Hello, everyone. Thought I'd join the board and offer some thoughts on the whole "Mike Evans as Lionel Jefferson" situation:

I have no doubt that Mike Evans was bored and disillusioned by his role on the show, and who could blame him? AITF's Lionel was a witty, thoughtful, intelligent and conscientious young man who thoroughly rejected his father's (and Archie's) outdated views on the world. On The Jeffersons, he became a boorish and moody spoiled brat who suddenly acquires a materialistic streak and even begins adopting some of George's less-admirable qualities. The Lionel who appears in "Lionel, The Playboy" and "Lionel Cries Uncle" is virtually unrecognizable to anyone who saw the character on the parent show, IMO. Granted, he wasn't the only character to undergo such a transformation, but between the character revamp and Good Times doing very well for CBS, I'm guessing that Mike Evans had plenty of incentive to leave.

As for the Zara Cully theory, it's important to note that ME's Lionel was still prominently featured during that first season and it wasn't until after his departure that the role of Mother Jefferson was expanded. Maybe you could make the argument that she frequently got the best lines (as ME always seemed to on AITF), but it's not as if Lionel became a supporting player/non-factor like he did during the Damon Evans years. Or during ME's later stint on the show.

Just my $0.02, FWIW.

Hello, everyone. Thought I'd join the board and offer some thoughts on the whole "Mike Evans as Lionel Jefferson" situation:

I have no doubt that Mike Evans was bored and disillusioned by his role on the show, and who could blame him? AITF's Lionel was a witty, thoughtful, intelligent and conscientious young man who thoroughly rejected his father's (and Archie's) outdated views on the world. On The Jeffersons, he became a boorish and moody spoiled brat who suddenly acquires a materialistic streak and even begins adopting some of George's less-admirable qualities. The Lionel who appears in "Lionel, The Playboy" and "Lionel Cries Uncle" is virtually unrecognizable to anyone who saw the character on the parent show, IMO. Granted, he wasn't the only character to undergo such a transformation, but between the character revamp and Good Times doing very well for CBS, I'm guessing that Mike Evans had plenty of incentive to leave.

As for the Zara Cully theory, it's important to note that ME's Lionel was still prominently featured during that first season and it wasn't until after his departure that the role of Mother Jefferson was expanded. Maybe you could make the argument that she frequently got the best lines (as ME always seemed to on AITF), but it's not as if Lionel became a supporting player/non-factor like he did during the Damon Evans years. Or during ME's later stint on the show.

Just my $0.02, FWIW.


All of the characters changed once they left AITF not just the Lionel character. And his role was smaller than Mother Jefferson's because it some eps he wasnt even seen in like Mother Jefferson's Boyfriend

All of the characters changed once they left AITF not just the Lionel character. And his role was smaller than Mother Jefferson's because it some eps he wasnt even seen in like Mother Jefferson's Boyfriend

Well, that's still one episode focusing on Mother Jefferson vs. at least three for Lionel during that first season. And I wonder if "Mother Jefferson's Boyfriend" was filmed later in the season? Because ME might already have departed by that point, and the producers could have tinkered with the airing order so Lionel's absence wouldn't be as noticeable throughout the rest of the season.

Well, that's still one episode focusing on Mother Jefferson vs. at least three for Lionel during that first season. And I wonder if "Mother Jefferson's Boyfriend" was filmed later in the season? Because ME might already have departed by that point, and the producers could have tinkered with the airing order so Lionel's absence wouldn't be as noticeable throughout the rest of the season.


Well I know the reason he came back in 1979 but don't know the reason if he left again in 1982-lol