|
|
| |
 |
1-25 |
|
| |
1- A Friend in Need
The pilot of The Jeffersons aired as an episode of All in the Family in which Archie
and Edith Bunker’s neighbors, George and Louise Jefferson, move away. In this
first episode under The Jeffersons title sequence, Louise makes an
uneasy adjustment to her new wealthy life while befriending a maid in the
building. Complicating matters is George’s insistence they hire a maid. Marla
Gibbs guest stars, and makes such a splash she becomes a series regular.
2- George’s Family Tree
Two years before Alex Haley’s groundbreaking miniseries Roots, 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 couldn’t
care less about his lineage -- until he discovers he might have royalty in his
blood.
3- Louise Feels Useless
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 wife’s
new job.
4- Lionel the Playboy
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
son’s escapades, but sings a different tune when Lionel announces his intention
to quit school.
5- Mr. Piano Man
It’s 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 building’s wealthy landlord. The any cost: Redecorating the
apartment, with a grand piano as the centerpiece.
6- George’s Skeleton
George’s old buddy Monk Davis, played by Moses Gunn, arrives to extort George with
information about the dry-cleaning mogul’s past. Meanwhile, Louise bird-sits
(and plant-sits) for Mr. Bentley.
7- Lionel Cries Uncle
The Jeffersons tackled many angles on the issue of race. When Louise’s 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.
8- Mother Jefferson’s Boyfriend
Olivia Jefferson: Sugar Mama. At least, that is George’s fear when she introduces her
new beau. Alvin Childress, who played the boyfriend, also appeared on a later
episode as a wino.
9- Meet the Press
When George wants some publicity, he invites a reporter to profile him as one of the city’s
most successful businessmen. But the appearances of the Willises and Mr.
Bentley cause distractions.
10- Rich Man’s Disease
George reaches a milestone as a rich man: an ulcer. Louise gets wife-of-spoiled-man’s
disease: her mother-in-law visits. Nevertheless, Louise attempts to reduce the
level of stress in the high-traffic apartment.
11- Former Neighbors
It’s the classic dinner-party conflict: George invites a pompous potential client while
Louise invites a couple from the old block in Harlem.
12- Like Father, Like Son?
Academy Award-winning screenwriter Frank Tarloff penned this episode in which 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.
13- Jenny’s Low
Allan Willis, Tom and Helen’s son, arrives home from a two-year stint in Europe. Jenny’s
hostility toward him concerns everyone.
14- A Dinner for Harry
When the Jeffersons host a dinner party for Mr. Bentley’s birthday, the Willises cause
problems -- one funny, one shocking. The funny one deals with George and Tom
wearing the same tux. The shocker deals with an incident involving Helen.
15- George’s First Vacation
George balks when Tom calls him a workaholic. To prove him wrong, George books a cruise for
him and Louise. As usual, Louise has to bear the consequences. In this case,
Mother Jefferson wants to join her son on vacation.
16- Louise’s Daughter
In this episode, a woman claims to be Louise’s daughter. (In a bit of twisted casting, the actress claiming to be
Louise’s child previously played Lionel’s girlfriend on an episode of All in
the Family.) Damon Evans joins the cast as the new Lionel Jefferson.
17- Harry and Daphne
George deals with a building inspector (played by Benson star René Auberjonois) while
Harry Bentley hides out from his marauding, marriage-minded girlfriend, Daphne
(played by Melinda Dillon, who had a different Harry to contend with in Harry
and the Hendersons).
18- Mother Jefferson’s Fall
Feeling ignored, Mother Jefferson gets attention after she fakes a fall. Meanwhile,
Louise goes to battle in a gin tournament. Look for Esther Rolle’s sister
Estelle Evans.
19- Jefferson vs. Jefferson
Mother Jefferson intrudes on Louise and George’s anniversary. Worse, George asks Louise
to lie for him after a bicycle accident. Even worse is George’s ulterior motive
for buying bicycles as an anniversary present.
20- Uncle Bertram
An elderly white man tries to mack on Mother Jefferson in an elevator. He turns out to be
related to the Willises. When she begins dating this Uncle Bertram, George is
not so happy.
21- Movin' on Down
George fears that some financial setbacks will put him out of business. Adding to his stress
are Lionel’s begging for more money and Florence pressuring him for a raise.
22- George Won't Talk
George is bursting with excitement when he’s asked to speak at a college, but he hesitates when he
learns the school is in Harlem. Benson’s Benson and What’s
Happening!!’s Raj guest star (Robert Guillaume and Ernest Thomas).
23- Jenny’s Grandparents
Thanks to the machinations of the Jefferson and Willis families (including coupled Mother
Jefferson and Uncle Bertram), Jenny’s bickering grandfathers end up alone
together in the Jeffersons’ apartment.
24- George’s Best Friend
Louis Gossett Jr. appears as an old navy friend of George’s who visits and hits on Louise. The
incident brings to light that George has not been paying enough attention to
his wife.
25- George and the Manager
George’s refusal to hire a white woman as a store manager leads to a battle between him
and the rare united front of Louise and Mother Jefferson.
|
|
 |
