This show not having a series finale was more the writers fault than CBS - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 12-21-2005, 12:33 PM

Because there could have been a plan to wrap up the series in the beginning of the 83-84 season or the 84-85 season. What was taking the writers so long to come up with a idea to end the series? So i guess CBS figured there was plenty of time to wrap up of the show and the fact there was no talk of HOW TO END the SERIES, the network just decied to cancel the show and be done with it. So the writers should have came up with a good way to end the series in the beginning of 84-85 season instead of letting the show continue to go one and on and on. I mean how long was they going to let the show go on and not come up with a way to end it? So i think CBS did the right thing.

Brian Damage · 12-21-2005, 12:38 PM

I agree that the Jeffersons should have had a series finale. I also blame the writers. I guess they thought the show would never be cancelled considering it was on for over 11 years. CBS should've gave them some kind of warning that this was the end for the show.

TVFactFan · 12-21-2005, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I agree that the Jeffersons should have had a series finale. I also blame the writers. I guess they thought the show would never be cancelled considering it was on for over 11 years. CBS should've gave them some kind of warning that this was the end for the show.

Exactly, I guess no one wanted to stop working-lol

Big3sCompanyFan · 12-21-2005, 12:48 PM

The Jeffersons did have a series finale when they toured the country with a play called "Jeffersons on Stage". What happened in that series finale?

jamesanthony · 12-21-2005, 02:56 PM

In a way I see all of your points, but I can't think of anything that dramatic that they could have done in a last episode. George had considered retiring at least 2x, Florence had already got another job and came back, Lionel and Jenny had a baby and then split up and personally I don't think they should have had either Florence or Bentley get married. As odd as it is that this show had no real ending I prefer it that way. It left things open for the Fresh Prince appearances in the 90s.

As for the writers (and the cast) the minute CBS moved the show to Tuesdays it should have been obvious that its days were numbered. I guess everybody was in denial.

TVFactFan · 12-21-2005, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesanthony

In a way I see all of your points, but I can't think of anything that dramatic that they could have done in a last episode. George had considered retiring at least 2x, Florence had already got another job and came back, Lionel and Jenny had a baby and then split up and personally I don't think they should have had either Florence or Bentley get married. As odd as it is that this show had no real ending I prefer it that way. It left things open for the Fresh Prince appearances in the 90s.

As for the writers (and the cast) the minute CBS moved the show to Tuesdays it should have been obvious that its days were numbered. I guess everybody was in denial.

Yeah the Jeffersons could not compete with the A-Team

Mr. Television · 12-21-2005, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesanthony

In a way I see all of your points, but I can't think of anything that dramatic that they could have done in a last episode. George had considered retiring at least 2x, Florence had already got another job and came back, Lionel and Jenny had a baby and then split up and personally I don't think they should have had either Florence or Bentley get married. As odd as it is that this show had no real ending I prefer it that way. It left things open for the Fresh Prince appearances in the 90s.

As for the writers (and the cast) the minute CBS moved the show to Tuesdays it should have been obvious that its days were numbered. I guess everybody was in denial.

They had to have been. Alice was in the same boat. It got moved opposite the A-Team and was paired with The Jeffersons yet it found time to film a last episode. I knew as soon as they were moved that they were dead. I don't understand why the people involved couldn't see it.

Dr. Thong · 12-21-2005, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I agree that the Jeffersons should have had a series finale. I also blame the writers. I guess they thought the show would never be cancelled considering it was on for over 11 years. CBS should've gave them some kind of warning that this was the end for the show.

They did the same thing to Archie Bunker in 1983, so why would they have any respect for George Jefferson. Apparently, CBS had no gratitude for shows that delivered big ratings for a number of years. No respect for Norman Lear shows in the '80s, that's for sure.

TVFactFan · 12-21-2005, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

They did the same thing to Archie Bunker in 1983, so why would they have any respect for George Jefferson. Apparently, CBS had no gratitude for shows that delivered big ratings for a number of years. No respect for Norman Lear shows in the '80s, that's for sure.

There were plenty of chances for Archie to have a Finale but the show just went on too long. 13 years is way too long. Jeffersons was in it's 10th year.

Big3sCompanyFan · 12-22-2005, 03:43 AM

All your responses are great but could someone please tell me what happened in the "Jeffersons on Stage"? They had their series finale there because they couldn't have it on tv.

Thanks

TVFactFan · 12-22-2005, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big3sCompanyFan

All your responses are great but could someone please tell me what happened in the "Jeffersons on Stage"? They had their series finale there because they couldn't have it on tv.

Thanks

If no one is answering your question, don't you think that means that no member on this site saw the Finale on Stage?

jamesanthony · 12-22-2005, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

They did the same thing to Archie Bunker in 1983, so why would they have any respect for George Jefferson. Apparently, CBS had no gratitude for shows that delivered big ratings for a number of years. No respect for Norman Lear shows in the '80s, that's for sure.

One Day at a Time was a show that got out of its own choosing. In 1984 Bonnie Franklin and Valerie Bertinelli both quit, so the show had a chance to end on its own. Realistically, it is highly unusual for any situation comedy to run 9 years plus and still be entertaining. I'm probably one of the very few people who like the year 9 One Day at a Time episodes.

