definite milestones when this show began to lose its edge

[jamesanthony]

Having just rewatched many of the episodes from all 11 seasons it is clear when certain changes in the characters or situations were made that affected the show for the worse:

Louise: She was much more entertaining when she was trying to maintain some integrity about her humble background. To me this begins going out the window in season 4 when she and Helen begin volunteering at the Help Center. In the last year 3 show she mentioned that she wanted to go back to school to become a nurse. That actually would've been a more interesting plot.

George and Tom's relationship: When they became grandparents I noticed George begin to be more accepting of Willis. He was still calling him a honkie in the earlier season 6 shows, but at the start of season 7 all of a sudden they're hanging out together (they're playing Monopoly in the first scene of Marathon Men- I can't even imagine George doing this in season 5), they get stranded on a raft in Hawaii, they're up on stage stripping in that nightclub, they go bowling together etc.) In Blazing Jeffersons in year 8 George brekas down crying on Willis' shoulder. After this they begin to behave like the best of friends which was this series' real downfall.

Florence: Her change is more gradual. Her speech patterns in the first few seasons are much more reflective of her social status. By the 80s her speech became so much more proper. In the shows where she gets a job in the hotel I felt like I was watching 227 rather than watching Florence. She exuded so much authority that one wonders why in the world she would want to go back to being a domestic? Also in that show she states clearly that she and George are friends. Say what?

Lionel: Mike Evans was always talented and quite frankly they wasted him when he came back in years 6 and 7. The funny thing is just when they wrote a good acting role for him in Separation and Blazing Jeffersons he decided that he'd had enough and quit.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by jamesanthony

Having just rewatched many of the episodes from all 11 seasons it is clear when certain changes in the characters or situations were made that affected the show for the worse:

Louise: She was much more entertaining when she was trying to maintain some integrity about her humble background. To me this begins going out the window in season 4 when she and Helen begin volunteering at the Help Center. In the last year 3 show she mentioned that she wanted to go back to school to become a nurse. That actually would've been a more interesting plot.

George and Tom's relationship: When they became grandparents I noticed George begin to be more accepting of Willis. He was still calling him a honkie in the earlier season 6 shows, but at the start of season 7 all of a sudden they're hanging out together (they're playing Monopoly in the first scene of Marathon Men- I can't even imagine George doing this in season 5), they get stranded on a raft in Hawaii, they're up on stage stripping in that nightclub, they go bowling together etc.) In Blazing Jeffersons in year 8 George brekas down crying on Willis' shoulder. After this they begin to behave like the best of friends which was this series' real downfall.

Florence: Her change is more gradual. Her speech patterns in the first few seasons are much more reflective of her social status. By the 80s her speech became so much more proper. In the shows where she gets a job in the hotel I felt like I was watching 227 rather than watching Florence. She exuded so much authority that one wonders why in the world she would want to go back to being a domestic? Also in that show she states clearly that she and George are friends. Say what?

Lionel: Mike Evans was always talented and quite frankly they wasted him when he came back in years 6 and 7. The funny thing is just when they wrote a good acting role for him in Separation and Blazing Jeffersons he decided that he'd had enough and quit.

I read in a 1982 Jet Magazine, right before the 82-83 season, the producers decided to have the George Jefferson character to be more accepting of the Willises and to no longer use racial slurs since they were living in the same building with the Willises for 7 years.

[jamesanthony]

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

I read in a 1982 Jet Magazine, right before the 82-83 season, the producers decided to have the George Jefferson character to be more accepting of the Willises and to no longer use racial slurs since they were living in the same building with the Willises for 7 years.

I read that in another post here. Also I saw a retrospective with the cast where Sherman said so. Watching the reruns recently I saw this softening up coming on in years 7 and 8. Year 9 is when they went full force with them being best pals. The thing is that George's softening and Louise becoming a jewel and fur wearing society matron are not at all unrealistic but it robbed the show of its bite and juice. So did Lionel's departure. Showing that they were parents really added dimensions to the stories that were missing otherwise I think Florence coming back was unrealistic though she was clearly in her element wearing tailored suits and bossing people around.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by jamesanthony

I read that in another post here. Also I saw a retrospective with the cast where Sherman said so. Watching the reruns recently I saw this softening up coming on in years 7 and 8. Year 9 is when they went full force with them being best pals. The thing is that George's softening and Louise becoming a jewel and fur wearing society matron are not at all unrealistic but it robbed the show of its bite and juice. So did Lionel's departure. Showing that they were parents really added dimensions to the stories that were missing otherwise I think Florence coming back was unrealistic though she was clearly in her element wearing tailored suits and bossing people around.

