I need help with this Question about Mike Evans and his exit from the Jeffersons

[TVFactFan]

I know that Good Times Started in February of 1974 and at the time, Mike Evans, who played Lionel Jefferson was still on All in the Family. Which brings me to my question. If Mike Evans played Lionel Jefferson from Feb of 74 to April of 75, Why did he all of a sudden feel the need to Leave the Jeffersons? I mean Good Times had already been on the air for 15 months so what was it that Mike Evans was trying to do on the Good Times Set? It was evident that Good Times was doing well without him and Mike Evans was on a hit Show so iguess i'm still trying to figure out why he decided not to return for the second season of the Jeffersons to work on the Good Times Set.

[ThomasE]

Originally posted by SOLOMON
I know that Good Times Started in February of 1974 and at the time, Mike Evans, who played Lionel Jefferson was still on All in the Family. Which brings me to my question. If Mike Evans played Lionel Jefferson from Feb of 74 to April of 75, Why did he all of a sudden feel the need to Leave the Jeffersons? I mean Good Times had already been on the air for 15 months so what was it that Mike Evans was trying to do on the Good Times Set? It was evident that Good Times was doing well without him and Mike Evans was on a hit Show so iguess i'm still trying to figure out why he decided not to return for the second season of the Jeffersons to work on the Good Times Set.

I wish I had an answer for that. I really do. His presence was missed until he came back. SOLOMON, have you noticed that season 1 was in the top 10 but when he left, the rating dropped and when he returned in 1979, ratings were back up in the top 10? LOL. The Jeffersons I felt he could have managed as well as Good Times. However he has his reasons as to why he left.

[TVFactFan]

Originally posted by ThomasE


I wish I had an answer for that. I really do. His presence was missed until he came back. SOLOMON, have you noticed that season 1 was in the top 10 but when he left, the rating dropped and when he returned in 1979, ratings were back up in the top 10? LOL. The Jeffersons I felt he could have managed as well as Good Times. However he has his reasons as to why he left.


Yes you are right, it was number 4 in the 1st season and the following season it fell all the way to 21. Looks like Mike Was the star. Then tried to make Good Times a bigger hit but it didn't work.

[Lady T]

Originally posted by ThomasE
I wish I had an answer for that. I really do. His presence was missed until he came back. SOLOMON, have you noticed that season 1 was in the top 10 but when he left, the rating dropped and when he returned in 1979, ratings were back up in the top 10? LOL. The Jeffersons I felt he could have managed as well as Good Times. However he has his reasons as to why he left. That is because Mike Evans was F.I.N.E.

[jamesanthony]

It's posted somewhere below why he left. The old post said he was dissatisfied with his role in the show and he didn't go over to Good Times he just left the series. I saw him in a supporting role in Danny Thomas' 1976 sitcom The Practice which ran for a year or less, so I guess he needed money. He palyed Lenny, who was either a lab tech or a med student. He wasn't crucial to the show at all.

I noticed that the only times The Jeffersons ranked in the top ten were the 4 seasons he was in it. That may just be a coincidence.