Isabel Sanford did not want to do a spin-off. She told producers that she was happy with her recurring role on _"All in the Family" (1971)_. When they told her that they were writing Louise Jefferson off of All in the Family, and moving the character to the Jeffersons with or without her, she decided to stay in the role.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072519/trivia

It was a No-Win Situation. They told her If she didn't take The Jeffersons she would be Replaced and out of a Job. If she did take the job and it was cancelled she would be out of a job. So no matter what she had to take the risk and in the end it ended up being the right move.

Somebody else besides Isabel Sanford playing Weezie is inconceivable. She was born to play that part.

Besides,who else would they get to play Louise?Question:In real-life did the late Isabel Sanford get along with Sherman Hemsley and the rest of the cast?

Isabel got along Great with everybody. They all pretty much got along well. Roxie and Franklin were Good friends as well as Sherman and Marla. I don't think the show would have lasted 11 Years if they didn't get along.

Marla talk about The Jeffersons in this Interview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-garwXnR6U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpANL2O13M0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDeATwCBZho

Isabel Sanford did not want to do a spin-off. She told producers that she was happy with her recurring role on _"All in the Family" (1971)_. When they told her that they were writing Louise Jefferson off of All in the Family, and moving the character to the Jeffersons with or without her, she decided to stay in the role.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072519/trivia


First of all it was dumb her to say NO to the spinoff for the obvious reason below

1. Even though the Jeffersons were on a number 1 show, they were not written into every script of AITF so why not take a shot at your own show???????

She was afraid to do the spinoff because she wasn't sure if it would be a hit. I can understand, at her age, being concerned about jeopardizing a good thing.

She was afraid to do the spinoff because she wasn't sure if it would be a hit. I can understand, at her age, being concerned about jeopardizing a good thing.

The point was AITF wasn't going to last forever so you had to take chances at some point.