

He was absolutely HILARIOUS in that episode where George had Ralph and Florence play an interracial married couple to another interracial couple George was hosting since Tom and Helen wouldn't show up.

When Damon asks George why are Ralph and Florence together like that George keeps trying to get rid of Lionel and Damon goes "But pop, But pop...But pop....."

I can't describe it but you have to see it and it's got to be the funniest Lionel scene ever including both Lionels.
I haven't seen this episode yet - but it sounds hilarious! :rofl:

I actually heard a rumor a long time ago that when The Jeffersons was cancelled at CBS was when CBS was taken over by new managers or whatever, and that they were racist and wanted to sabatoge the show.

Nope, CBS did not get any new managers. At that time, CBS was still being run by its founder, William S. Paley.

Nope, CBS did not get any new managers. At that time, CBS was still being run by its founder, William S. Paley.
When did William Paley leave CBS?

When did William Paley leave CBS?

Paley left CBS in 1986.

Paley left CBS in 1986.
Thanks!

Nope, CBS did not get any new managers. At that time, CBS was still being run by its founder, William S. Paley.

Actually, on second thought, CBS did get new management. About five years before The Jeffersons was cancelled, Bud Grant had been hired as president of CBS Entertainment.

1.Bringing in another actor to play Lionel Jefferson in 1975

2.Bringing in another actor to play Alan Willis in 1978

3. Not addressing the Death of the Actress who played Mother Jefferson at All

4.Bringing Back the Actor who Originally Played Lionel in 1979

5.Adding a Child to the show in the 80's-Baby Jessica





These will always be my Top 5 BLUNDERS of the Jeffersons Era on CBS. The Show was still Great because of Sherman but could have been so much better without the foolish Decisions above.

What about "white washing" the show to make it more politically correct by the time the '80s rolled around? Maybe it was inevitable that The Jeffersons would get less edgy or confrontational with its humor/topics because the '80s (with Ronald Reagan now being president and what not) was a decidedly more conservative era for TV at least. Also, apparently, Sherman Hemsley felt that George shouldn't be doing stuff like calling Tom the h-word or say anything related to zebras since he by that point, had known him for at least 10 years.

The times were changing and the show can't stay the same forever.

What about "white washing" the show to make it more politically correct by the time the '80s rolled around. Maybe it was inevitable that The Jeffersons would get less edgy or confrontational w/ its humor/topics because the '80s (w/ Ronald Reagan now being president) was a decidedly more conservative era for TV at least. Also, apparently, Sherman Hemsley felt that George shouldn't be doing stuff like calling Tom the h-word anything related to zebras since he by that point, had known him for at least 10 years.


That's true, I guess over time we have to see characters evolve and not be the same as they were in season 1. And Louise and George was very edgy in season 1 because that was still their All in the Family characters that was still in mid season of the 74-75 season. That's why it was a complete turnaround once season 2 started

The times were changing and the show can't stay the same forever.


I agree, we even seen that happen on All in the Family. It;s a shame we didn;t see that happen on Good Times where the family lived in the projects for all 6 seasons

Damon Evans was a good actor, but he just seemed more miscast than anything. He played the role of Lionel too dorky. :eek: :lol: But then, maybe I'm biased because I liked Mike Evans so much.

I read (https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/do-we-like-lionel-1-or-2-jeffersons.603492/post-15185741) that the problem with Damon Evans and his portrayal (https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/things-about-the-jeffersons-you-didnt-like.1110319/post-28842608) as Lionel (https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/things-about-the-jeffersons-you-didnt-like.1110319/post-73518369) was that his background mostly as a stage actor. Unfortunately, that more than often, didn't translate well to television acting. Thus, Damon often seemed like he was too loud and "over acting".

What about "white washing" the show to make it more politically correct by the time the '80s rolled around? Maybe it was inevitable that The Jeffersons would get less edgy or confrontational with its humor/topics because the '80s (with Ronald Reagan now being president and what not) was a decidedly more conservative era for TV at least. Also, apparently, Sherman Hemsley felt that George shouldn't be doing stuff like calling Tom the h-word or say anything related to zebras since he by that point, had known him for at least 10 years.

I never viewed the show as "white washing." I thought the show was still edgy and confrontational with its humor and topics in the 80s. However, I thought George calling Tom the h-word was played out and ran its course after about 3 seasons. So I'm glad he stopped. Saying the h-word was no longer shocking or funny anymore.

1.Bringing in another actor to play Lionel Jefferson in 1975

2.Bringing in another actor to play Alan Willis in 1978

3. Not addressing the Death of the Actress who played Mother Jefferson at All

4.Bringing Back the Actor who Originally Played Lionel in 1979

5.Adding a Child to the show in the 80's-Baby Jessica

Actually I liked the second Lionel and Alan. I also liked that the original Lionel returned. And I loved Baby Jessica.

Yeah, the recasts weren’t good. And they barely even mentioned the death of Mother Jefferson. It should have been at least one episode showing how her death affected George.

Yeah, the recasts weren’t good. And they barely even mentioned the death of Mother Jefferson. It should have been at least one episode showing how her death affected George.

She passed in March of 78 season 4 was already over. So her it mentioned in season 5 that she was no longer living in George Finds a Father which aired in Dec of 78. Her death was referenced one more time in season 6 in the episode "Where's Papa"

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The Rise And Fall Of The Jeffersons: Why It Was Canceled After 11 Seasons

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