Did Anybody Know that there was a THIRD Lionel?!? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 03-18-2008, 10:16 PM

His name was D'Urville Martin and apparently he was the REAL original Lionel in the pilot episode in 1968/69!

MavFan92 · 03-18-2008, 11:19 PM

Huh, I didn't know that!

I still think Mike Evans was THE ONLY Lionel Jefferson.

Ireneparalegal · 03-18-2008, 11:20 PM

How did you find out Brian? And what is that thing in his hair? A potato chip bag clip?

Brian Damage · 03-18-2008, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

How did you find out Brian? And what is that thing in his hair? A potato chip bag clip?

Good ol' IMDB

OH Nuts! · 03-19-2008, 12:14 AM

Never knew that. Always glad to learn something new abt one of MY VERY FAVORITE SHOWS!

MavFan92 · 03-19-2008, 01:08 PM

Somewhat OT...but what happened to Mike Evans during the time he wasn't on the Jeffersons? Was he doing other things or was there a problem on the show? I think it was the second or third season of The Jeffersons he was replaced by Damon Evans. Then he was back!

TVFactFan · 03-19-2008, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MavFan92

Somewhat OT...but what happened to Mike Evans during the time he wasn't on the Jeffersons? Was he doing other things or was there a problem on the show? I think it was the second or third season of The Jeffersons he was replaced by Damon Evans. Then he was back!

After the first season of the Jeffersons, Mike Evans felt his role became too small and went to Norman lear and asked how can he get off the show? Lear told him just say you want off the show and You are off and that's what Mike did and he was gone for the next 3 years. After the 5th season, the guy who played the second lionel wanted more money and when he didn;t get it he left the show to take a role on "Roots" the next generation in 1978. So the plan was to no longer have a Lionel on the show going into the 1979-80 season until Sherman Hemsley ran into Mike Evans in the summer of 1979 and they chatted and he asked Mike Evans to come back since he saw he wasn;t really working at that time and that's how Mike Evans returned to the show in season 6.

Ireneparalegal · 03-19-2008, 09:27 PM

How sad he died in 1984 at the age of 45 from a heart attack.

I was reading his info on IMDB. Thanx Brian for this information. Great info and tidbit.

BTW, why were there two unaired pilots of AITF? Were they that bad?

Jude The Obscure · 03-19-2008, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingofTVResearch

After the first season of the Jeffersons, Mike Evans felt his role became too small and went to Norman lear and asked how can he get off the show? Lear told him just say you want off the show and You are off and that's what Mike did and he was gone for the next 3 years. After the 5th season, the guy who played the second lionel wanted more money and when he didn;t get it he left the show to take a role on "Roots" the next generation in 1978. So the plan was to no longer have a Lionel on the show going into the 1979-80 season until Sherman Hemsley ran into Mike Evans in the summer of 1979 and they chatted and he asked Mike Evans to come back since he saw he wasn;t really working at that time and that's how Mike Evans returned to the show in season 6.

Wasn't he also working on scripts for Good Times at the time of his departure?

visaman666 · 03-25-2008, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

BTW, why were there two unaired pilots of AITF? Were they that bad?

Yes.

The first 2 pilots were for ABC, who passed on both. The 2nd pilot was called Justice For All, as Archie was called Justice. The Mike and Gloria actors, didn't quite work out. The pilots were produced in the late 60's.

The 3rd pilot was shot just at the tail end of the 60's and there was a gap between the first episode and the 2nd, hence the sudden shift in character motivations.

Scoobiedoo30 · 03-25-2008, 01:54 PM

I also did not know that .

Jude The Obscure · 03-29-2008, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by visaman666

Yes.

The first 2 pilots were for ABC, who passed on both. The 2nd pilot was called Justice For All, as Archie was called Justice. The Mike and Gloria actors, didn't quite work out. The pilots were produced in the late 60's.

The 3rd pilot was shot just at the tail end of the 60's and there was a gap between the first episode and the 2nd, hence the sudden shift in character motivations.

The first pilot was called Justice for All. The second pilot was called Those Were the Days (and the opening for that can be seen on YouTube).

catlover79 · 08-04-2008, 12:09 AM

An actress named Kelly Jean Peters was the Gloria in the first pilot. I'm jealous of her because she got to kiss Gregory Sierra (

- another AITF guest star) in an episode of Kung Fu!!!!

HelloLarry · 08-12-2008, 11:51 AM

There were two other pilots for AITF. Those Were the Days did air on TV Land at one point. The script is basically the same as the 'pilot' Meet the Bunkers that did finally air on CBS in January of '71.

I don't think the 'original' original pilot has ever been located. Kelly Jean Peters can be seen in other shows; a few that come to mind (that I am familiar with at least) are a Monkees episode "Too Many Girls", a Green Hornet Episode "The Silent Gun", and a MASH episode "Love Story".

