Did you still like the show after Sandra left?

[OOliver]

Wasn't Jackee supposed to have her characeter Sondra spun-off into her own series? I believe that's why they wrote her out of the show (but NBC didn't pick up the series after the pilot).

[tmac81s]

Did anyone else notice, that in the season 5 episodes that Jackee did not appear in, in the theme song there were still some old clips of her and Mary? (She was no longer credited though.)

I've never seen any of the season 5 eps. she did appear in....was she credited in the theme song, or at the end credits as a "guest star" or something?


I remember watching this when I was 10....the older season reruns were on NBC in the morning, then those ended and all there was were the new season 5 episodes on Saturday nights. I was bummed with those because Sandra was my favorite character.

[ThomasE]

Personally, I thought the show was still good even though Sandra was gone. I still laughed and enjoyed the series all the way through. Season five is one of my favorite seasons. Has Sandra stayed, would it have been funny? Heck yes! She was a strong element to the show but Marla Gibbs was the foundation and she was hilarious as Mary. I recently rewatch "Knock it off" with specials guests Gary Coleman and IMAN. This was one of my favorite eps from when I was 12. I laughed then and laughed now. Sandra wasn't in the episode but it was still hilarious to me.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by GSU2004

That is a good catch but I think with the Jackee-Marla Gibbs fall out at the time, the producers probably thought it was best just to have Jackee in enough episodes so she get paid off the syndication royalties while keeping Marla Gibbs happy. Marla played a big role in the direction and focus of the show.

Marla was apparently upset because 227 was supposed to be her show, but Jackee's Sandra wound up being the break-out character. The show started to focus more on Sandra to Marla's chagrin. So the producers decided to try to give Jackee her own spin-off show due to the increasing tensions between Gibbs and Jackee. It ultimately failed on both ends. Jackee's show didn't even get picked up, and 227's ratings tanked after Jackee left.

[Fallon97]

Yes. I still watched and loved the show. Mary and Lester are my favorite characters on the show. I liked Sandra, but the show was still good without her.

[ThatWriterChick1976]

Not much. But, given that I was a teen and had no other choice but to watch with my parents, I dealt with the replacements' goofiness.

[Old School]

Even after Sandra left I still liked the show a lot. She was in about 10 of the season 5 episodes as I recall. Barry Sobel and Stoney Jackson were cool cast additions. Paul Winfield was another good cast addition. The Bobby Brown episode was during season 5.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by Old School

Even after Sandra left I still liked the show a lot. She was in about 10 of the season 5 episodes as I recall. Barry Sobel and Stoney Jackson were cool cast additions. Paul Winfield was another good cast addition. The Bobby Brown episode was during season 5.

Apparently, Marla Gibbs knew Barry Sobel from the comedy circuit and got him a job on 227 because she liked his act. Marla had a nightclub out in LA, that showcased a lot of up and coming urban comics at the time. Clean ones, as Marla wanted no profanity on the stage.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by GSU2004

By contract, actors have to appear in at least 100 episodes of a show to get royalities from syndication. Sometimes, if you have a good lawyer, you can work it out for less episodes or if the show is quickly cancelled, you can get royalities for reruns. If you remember, Jackee thought she was hot at the time and everyone wanted to have her. In various interviews years after the cancellation and to hype up Sister, Sister; Jackee told people how she let her ego get out of control during the 227 days (wanting her name to be the first on the opening credits, more storylines focused on her, etc).

Of course, Marla Gibbs (executive consultant and story editor for the show) and the producers were not having it, she wanted out. Hence, giving her seven episodes and letting her leave.

[CJMD03]

You would think that after the 227 flop, “Jackee,” she’d realize she needed the show.

[nvtlover]

Originally Posted by KristinHerreraFan

I understand that now but I still don't like that they wrote her off with no resolution, cos in season 5, eventhough she wasn't in every episode, she was still living in 227 and visiting Mary's apartment like she always does, but all of a sudden after "The Perfume Game", shes gone, never visits the Jenkins' apartment and they so no reason why she is suddenly gone and they also never say her name ever again after that episode!! Very unrealistic. They could have at least have Rose say "Sandra moved to Maryland with her new Rich Husband" or something like that.

They do mention Sandra in Guess Who's Not Coming to Christmas. She's sent a reindeer singing green she's off to the Bahamas with a guy.

I say the season 5 has it's funny moments but overall it needs Sandra. Of the new characters I say Travis is the funniest.