1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,639 Speaker 1: This Day in History Class is a production of iHeartRadio. 2 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:09,320 Speaker 1: Hello and Welcome to This Day in History Class, a 3 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:13,880 Speaker 1: show for those interested in the primetime moments of everyday history. 4 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 1: I'm Gay, Bluesier, and today we're giving a turn at 5 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:21,680 Speaker 1: back to one of the most overlooked classic sitcoms of 6 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 1: the nineteen seventies. The day was January eighteenth, nineteen seventy five, 7 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 1: the groundbreaking sitcom The Jeffersons aired for the first time 8 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 1: on CBS. Unlike other shows of the era, the Jeffersons 9 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 1: depicted black characters who were upwardly mobile, a conscious choice 10 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 1: made in response to concerns raised by members of the 11 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: Black Panthers, and while the show was still guilty of 12 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 1: perpetuating its share of stereotypes in terms of representation, it 13 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 1: was still viewed is a step in the right direction. 14 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 1: With its sharp wit and provocative social commentary, The Jeffersons 15 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: made a huge splash from the start. It went on 16 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 1: to run for eleven seasons and two hundred and fifty 17 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 1: three episodes, becoming one of the longest running sitcoms in 18 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 1: TV history for nearly forty years. It was also the 19 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 1: longest running to feature a predominantly black cast, but in 20 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 1: twenty twelve, the show's episode count was finally overtaken by 21 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: Tyler Perry's House of Pay, though The Jeffersons still has 22 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 1: it beat when it comes to total number of seasons. 23 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:39,679 Speaker 1: The Jeffersons began life as a spin off of All 24 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:43,959 Speaker 1: in the Family, an acclaimed and controversial comedy series from 25 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 1: legendary creator and producer Norman Lear. Debuting in nineteen seventy one, 26 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:52,559 Speaker 1: All in the Family followed the lives of a working 27 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: class white couple from Queens, New York, the loud mouthed 28 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 1: bigot Archie Bunker played by Carol O'Connor and his dis 29 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:03,919 Speaker 1: see but kind hearted wife, Edith, played by Gene Stapleton. 30 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: The show's unique brand of edgy confrontational humor struck a 31 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 1: chord with the public, and after several seasons of sky 32 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 1: high ratings, CBS asked Norman Lear to develop several new 33 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 1: series as spin offs. By that point, actors Sherman Hemsley 34 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 1: and Isabelle Sandford had spent several years portraying George and 35 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 1: Louise Jefferson, the African American neighbors of the Bunkers. Naturally, 36 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:33,640 Speaker 1: one of the first pitches Lear came up with was 37 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:37,239 Speaker 1: to build a new show around the characters, but Hemsley 38 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 1: and Sandford weren't sure that was such a good idea. 39 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 1: After all, they both had steady gigs on a hit 40 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 1: show when there was no guarantee that Jeffersons would catch on. 41 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 1: The show's unusual premise helped convince them to take the chance. 42 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 1: Instead of being set right next door to the Bunkers, 43 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 1: the show would instead relocate the Jeffersons to a luxurious 44 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:03,920 Speaker 1: high rise apartment on Manhattan's trendy east Side. The groundwork 45 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 1: for this change in fortune was laid way back in 46 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 1: the third episode of All in the Family. Although the 47 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: character of George doesn't appear on screen, we learned that 48 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:16,959 Speaker 1: his car was rear ended by a bus, eventually resulting 49 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 1: in a five thousand dollars settlement, which he then uses 50 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 1: to open his first dry cleaning store in Queen's. At 51 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 1: the beginning of The Jeffersons, it's revealed that George now 52 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: owns five locations, and he's decided that the family needs 53 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: a new lifestyle to better match their new found wealth. 54 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 1: The couple's arrival to high society was joyfully announced in 55 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 1: the show's now famous theme song, Moving on Up, take 56 00:03:43,280 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 1: a listen. The Jeffersons was well received in its first 57 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 1: weeks on the air, and became the fourth most watched 58 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 1: sitcom in the country during its inaugural season. A good 59 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 1: chunk of that early success was due to the popularity 60 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:25,599 Speaker 1: of breakout character Florence Johnston, the Jefferson snarky black housekeeper 61 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 1: whom they hire at the end of the first episode. 62 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:32,679 Speaker 1: Florence wasn't intended to make regular appearances on the show, 63 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 1: but actress Marla Gibbs was so good in the role 64 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: that she was quickly made a series regular. Part of 65 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:43,440 Speaker 1: Florence's appeal was as a much needed foil to George Jefferson. 66 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 1: Cut from the same cloth as his former neighbor Archie Bunker, 67 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:51,760 Speaker 1: George was intolerant, stubborn, and hot headed. He bragged about 68 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:55,839 Speaker 1: his successes, balked at social conventions, and referred to white 69 00:04:55,839 --> 00:05:00,840 Speaker 1: people almost exclusively as honkies. Florence was the only character 70 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:03,599 Speaker 1: on the show to routinely call George out for his 71 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:07,359 Speaker 1: clownish behavior, and no matter how many angry tirades he 72 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:11,120 Speaker 1: threw her way, the implacable maid always knew just how 73 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 1: to cut him down to size. What did you say needed, Dustin? 