I watched the first Jefferson's show, which was actually an episode of All in the Family. Mr. Bentley made his debut and asked George to walk on his back. Afterwards, George said to Louise, something along the lines of, "We'll have YOU walk on his back, that'll fix him". I'm paraphrasing, but my point is that the remark was an insult about Louise's size.
Other than this, I don't recall any insults regarding Louise's weight or maybe I missed them. There were plenty of jokes about George's height, Florence's incompetence and cooking, and plenty of wisecracks tossed about regarding the Willis', Mr. Bentley, Ralph, etc.
I'm wondering if Isabel Sanford insisted that her size was off limits. If she did, I wouldn't blame her. If I were a plus-size woman, I wouldn't want to be the target of jokes for all the world to hear. I read once that Natalie Schaffer (Mrs. Howell on Gilligan's Island), had a clause in her contract that no close-ups of her be allowed. She was self-conscious of her age.
I know Isabel wasn't obese, and I'm a big fan of hers and the show, so please, don't anyone get defensive because I'm bringing up this topic. I also think she looked wonderful.
If wisecracks were made towards Louise, I'm guessing they were few and far between?

I've never seen any wisecracks about Louise from what I've seen of the Jeffersons. I agree with you that it was most likely in her contract, since when they did make the wisecrack, it was actually an episode of All In The Family. It would have been only fair though to have more wisecracks about her, except her character never really did make comments about others, so I guess they never did about her. :)

You all must watch the episode called, The Gang's All Here. This is the only episode where anyone ever dared to mention anything about Louise's breast size.

Here's the scene, Louise has agreed to bartend down at Charlie's Bar and Helen is the waitress. Louise and Helen get into an argument and Louise calls her "snake hips," Helen responds, with "boulder bosom".

It's probably the best scene in the entire episode.

I don't recall hearing cracks about Louise size and I do recall being pleased about that because those kinds of jokes have always been in poor taste, to my ears. I'd guess that not only did they have some sort of contractual agreemennt but they might also have had fan mail that indicated that people would rather not have Louise be insulted in that way. It would have been hurtful to many audience members who probably enjoyed having Louise to identify with.

Originally posted by JanLady617
I watched the first Jefferson's show, which was actually an episode of All in the Family. Mr. Bentley made his debut and asked George to walk on his back. Afterwards, George said to Louise, something along the lines of, "We'll have YOU walk on his back, that'll fix him". I'm paraphrasing, but my point is that the remark was an insult about Louise's size.
Other than this, I don't recall any insults regarding Louise's weight or maybe I missed them. There were plenty of jokes about George's height, Florence's incompetence and cooking, and plenty of wisecracks tossed about regarding the Willis', Mr. Bentley, Ralph, etc.
I'm wondering if Isabel Sanford insisted that her size was off limits. If she did, I wouldn't blame her. If I were a plus-size woman, I wouldn't want to be the target of jokes for all the world to hear. I read once that Natalie Schaffer (Mrs. Howell on Gilligan's Island), had a clause in her contract that no close-ups of her be allowed. She was self-conscious of her age.
I know Isabel wasn't obese, and I'm a big fan of hers and the show, so please, don't anyone get defensive because I'm bringing up this topic. I also think she looked wonderful.
If wisecracks were made towards Louise, I'm guessing they were few and far between?

Actually George said-"If that's the weird guy again you are walking on his back this time and I don't think he will be ready for that"-Isaw the episode the other night-but i think it was another time george cracked on Louise weight when Florence was going out with a Rich guy and George couldn't believe it so he was saying "gravity check"and dropping things on the floor-And then he said gravity check again and tried to pick Louise up off the couch

Dag, ya'll talking like they should of made some cracks on her.
I am glad personally that they didn't make any cracks on her. She was "The Star" of the show, so why should they make cracks on her.

Originally posted by lil_weezy
Dag, ya'll talking like they should of made some cracks on her.
I am glad personally that they didn't make any cracks on her. She was "The Star" of the show, so why should they make cracks on her.
Nobody said we thought wisecracks should be made about her. As for her being the star of the show...it was called, The Jeffersons, so the stars would include Louise, George and Lionel (and his family). Truth be told, most people would agree that George was the real star of the show. He stole the show in my opinion.

