Wisecracks about Louise - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice · 09-08-2002, 03:09 PM

I watched the first Jefferson's show, which was actually an episode of All in the Family. Mr. Bentley made his debut and asked George to walk on his back. Afterwards, George said to Louise, something along the lines of, "We'll have YOU walk on his back, that'll fix him". I'm paraphrasing, but my point is that the remark was an insult about Louise's size.
Other than this, I don't recall any insults regarding Louise's weight or maybe I missed them. There were plenty of jokes about George's height, Florence's incompetence and cooking, and plenty of wisecracks tossed about regarding the Willis', Mr. Bentley, Ralph, etc.
I'm wondering if Isabel Sanford insisted that her size was off limits. If she did, I wouldn't blame her. If I were a plus-size woman, I wouldn't want to be the target of jokes for all the world to hear. I read once that Natalie Schaffer (Mrs. Howell on Gilligan's Island), had a clause in her contract that no close-ups of her be allowed. She was self-conscious of her age.
I know Isabel wasn't obese, and I'm a big fan of hers and the show, so please, don't anyone get defensive because I'm bringing up this topic. I also think she looked wonderful.
If wisecracks were made towards Louise, I'm guessing they were few and far between?

GoldenFamilyTies · 09-08-2002, 04:38 PM

I've never seen any wisecracks about Louise from what I've seen of the Jeffersons. I agree with you that it was most likely in her contract, since when they did make the wisecrack, it was actually an episode of All In The Family. It would have been only fair though to have more wisecracks about her, except her character never really did make comments about others, so I guess they never did about her.

boechsner · 09-08-2002, 09:39 PM

You all must watch the episode called, The Gang's All Here. This is the only episode where anyone ever dared to mention anything about Louise's breast size.

Here's the scene, Louise has agreed to bartend down at Charlie's Bar and Helen is the waitress. Louise and Helen get into an argument and Louise calls her "snake hips," Helen responds, with "boulder bosom".

It's probably the best scene in the entire episode.

Kitt · 09-09-2002, 09:03 AM

I don't recall hearing cracks about Louise size and I do recall being pleased about that because those kinds of jokes have always been in poor taste, to my ears. I'd guess that not only did they have some sort of contractual agreemennt but they might also have had fan mail that indicated that people would rather not have Louise be insulted in that way. It would have been hurtful to many audience members who probably enjoyed having Louise to identify with.

TVFactFan · 09-10-2002, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JanLady617
I watched the first Jefferson's show, which was actually an episode of All in the Family. Mr. Bentley made his debut and asked George to walk on his back. Afterwards, George said to Louise, something along the lines of, "We'll have YOU walk on his back, that'll fix him". I'm paraphrasing, but my point is that the remark was an insult about Louise's size.
Other than this, I don't recall any insults regarding Louise's weight or maybe I missed them. There were plenty of jokes about George's height, Florence's incompetence and cooking, and plenty of wisecracks tossed about regarding the Willis', Mr. Bentley, Ralph, etc.
I'm wondering if Isabel Sanford insisted that her size was off limits. If she did, I wouldn't blame her. If I were a plus-size woman, I wouldn't want to be the target of jokes for all the world to hear. I read once that Natalie Schaffer (Mrs. Howell on Gilligan's Island), had a clause in her contract that no close-ups of her be allowed. She was self-conscious of her age.
I know Isabel wasn't obese, and I'm a big fan of hers and the show, so please, don't anyone get defensive because I'm bringing up this topic. I also think she looked wonderful.
If wisecracks were made towards Louise, I'm guessing they were few and far between?

Actually George said-"If that's the weird guy again you are walking on his back this time and I don't think he will be ready for that"-Isaw the episode the other night-but i think it was another time george cracked on Louise weight when Florence was going out with a Rich guy and George couldn't believe it so he was saying "gravity check"and dropping things on the floor-And then he said gravity check again and tried to pick Louise up off the couch

lil_weezy · 09-12-2002, 03:50 PM

Dag, ya'll talking like they should of made some cracks on her.
I am glad personally that they didn't make any cracks on her. She was "The Star" of the show, so why should they make cracks on her.

Janice · 09-12-2002, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lil_weezy
Dag, ya'll talking like they should of made some cracks on her.
I am glad personally that they didn't make any cracks on her. She was "The Star" of the show, so why should they make cracks on her.

Nobody said we thought wisecracks should be made about her. As for her being the star of the show...it was called, The Jeffersons, so the stars would include Louise, George and Lionel (and his family). Truth be told, most people would agree that George was the real star of the show. He stole the show in my opinion.

TVFactFan · 09-12-2002, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JanLady617
Nobody said we thought wisecracks should be made about her. As for her being the star of the show...it was called, The Jeffersons, so the stars would include Louise, George and Lionel (and his family). Truth be told, most people would agree that George was the real star of the show. He stole the show in my opinion.

The jeffersons wasn't that funny in the 80's-i guess because george's temper wasn't as short as it was in the 70's-especially 1975

lil_weezy · 10-11-2002, 02:11 PM

Now that I think about it, there were a few episodes where they in a sense made fun of her voice.