As for the Jeffersons I remember watching the show in the early 80s rather faithfully then I lost interest in it and forgot all about it. When I read that it was moving to Tuesdays I knew it was about to be cancelled. Quite frankly, I was wondering what it was still doing on the air. I'm catching local reruns of it now and they're currently running season 9. These are the shows lean years, but I'd rather watch them than virtually any current program.

Dr. Thong · 12-22-2005, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesanthony

One Day at a Time was a show that got out of its own choosing. In 1984 Bonnie Franklin and Valerie Bertinelli both quit, so the show had a chance to end on its own. Realistically, it is highly unusual for any situation comedy to run 9 years plus and still be entertaining. I'm probably one of the very few people who like the year 9 One Day at a Time episodes.

I did too. Sam Royer was a good choice to play Ann's husband. However, the fact that Ann got married pretty much undermined the premise of the series - a woman who married young who finally got her independence. So I think it was a wise decision to end the series. I'm not saying Ann shouldn't have gotten married - but this never would have happened early on. Remember what happened to David??

And then she hooked up with Nick, who went undercover(the whole thing about him dying was to get away from his annoying son Alex), changed his name to Sloane and is now on Alias.

jamesanthony · 12-22-2005, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

I did too. Sam Royer was a good choice to play Ann's husband. However, the fact that Ann got married pretty much undermined the premise of the series - a woman who married young who finally got her independence. So I think it was a wise decision to end the series. I'm not saying Ann shouldn't have gotten married - but this never would have happened early on. Remember what happened to David??

And then she hooked up with Nick, who went undercover(the whole thing about him dying was to get away from his annoying son Alex), changed his name to Sloane and is now on Alias.

Good to know I'm not the only one who liked those last episodes.

The later Jeffersons episodes have a certain charm to them. I recently saw an episode called The List from year 10 with Rosey Grier as a guy who bullied George in his grade school days. George made a list of things he wanted to achieve in life and one item on it was to beat up Rosey Grier. Louise and Helen go to his pool hall in Harlem to save George wh isn't there and instead end up having to run for their lives from a huge female bouncer. the return home disheveled (Louise's wig is all messed up) to find that George changed his mind and is sitting at home eating ice cream and watching tv. This episode was rather entertaining I must say. Maybe it was one of the better episodes from the later era.

One thing I can say about Jeffersons and ODAAT in the 80s is that Norman Lear and his people picked top caliber actors to be in his shows so that even if the writing was on the decline the actors still held things together and I really like the theatrical feel of those series which is really missing from today's programs.

comedyfreak · 12-23-2005, 06:25 AM

I admit I also lost interest in the later episodes and missed Mother Jefferson after she passed away. The Jeffersons should have gotten a final episode, as well as ABP, and Maude.

On a side note regarding Bonnie Franklin, I seen her in an episode of The Munsters. It was the one where Herman tries to rescue Grandpa from a girls dorm. Bonnie is one of the girls in the dorm, they also show her walking along a corridor.

12-21-2005, 12:33 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,058	This show not having a series finale was more the writers fault than CBS Because there could have been a plan to wrap up the series in the beginning of the 83-84 season or the 84-85 season. What was taking the writers so long to come up with a idea to end the series? So i guess CBS figured there was plenty of time to wrap up of the show and the fact there was no talk of HOW TO END the SERIES, the network just decied to cancel the show and be done with it. So the writers should have came up with a good way to end the series in the beginning of 84-85 season instead of letting the show continue to go one and on and on. I mean how long was they going to let the show go on and not come up with a way to end it? So i think CBS did the right thing.

12-21-2005, 12:38 PM	#2
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	I agree that the Jeffersons should have had a series finale. I also blame the writers. I guess they thought the show would never be cancelled considering it was on for over 11 years. CBS should've gave them some kind of warning that this was the end for the show.
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

12-21-2005, 12:48 PM	#4
Big3sCompanyFan Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 16, 2003 Posts: 2,493	The Jeffersons did have a series finale when they toured the country with a play called "Jeffersons on Stage". What happened in that series finale?

12-21-2005, 02:56 PM	#5
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	In a way I see all of your points, but I can't think of anything that dramatic that they could have done in a last episode. George had considered retiring at least 2x, Florence had already got another job and came back, Lionel and Jenny had a baby and then split up and personally I don't think they should have had either Florence or Bentley get married. As odd as it is that this show had no real ending I prefer it that way. It left things open for the Fresh Prince appearances in the 90s. As for the writers (and the cast) the minute CBS moved the show to Tuesdays it should have been obvious that its days were numbered. I guess everybody was in denial.

12-22-2005, 03:43 AM	#10
Big3sCompanyFan Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 16, 2003 Posts: 2,493	All your responses are great but could someone please tell me what happened in the "Jeffersons on Stage"? They had their series finale there because they couldn't have it on tv. Thanks

12-23-2005, 06:25 AM	#15
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,059	I admit I also lost interest in the later episodes and missed Mother Jefferson after she passed away. The Jeffersons should have gotten a final episode, as well as ABP, and Maude. On a side note regarding Bonnie Franklin, I seen her in an episode of The Munsters. It was the one where Herman tries to rescue Grandpa from a girls dorm. Bonnie is one of the girls in the dorm, they also show her walking along a corridor.