Originally posted by JanLady617
Nobody said we thought wisecracks should be made about her. As for her being the star of the show...it was called, The Jeffersons, so the stars would include Louise, George and Lionel (and his family). Truth be told, most people would agree that George was the real star of the show. He stole the show in my opinion.

The jeffersons wasn't that funny in the 80's-i guess because george's temper wasn't as short as it was in the 70's-especially 1975

Now that I think about it, there were a few episodes where they in a sense made fun of her voice.

Originally posted by SOLOMON


The jeffersons wasn't that funny in the 80's-i guess because george's temper wasn't as short as it was in the 70's-especially 1975
You state this as a fact but this is your opinion. It's my opinion that The Jeffersons was very funny throughout the 80s.

Originally posted by lil_weezy
Now that I think about it, there were a few episodes where they in a sense made fun of her voice.
You're probably right, but I think jokes about her weight were off limits.

Originally posted by JanLady617

You're probably right, but I think jokes about her weight were off limits.

But Louise wasn't heavy at all the first season-She never really was a heavy women

Originally posted by SOLOMON


But Louise wasn't heavy at all the first season-She never really was a heavy women
If I said water was wet, you'd disagree. I never said anything about the first season. Yes, Isabel was overweight by most anyone's standards.

I personally, never saw her as overweight. I saw her most similiar in weight to Esther Rolle of Good Times. If anything Isabel was just busty. Mabel King of What's Happening!! on the other hand, is a different story.

I wouldn't say she was obese, but she was a larger woman in my opinion.

Originally posted by boechsner
I personally, never saw her as overweight. I saw her most similiar in weight to Esther Rolle of Good Times. If anything Isabel was just busty. Mabel King of What's Happening!! on the other hand, is a different story.

Exactly-I couldn't think of the word to describe Isabel's size but Busty would defintely be a accurate description. Not over weight okay JAN!!

Busty is the most accurate way to describe her.

Actually, describing a woman as busty would go over like a lead balloon these days. Full-figured or plus-size--these are terms used today to described women over a size 12. Stores that cater to larger women carry clothes starting with size 14. In department stores such as Macys, etc, a special section of the store carries sizes 14 and up. Isabel had to be at least a size 18, but she carried it well.
The antiquated term Busty describes a woman of average weight--size 12 and under--who has a large bust. This was not the case with Isabel.

Originally posted by JanLady617
Actually, describing a woman as busty would go over like a lead balloon these days. Full-figured or plus-size--these are terms used today to described women over a size 12. Stores that cater to larger women carry clothes starting with size 14. In department stores such as Macys, etc, a special section of the store carries sizes 14 and up. Isabel had to be at least a size 18, but she carried it well.
The antiquated term Busty describes a woman of average weight--size 12 and under--who has a large bust. This was not the case with Isabel.


How does top heavy sound?

Originally posted by SOLOMON



How does top heavy sound?
Same as busty...sexist.

Originally posted by JanLady617
Actually, describing a woman as busty would go over like a lead balloon these days. Full-figured or plus-size--these are terms used today to described women over a size 12. Stores that cater to larger women carry clothes starting with size 14. In department stores such as Macys, etc, a special section of the store carries sizes 14 and up. Isabel had to be at least a size 18, but she carried it well.
The antiquated term Busty describes a woman of average weight--size 12 and under--who has a large bust. This was not the case with Isabel.

Why are you making this a big deal? Why are you getting so technical? She was busty. Meaning she had a full bosom or a large bust, no one can deny that, and what does saying that have to do with being sexist?

So why do you think they emphasized her bust size on The Rerun Show and not emphasize her being supposedly "overweight by most anyone's standards"? Don't speak for us. Take your own advice and don't state it as a fact, it's your opinion.

Originally posted by JanLady617

Same as busty...sexist.

Well Janlady617-you will just have to face the fact that she was a THICK woman-NOT OVERWEIGHT.

