George Jefferson was the reason James Evans didn't get that BIG BREAK he wanted - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 04-26-2006, 11:01 AM

LOL-In all Honesty, Do you think because of the Jeffersons being a successful black family in 1975, that the writers felt they had to keep the Evans in the low income bracket since it would have looked kind of corny to improve the Evans after the Jeffersons premeired on CBS? So I'm thinking if the Jeffersons was never was created, Maybe the Evans would have improved and moved up financially eventually. Do you agree? I'm thinking james would have gotten that Job he wanted but since the George Jefferson character was created, it was no way for it happen, I THINK. Just like how There was no other Successful Black family on TV when the Cosby Show aired in the 80's and No other successful Black Family on TV when Fresh Prince aired in the 90's.

Brian Damage · 04-26-2006, 11:05 AM

I disagree, I think both Eric Monte and Mike Evans wanted to keep the family in the ghetto. It had nothing to do with the sucess of George Jefferson.

gilligan fanatic · 04-26-2006, 11:08 AM

they weren't well to do either on Sanford and Son in it's last two seasons. Like Brian said I don't think it was ever intended for them to go up. The Jeffersons were better off on All in the Family anyway.

TVFactFan · 04-26-2006, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I disagree, I think both Eric Monte and Mike Evans wanted to keep the family in the ghetto. It had nothing to do with the sucess of George Jefferson.

Well how do you explain there not being another succesful black family when the Cosby show and Fresh prince was on? It just seemed to me that thew writers felt it would be corny to put the Evans in a higher income bracket since there was a Brand New Black family on TV who was doing well

Brian Damage · 04-26-2006, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

Well how do you explain there not being another succesful black family when the Cosby show and Fresh prince was on? It just seemed to me that thew writers felt it would be corny to put the Evans in a higher income bracket since there was a Brand New Black family on TV who was doing well

Solomon, there were other shows that tried to copy the success of the Cosby Show, they just sucked. Monte and Evans wanted a show that reflected their lives in the ghetto.

TVFactFan · 04-26-2006, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gilligan fanatic

they weren't well to do either on Sanford and Son in it's last two seasons. Like Brian said I don't think it was ever intended for them to go up. The Jeffersons were better off on All in the Family anyway.

Sanford and Son was a different situation

Ireneparalegal · 04-26-2006, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Solomon, there were other shows that tried to copy the success of the Cosby Show, they just sucked. Monte and Evans wanted a show that reflected their lives in the ghetto.

Agree. and besides, isn't really up to the producers how the flow of the show will go?? I mean, the writers can come up with topics, subjects, storylines, but in the end, the producer makes the final decision on how the storyline or episode will go?
I mean, the writers don't decide what characters to bring on the show, that is the producer's work. The writers go with what changes have been made on the show as far as actors coming/going. They don't have (i am almost 100 percent sure) any deciding factors regarding that. I can see the producer telling the writers, "this family stays in the ghetto but make storylines of James being turned down for jobs, James losing jobs, being evicted, being sick" etc.
As for there not being other succesful blacks on television, unfortunately, television still has yet to understand that blacks can be succesful and rich and so forth. When Cosby show was on they received a lot of backlash from THE BLACK COMMUNITEY stating how can a household have a doctor and a lawyer in the house and the kids be alright. I remember reading how some in the black community oppossed the show. I feel like televisison execs figure that as long as there is one succesful black show on t.v. why bother having any others? It's sad and pathetic but I feel that is what they say. Almost as if they are saying "Ok, we filled our quoata, there's one succesful black family on the air." Which to me is stupid and sad. I for one get sick of seeing shows like "friends" "sex in the city" (shows i hated) sporting nothing but caucasions.

TVFactFan · 04-26-2006, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Agree. and besides, isn't really up to the producers how the flow of the show will go?? I mean, the writers can come up with topics, subjects, storylines, but in the end, the producer makes the final decision on how the storyline or episode will go?
I mean, the writers don't decide what characters to bring on the show, that is the producer's work. The writers go with what changes have been made on the show as far as actors coming/going. They don't have (i am almost 100 percent sure) any deciding factors regarding that. I can see the producer telling the writers, "this family stays in the ghetto but make storylines of James being turned down for jobs, James losing jobs, being evicted, being sick" etc.
As for there not being other succesful blacks on television, unfortunately, television still has yet to understand that blacks can be succesful and rich and so forth. When Cosby show was on they received a lot of backlash from THE BLACK COMMUNITEY stating how can a household have a doctor and a lawyer in the house and the kids be alright. I remember reading how some in the black community oppossed the show. I feel like televisison execs figure that as long as there is one succesful black show on t.v. why bother having any others? It's sad and pathetic but I feel that is what they say. Almost as if they are saying "Ok, we filled our quoata, there's one succesful black family on the air." Which to me is stupid and sad. I for one get sick of seeing shows like "friends" "sex in the city" (shows i hated) sporting nothing but caucasions.

