Jefferson vs. Steve

[TMC]

Others have recently pointed out that during the "Steve era", the show was more focused on the Bundys' poverty and the funny struggles out of it. But later on during the "Jefferson era", the show became more focused on sex appeal and gimmicks. Basically, the show got more surreal as it went on to put it in another way.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by king of comedy

I voted for Jefferson. My friend met Amanda Bearse at Chiller fest in New Jersey last year and she said she liked Steve better than Jefferson.

I was just reading comments from people who said that they preferred the episodes with Jefferson over Steve because the show just embraced the wackiness and trashiness (and therefore, became funnier as a result) over the more subdued earlier episodes with Steve.

When the show started, Steve and Marcy were newlyweds, so it pretty much explains why they're in the neighborhood with the Bundys. Steve and Marcy dreamed of more and were snobbish. Marcy remains there however, because Jefferson is dragging her down. And he depending on who you ask, is a much better compliment to Al as a character than Steve ever was or could've been.

[Dude111]

George Jefferson by miles!!

[DJM77]

Originally Posted by Dude111

George Jefferson by miles!!

Wrong show.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by TMC

I was just reading comments from people who said that they preferred the episodes with Jefferson over Steve because the show just embraced the wackiness and trashiness (and therefore, became funnier as a result) over the more subdued earlier episodes with Steve.

When the show started, Steve and Marcy were newlyweds, so it pretty much explains why they're in the neighborhood with the Bundys. Steve and Marcy dreamed of more and were snobbish. Marcy remains there however, because Jefferson is dragging her down. And he depending on who you ask, is a much better compliment to Al as a character than Steve ever was or could've been.

The show when Steve was there, arguably had much more dry of a wit and had more intelligent, original writing. All in all, Married...with Children was much more grounded during those earlier seasons with Steve. When Jefferson was there later on, the show became more cartoonish and a parody of itself, especially at the very end.

[Dude111]

Originally Posted by DJM77

Wrong show.

OOPS sorry,Ill say Steve then!!

[Ohio8]

Originally Posted by TMC

An argument that recently read is that Jefferson fit in the show much better than Steve did. Or at the very least, Jefferson fit in better with what the show would evolve into. When Married with...Children started, the original concept of the show was pretty much about an older, more cynical long-time married couple (Al and Peggy) contrasting against a younger, newlywed married couple (Steve and Marcy).

But as the show continued to become basically, a live-action cartoon about white trash, it wouldn't have made much sense for Steve still be there. With Jefferson as the show itself got more over the top, his character likewise, was over-the-top. And he added to the irony that Al and Marcy are effectively in the same position but still hate each other, while Al's best friend has all the same traits he hates in his wife.

Jefferson, Steve and Marcy weren't just white trash, they were yuppie scum. Jefferson was a convicted white collar criminal.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by TMC

Others have recently pointed out that during the "Steve era", the show was more focused on the Bundys' poverty and the funny struggles out of it. But later on during the "Jefferson era", the show became more focused on sex appeal and gimmicks. Basically, the show got more surreal as it went on to put it in another way.

During its first seasons, MWC was pretty biting, smart, and acerbic below all the "lowbrow" stuff. That's why instead of Jefferson being a sidekick that went along with anything Al did, they allowed Steve to be the exact opposite of all (with maybe more similarities than he might care to admit), which led to a more sophisticated humor.

Around the time of Jefferson's arrival, the show became much more overtly trashy, with a hooting audience and constant cheap sex jokes. The show by this point, was essentially a cartoon for adults.