What year do you think the Jeffersons started the downward slide?

[TVFactFan]

I would say the beginning of the 80-81 season is when the jeffersons is not as good because some of the key characters started to leave even though florence and Mr. bentley both returned. But i find myself not tapng too many episodes after 1980. The first season was defintely the best-from Jan 1975 to April 1975

[Scoobiedoo30]

I Think The Jefferson Started To Down Slider In 1984 1985 Season

Thanks
Aaron The Reporter

[Janice]

I think when the granddaughter Jessica arrived and grew into a little girl, the show started to jump. The competing grandparents, the babysitting spectacles, the ever-so-cute kid, etc., turned me off. I enjoy adult comedies, and I usually lose interest once kids hit the scene.

[TVFactFan]

Originally posted by gmfox8@msn.com
I Think The Jefferson Started To Down Slider In 1984 1985 Season

Thanks
Aaron The Reporter

I'm not trying to be funny or anything but the season that you mentioned about the jeffersons starting to downslide which was the 84-85 season-Wasn't that their last season??-LOL!!

[TVFactFan]

Originally posted by JanLady617
I think when the granddaughter Jessica arrived and grew into a little girl, the show started to jump. The competing grandparents, the babysitting spectacles, the ever-so-cute kid, etc., turned me off. I enjoy adult comedies, and I usually lose interest once kids hit the scene.

I have to agree with you 100% because once kids hit the scene of any show-i'm no longer interested. I myself like adult comedies a lot more. These are some of the shows i stopped liking once the kids hit the scenes.

1. Jeffersons
2. Cosby Show-
3. Good times-
4. Who's the Boss-
5. Happy Days
6.Fresh Prince of Bel-air

[boechsner]

The Jeffersons' slide began when the writers decided to move away from racial issues and they focused less and less on George and Louise's past. This came at the beginning of the 1980-1981 season. At that point it's very rare to hear George call Tom honky and he begins to rely only on fat jokes toward Tom. Even Florence lost her accent.

However, the real Jeffersons's downfall came during the 1982-1983 Season, quality wise. Although, The Jeffersons had already lost their identity back in 1980, they still were whipping out some awfully good episodes despite race no longer being an issue. The 1981-1982 season is a prime example in that almost every episode is a terrific episode, despite the loss of Mr. Bentley. Then after that blockbuster year, 1982-1983 season came around and it was like night and day, at that point the episodes became stale and the black cast could have easily been replaced with a white cast (it no longer mattered that they were blacks who "moved on up."

In my opinion the best seasons were as follows and I've included some episodes in particular that are especially good:

1. 1978-1979 Season

Standout Episodes:

George's Dream
Me and Billy Dee
Louise's Sister
Louise's Reunion
Every Night Fever
The Freeze-in

2. 1981-1982 Season

Standout Episodes:

Dog-Gone
Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Helen
A Small Victory
Appointment in 8-B
Jeffersons Greatest Hits
The House That George Built

3. 1977-1978 Season

Standout Episodes:

Once a Friend
George's Legacy
Florence's Union
Uncle George and Aunt Louise
The Costume Party

4. 1975-1976 Season

Standout Episodes:

A Dinner for Harry
Jefferson vs. Jefferson
George's Best Friend
Florence's Problem
George Meets Whittendale
The Wedding

5. 1975 Season

Standout Episoes:

George's Family Tree
Mr. Piano Man
Mother Jefferson's Boyfriend
Jenny's Low

6. 1976-1977 Season

Standout Episodes:

Louise Gets Her Way
A Case of Black and White
Florence in Love
Jenny's Discovery
The Marriage Counselors
Louise's Friend

7. 1979-1980 Season

Standout Episodes:

Louise vs. Florence
A Short Story
Louise's Old Boyfriend
The Loan
Brother Tom
Louise's Setback

8. 1980-1981 Season

Standout Episodes:

As Florence Turns
Sorry, Wrong Meeting
And the Doorknobs Shined Like Diamonds
I've Got a Secret
Louise's Father


9. 1982-1983 Season

Standout Episodes:

Social Insecurity
A Date with Danger
Anatomy of a Stain

10. 1983-1984 Season

Standout Episodes:

What Makes Sammy Run?
Getting Back to Basiks

11. 1984-1985 Season

Standout Episodes:

The Truth Hurts
They Don't Make Preachers Like Him Anymore

[TVFactFan]

Originally posted by boechsner
The Jeffersons' slide began when the writers decided to move away from racial issues and they focused less and less on George and Louise's past. This came at the beginning of the 1980-1981 season. At that point it's very rare to hear George call Tom honky and he begins to rely only on fat jokes toward Tom. Even Florence lost her accent.

However, the real Jeffersons's downfall came during the 1982-1983 Season, quality wise. Although, The Jeffersons had already lost their identity back in 1980, they still were whipping out some awfully good episodes despite race no longer being an issue. The 1981-1982 season is a prime example in that almost every episode is a terrific episode, despite the loss of Mr. Bentley. Then after that blockbuster year, 1982-1983 season came around and it was like night and day, at that point the episodes became stale and the black cast could have easily been replaced with a white cast (it no longer mattered that they were blacks who "moved on up."