Maybe the plan was eventually for James to get that big break but since the firing in 1976, that ended all possibilities. They defintely couldn;t do it in 1975 because the Jeffersons was too NEW at the time.

gilligan fanatic · 04-26-2006, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

Sanford and Son was a different situation

Come to think of it you can't really have a rich junk man-lol

Ireneparalegal · 04-26-2006, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

Maybe the plan was eventually for James to get that big break but since the firing in 1976, that ended all possibilities. They defintely couldn;t do it in 1975 because the Jeffersons was too NEW at the time.

oh i have no doubts that when the show was going to reach the end, they would have had James get that job that would get them out of the ghetto, but they would stay with the poor family in the ghetto theme for as long as they could. The Evans were a family that a lot of people could identify with, not just blacks, but anyone who lived in the projects, low income, poor, etc.

retrochick9 · 04-26-2006, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

Maybe the plan was eventually for James to get that big break but since the firing in 1976, that ended all possibilities. They defintely couldn;t do it in 1975 because the Jeffersons was too NEW at the time.

That's exactly what I was gonna say!

TVFactFan · 04-26-2006, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retrochick9

That's exactly what I was gonna say!

I could tell by one of the statements James made that the writers were determined to keep the Evans the complete opposite of the Jeffersons

James said-"And I thought I was moving Up"-lol

retrochick9 · 04-26-2006, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

I could tell by one of the statements James made that the writers were determined to keep the Evans the complete opposite of the Jeffersons

James said-"And I thought I was moving Up"-lol

Oh, I know!!! I caught that too, I can't remember what episode it was though!

TVFactFan · 04-26-2006, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retrochick9

Oh, I know!!! I caught that too, I can't remember what episode it was though!

In the ep-"A Real Cool Job" the first ep of Season 3

Brieannas21 · 04-26-2006, 11:50 PM

Good Time was suppose to be about a family living in the projects trying to make it.

The Jeffersons was suppose to be about a man who's a dry cleaner who's a boaderline racist, living in a apartment building with other characters.

I think that if John Amos would have stayed with the show, that at the end he would have gotten his big break and he would have gotten his family out of the ghetto.

04-26-2006, 11:01 AM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,101	George Jefferson was the reason James Evans didn't get that BIG BREAK he wanted LOL-In all Honesty, Do you think because of the Jeffersons being a successful black family in 1975, that the writers felt they had to keep the Evans in the low income bracket since it would have looked kind of corny to improve the Evans after the Jeffersons premeired on CBS? So I'm thinking if the Jeffersons was never was created, Maybe the Evans would have improved and moved up financially eventually. Do you agree? I'm thinking james would have gotten that Job he wanted but since the George Jefferson character was created, it was no way for it happen, I THINK. Just like how There was no other Successful Black family on TV when the Cosby Show aired in the 80's and No other successful Black Family on TV when Fresh Prince aired in the 90's.

04-26-2006, 11:05 AM	#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 disagree, I think both Eric Monte and Mike Evans wanted to keep the family in the ghetto. It had nothing to do with the sucess of George Jefferson.
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

04-26-2006, 11:08 AM	#3
gilligan fanatic Born to Be Bad Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: down by the Lagoon Posts: 9,954	they weren't well to do either on Sanford and Son in it's last two seasons. Like Brian said I don't think it was ever intended for them to go up. The Jeffersons were better off on All in the Family anyway.
	__________________ Matt Filmaf ~ Twitter ~ Last.FM

04-26-2006, 11:50 PM	#15
Brieannas21 Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 05, 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 9,792	Good Time was suppose to be about a family living in the projects trying to make it. The Jeffersons was suppose to be about a man who's a dry cleaner who's a boaderline racist, living in a apartment building with other characters. I think that if John Amos would have stayed with the show, that at the end he would have gotten his big break and he would have gotten his family out of the ghetto.