The Jeffersons

"The Jeffersons" was perhaps the most-successful spinoff series to "All in the Family." George Jefferson was the black version of Archie Bunker in many respects, both were loud-mouthed, opinionated and set in their bigoted ways. By 1975, Jefferson's fledging dry-cleaning business, Jefferson Cleaners, had successfully grown into a small chain; his newfound wealth led to moving his family to a "deluxe apartment in the sky" in Manhattan. His family included his wife, Louise, a level-headed and open-minded woman who often had to scold George when his mouth got him into trouble; and Lionel, an engineering major at a local college. He especially disliked Tom and Helen Willis, a mixed couple (he was white, she was black) whose daughter, Jenny, was dating and later married Lionel; Florence, his sharp-tongued maid; and Harry Bentley, the esoteric Englishman who lived next door. George often flaunted his wealth and displayed rude, arrogant, bigoted behavior; however, he often found that money didn't open every door or win him favor with everyone. In later years, George and Louise became grandparents (welcoming an adorable little girl, Jessica); and Lionel and Jenny found work he as an electrical engineer, she as a fashion designer. However, Lionel and Jenny's marriage soon began to crumble. Meanwhile, as Jefferson Cleaners continued to expand, George continually had to deal with competing dry-cleaning franchises, who sought to put George out of business. In the final season, George and Tom formed a partnership and purchased Charlie's Bar, their favorite hangout.

Cast

• Isabel Sanford
• Sherman Hemsley
• Roxie Roker
• Franklin Cover
• Marla Gibbs
• Paul Benedict
• Ned Wertimer
• Zara Cully
• Berlinda Tolbert
• Mike Evans
• Danny Wells
• Damon Evans
• Jay Hammer
• Vernon Washington
• Ernest Harden Jr.
• Jack Fletcher
• Irwin Keyes
• Garrett Morris
• Pat Lawson
• Ebonie Smith

• Season 1
• Episode 1: A Friend in Need
  USA...
• Episode 2: George's Family Tree
  USA...
• Episode 3: Louise Feels Useless
  Ever since Florence was hired as the maid for the Jeffersons, Louise's life has been the same old ro...
• Episode 4: Lionel the Playboy
  Lionel spends all night at a party full of high-society people and thinks he is heading to the top o...
• Episode 5: Mr. Piano Man
  George likes the idea of boosting his classy ans luxurious image, so he asks Louise to purchase a pi...
• Episode 6: George's Skeleton
  George's old friend, Monk Davis, pays him a visit. When the two were teenagers, they were arrested f...
• Episode 7: Lionel Cries Uncle
  Uncle Ward: [after Lionel has been expelled from college] Now you do down to the Dean's office tomor...
• Episode 8: Mother Jefferson's Boyfriend
  USA...
• Episode 9: Meet the Press
  George Jefferson: Florence, get the door.::Florence Johnston: You told me to stay in the kitchen!::G...
• Episode 10: Rich Man's Disease
  USA...
• Episode 11: Former Neighbors
  USA...
• Episode 12: Like Father, Like Son?
  USA...
• Episode 13: Jenny's Low
  USA...
• Season 2
• Episode 1: A Dinner for Harry
  It is Harry Bentley's birthday, and the Jeffersons have invited him and the Willises over for a dinn...
• Episode 2: George's First Vacation
  USA...
• Episode 3: Louise's Daughter
  A young woman shows up at the Jeffersons' doorstep, claiming that she is Louise's long-lost daughter...
• Episode 4: Harry and Daphne
  USA...
• Episode 5: Mother Jefferson's Fall
  Mother Jefferson pays George and Louise a visit one day and notices she is being left out. George an...
• Episode 6: Jefferson vs. Jefferson
  USA...
• Episode 7: Uncle Bertram
  USA...
• Episode 8: Movin' on Down
  George comes home one day, feeling depressed. He tells Louise that his cleaning business is making a...
• Episode 9: George Won't Talk
  'Ernest Thomas' (qv)' television debut....
• Episode 10: Jenny's Grandparents
  USA...
• Episode 11: George's Best Friend
  George's best friend from the Navy, Wendell Brown, is in town on business and decides to visit Georg...
• Episode 12: George and the Manager
  USA...
• Episode 13: George's Alibi
  During a severe snowstorm, Lionel accidentally dented George's company van; however, he would not te...
• Episode 14: Lunch with Mama
  A family friend of Louise's passes away, and Louise is invited to attend the funeral services. Louis...
• Episode 15: George vs. Wall Street
  USA...
