Cast Unaware of Cancellation Doesn't Make Sense - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

lucyandethel · 08-24-2010, 08:45 PM

I've seen interviews with Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley and Marla Gibbs all saying they were not aware of "The Jeffersons" cancellation until the summer of 1985. This doesn't make sense to me. Having worked in sitcoms myself, I know that sitcoms are generally renewed between January and March with production beginning in July. This means the Jeffersons, if it were to have been renewed for a 12th season, would have gotten a green light in early 1985 for a 1985-1986 season. The final episode of "The Jeffersons" aired in the summer of 1985. It seems to me the cast would have been at least "suspicious" that the show was not being renewed if they wrapped production on a season (likely in March of 1985) and there was still no official word from CBS. Sherman Hemsley had stated that he was not aware the show was being cancelled until after the final episode aired. If the show had not been renewed, at least as a mid-season replacement by July, then it was obvious that that they were not coming back. I can understand they were upset about not doing a final episode, but the writing was on the wall they weren't being renewed long before they got their official word.

Mr. Television · 08-24-2010, 10:42 PM

I don't buy it either. The writing was on the wall as soon as CBS moved the show opposite The A-Team in January 1985. Alice was moved at the same time and they were able to get a final episode completed. And CBS announced it's final cancellation in May when they announced their fall schedule. I don't know what they were doing. Ratings were awful after the move. There was no way that they were coming back.

Also Marla Gibbs had made the pilot for 227 that spring and NBC picked it up. If The Jeffersons did get renewed ,was she going to leave the show? A lot of what they say just doesn't make sense.

catlover79 · 08-25-2010, 10:20 PM

I've heard that the casts of Eight is Enough and The Partridge Family were not notified that their shows were cancelled. Dick Van Patten, I read, learned of EIE's cancellation by reading it in the newspaper. So it's not completely unheard of.

OOliver · 08-31-2010, 03:17 PM

I agree - the timing is way off. They would have been back to work by then, filming their 12th season.

gttiene · 10-17-2010, 03:36 AM

It was definitely time for it to end. 10 SEASONS!!! That's a good run for a spin off show. Jeffersons & Alice both are lucky to have been on the air until 1985. I enjoyed 227. It was a funny show, although I never got into Amen, the Sherman Hemsley show after Jeffersons.

TVFactFan · 10-17-2010, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gttiene

It was definitely time for it to end. 10 SEASONS!!! That's a good run for a spin off show. Jeffersons & Alice both are lucky to have been on the air until 1985. I enjoyed 227. It was a funny show, although I never got into Amen, the Sherman Hemsley show after Jeffersons.

Especially since the Jeffersons was almost cancelled in 1977 and 78

gttiene · 10-19-2010, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Especially since the Jeffersons was almost cancelled in 1977 and 78

I never knew that. Although, it doesn't surprise me. I have the DVD sets and the early years were not as good. Although, I liked Mother Jefferson. I think it peaked in the 6-8th seasons. I wish they'd release them on DVD! I think they moved the Jeffersons around on the schedule a lot in the early years. When it moved to Sundays was then the ratings went up.

comedyfreak · 10-27-2010, 05:46 AM

The cast Of Lost In Space wasn't notified that their show was cancelled either, they read it in the paper. Not unheard of really.

catlover79 · 10-27-2010, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

The cast Of Lost In Space wasn't notified that their show was cancelled either, they read it in the paper. Not unheard of really.

Wow, that I did not know! You really do learn something new every day.

Rezny@gmail.com · 10-27-2010, 06:46 PM

And neither was the cast of "The Addams Family".On the late Carolyn Jones'(Morticia)excellent A&E biography titled "Carolyn Jones:Morticia and More",John Astin (Gomez)said that the same thing happened to them.

GSU2004 · 11-19-2010, 10:20 AM

Sometimes networks will leave shows in limbo and in the dark. CBS did the same to The Bradys (the one hour drama featuring the Brady Bunch) in 1990. Barry Willams reports the show was never officially canceled, it was shelved indefinely. He jokes and said, of course, we moved on after realizing nothing was ever said or a timeslot given to us.

Television today often announces renewals for next season as early as November through February. I'm not sure the procedures for back in the day.

704Hauser · 06-05-2011, 12:55 AM

The same fate happened to Married... with Children, which, perhaps coincidentally was created by latter-day Jeffersons writers Michael G. Moye and Ron Leavitt. The cast found out about the cancellation by reading about in the newspaper and receiving phonecalls from friends.

