What if CBS didn't unceremoniously cancel The Jeffersons in 1985

[TMC]

The most obvious cases would be that Marla Gibbs wouldn't have gone right into 227 (it debuted in the 1985-86 season, shortly after The Jeffersons ended its run). Had The Jeffersons been given at least one more season, then I still would figure, that Sherman Hemsley would've been able to start his work on Amen, since it wouldn't begin its run until the 1986-87 season.

But what many people may not remember or know is that near the end of The Jeffersons' run, Michael Moye and Ron Leavitt were hired in the producer/show-runner roles. When CBS unceremoniously cancelled The Jeffersons at the end of the 1984-85 season, Leavitt and Moye were freed up to collaborate on a pilot they pitched to a fledgling broadcast network that later became known as the Fox Broadcasting Company (or Fox). That show was called Married with...Children.

[Yong Fang]

I dont think many shows got a "last show" back then to wrap things up. A show went so many seasons and in the Spring the network decides what stays and goes. Archie Bunker's Place didnt get a "last show" either. I think back then that shows that got a "last show" were those whose actors and writers knew ahead of time the show was closing shop. Leave it to Beaver back in 1963 had a finale. So did Alice in the early 1980's.

I am sure in the boardrooms of the networks there are arguments back and forth about whether to keep or cancel shows, as in first year shows that some want cancelled and others wanting to give it a chance all the way to programs on for years. Probably some of these choices are made late.

[jamesanthony]

Originally Posted by TMC

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But what many people may not remember or know is that near the end of The Jeffersons' run, Michael Moye and Ron Leavitt were hired in the producer/show-runner roles. When CBS unceremoniously cancelled The Jeffersons at the end of the 1984-85 season, Leavitt and Moye were freed up to collaborate on a pilot they pitched to a fledgling broadcast network that later became known as the Fox Broadcasting Company (or Fox). That show was called Married with...Children.

Didn't Moye leave in 1984? He's listed as executive producer for season 10 but as a creative consultant for the last year (I take that to mean he wasn't really directly involved with the show anymore - they just called him to check on continuity like if they had a script that referred to something that happened in a prior season he would give input if what the new writers wrote contradicted stuff from a prior season)

[Dude111]

Its sad it was cancelled........

[Yong Fang]

Weezy!

[TVFactFan]

Seems like the writers would have started thinking about how to end the series by mid 80's

Florence moving out
Jeffersons relocated


I mean what were they waiting for since the show already been on the air 10 years

[MikeLutton]

i heard one of their ideas was Ralph finally had one enough tips from George to Buy The Building

[TMC]

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

I dont think many shows got a "last show" back then to wrap things up. A show went so many seasons and in the Spring the network decides what stays and goes. Archie Bunker's Place didnt get a "last show" either. I think back then that shows that got a "last show" were those whose actors and writers knew ahead of time the show was closing shop. Leave it to Beaver back in 1963 had a finale. So did Alice in the early 1980's.

I am sure in the boardrooms of the networks there are arguments back and forth about whether to keep or cancel shows, as in first year shows that some want cancelled and others wanting to give it a chance all the way to programs on for years. Probably some of these choices are made late.

One Day at a Time and Alice (which had both started on CBS around the same time as The Jeffersons) both had the opportunity to wrap up their shows and were given substantial notice. So in that sense, The Jeffersons should have been given the same respect.

[CJMD03]

Then only show in the “AITF” universe that got a farewell episode was “Good Times.”