• Episode 16: The Breakup: Part 1
  Tom Willis: [Helen and Louise are fighting] Now, now, now! This is no way to break up over crazy Geo...
• Episode 17: The Breakup: Part 2
  Three days have passed after the Jeffersons and the Willises have broken up, and George is the only ...
• Episode 18: Florence's Problem
  Louise is suspicious in how Florence is behaving one day. She cleaned the entire apartment without g...
• Episode 19: Mother Jefferson's Birthday
  Mother Jefferson visits George, Louise and Lionel on her birthday, expecting them to throw her a sur...
• Episode 20: Louise's Cookbook
  Louise has made George possum stew for dinner when Tom Willis drops by. He learns that Louise based ...
• Episode 21: George Meets Whittendale
  Ralph Hart: [George Jefferson and Tom and Helen Willis are locked in the Jefferson's bathroom and ca...
• Episode 22: Lionel's Problem
  It is graduation day from college and George and Louise are making preparations to celebrate. Floren...
• Episode 23: Tennis Anyone?
  USA...
• Episode 24: The Wedding
  USA...
• Season 3
• Episode 1: George and the President
  USA...
• Episode 2: Louise Gets Her Way
  Florence reports to work at the Jeffersons in a foul mood. After a typical exchange between her and ...
• Episode 3: Louise Suspects
  USA...
• Episode 4: The Lie Detector
  USA...
• Episode 5: George's Diploma
  George and Louise discovered that Lionel told his friends that his dad graduated college with honors...
• Episode 6: The Retirement Party
  USA...
• Episode 7: Lionel's Pad
  USA...
• Episode 8: Tom the Hero
  USA...
• Episode 9: Jenny's Discovery
  USA...
• Episode 10: The Agreement
  USA...
• Episode 11: Florence in Love
  Florence brings home a man she has been seeing and did not tell George and Louise. When they discove...
• Episode 12: The Christmas Wedding
  USA...
• Episode 13: Louise Forgets
  USA...
• Episode 14: Bentley's Problem
  Bentley is having issues from a grouchy man at the parking garage. George advices Bentley to be more...
• Episode 15: Jefferson Airplane
  USA...
• Episode 16: George's Guilt
  One of the members of George's old street gang called "The Seven Saints" passes on. After returning ...
• Episode 17: A Case of Black and White
  George invites Frank Howard, a man he is hoping to do business with and who is in an interracial mar...
• Episode 18: Louise vs. Jenny
  While visiting his parents' apartment, Lionel became sick. Louise decides to take care of him and te...
• Episode 19: The Marriage Counselors
  USA...
• Episode 20: Louise's Friend
  USA...
• Episode 21: The Old Flame
  Mother Jefferson invites George's old girlfriend, Harriet Johnson, over to his apartment for dinner....
• Episode 22: Jenny's Opportunity
  USA...
• Episode 23: George the Philanthropist
  USA...
• Episode 24: Louise's Physical
  Louise returns from a physical exam depressed,despite the fact she is 100% healthy but also,unknown ...
• Season 4
• Episode 1: The Grand Opening: Part 1
  George and Louise are prepared to celebrate a milestone in the history of Jefferson Cleaners: the op...
• Episode 2: The Grand Opening: Part 2
  George and the others anxiously wait for the telephone call from the crooks who claimed they have ki...
• Episode 3: Once a Friend
  George is excited when he learns that an old Navy pal is in town and wants him to stop by at his hot...
• Episode 4: George's Help
  USA...
• Episode 5: George's Legacy
  Many greats in history have their legacies preserved and are known to the public throughout the year...
• Episode 6: Good News, Bad News
  Louise is hoping that Fay Blanchard, the director of the Neighborhood Help Center, will appoint her ...
• Episode 7: The Visitors
  USA...
• Episode 8: The Camp Out
  USA...
• Episode 9: The Last Leaf
  'Zara Cully' (qv)'s last television appearance....
• Episode 10: Louise's New Interest
  USA...
• Episode 11: The Costume Party
  USA...
• Episode 12: Florence Gets Lucky
  USA...
• Episode 13: George Needs Help
  USA...
• Episode 14: The Jefferson Curve
  Customer Natalie Parker visits Jefferson's Cleaners one day and meets Marcus, who invites her out to...
• Episode 15: 984 W. 124th Street, Apt. 5C
  It is Christmas and George and Louise invited Lionel, Jenny, Tom, Helen and Bentley over to sing Chr...
• Episode 16: George and Whitty
  When the lease on the Jeffersons' apartment is going to expire, H.L. Whittendale is thinking about r...
• Episode 17: Lionel Gets the Business
  Lionel gets laid off from his engineering job. Therefore, George hires him to work in his office as ...
