The Return Of Mike Evans? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Guy Incognito · 05-03-2011, 04:54 PM

Yesterday, I was watching "The Announcement", which was apparently the episode where Mike Evans made his return as Lionel Jefferson after four years. And I don't think I've ever seen a more anti-climatic return. Lionel doesn't even show up until the last act, and he just strolls in with Jenny (to absolutely no reaction from the audience, surprisingly) as if he never left at all. Granted, in storyline he really didn't, but still you'd think that the return of a series original would be a much bigger deal. And even though the story was about Lionel and Jenny expecting, Lionel was a periphery character at best in the story, and the final scene was between George and Jenny!

Maybe this was Norman Lear's way of sending him a message?

mstewart · 05-03-2011, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guy Incognito

Yesterday, I was watching "The Announcement", which was apparently the episode where Mike Evans made his return as Lionel Jefferson after four years. And I don't think I've ever seen a more anti-climatic return. Lionel doesn't even show up until the last act, and he just strolls in with Jenny (to absolutely no reaction from the audience, surprisingly) as if he never left at all. Granted, in storyline he really didn't, but still you'd think that the return of a series original would be a much bigger deal. And even though the story was about Lionel and Jenny expecting, Lionel was a periphery character at best in the story, and the final scene was between George and Jenny!

Maybe this was Norman Lear's way of sending him a message?

The scene between Lionel and Jenny on the roof I cried. That was very touching and it was the beginning of George softening up.

Guy Incognito · 05-04-2011, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstewart

The scene between Lionel and Jenny on the roof I cried. That was very touching and it was the beginning of George softening up.

Don't get me wrong, it was a good episode and a significant one in terms of the evolution of the show in general and the George Jefferson character in particular (although they would revisit the theme again during the actual birth episode). I just thought that the handling of ME's return was a bit strange.

TVFactFan · 05-12-2011, 01:33 PM

It would have been strange to see the audience react to the return of Mike Evans when the character on the show was not missing at all for the 3 seasons he was gone.

Guy Incognito · 05-12-2011, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

It would have been strange to see the audience react to the return of Mike Evans when the character on the show was not missing at all for the 3 seasons he was gone.

Actually, Lionel had been off-screen for an entire season and more before ME returned (though he was frequently referenced). Which is why we got Replacement Scrappies (thank you, TV Tropes!) in the forms of streetwise Marcus and the unbearable Alan Willis (both of whom thankfully disappeared once ME returned) during Season Five. You'd think that the return of Lionel in general would've garnered a reaction, but apparently not.

I also wonder if there were multiple takes and maybe the audience DID react the first time, but as you noted it wasn't supposed to be a big deal that Lionel was back (since he never really left in canon). So maybe they just reshot the scene for a more subdued take? Lord knows I've been dead wrong before about such things, but it just seems odd to me...

TVFactFan · 05-12-2011, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guy Incognito

Actually, Lionel had been off-screen for an entire season and more before ME returned (though he was frequently referenced). Which is why we got Replacement Scrappies (thank you, TV Tropes!) in the forms of streetwise Marcus and the unbearable Alan Willis (both of whom thankfully disappeared once ME returned) during Season Five. You'd think that the return of Lionel in general would've garnered a reaction, but apparently not.

I also wonder if there were multiple takes and maybe the audience DID react the first time, but as you noted it wasn't supposed to be a big deal that Lionel was back (since he never really left in canon). So maybe they just reshot the scene for a more subdued take? Lord knows I've been dead wrong before about
such things, but it just seems odd to me...

You are right, I forgot Lionel was not on the sow during the 78-79 season which was why stupid Marcus was there. I guess maybe there was no longer a live studo audience during the 79-80 season which explains no reaction?

lucyandethel · 05-15-2011, 12:28 AM

At some point, "The Jeffersons" did abandon a live studio audience. I don't remember when it was, maybe around 1981. I think it was in an effort to keep production costs down. But, I don't think it affected the comedy. Live audience or laugh track...who cares? Live audiences are prompted when to respond anyway....might as well just used canned laughs....

catlover79 · 05-15-2011, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstewart

The scene between Lionel and Jenny on the roof I cried. That was very touching and it was the beginning of George softening up.

That was indeed a sweet, touching scene. Everyone did a great job.

TV_on_the_Porch · 05-16-2011, 11:54 PM

It was late 1981 or perhaps very early 1982; I'm quite sure the piano intro appended to the beginning of the closing theme in the eighth season was to divert attention from the deletion of Isabel Sanford's familiar voiceover informing us that the show had been recorded before a studio audience.

catlover79 · 09-05-2011, 08:26 PM

They may very well have ditched the studio audience by the time this episode aired - because Isabel Sanford's voiceover is not over the credits at the end:

TVFactFan · 09-05-2011, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

They may very well have ditched the studio audience by the time this episode aired - because Isabel Sanford's voiceover is not over the credits at the end:

They were still in front of a studio audience in the 80's

catlover79 · 09-05-2011, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

They were still in front of a studio audience in the 80's

Hmmmm...I wonder if they only used a studio audience for some of the episodes and then dropped the audience altogether, or what.

TVFactFan · 09-05-2011, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Hmmmm...I wonder if they only used a studio audience for some of the episodes and then dropped the audience altogether, or what.

I was watching a 1981 episode the other night and heard her in the closing credits say it was taped in front of a studio audience

catlover79 · 09-05-2011, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

I was watching a 1981 episode the other night and heard her in the closing credits say it was taped in front of a studio audience

OK.

05-03-2011, 04:54 PM	#1
Guy Incognito International Man of Misery Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 30, 2011 Location: The Solar System Posts: 83	The Return Of Mike Evans? Yesterday, I was watching "The Announcement", which was apparently the episode where Mike Evans made his return as Lionel Jefferson after four years. And I don't think I've ever seen a more anti-climatic return. Lionel doesn't even show up until the last act, and he just strolls in with Jenny (to absolutely no reaction from the audience, surprisingly) as if he never left at all. Granted, in storyline he really didn't, but still you'd think that the return of a series original would be a much bigger deal. And even though the story was about Lionel and Jenny expecting, Lionel was a periphery character at best in the story, and the final scene was between George and Jenny! Maybe this was Norman Lear's way of sending him a message?

05-16-2011, 11:54 PM	#9
TV_on_the_Porch anything good on? Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Posts: 879	It was late 1981 or perhaps very early 1982; I'm quite sure the piano intro appended to the beginning of the closing theme in the eighth season was to divert attention from the deletion of Isabel Sanford's familiar voiceover informing us that the show had been recorded before a studio audience.
	__________________ Turn up the good times!

05-12-2011, 01:33 PM	#4
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,062	It would have been strange to see the audience react to the return of Mike Evans when the character on the show was not missing at all for the 3 seasons he was gone.

05-15-2011, 12:28 AM	#7
lucyandethel Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 18, 2009 Location: Los Angeles CA Posts: 435	At some point, "The Jeffersons" did abandon a live studio audience. I don't remember when it was, maybe around 1981. I think it was in an effort to keep production costs down. But, I don't think it affected the comedy. Live audience or laugh track...who cares? Live audiences are prompted when to respond anyway....might as well just used canned laughs....

09-05-2011, 08:26 PM	#10
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	They may very well have ditched the studio audience by the time this episode aired - because Isabel Sanford's voiceover is not over the credits at the end: