I found out that the George character was toned down after 1975 but never was never toned down on All In The Family. George was theworst on All in the Family and I don't think i can remember too many pleasant George Jefferson scenes. So fro 1973-1975 the george character was able to just express his dislike to Archie and slam doors but once the jeffersons started his character changed COMPLETELY. I guess i had gotten used to the hyper George and from All in the Family but never could adjust to the nice George. Very boring.

He still had an edge to him, it just was toned down a notch. You had to show a soft side to George because on the Jeffersons, he was the main character. Even Archie, had to show a softer side.

Originally posted by Brian Damage
He still had an edge to him, it just was toned down a notch. You had to show a soft side to George because on the Jeffersons, he was the main character. Even Archie, had to show a softer side.


It was more than a notch.

Originally posted by Brian Damage
He still had an edge to him, it just was toned down a notch. You had to show a soft side to George because on the Jeffersons, he was the main character. Even Archie, had to show a softer side.

I agree. But by 1982, it was indeed much more than a notch, probably because by that time, racial issues were non-existant. Then if you look at The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air episode, George is back to his old self.

Sherman Hemsley said that he hated being racist on the show, that it wasnt him. He said that yeah, it was funny for a while, but after a while it wasnt-- people have moved on. He said he hated using the word "honky", and that he didnt want to be so mean on the show, so he stopped.

Originally posted by ¤MsConanOBrien¤
Sherman Hemsley said that he hated being racist on the show, that it wasnt him. He said that yeah, it was funny for a while, but after a while it wasnt-- people have moved on. He said he hated using the word "honky", and that he didnt want to be so mean on the show, so he stopped.

Well i wonder why Sherman didn't feel that way on All in the Family. He was funnier when he was mean.

The began to toned the George Jefferson character down after Jessica was born. From the 81-82 season George Jefferson became a very boring character to watch. I wish they pulled the plug after 79-80 season. That was a show that stayed on way too long. It showed its age at the end.

Originally posted by SOLOMON


Well i wonder why Sherman didn't feel that way on All in the Family. He was funnier when he was mean.
Yeah... but that was earlier on though. Plus, IMO, AITF was more controversial than TJ

Originally posted by ¤MsConanOBrien¤

Yeah... but that was earlier on though. Plus, IMO, AITF was more controversial than TJ

I agree with you on that.

Yes, AITF was more controversial and that is why AITF was one of the greatest sitcoms of all time and the Jeffersons was an also-ran spinoff that had some good moments, but lingered on way too long.

Originally posted by ¤MsConanOBrien¤
Sherman Hemsley said that he hated being racist on the show, that it wasnt him. He said that yeah, it was funny for a while, but after a while it wasnt-- people have moved on. He said he hated using the word "honky", and that he didnt want to be so mean on the show, so he stopped.


Well that was some very good acting-LOL

Well, you have to remember that on "All In The Family' George Jefferson was a supporting character...he was allowed to be extreme. But as the lead on his own show, George had to exhibit some likable qualities, or the audience would have HATED him, and the show would have flopped, big time.

I think Sherman Hemsley is one of the most underrated actors in TV comedy. I mean this guy played the same character for 12 years. That's more than Lucille Ball, Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Alan Alda, Jerry Seinfeld, Bob Newhart, or Andy Griffith, who are given more praise for their classic roles. Hemsley is just as deserving. It's no wonder that he made several guest appearances on shows in the 90's, playing characters similar to that of George. Everyone loves that guy.