Originally posted by boechsner


Why are you making this a big deal? Why are you getting so technical? She was busty. Meaning she had a full bosom or a large bust, no one can deny that, and what does saying that have to do with being sexist?

So why do you think they emphasized her bust size on The Rerun Show and not emphasize her being supposedly "overweight by most anyone's standards"? Don't speak for us. Take your own advice and don't state it as a fact, it's your opinion.
I'm not making a big deal out of anything. This is a message board and I'm discussing something. Technical?--I was simply explaining how the clothing size system works for women.
I also didn't speak for anyone else. FACT is, most people would consider her overweight. Ask your friends for their opinions. Better yet, open your eyes.
Yes, calling a woman busty today is considered a sexist remark. Try it out on someone in your workplace, and see how fast Human Resources hauls you in.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JanLady617
I'm not making a big deal out of anything. This is a message board and I'm discussing something.

Indeed! Ever since people have been responding to this thread, you've been on the defensive. Onward

Technical?--I was simply explaining how the clothing size system works for women.

I'd say that's a little too technical and something we really don't need to know considering we're dealing with OPINIONS.

I also didn't speak for anyone else. FACT is, most people would consider her overweight. Ask your friends for their opinions. Better yet, open your eyes.

Perhaps you should re-read all your posts in this entire thread. Hypocritical is a word that immediately comes to mind. Who's most people? Perhaps you should say, "people that I've encountered." I certainly have my eyes open, and all the years that I've watched The Jeffersons, the word, overweight has never come to mind, when describing Louise, sorry, but I guess I'm not most people. DAMN!

Yes, calling a woman busty today is considered a sexist remark. Try it out on someone in your workplace, and see how fast
Human Resources hauls you in.

Perhaps you need a little refresher on what sexist mean.

sexist:

adj : discriminatory on the basis of sex n : a man with a chauvinistic belief in the inferiority of women [syn: male chauvinist]

I don't see how any of the comments made thus far can be sexist. Isabel is certainly not inferior for having a large bust (a.k.a.) bosom (or is that also a sexist remark, OOPS, silly me!). Most refined people don't go up to someone and say "Hey your busty!" It's against all known laws of common courtesy. We're describing a person's appearance, what does sex have to do with this. That would be like a girl going up to some guy and saying "Hey, your balding!"

So my question too you is, in you frame of mind, how would one go about describing a WOMAN's physical appearance (pertaining to Isabel Sanford's bust) without making it sound (as you put it) sexist? Any suggestions? Because she certainly isn't overweight (Oh, excuse me), IN MY OPINION, I didn't mean to state that as a fact. Sorry.

Talk about making a big deal out of something! Relax.
I won't even begin to explain why commenting on a woman's breasts is a sexist remark. You either get it or you don't.
As for her being overweight, you win. If you don't consider a woman who is, at the very least, a size 18, overweight, I can't argue with that. Everyone has their own preferences.
In my circle of family and friends, that's considered overweight.
I'm a size 10. Five years ago, I gained weight and was a size 14 and climbing. My doctor lectured me about how unhealthy it was to be carrying the extra weight around. He told me I was overweight. I lost the weight.
We're going to have to agree to disagree here.

Originally posted by JanLady617

We're going to have to agree to disagree here.

Agreed.

I'll go back to when JanLady said that if she said water was wet y'all would disagree with her. After reading this thread that sure is the way it seems to me. Weezy was overweight. Busty, thick, call it what you like, it comes down to the completely obvious fact that she was carrying around a lot of weight that was not in the bone, water or muscle category. What is the point of denying that?

Originally posted by kittflynn
I'll go back to when JanLady said that if she said water was wet y'all would disagree with her. After reading this thread that sure is the way it seems to me. Weezy was overweight. Busty, thick, call it what you like, it comes down to the completely obvious fact that she was carrying around a lot of weight that was not in the bone, water or muscle category. What is the point of denying that?

yes i agree-my opinion is that louise was not over weight at all the first season-it was that she gained more weight as the years went on. So i will say she became slighty overweight-NOT Extremely overweight to the point where it was unhealthy.