Big3sCompanyFan · 08-05-2011, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I've heard that the casts of Eight is Enough and The Partridge Family were not notified that their shows were cancelled. Dick Van Patten, I read, learned of EIE's cancellation by reading it in the newspaper. So it's not completely unheard of.

I agree it's possible but the Jefferson's cast must've been wondering why they didn't get the call between Jan. and March that they'd been renewed!

catlover79 · 08-06-2011, 12:58 AM

I guess we'll never know the entire truth!!!

08-24-2010, 08:45 PM	#1
lucyandethel Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 18, 2009 Location: Los Angeles CA Posts: 435	Cast Unaware of Cancellation Doesn't Make Sense I've seen interviews with Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley and Marla Gibbs all saying they were not aware of "The Jeffersons" cancellation until the summer of 1985. This doesn't make sense to me. Having worked in sitcoms myself, I know that sitcoms are generally renewed between January and March with production beginning in July. This means the Jeffersons, if it were to have been renewed for a 12th season, would have gotten a green light in early 1985 for a 1985-1986 season. The final episode of "The Jeffersons" aired in the summer of 1985. It seems to me the cast would have been at least "suspicious" that the show was not being renewed if they wrapped production on a season (likely in March of 1985) and there was still no official word from CBS. Sherman Hemsley had stated that he was not aware the show was being cancelled until after the final episode aired. If the show had not been renewed, at least as a mid-season replacement by July, then it was obvious that that they were not coming back. I can understand they were upset about not doing a final episode, but the writing was on the wall they weren't being renewed long before they got their official word.

08-24-2010, 10:42 PM	#2
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	I don't buy it either. The writing was on the wall as soon as CBS moved the show opposite The A-Team in January 1985. Alice was moved at the same time and they were able to get a final episode completed. And CBS announced it's final cancellation in May when they announced their fall schedule. I don't know what they were doing. Ratings were awful after the move. There was no way that they were coming back. Also Marla Gibbs had made the pilot for 227 that spring and NBC picked it up. If The Jeffersons did get renewed ,was she going to leave the show? A lot of what they say just doesn't make sense.
	__________________ Sonny

08-25-2010, 10:20 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	I've heard that the casts of Eight is Enough and The Partridge Family were not notified that their shows were cancelled. Dick Van Patten, I read, learned of EIE's cancellation by reading it in the newspaper. So it's not completely unheard of.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

10-27-2010, 05:46 AM	#8
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,060	The cast Of Lost In Space wasn't notified that their show was cancelled either, they read it in the paper. Not unheard of really.
	__________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak

06-05-2011, 12:55 AM	#12
704Hauser Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 08, 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 366	The same fate happened to Married... with Children, which, perhaps coincidentally was created by latter-day Jeffersons writers Michael G. Moye and Ron Leavitt. The cast found out about the cancellation by reading about in the newspaper and receiving phonecalls from friends.
	__________________ Who's that riding in the sun? Who's the man with the itchy gun? Who's the man who kills for fun? Psycho Dad, Psycho Dad, Psycho Dad.

08-31-2010, 03:17 PM	#4
OOliver Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 28, 2009 Location: Providence RI Posts: 569	I agree - the timing is way off. They would have been back to work by then, filming their 12th season.

10-17-2010, 03:36 AM	#5
gttiene Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 17, 2010 Location: KY Posts: 32	It was definitely time for it to end. 10 SEASONS!!! That's a good run for a spin off show. Jeffersons & Alice both are lucky to have been on the air until 1985. I enjoyed 227. It was a funny show, although I never got into Amen, the Sherman Hemsley show after Jeffersons.

10-27-2010, 06:46 PM	#10
Rezny@gmail.com Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 20, 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 2,675	And neither was the cast of "The Addams Family".On the late Carolyn Jones'(Morticia)excellent A&E biography titled "Carolyn Jones:Morticia and More",John Astin (Gomez)said that the same thing happened to them.

11-19-2010, 10:20 AM	#11
GSU2004 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 28, 2005 Posts: 764	Sometimes networks will leave shows in limbo and in the dark. CBS did the same to The Bradys (the one hour drama featuring the Brady Bunch) in 1990. Barry Willams reports the show was never officially canceled, it was shelved indefinely. He jokes and said, of course, we moved on after realizing nothing was ever said or a timeslot given to us. Television today often announces renewals for next season as early as November through February. I'm not sure the procedures for back in the day.

08-06-2011, 12:58 AM	#14
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	I guess we'll never know the entire truth!!!