The Jeffersons

The pilot of The Jeffersons aired as an episode of All in the Family in which Archie and Edith Bunkers neighbors, George and Louise Jefferson, In this first episode, Louise makes an uneasy adjustment to her new wealthy life while befriending a maid in the building. Complicating matters is Georges insistence they hire a maid.

The Jeffersons and the Willises engage in a debate about the importance of ancestry thanks to a housewarming present the Willises give their new neighbors. George couldnt care less about his lineage - until he discovers he might have royalty in his blood.

Louise, uncomfortable with her sole identity as the wife of a wealthy man, pleads with her husband to work at one of his stores. When he refuses, she goes to work for his competitor. George then devises a self-serving way to deal with his wifes new job.

The new status of his family starts to affect Lionel, who spends and parties and plays like, well, like the son of a rich man. George might live vicariously through his sons escapades, but sings a different tune when Lionel announces his intention to quit school.

Its the classic George Jefferson set up: he stubbornly refuses to do something. But when he realizes doing it might lead to an opportunity, he does it at any cost. The something: Attending a tenant meeting. The opportunity: Meeting H.L. Whittendale, the buildings wealthy landlord. The any cost: Redecorating the apartment, with a grand piano as the centerpiece.

Georges old buddy Monk Davis, played by Moses Gunn, arrives to extort George with information about the dry-cleaning moguls past; Louise bird-sits (and plant-sits) for Mr. Bentley.

When Louises Uncle Ward visits, Lionel and George treat him like an Uncle Tom for being a butler. But Lionel faces a bigger problem: a fight at school.

Olivia Jefferson: Sugar Mama. At least, that is Georges fear when she introduces her new beau.

When George wants some publicity, he invites a reporter to profile him as one of the citys most successful businessmen. The appearances of the Willises and Mr. Bentley cause distractions.

George reaches a milestone as a rich man: an ulcer. Louise gets wife-of-spoiled-mans disease: her mother-in-law visits. Nevertheless, Louise attempts to reduce the level of stress in the high-traffic apartment.

Its the classic dinner-party conflict: George invites a pompous potential client while Louise invites a couple from the old block in Harlem.

Lionel becomes more and more like his father, especially when it comes to business dealings. Meanwhile, Helen and Tom support opposing candidates in an election.

Allan Willis, Tom and Helens son, arrives home from a two-year stint in Europe. Jennys hostility toward him concerns everyone.