In my opinion the best seasons were as follows and I've included some episodes in particular that are especially good:

1. 1978-1979 Season

Standout Episodes:

George's Dream
Me and Billy Dee
Louise's Sister
Louise's Reunion
Every Night Fever
The Freeze-in

2. 1981-1982 Season

Standout Episodes:

Dog-Gone
Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Helen
A Small Victory
Appointment in 8-B
Jeffersons Greatest Hits
The House That George Built

3. 1977-1978 Season

Standout Episodes:

Once a Friend
George's Legacy
Florence's Union
Uncle George and Aunt Louise
The Costume Party

4. 1975-1976 Season

Standout Episodes:

A Dinner for Harry
Jefferson vs. Jefferson
George's Best Friend
Florence's Problem
George Meets Whittendale
The Wedding

5. 1975 Season

Standout Episoes:

George's Family Tree
Mr. Piano Man
Mother Jefferson's Boyfriend
Jenny's Low

6. 1976-1977 Season

Standout Episodes:

Louise Gets Her Way
A Case of Black and White
Florence in Love
Jenny's Discovery
The Marriage Counselors
Louise's Friend

7. 1979-1980 Season

Standout Episodes:

Louise vs. Florence
A Short Story
Louise's Old Boyfriend
The Loan
Brother Tom
Louise's Setback

8. 1980-1981 Season

Standout Episodes:

As Florence Turns
Sorry, Wrong Meeting
And the Doorknobs Shined Like Diamonds
I've Got a Secret
Louise's Father


9. 1982-1983 Season

Standout Episodes:

Social Insecurity
A Date with Danger
Anatomy of a Stain

10. 1983-1984 Season

Standout Episodes:

What Makes Sammy Run?
Getting Back to Basiks

11. 1984-1985 Season

Standout Episodes:

The Truth Hurts
They Don't Make Preachers Like Him Anymore

Do you know why the producers allowed florence to come back after her show failed in 81 and replace the puerto rican maid?

[boechsner]

I would assume that Marla Gibbs had made some kind of deal with the producers that should Checking In flop, which it did, she could come back.

Even if that wasn't the case, Florence really needed to come back. Her character added plenty of humor, although the episodes that were made when she was gone, (I've Got a Secret, Louise's Father, The Separation Part 1 and 2, I've Still Got It, My Maid, Your Maid) were still good. As for Carmen (Florence's replacement introduced in My Maid, Your Maid), the actress who played her was also playing in Dallas as Theresa, the Ewing housekeeper.

[Brenton]

While "The Jeffersons" has some good moments, it certainly was not worthy of an 11 year run. After five years, the show became old.

[callmetootie]

I think that from 1979-1982 or so, the episodes seemed a bit off. Maybe it was because the writers were trying to bring life into the failing Archie Bunker's Place. But I think that once Maude and AITF were out of the way, by 1983, the show picked up many more laughs and memorable episodes.

[CableTV Guy]

Originally posted by callmetootie
I think that from 1979-1982 or so, the episodes seemed a bit off. Maybe it was because the writers were trying to bring life into the failing Archie Bunker's Place. But I think that once Maude and AITF were out of the way, by 1983, the show picked up many more laughs and memorable episodes.


The show went down hill when George and Tom became friends. And when George wasn't as hyper as he was in 1975.

[Pitooey]

I think it started to slide downhill when they switched Lionel. They blew it in my opinion.

[CableTV Guy]

Originally posted by JennyLee22
I think it started to slide downhill when they switched Lionel. They blew it in my opinion.


I have to agree with you-If a person plays the role of a certain character for 4 years-Why would the producers bring in a different person? Mike Evans played the role of Lionel from 1971-1975 and all of a sudden it's a different person playing the part?-Yeah the jeffersons defintely blew it once that happened.

[jerry allen]

:confused: "The Jeffersons" actually are a rare series that actually increased viewers as time went on! it's downward slide was the 1983-1984 season when it ranked #19 in the ratings. the show debuted in the Top-30 at #4 during the 1974-1975 season. the following years brought them: #21 in 1976, #24 in 1977, didn't make the Top-30 in 1978 or 1979, bounced back in 1980 when it finished at #8, #6 in 1981, #3 in 1982, #12 in 1983, and lastly #19 in 1984 before being axed in 1985. i go by ratings when i talk about show's on a downward slide. personally, the show was always good but like any program that lasts as long as this one, there's bound to be down years primarily 1977-1978, 1978-1979.

[TVFactFan]

Originally posted by jerry allen
:confused: "The Jeffersons" actually are a rare series that actually increased viewers as time went on! it's downward slide was the 1983-1984 season when it ranked #19 in the ratings. the show debuted in the Top-30 at #4 during the 1974-1975 season. the following years brought them: #21 in 1976, #24 in 1977, didn't make the Top-30 in 1978 or 1979, bounced back in 1980 when it finished at #8, #6 in 1981, #3 in 1982, #12 in 1983, and lastly #19 in 1984 before being axed in 1985. i go by ratings when i talk about show's on a downward slide. personally, the show was always good but like any program that lasts as long as this one, there's bound to be down years primarily 1977-1978, 1978-1979.

I don't what made so many people tuned into the Jeffersons in 1982-Maybe it was because nothing else was on at the time. A Richieless Happy Days, A Chrissyless Three's Company, A Shirleyless Laverne and Shirley, Let's face no powerful sitcoms on 82-84. That could be the reason

[mstewart]

The downward slide on the Jeffersons was after the 80-81 season. The character of George became uninteresting and boring. Once they took the George and Tom rivialry out and they became friends the show became boring. The first six seasons the show was cutting edge funny. It is typical Norman Lear fashion not knowing how to leave a show while you are still on top and keeping the audience wanting more. He should have pulled the plug on that show after the 79-80 season and maybe could pull off one more season but definitely after 80-81 season.

[I Am Shazam]

Strangely enough, I think the show's Decline started when the Jeffersons changed their couch from beige to white.