Five Horrible Decisions that Ruined this Great Show - Page 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

PrettyinPink55 · 02-19-2009, 10:29 PM

A picture anyone??

Mr. Television · 02-19-2009, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrettyinPink55

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

Big3sCompanyFan · 02-19-2009, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

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.

Big3sCompanyFan · 02-19-2009, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVandSportsGuy

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.

catlover79 · 02-20-2009, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

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.

TVFactFan · 02-20-2009, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big3sCompanyFan

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

OOliver · 02-20-2009, 06:20 PM

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).

LoveMrsG · 03-20-2009, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OOliver

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!!!!!!!

catlover79 · 09-23-2009, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulieSomoski

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.

But then, maybe I'm biased because I liked Mike Evans so much.

TVFactFan · 09-23-2009, 09:59 PM

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

catlover79 · 09-23-2009, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLifeAdjuster

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.

Big3sCompanyFan · 09-24-2009, 06:42 PM

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.

catlover79 · 09-24-2009, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big3sCompanyFan

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!

glickmam · 09-25-2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoveMrsG

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.

catlover79 · 09-25-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glickmam

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?

02-19-2009, 10:29 PM	#16
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	A picture anyone??
	__________________ ♥♥♥

02-20-2009, 06:20 PM	#22
OOliver Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 28, 2009 Location: Providence RI Posts: 569	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).

09-23-2009, 09:59 PM	#25
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,949	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

09-24-2009, 06:42 PM	#27
Big3sCompanyFan Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 16, 2003 Posts: 2,493	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.