1977 TV Fact regarding Mike Evans departure - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 03-02-2024, 07:03 PM

Which ends the nonsense of some of the people saying he left to work on Good Times which was false.

Albuquerque Journal Jan 13, 1977

Dude111 · 03-02-2024, 08:19 PM

He should have stayed with George!!!

TVFactFan · 03-02-2024, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dude111

He should have stayed with George!!!

he came back in 1979

gidgetgrape · 03-02-2024, 10:39 PM

Thanks for posting this news clipping, TVFactFan!

TVFactFan · 03-02-2024, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gidgetgrape

Thanks for posting this news clipping, TVFactFan!

No problem, now I gotta find out why he left the jeffersons again in the 80's lol

opus · 03-02-2024, 11:44 PM

What was the new NBC show he was happy in?

TVFactFan · 03-03-2024, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opus

What was the new NBC show he was happy in?

The Practice, it debuted on NBC on Jan 30 1976.

Dude111 · 03-03-2024, 03:47 PM

Thats good to hear he came back in 79

stevea · 03-03-2024, 06:06 PM

Wikipedia says he and Tolbert went recurring in season 8 starting with the separation episodes, and Evans was then written out. He returned for the 11th season divorce episodes.

I can't find whether he wanted out and then missed seasons 9 and 10, or whether he was fired.

TVFactFan · 03-03-2024, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

Wikipedia says he and Tolbert went recurring in season 8 starting with the separation episodes, and Evans was then written out. He returned for the 11th season divorce episodes.

I can't find whether he wanted out and then missed seasons 9 and 10, or whether he was fired.

Im not going by nothing on wikipedia unless they have a source.

stevea · 03-03-2024, 11:15 PM

Good call. There is a reference at the end of the paragraph about this stuff, but the link to a TV Guide article is bad.

TVFactFan · 03-04-2024, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

Good call. There is a reference at the end of the paragraph about this stuff, but the link to a TV Guide article is bad.

if its a link to a TV guide article I will check it out

Introvert99 · 03-12-2024, 06:34 PM

Hi TVFactFan, I'm new to this message board but I'm a fan of Mike Evans. You seem to be pretty knowledgeable about the Jeffersons, so do you happen to know anything about the "emotional problems" or "mental illness" that Mike supposedly dealt with? I read online multiple times that Sherman Hemsley had said something about that. Just trying to find out more about Mike as a person. Thanks.

TVFactFan · 03-12-2024, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Introvert99

Hi TVFactFan, I'm new to this message board but I'm a fan of Mike Evans. You seem to be pretty knowledgeable about the Jeffersons, so do you happen to know anything about the "emotional problems" or "mental illness" that Mike supposedly dealt with? I read online multiple times that Sherman Hemsley had said something about that. Just trying to find out more about Mike as a person. Thanks.

Welcome to the Boards

I didnt read anything about any mental illness but I do know he was upset over his decreased role during season 1 which led to his departure. Feel free to ask me anything about the Jeffersons

gidgetgrape · 03-17-2024, 12:54 PM

These excerpts are from Honky in the House: Writing & Producing The Jeffersons by Jay Moriarty.

pages 82- 83:
Mike Evans as Lionel was a likeable, humorous, familiar character to All in the Family audiences and Murph could only think of two reasons Norman would let Mike slip away. One, Norman wouldn't want to stand in the way of anyone's career; and two, Norman may not want to set a precedent of offering more money to an actor just because he says he's leaving.

page 294:
Shortly after being named EPs, M&M heard from Sherman, who called to say he ran into Mike Evans (original Lionel) at a beach or somewhere. Sherman said he told Mike, "we have new Executive Producers" and he should call M&M about maybe returning to the show.

M&M discussed it and concluded Lionel and Jenny having a baby would give a whole new thrust to both the upcoming season and the entire series. They met with Mike and welcomed him back with open arms.

(M&M stands for Murphy & Malloy)

page 323:
At the table reading of "The First Store," all went well. During lunch break, however, Mike Evans showed up in M&M's office. Mike didn't want to play Lionel in the flashback episode. He said he had no problems with the script, but he just wasn't comfortable playing a more militant Lionel. He confided that his mother was white and he felt it would be disrespectful to her. He suggested M&M hire a younger actor to portray Lionel in the flashback episode. When M&M hesistated, Mike offered to pay a sum of $2,400 in cash to let him sit this one out.

(Sherman convinced Mike Evans to do the flashback.)

03-02-2024, 07:03 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,983	1977 TV Fact regarding Mike Evans departure Which ends the nonsense of some of the people saying he left to work on Good Times which was false. Albuquerque Journal Jan 13, 1977 Attached Images

03-17-2024, 12:54 PM	#15
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,503	These excerpts are from Honky in the House: Writing & Producing The Jeffersons by Jay Moriarty. pages 82- 83: Mike Evans as Lionel was a likeable, humorous, familiar character to All in the Family audiences and Murph could only think of two reasons Norman would let Mike slip away. One, Norman wouldn't want to stand in the way of anyone's career; and two, Norman may not want to set a precedent of offering more money to an actor just because he says he's leaving. page 294: Shortly after being named EPs, M&M heard from Sherman, who called to say he ran into Mike Evans (original Lionel) at a beach or somewhere. Sherman said he told Mike, "we have new Executive Producers" and he should call M&M about maybe returning to the show. M&M discussed it and concluded Lionel and Jenny having a baby would give a whole new thrust to both the upcoming season and the entire series. They met with Mike and welcomed him back with open arms. (M&M stands for Murphy & Malloy) page 323: At the table reading of "The First Store," all went well. During lunch break, however, Mike Evans showed up in M&M's office. Mike didn't want to play Lionel in the flashback episode. He said he had no problems with the script, but he just wasn't comfortable playing a more militant Lionel. He confided that his mother was white and he felt it would be disrespectful to her. He suggested M&M hire a younger actor to portray Lionel in the flashback episode. When M&M hesistated, Mike offered to pay a sum of $2,400 in cash to let him sit this one out. (Sherman convinced Mike Evans to do the flashback.)
	Last edited by gidgetgrape; 03-17-2024 at 03:41 PM.

03-02-2024, 08:19 PM	#2
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 35,610	He should have stayed with George!!!

03-02-2024, 10:39 PM	#4
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,503	Thanks for posting this news clipping, TVFactFan!

03-02-2024, 11:44 PM	#6
opus VB Forum Superstar Join Date: May 16, 2015 Location: VB Galaxy Posts: 32,140	What was the new NBC show he was happy in?

03-03-2024, 03:47 PM	#8
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 35,610	Thats good to hear he came back in 79

03-03-2024, 06:06 PM	#9
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,331	Wikipedia says he and Tolbert went recurring in season 8 starting with the separation episodes, and Evans was then written out. He returned for the 11th season divorce episodes. I can't find whether he wanted out and then missed seasons 9 and 10, or whether he was fired.

03-03-2024, 11:15 PM	#11
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,331	Good call. There is a reference at the end of the paragraph about this stuff, but the link to a TV Guide article is bad.

03-12-2024, 06:34 PM	#13
Introvert99 Member First Time Poster Join Date: Mar 12, 2024 Location: Texas Posts: 1	Hi TVFactFan, I'm new to this message board but I'm a fan of Mike Evans. You seem to be pretty knowledgeable about the Jeffersons, so do you happen to know anything about the "emotional problems" or "mental illness" that Mike supposedly dealt with? I read online multiple times that Sherman Hemsley had said something about that. Just trying to find out more about Mike as a person. Thanks.