• Episode 18: The Blackout
  USA...
• Episode 19: Florence's Union
  USA...
• Episode 20: George and Jimmy
  As a publicity gimmick for his store, George tries to get President Carter to stay with him. After a...
• Episode 21: Thomas H. Willis & Co.
  USA...
• Episode 22: Uncle George and Aunt Louise
  Raymond's father is George's brother Henry. This is the only time during The Jeffersons' run that He...
• Episode 23: George and Louise in a Bind: Part 1
  A burglar breaks into the Jeffersons' apartment and ties up George and Louise. As the burglar goes a...
• Episode 24: George and Louise in a Bind: Part 2
  USA...
• Episode 25: George and Louise in a Bind: Part 3
  USA...
• Episode 26: Jenny's Thesis
  USA...
• Season 5
• Episode 1: Louise's Painting
  Sara Seegar's final performance....
• Episode 2: Homecoming: Part 1
  Even though she was credited all season long, this is the only episode 'Berlinda Tolbert' (qv) appea...
• Episode 3: Homecoming: Part 2
  USA...
• Episode 4: How Slowly They Forget
  USA...
• Episode 5: George's Dream
  Burnt-out in his office, George takes a nap on his desk. As he slept, George dreams and the course o...
• Episode 6: George's New Stockbroker
  USA...
• Episode 7: Me and Billy Dee
  Louise wants a celebrity to talk to the kids at the Help Center, so George suggests Billy Dee Willia...
• Episode 8: Half a Brother
  USA...
• Episode 9: What Are Friends For?
  USA...
• Episode 10: George, Who?
  Louise thinks she and George are in a rut when she notices her daily life becomes routine. She also ...
• Episode 11: Harry's House Guest
  USA...
• Episode 12: George Finds a Father
  USA...
• Episode 13: Louise's Sister
  Louise hasn't seen her older sister, Maxine, since she moved to Paris years ago. When Maxine returns...
• Episode 14: Louise's Reunion
  USA...
• Episode 15: A Bedtime Story
  USA...
• Episode 16: Florence Meets Mr. Right
  Florence invites new boyfriend Buzz Thatcher to meet George and Louise. Louise is skeptical of Buzz'...
• Episode 17: Louise's Award
  This was the 100th segment taped for the series....
• Episode 18: The Other Woman
  USA...
• Episode 19: The Hold Out
  USA...
• Episode 20: The Ones You Love
  USA...
• Episode 21: Every Night Fever
  USA...
• Episode 22: Three Faces of Florence
  USA...
• Episode 23: Louise's Convention
  Final appearance by 'Jay Hammer' (qv) as Allan Willis. The character was dropped from the series and...
• Episode 24: The Freeze In
  USA...
• Season 6
• Episode 1: The Announcement
  While all gathered at the Jeffersons' apartment to prepare to depart for the funeral for Bentley's p...
• Episode 2: A Short Story
  USA...
• Episode 3: Louise's Old Boyfriend
  Florence decides to impersonate Louise and the result is a three-ring circus. While Louise lingers, ...
• Episode 4: Now You See It, Now You Don't: Part 1
  Louise Jefferson: Florence, that's a great costume, Harpo Marx, right? [Florence honks yes] Is Georg...
• Episode 5: Now You See It, Now You Don't: Part 2
  Tom Willis: [to Bentley] Hey, are you going to pull a rabbit out of your hat?::George Jefferson: Tha...
• Episode 6: Where's Papa?
  The discovery of an unfulfilled request in his father's will leads George on an unusual search into ...
• Episode 7: The Expectant Father
  USA...
• Episode 8: Joltin' George
  USA...
• Episode 9: Baby Love
  USA...
• Episode 10: Louise vs. Florence
  Louise is responsible for getting a plaque made for the Neighborhood Help Center's Volunteer of the ...
• Episode 11: Me and Mr. G
  Louise is excited that a children's program sponsored by the Neighborhood Help Center is allowing he...
• Episode 12: One Flew Into the Cuckoo's Nest
  George's attempts to get out of a painting party at the Willises get him into plenty of trouble at a...
• Episode 13: Louise's Setback
  A TV crew was covering the Neighborhood Help Center and decides to interview Louise and Helen about ...
• Episode 14: Brother Tom
  USA...
• Episode 15: The Arrival: Part 1
  A squeamish George is drafted to help Jenny in her natural childbirth class -- but the trouble reall...
• Episode 16: The Arrival: Part 2
  The family has eagerly awaited the arrival of the newest Jefferson, but the baby may catch everyone ...
• Episode 17: The Shower
  USA...