Janice · 10-12-2002, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SOLOMON

The jeffersons wasn't that funny in the 80's-i guess because george's temper wasn't as short as it was in the 70's-especially 1975

You state this as a fact but this is your opinion. It's my opinion that The Jeffersons was very funny throughout the 80s.

Janice · 10-12-2002, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lil_weezy
Now that I think about it, there were a few episodes where they in a sense made fun of her voice.

You're probably right, but I think jokes about her weight were off limits.

TVFactFan · 10-12-2002, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JanLady617

You're probably right, but I think jokes about her weight were off limits.

But Louise wasn't heavy at all the first season-She never really was a heavy women

Janice · 10-12-2002, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SOLOMON

But Louise wasn't heavy at all the first season-She never really was a heavy women

If I said water was wet, you'd disagree. I never said anything about the first season. Yes, Isabel was overweight by most anyone's standards.

boechsner · 10-12-2002, 11:39 AM

I personally, never saw her as overweight. I saw her most similiar in weight to Esther Rolle of Good Times. If anything Isabel was just busty. Mabel King of What's Happening!! on the other hand, is a different story.

GoldenFamilyTies · 10-12-2002, 01:37 PM

I wouldn't say she was obese, but she was a larger woman in my opinion.

09-08-2002, 03:09 PM	#1
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Wisecracks about Louise I watched the first Jefferson's show, which was actually an episode of All in the Family. Mr. Bentley made his debut and asked George to walk on his back. Afterwards, George said to Louise, something along the lines of, "We'll have YOU walk on his back, that'll fix him". I'm paraphrasing, but my point is that the remark was an insult about Louise's size. Other than this, I don't recall any insults regarding Louise's weight or maybe I missed them. There were plenty of jokes about George's height, Florence's incompetence and cooking, and plenty of wisecracks tossed about regarding the Willis', Mr. Bentley, Ralph, etc. I'm wondering if Isabel Sanford insisted that her size was off limits. If she did, I wouldn't blame her. If I were a plus-size woman, I wouldn't want to be the target of jokes for all the world to hear. I read once that Natalie Schaffer (Mrs. Howell on Gilligan's Island), had a clause in her contract that no close-ups of her be allowed. She was self-conscious of her age. I know Isabel wasn't obese, and I'm a big fan of hers and the show, so please, don't anyone get defensive because I'm bringing up this topic. I also think she looked wonderful. If wisecracks were made towards Louise, I'm guessing they were few and far between?
	Last edited by Janice; 09-09-2002 at 01:45 AM.

09-08-2002, 04:38 PM	#2
GoldenFamilyTies Por siempre tú Senior Member Join Date: Jan 15, 2002 Location: United States Posts: 1,329	I've never seen any wisecracks about Louise from what I've seen of the Jeffersons. I agree with you that it was most likely in her contract, since when they did make the wisecrack, it was actually an episode of All In The Family. It would have been only fair though to have more wisecracks about her, except her character never really did make comments about others, so I guess they never did about her.

09-08-2002, 09:39 PM	#3
boechsner Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 2,212	You all must watch the episode called, The Gang's All Here. This is the only episode where anyone ever dared to mention anything about Louise's breast size. Here's the scene, Louise has agreed to bartend down at Charlie's Bar and Helen is the waitress. Louise and Helen get into an argument and Louise calls her "snake hips," Helen responds, with "boulder bosom". It's probably the best scene in the entire episode.

09-09-2002, 09:03 AM	#4
Kitt James Dean Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 16, 2001 Location: California Dreamin' Posts: 6,115	I don't recall hearing cracks about Louise size and I do recall being pleased about that because those kinds of jokes have always been in poor taste, to my ears. I'd guess that not only did they have some sort of contractual agreemennt but they might also have had fan mail that indicated that people would rather not have Louise be insulted in that way. It would have been hurtful to many audience members who probably enjoyed having Louise to identify with.

09-12-2002, 03:50 PM	#6
lil_weezy I'll 4ever luv Weezy Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 26, 2001 Location: Cincinnati, Oh Posts: 346	Dag, ya'll talking like they should of made some cracks on her. I am glad personally that they didn't make any cracks on her. She was "The Star" of the show, so why should they make cracks on her.

10-11-2002, 02:11 PM	#9
lil_weezy I'll 4ever luv Weezy Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 26, 2001 Location: Cincinnati, Oh Posts: 346	Now that I think about it, there were a few episodes where they in a sense made fun of her voice.

10-12-2002, 11:39 AM	#14
boechsner Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 2,212	I personally, never saw her as overweight. I saw her most similiar in weight to Esther Rolle of Good Times. If anything Isabel was just busty. Mabel King of What's Happening!! on the other hand, is a different story.

10-12-2002, 01:37 PM	#15
GoldenFamilyTies Por siempre tú Senior Member Join Date: Jan 15, 2002 Location: United States Posts: 1,329	I wouldn't say she was obese, but she was a larger woman in my opinion.