74 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 1: Never minded, Dusty, we could use a couple of drinks Scotch. Fine, 75 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:21,039 Speaker 1: that's very good, mister Jefferson. You keep changing your mind 76 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 1: like that, and someday maybe you'll end up with one 77 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 1: that works. And someday maybe I'll end up with a 78 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:29,360 Speaker 1: maiden work. I doubt it because it ain't easy working 79 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:31,719 Speaker 1: at all. Is he? What do he? All? That hot 80 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:37,239 Speaker 1: airir coming out your mouth? The Jeffersons was a vehicle 81 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 1: for comedy first and foremost, but in typical Norman Lear fashion, 82 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:45,040 Speaker 1: the show also tackled its share of provocative political and 83 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:50,040 Speaker 1: social issues. For example, it's often credited with introducing Primetime's 84 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: first interracial couple. The jeffersons new neighbors Tom and Helen 85 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: willis played by Franklin Cover and Roxy Roker, respectively. Roker, 86 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 1: a black woman, was married to a white man in 87 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 1: real life, as well TV producer Cy Kravitz, and while 88 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:10,479 Speaker 1: you may not recognize their names, you're likely familiar with 89 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 1: their famous musician's son, Lenny Kravitz. The Jeffersons also confronted 90 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:28,040 Speaker 1: other controversial subjects of the era, including racism, gun control, divorce, alcoholism, 91 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:31,839 Speaker 1: and even gender identity. In the third episode of the 92 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 1: show's fourth season, George reconnects with his former bunk mate 93 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:38,599 Speaker 1: from the Korean War, only to find out that the 94 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:42,159 Speaker 1: person he once knew as Eddie had since transitioned into 95 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: living life as a woman named Edie, as portrayed by 96 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:49,720 Speaker 1: Veronica Red. It was the first time a transgender character 97 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:53,280 Speaker 1: was ever featured on an American sitcom, though it's worth 98 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 1: noting that Edie is never seen or mentioned again in 99 00:06:56,839 --> 00:07:01,280 Speaker 1: the rest of the series. The Jefferson's blend of topicality 100 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 1: and humor made it yet another win for CBS and 101 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 1: Norman Lear. The series ran for a solid decade, picking 102 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 1: up fourteen Emmy nominations and two wins along the way. Sadly, though, 103 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 1: the show's ratings began to slip in later seasons, and 104 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 1: in the spring of nineteen eighty five, CBS abruptly canceled 105 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:26,080 Speaker 1: The Jeffersons without a proper series finale in a stunning 106 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 1: show of disrespect. The network didn't even have the decency 107 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 1: to tell the cast they were being laid off. Instead, 108 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 1: the news was leaked to the press, and most of 109 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: the actors found out about its second hand, including Sherman Hemsley, 110 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 1: who learned of the show's end from a newspaper. From there, 111 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 1: the once beloved show could have just sank into obscurity 112 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 1: like so many sitcoms before it and after, but instead, 113 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 1: the Jeffersons found new life and syndication, ranking among the 114 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: highest rated programs on cable network throwbacks like Nicket Night 115 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 1: and Tea. The stars of the show also went on 116 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 1: to reprise their roles several times in the nineteen nineties, 117 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 1: including in an off Broadway stage production and a series 118 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 1: of retro chik commercials for Old Navy. However, the most 119 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 1: notable Jefferson's revival was an appearance made by George Hemsley, 120 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 1: Isabelle Sandford, and Marla Gibbs on the series finale of 121 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 1: The Fresh Prince of bel Air. And this is the 122 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 1: living Room, Oh judge, this place is beautiful. I'm telling 123 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 1: you we can't afford it. How can you say that easy? 124 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:44,920 Speaker 1: He's cheap. If I were you, I tee my mouth 125 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 1: shut out. Here to a lot of people crossing the 126 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: border to get a job like yours, Well one look 127 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 1: at a ball headed misa like you They'll be crossing 128 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:58,679 Speaker 1: right back over. As a sitcom about an affluent black 129 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 1: family and the tenshion between race, wealth, and privilege. The 130 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:05,839 Speaker 1: Fresh Prince had followed in the footsteps of the Jeffersons 131 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 1: before it. It was fitting then that the show shared 132 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 1: its finale and provided a long overdue sendoff for a 133 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 1: trio of pioneering characters who had never gotten one of 134 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 1: their own. As Sandford said at the time, quote, they 135 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 1: just can't keep us down. We keep moving on up again. 136 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 1: I'm Gabe Lucier and hopefully you now know a little 137 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:36,040 Speaker 1: more about TV history today than you did yesterday. If 138 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:40,440 Speaker 1: you enjoyed today's episode, consider keeping up with us on Twitter, Facebook, 139 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 1: and Instagram. You can find us at TDI HC Show. 140 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 1: You can also rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, 141 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:51,680 Speaker 1: or you can get in touch directly by writing to 142 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 1: this Day at iHeartMedia dot com. Thanks to Chandler Mays 143 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 1: for producing the show, and thank you for listening. I'll 144 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 1: see you about here again tomorrow for another day in 145 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 1: History class.