• Episode 18: The Longest Day
  USA...
• Episode 19: George's Birthday
  It is George's 50th birthday and he is expecting a nice, quiet night out at dinner with Louise. Howe...
• Episode 20: A Night to Remember
  USA...
• Episode 21: The Loan
  Lionel and Jenny have bought a new house. When Lionel called his banker to make arrangements to show...
• Episode 22: Louise Takes a Stand
  George puts his foot down to his landlord to gain more space for his cleaners, but only succeeds in ...
• Episode 23: The First Store
  The Jeffersons relive 1968: George wants to break out of his impoverished life by opening his own dr...
• Episode 24: Once Upon a Time
  George tells baby Jessica a bedtime story, and all is transformed into the fantastic medieval Empire...
• Season 7
• Episode 1: Marathon Men
  USA...
• Episode 2: The Jeffersons Go to Hawaii: Part 1
  USA...
• Episode 3: The Jeffersons Go to Hawaii: Part 2
  USA...
• Episode 4: The Jeffersons Go to Hawaii: Part 3
  USA...
• Episode 5: The Jeffersons Go to Hawaii: Part 4
  USA...
• Episode 6: Put It On
  USA...
• Episode 7: Florence's Cousin
  USA...
• Episode 8: All I Want for Christmas
  USA...
• Episode 9: Calendar Girl
  USA...
• Episode 10: As Florence Turns
  USA...
• Episode 11: God Bless Americans
  USA...
• Episode 12: Alley Oops
  USA...
• Episode 13: And the Doorknobs Shined Like Diamonds
  When The Jeffersons' new furniture for their living and dining room arrives, one of the delivery men...
• Episode 14: Sorry, Wrong Meeting
  When a crime wave strikes Manhattan, Tom decides to organize a meeting with the tenants, and invites...
• Episode 15: My Hero
  George tells Louise, Helen and Florence that he rescued an old lady from a robbery attempt by fighti...
• Episode 16: I Buy the Songs
  USA...
• Episode 17: Small Fish, Big Pond
  USA...
• Episode 18: Not So Dearly Beloved
  Tom took one of his suits to George's cleaning store and his employee, Wendell, spilled jelly on it....
• Episode 19: Florence's New Job: Part 1
  This episode served as the pilot for _"Checking In" (1981)_ (qv)....
• Episode 20: Florence's New Job: Part 2
  This episode served as the pilot for _"Checking In" (1981)_ (qv)....
• Season 8
• Episode 1: The Separation: Part 1
  Taped during the 1980-1981 season, but was held over until this season....
• Episode 2: The Separation: Part 2
  Taped during the 1980-1981 season, but was held over until this season....
• Episode 3: Louise's Father
  'Leonard Jackson (I)' (qv), who plays the father of Louise, is eleven years younger than 'Isabel San...
• Episode 4: My Maid, Your Maid
  USA...
• Episode 5: I've Still Got It
  This was the first segment to be filmed for the 1981-1982 season....
• Episode 6: Florence Did it Different: Part 1
  USA...
• Episode 7: Florence Did it Different: Part 2
  This was the first segment taped after a three-month break....
• Episode 8: The House That George Built
  USA...
• Episode 9: A Whole Lot of Trouble
  USA...
• Episode 10: I've Got a Secret
  Taped during the 1980-1981 season, but was held over until this season....
• Episode 11: A Charmed Life
  USA...
• Episode 12: Thammy the Thongwriter
  USA...
• Episode 13: I Spy
  USA...
• Episode 14: Dog Gone
  USA...
• Episode 15: Blazing Jeffersons
  Mike Evan's final appearance as Lionel Jefferson....
• Episode 16: Men of the Cloth
  USA...
• Episode 17: A Case of Self-Defense
  Lionel and Jenny's apartment is burglarized and looted. George worries that the crime wave will spre...
• Episode 18: My Wife, I Think I'll Keep Her
  USA...
• Episode 19: Guess Who's Not Coming to Dinner?
  USA...
• Episode 20: The Strays: Part 1
  One of the delivery boys at Jefferson Cleaners is robbed at gunpoint by a street gang ... made up en...
• Episode 21: The Strays: Part 2
  It turns out that George is OK and will recover, but while recuperating, he contemplates a plan to g...
• Episode 22: Jeffersons Greatest Hits
  USA...
• Episode 23: A Small Victory
  USA...
• Episode 24: Lesson in Love
  USA...
• Episode 25: Do Not Forsake Me, Oh, My Helen
  USA...
• Season 9
• Episode 1: Laundry Is a Tough Town: Part 1
  Videotaped in the 8th Season, but held over until this season....
