Norman Lear: The Jeffersons was better than The Cosby Show - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Sal · 08-25-2016, 10:43 PM

Norman Lear Interview: Hollywood Reporter.com

If you ask me, Norman Lear is full of crap. But that's what happens when you get old and senile. You see things differently. If you ask me, Cosby was way better and funnier too.

Svenfan1234 · 08-25-2016, 10:47 PM

Well, he's right. The Cosby Show was okay, but I'm not a huge fan. Jeffersons is 1000x better.

AceWesternson · 08-25-2016, 10:58 PM

I could never get into the cosby show even when i was little in the 90s

tlc38tlc38 · 08-25-2016, 11:00 PM

I agree with Lear.

I'm not a big fan of someone who toots their own horn but "The Jeffersons" is one of my favorite shows of all-time.

I like "The Cosby Show" but nowhere near as much as I do "The Jeffersons".

Tubehead · 08-25-2016, 11:19 PM

i never could get into the cobsy show! but i enjoyed the jeffersons!! i think sanfrod & son is way better then the jeffersons!

BigManMike · 08-25-2016, 11:42 PM

I liked both The Jeffersons and The Cosby Show each in their own way. They were different but both funny.

lakesgirl · 08-26-2016, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebigcookie

I liked both The Jeffersons and The Cosby Show each in their own way. They were different but both funny.

I agree with this. They were just both different. It's like comparing apples to oranges. Just because they both had predominately black casts doesn't make them the same kind of show. They were very different shows in my opinion and good in their own way.

Bonniegirl · 08-26-2016, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tubehead

i never could get into the cobsy show! but i enjoyed the jeffersons!! i think sanfrod & son is way better then the jeffersons!

I agree 100 percent with this post !

DJM77 · 08-26-2016, 11:42 AM

He may have called Sherman Hemsley "Herman" but other than that I saw no signs of senility in the video clip. And I agree with him about The Jeffersons being better than The Cosby Show.

Torgo · 08-26-2016, 11:45 AM

I like both, but I think The Jeffersons was better from it's first season to last. The Cosby Show kept bringing in new family members, and cutesy kids towards the end that it no longer felt the same.

Anna Karenina · 08-26-2016, 01:06 PM

Off topic a little but I always thought Bill Cosby was an arrogant ass even before what we know now. Just a vibe I got from him in the way he acted in interviews and how the kids on his show even when they were older had to call him Mr. Cosby. So full of himself.

As to what show is better, I would give the nod to The Jeffersons as well, it didn't take itself as seriously and yet it was far more daring with topics like the Willises being an interracial couple . The Cosby Show as far as I remember never tackled anything but dyslexia, Cleland Notes and bacon burger dogs...

Don't get me wrong, I watched it every Thursday as did most of America. I hated the way they treated Vanessa like she was the pariah of the family. Claire could be such a "rhymes with the guy who hosted Candid Camera" to her.

Patty Duke · 08-26-2016, 06:15 PM

I also I agree with Lear.

gidgetgrape · 08-26-2016, 06:28 PM

I feel like we wouldn't even have The Cosby Show (or The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) without The Jeffersons because The Jeffersons took the public's expectations of black people in society to another level.

KatieAnn · 08-26-2016, 06:49 PM

The Cosby Show was probably what Lionel and Jenny would have become - two successful educated professionals raising a family. We didn't see their family struggle, we see their success.

The Jeffersons was more about a family who worked hard and found success, but for George it was always going to be a struggle, and you could see he was of two worlds. I think the characters were much more interesting on The Jeffersons, and I enjoy the show even now, but Cosby, there are probably only a couple of episodes that I find entertaining.

tlc38tlc38 · 08-26-2016, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KatieAnn

The Cosby Show was probably what Lionel and Jenny would have become - two successful educated professionals raising a family. We didn't see their family struggle, we see their success.

Interesting and good observation.

08-25-2016, 10:43 PM	#1
Sal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 20, 2001 Location: Oakville, Ont. Canada Posts: 6,216	Norman Lear: The Jeffersons was better than The Cosby Show Norman Lear Interview: Hollywood Reporter.com If you ask me, Norman Lear is full of crap. But that's what happens when you get old and senile. You see things differently. If you ask me, Cosby was way better and funnier too.
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08-25-2016, 10:47 PM	#2
Svenfan1234 Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 12, 2015 Posts: 11,200	Well, he's right. The Cosby Show was okay, but I'm not a huge fan. Jeffersons is 1000x better.
	__________________ [

08-25-2016, 11:00 PM	#4
tlc38tlc38 Member Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Posts: 19,284	I agree with Lear. I'm not a big fan of someone who toots their own horn but "The Jeffersons" is one of my favorite shows of all-time. I like "The Cosby Show" but nowhere near as much as I do "The Jeffersons".
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08-26-2016, 11:42 AM	#9
DJM77 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: May 15, 2001 Location: Missouri Posts: 5,568	He may have called Sherman Hemsley "Herman" but other than that I saw no signs of senility in the video clip. And I agree with him about The Jeffersons being better than The Cosby Show.
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08-26-2016, 11:45 AM	#10
Torgo Omaha & Fritz Forum Star Join Date: Mar 06, 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 19,050	I like both, but I think The Jeffersons was better from it's first season to last. The Cosby Show kept bringing in new family members, and cutesy kids towards the end that it no longer felt the same.
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08-25-2016, 10:58 PM	#3
AceWesternson Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 26, 2016 Posts: 141	I could never get into the cosby show even when i was little in the 90s

08-25-2016, 11:19 PM	#5
Tubehead Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 12, 2007 Location: chattanooga.tn Posts: 5,139	i never could get into the cobsy show! but i enjoyed the jeffersons!! i think sanfrod & son is way better then the jeffersons!

08-25-2016, 11:42 PM	#6
BigManMike Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 25, 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 3,022	I liked both The Jeffersons and The Cosby Show each in their own way. They were different but both funny.

08-26-2016, 01:06 PM	#11
Anna Karenina Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 09, 2006 Posts: 10,086	Off topic a little but I always thought Bill Cosby was an arrogant ass even before what we know now. Just a vibe I got from him in the way he acted in interviews and how the kids on his show even when they were older had to call him Mr. Cosby. So full of himself. As to what show is better, I would give the nod to The Jeffersons as well, it didn't take itself as seriously and yet it was far more daring with topics like the Willises being an interracial couple . The Cosby Show as far as I remember never tackled anything but dyslexia, Cleland Notes and bacon burger dogs... Don't get me wrong, I watched it every Thursday as did most of America. I hated the way they treated Vanessa like she was the pariah of the family. Claire could be such a "rhymes with the guy who hosted Candid Camera" to her.

08-26-2016, 06:15 PM	#12
Patty Duke Good night, John Boy Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 09, 2013 Location: The Land of Milk and Honey Posts: 788	I also I agree with Lear.
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08-26-2016, 06:28 PM	#13
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,508	I feel like we wouldn't even have The Cosby Show (or The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) without The Jeffersons because The Jeffersons took the public's expectations of black people in society to another level.

08-26-2016, 06:49 PM	#14
KatieAnn Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 15, 2011 Posts: 520	The Cosby Show was probably what Lionel and Jenny would have become - two successful educated professionals raising a family. We didn't see their family struggle, we see their success. The Jeffersons was more about a family who worked hard and found success, but for George it was always going to be a struggle, and you could see he was of two worlds. I think the characters were much more interesting on The Jeffersons, and I enjoy the show even now, but Cosby, there are probably only a couple of episodes that I find entertaining.