I will say the 80 eps are still watchable just not on the level of the 75-78 era. But I can defintely watch them all

[jamesanthony]

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

I will say the 80 eps are still watchable just not on the level of the 75-78 era. But I can defintely watch them all

For me the first 7 years are the best. I like most of year 7 save the Hawaii episodes and one or two others. Year 8 has some good ones like the one where the dog jumps off the balcony and Blazing Jeffersons, but it has some poor shows too like the one with Andre Crouch. Year 9 is awful. It's like one big blur in my mind. Nothing from this year really stands out as being classic. Year 10 actually is an improvement with some good shows (for what the show was at that time) like the one with Barbara McNair as George's old girldfriend who pulls a gun on him in the apartment, Otis is an interesting piece of theater, the one where Florence dates a millionaire is interesting as is the one where she's involved in the stakeout and the one with Rosey Grier. The last season is kind of hit or miss. But the first season beats all of these hands down!

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by jamesanthony

For me the first 7 years are the best. I like most of year 7 save the Hawaii episodes and one or two others. Year 8 has some good ones like the one where the dog jumps off the balcony and Blazing Jeffersons, but it has some poor shows too like the one with Andre Crouch. Year 9 is awful. It's like one big blur in my mind. Nothing from this year really stands out as being classic. Year 10 actually is an improvement with some good shows (for what the show was at that time) like the one with Barbara McNair as George's old girldfriend who pulls a gun on him in the apartment, Otis is an interesting piece of theater, the one where Florence dates a millionaire is interesting as is the one where she's involved in the stakeout and the one with Rosey Grier. The last season is kind of hit or miss. But the first season beats all of these hands down!

Did you like the episode from 82 when the Female Gang had George Trapped in the alley?

[jamesanthony]

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

Did you like the episode from 82 when the Female Gang had George Trapped in the alley?

Those were among the better ones in year 8. Also the one with Lynne Moody as the prostitute. The last 4 shows made for year 7 were shown in year 8 and all of them are better than the ones made in year 8 except for the ones I listed above. In year 9 the only ones that stand out are the mystery cruise and the Wheel of Forever, not because they are really so good, but because they try to do something different so they have some distinction.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by jamesanthony

Those were among the better ones in year 8. Also the one with Lynne Moody as the prostitute. The last 4 shows made for year 7 were shown in year 8 and all of them are better than the ones made in year 8 except for the ones I listed above. In year 9 the only ones that stand out are the mystery cruise and the Wheel of Forever, not because they are really so good, but because they try to do something different so they have some distinction.

I hated that cruise ep. But my favorite from the 80-85 era is when they did the Heaven and Hell Game Show-lol

[jamesanthony]

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

I hated that cruise ep. But my favorite from the 80-85 era is when they did the Heaven and Hell Game Show-lol

That's Wheel of Forever- the Heaven and Hell show- it wasn't that good to me, but it was different so it was memorable. I don't like Sherman's acting in the cruise episodes.

Some of the 80s shows have distinctions even though they aren't classics. Volunteer of the Year from season 10 is memorable and Sherman Hemsley acts very wimpish in that one. Maybe its because they actually put some black actors in it (Dorothea Butts and a young Bumper Robinson). Louise behaves like the aggressor in that one. There's another show in year 10 where Louise dreams that she and George swich personalities. That episode is horrible!

[nerrad]

How about when George's ex-flame showed up with a gun?

George's old gang- a dud episode to me.

George's friend who had the sex change.

[jamesanthony]

Originally Posted by nerrad

How about when George's ex-flame showed up with a gun?

.

I mentioned that one. It's in year 10 and is by year 10 standards a decent enough change of pace episode.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by jamesanthony

I mentioned that one. It's in year 10 and is by year 10 standards a decent enough change of pace episode.

Did you like the "Return of Bentley"? I think I will watch that one tonight

[jamesanthony]

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

Did you like the "Return of Bentley"? I think I will watch that one tonight

I looked forward to seeing that one, but it wasn't one of the better season ten shows if you ask me. Bentley was better before he left. The way he gets his apartment back is a little illogical.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by jamesanthony

I looked forward to seeing that one, but it wasn't one of the better season ten shows if you ask me. Bentley was better before he left. The way he gets his apartment back is a little illogical.

And the way George is happy to see Bentley when he comes back les you know that you are defintely watching a episode after 1981-LOL

[jamesanthony]

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

And the way George is happy to see Bentley when he comes back les you know that you are defintely watching a episode after 1981-LOL

One good year 10 show is the one where Florence is involved in a stakeout and George and Louise thinks she got shot. Also the one where she dates a millionaire that she met at an art museum. Marla Gibbs does a very good job acting in that one (that's the episode where George keeps making gravity check jokes, including trying to lift up Louise- a rare joke about her weight). The List with Rosey Grier is a very funny episode too. Even the Xmas episode about George and Tom's fathers is decent. Return of Bentley isn't awful, but it is a little stale to me.