• Episode 2: Laundry Is a Tough Town: Part 2
  Videotaped in the 8th season but held over until this season....
• Episode 3: Anatomy of a Stain
  First segment videotaped for the 1982-1983 season....
• Episode 4: Social Insecurity
  USA...
• Episode 5: Charlie's Angels
  USA...
• Episode 6: Heeeere's Johnny
  USA...
• Episode 7: A Date with Danger
  USA...
• Episode 8: Death Smiles on a Dry Cleaner: Part 1
  USA...
• Episode 9: Death Smiles on a Dry Cleaner: Part 2
  USA...
• Episode 10: Appointment in 8-B
  Videotaped in the 1981-1982 season but held over until this season....
• Episode 11: Poetic Justice
  USA...
• Episode 12: How Now Dow Jones
  USA...
• Episode 13: The Defiant Ones
  USA...
• Episode 14: My Maid... My Wife
  USA...
• Episode 15: Mr. Wonderful
  USA...
• Episode 16: My Girl, Louise
  USA...
• Episode 17: Bodyguards Are People Too
  USA...
• Episode 18: True Confessions
  USA...
• Episode 19: Mr. Clean
  USA...
• Episode 20: The Good Life
  USA...
• Episode 21: Father's Day
  USA...
• Episode 22: Change of a Dollar
  This was the 200th segment of the series taped and aired....
• Episode 23: Designing Woman
  USA...
• Episode 24: Double Trouble
  USA...
• Episode 25: Silver Lining
  USA...
• Episode 26: The Wheel of Forever
  USA...
• Episode 27: Personal Business
  USA...
• Season 10
• Episode 1: Mission: Incredible: Part 1
  USA...
• Episode 2: Mission: Incredible: Part 2
  USA...
• Episode 3: Mission: Incredible: Part 3
  USA...
• Episode 4: I Do, I Don't
  First segment taped for the 1983-1984 season....
• Episode 5: How Not to Marry a Millionaire
  USA...
• Episode 6: And the Winner Is...
  USA...
• Episode 7: The Return of Bentley
  USA...
• Episode 8: The List
  USA...
• Episode 9: Who's the Fairest?
  USA...
• Episode 10: Father Christmas
  USA...
• Episode 11: What Makes Sammy Run?
  USA...
• Episode 12: Getting Back to Basiks
  USA...
• Episode 13: The Command Post
  USA...
• Episode 14: Real Men Don't Dry Clean
  USA...
• Episode 15: Trading Places
  USA...
• Episode 16: My Guy, George
  USA...
• Episode 17: A New Girl in Town
  USA...
• Episode 18: Otis
  USA...
• Episode 19: Hart to Heart???
  USA...
• Episode 20: George's Old Girlfriend
  USA...
• Episode 21: Honeymoon Hotel
  Last segment videotaped for the 1983-1984 season....
• Episode 22: In the Chips
  USA...
• Season 11
• Episode 1: Blood and Money
  Louise wants George to donate blood and he says he will, but pays Ralph to donate in his name. Later...
• Episode 2: Ebony and Ivory
  USA...
• Episode 3: Bobbles, Bangles and Booboos
  USA...
• Episode 4: A House Divided
  USA...
• Episode 5: Some Enchanted Evening
  USA...
• Episode 6: The Gift
  USA...
• Episode 7: They Don't Make Preachers Like Him Anymore
  When the minister at Florence's church says that one of the church's projects due to lack of funds w...
• Episode 8: Try a Little Tenderness
  USA...
• Episode 9: You'll Never Get Rich
  USA...
• Episode 10: The Unnatural
  USA...
• Episode 11: Chairman of the Bored
  USA...
• Episode 12: Sayonara: Part 1
  The Jeffersons and Willses are busy decorating the apartment in anticipation of Lionel and Jenny ret...
• Episode 13: Sayonara: Part 2
  Jessica Jefferson: [the adults are trying to call the police] Grandma Louise!::Louise Jefferson: Not...
• Episode 14: Last Dance
  USA...
• Episode 15: The Gang's All Here
  USA...
• Episode 16: Hail to the Chief
  USA...
• Episode 17: A Secret in the Back Room
  USA...
• Episode 18: That Blasted Cunningham
  USA...
• Episode 19: State of Mind
  USA...
• Episode 20: And Up We Go
  USA...
• Episode 21: The Truth Hurts
  USA...
• Episode 22: The Odd Couple
  USA...
• Episode 23: Off-Off-Off-Off Broadway
  This was the final videotaped segment for the series....
• Episode 24: Red Robins
  Last show of the series....