Black Guy on Taxi - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Neutronman67 · 03-30-2013, 07:08 PM

Why come the black guy with the beard he was also in the movie throw mamma from the train with Danny Devito they were both on Taxi together, why dident he have any speaking lines on Taxi he was in almost every single episode but he was always in the background all quiet he could have been a popular character if the producers developed his character or had episodes that revolved around him lol

DJM77 · 03-30-2013, 08:36 PM

He did have some lines.

Mr. Television · 03-30-2013, 08:56 PM

It's been a long time since I saw it but I think he ever had a major story on one episode.

Neutronman67 · 03-31-2013, 07:46 PM

He had a few lame one liners when he spoke but the guy never said anything i guess he was the odd man out to his Taxi Employees lol

Marvo301 · 03-31-2013, 08:15 PM

I believe the characters name was Jeff.

Adamantium · 04-01-2013, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

I believe the characters name was Jeff.

Yep, Jeff Bennett.

I believe he was every episode but one (I did a count of all the main characters and couldn't resist to see how many episodes Jeff was in as well). He started off with a one-liner here and there. In season four, he was a featured player in an episode. In the final season, he even was the main character in an episode, when he gets fired and arrested for a crime Louie committed. Also the final episode (in production order) has a Jeff plot - Louie tries to give Jeff a bunch of money and Jeff refuses to take it, upsetting Louie.

They should have bumped him up to a series regular when Jeff Conaway left the show.

Neutronman67 · 04-01-2013, 10:16 PM

Yeah but since Jeff was a Black character on the sitcom the producers would have thought nobody would want to watch him as one of the main characters on the show, racism was still going strong in the 70's and 80's they would have to write in episodes that dealt with his race and culture on Taxi too risky.

Skywalker · 04-02-2013, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neutronman67

Yeah but since Jeff was a Black character on the sitcom the producers would have thought nobody would want to watch him as one of the main characters on the show, racism was still going strong in the 70's and 80's they would have to write in episodes that dealt with his race and culture on Taxi too risky.

I don't know about that. Originally the producers wanted a black man to play Bobby Wheeler. Cleavon Little almost got the part. And they wanted Nell Carter to play a cabbie, but I believe she was busy doing something else at the time.

Adamantium · 04-02-2013, 04:55 PM

Although I love the episode the way it was, I would have liked Bubba Smith - who played Luscious Fox - to be a regular. He was such a great character. "Do it for the duck!"

I know, that's not the same black guy this thread is referring to. I just wanted to mention that since it's turned into a conversation about "Taxi" and black people, lol.

Neutronman67 · 04-03-2013, 02:23 PM

Demond Wilson would have been the best black character for Jeff on Taxi since people all over the world new him from playing the junk man on Sanford and Son would have boosted up ratings for Taxi in my theory.

03-30-2013, 07:08 PM	#1
Neutronman67 Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 23, 2013 Location: Sarasota Posts: 2,538	Black Guy on Taxi Why come the black guy with the beard he was also in the movie throw mamma from the train with Danny Devito they were both on Taxi together, why dident he have any speaking lines on Taxi he was in almost every single episode but he was always in the background all quiet he could have been a popular character if the producers developed his character or had episodes that revolved around him lol

03-30-2013, 08:36 PM	#2
DJM77 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: May 15, 2001 Location: Missouri Posts: 5,560	He did have some lines.
	__________________ Marge: There are only 49 stars on that flag. Abe: I'll be deep in the cold, cold ground before I recognize Missouri!

03-30-2013, 08:56 PM	#3
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,128	It's been a long time since I saw it but I think he ever had a major story on one episode.
	__________________ Sonny

03-31-2013, 08:15 PM	#5
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,452	I believe the characters name was Jeff.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

03-31-2013, 07:46 PM	#4
Neutronman67 Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 23, 2013 Location: Sarasota Posts: 2,538	He had a few lame one liners when he spoke but the guy never said anything i guess he was the odd man out to his Taxi Employees lol

04-01-2013, 10:16 PM	#7
Neutronman67 Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 23, 2013 Location: Sarasota Posts: 2,538	Yeah but since Jeff was a Black character on the sitcom the producers would have thought nobody would want to watch him as one of the main characters on the show, racism was still going strong in the 70's and 80's they would have to write in episodes that dealt with his race and culture on Taxi too risky.

04-02-2013, 04:55 PM	#9
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,825	Although I love the episode the way it was, I would have liked Bubba Smith - who played Luscious Fox - to be a regular. He was such a great character. "Do it for the duck!" I know, that's not the same black guy this thread is referring to. I just wanted to mention that since it's turned into a conversation about "Taxi" and black people, lol.

04-03-2013, 02:23 PM	#10
Neutronman67 Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 23, 2013 Location: Sarasota Posts: 2,538	Demond Wilson would have been the best black character for Jeff on Taxi since people all over the world new him from playing the junk man on Sanford and Son would have boosted up ratings for Taxi in my theory.