The guy who played Lionel in the AITF pilot can be seen in a bunch of stuff too but the one that immediately comes to my mind is that he played a boxer in a Monkees episode "Monkees in the Ring".

OOliver · 02-12-2009, 03:33 PM

"After the first season of the Jeffersons, Mike Evans felt his role became too small and went to Norman lear and asked how can he get off the show? Lear told him just say you want off the show and You are off and that's what Mike did and he was gone for the next 3 years. After the 5th season, the guy who played the second lionel wanted more money and when he didn;t get it he left the show to take a role on "Roots" the next generation in 1978. So the plan was to no longer have a Lionel on the show going into the 1979-80 season until Sherman Hemsley ran into Mike Evans in the summer of 1979 and they chatted and he asked Mike Evans to come back since he saw he wasn;t really working at that time and that's how Mike Evans returned to the show in season 6."

Actually, Evans was writing scripts for GOOD TIMES since 1974, and realized after the first season of THE JEFFERSONS that he coudln't do both script-writing as well as acting.

Lear decided to keep him with GOOD TIMES, and replace him on THE JEFFERSONS. When GOOD TIMES finally left the air in 1979, Evans returned to THE JEFFERSONS to reprise his role as 'Lionel'.

03-18-2008, 10:16 PM	#1
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	Did Anybody Know that there was a THIRD Lionel?!? His name was D'Urville Martin and apparently he was the REAL original Lionel in the pilot episode in 1968/69! Attached Images
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03-18-2008, 11:20 PM	#3
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	How did you find out Brian? And what is that thing in his hair? A potato chip bag clip?
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03-25-2008, 01:54 PM	#11
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	I also did not know that .
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08-04-2008, 12:09 AM	#13
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	An actress named Kelly Jean Peters was the Gloria in the first pilot. I'm jealous of her because she got to kiss Gregory Sierra ( - another AITF guest star) in an episode of Kung Fu!!!!
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03-18-2008, 11:19 PM	#2
MavFan92 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 13, 2007 Location: Dallas Posts: 249	Huh, I didn't know that! I still think Mike Evans was THE ONLY Lionel Jefferson.

03-19-2008, 12:14 AM	#5
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Never knew that. Always glad to learn something new abt one of MY VERY FAVORITE SHOWS!

03-19-2008, 01:08 PM	#6
MavFan92 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 13, 2007 Location: Dallas Posts: 249	Somewhat OT...but what happened to Mike Evans during the time he wasn't on the Jeffersons? Was he doing other things or was there a problem on the show? I think it was the second or third season of The Jeffersons he was replaced by Damon Evans. Then he was back!

03-19-2008, 09:27 PM	#8
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	How sad he died in 1984 at the age of 45 from a heart attack. I was reading his info on IMDB. Thanx Brian for this information. Great info and tidbit. BTW, why were there two unaired pilots of AITF? Were they that bad?

08-12-2008, 11:51 AM	#14
HelloLarry Meathead Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 21, 2006 Posts: 273	There were two other pilots for AITF. Those Were the Days did air on TV Land at one point. The script is basically the same as the 'pilot' Meet the Bunkers that did finally air on CBS in January of '71. I don't think the 'original' original pilot has ever been located. Kelly Jean Peters can be seen in other shows; a few that come to mind (that I am familiar with at least) are a Monkees episode "Too Many Girls", a Green Hornet Episode "The Silent Gun", and a MASH episode "Love Story". The guy who played Lionel in the AITF pilot can be seen in a bunch of stuff too but the one that immediately comes to my mind is that he played a boxer in a Monkees episode "Monkees in the Ring".

02-12-2009, 03:33 PM	#15
OOliver Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 28, 2009 Location: Providence RI Posts: 569	"After the first season of the Jeffersons, Mike Evans felt his role became too small and went to Norman lear and asked how can he get off the show? Lear told him just say you want off the show and You are off and that's what Mike did and he was gone for the next 3 years. After the 5th season, the guy who played the second lionel wanted more money and when he didn;t get it he left the show to take a role on "Roots" the next generation in 1978. So the plan was to no longer have a Lionel on the show going into the 1979-80 season until Sherman Hemsley ran into Mike Evans in the summer of 1979 and they chatted and he asked Mike Evans to come back since he saw he wasn;t really working at that time and that's how Mike Evans returned to the show in season 6." Actually, Evans was writing scripts for GOOD TIMES since 1974, and realized after the first season of THE JEFFERSONS that he coudln't do both script-writing as well as acting. Lear decided to keep him with GOOD TIMES, and replace him on THE JEFFERSONS. When GOOD TIMES finally left the air in 1979, Evans returned to THE JEFFERSONS to reprise his role as 'Lionel'.