It's also not just a black/white issue with fitting in, it can also be cultural. I'm black (American) and I've dated a guy of West Indian decent and we couldn't relate because stuff they see as normal (cheating..referring to blacks as "YOU people" and all the typical stuff that whites refer to us as....) I wouldn't tolerate! Same with Africans. Wouldn't touch one with a 10 foot pole...again! LOL!
Tom and Helen Willis were TV's first white and black interracial couple. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz (Lucy and Ricky Ricardo) were TV's actual first interracial couple on I Love Lucy (1951.)
In terms of number of seasons (11) and episodes (253), this is by far the longest airing All in the Family spin-off. In fact, The Jeffersons aired more seasons and episodes than All In The Family itself.
Like her character Helen, Actress Roxie Roker has a white husband. During a casting interview, Roker was asked if she'd feel comfortable with her character being married to a white man. She responded by showing the producers a photo of her husband...(rocker, Lenny Kravitz father!) I can almost see the bemused look on her face when she did...as the color drained out of theirs!
Several CBS executives tried to get the interracial kiss between Tom and Helen Willis edited out, but executive producer Fred Silverman successfully lobbied to keep it in.
Mike Evans left the original role of Lionel Jefferson to work as a writer/producer on Good Times. When that show ended, he came back to the Jeffersons again.
Florence was originally intended to be a recurring cast member, but the character became so popular with fans, that the producers made Marla Gibbs a series regular.
@RANGERROCKET25---Mixed marriages don't work mostly because of ignorant folks! Speaking of which, are you only referring to those via black and whites? What about of other ethnicities or religions? Take a quick trip over to Belfast (Ireland) and see the issues that goes on over there...between Catholics and Protastants who kill each other (incl school kids to and from school) almost everyday simply because each is intolerant of the other's beliefs.
@mslegacy01 I have nothing against mixed marriages. I was speaking in terms like this episode when you have two different people from two different backgrounds that didn't have nothing in common when they were talking about how things used to be and Tom felt out of place. That's what I meant. I'm all for mixed marriages but you do have to weigh the good and the bad.
@RANGERROCKET25...and I agree. Which brings me to this *Helen* character. Yeah, she likes to *mix* it up for a minute with her old friends...but she (and those like her) wouldn't touch a black man with a 10 foot pole because of relationship.marriages like her high school friends and the Jefferson's go through. She made it her business to find a financially well off white guy she could boss around and take control of...to marry and she wouldn't have it/or Tom any other way! *wink*
@RANGERROCKET25, Yes, I know (Lenny is her son). When she auditioned for the part of Helen, the producers asked her if she'd have a problem playing the wife of white man, to which she pulled a picture out and showed him her husband, rocker, Lenny Kravitz's father!
@MondoBeno---LOL@When I meet my high school classmates, we NEVER reminisce. There's nothing to reminisce about. It stunk. & ROTFLMAO@ The ones that do reminisce about our high school days don't have much else to reminisce about.
Yeah George wanted to look like Duke Ellington, but he wind up lookin' like Moms Mabley!" That sounds like my mom & dad went they would have company over when we were small...those were the good ole days
@DontNVdaVIP you aren't serious... a cowlick is a lock of hair that grows in a different direction than the rest of your hair... and it resists laying flat. I guess you dont have one.
It's also not just a black/white issue with fitting in, it can also be cultural. I'm black (American) and I've dated a guy of West Indian decent and we couldn't relate because stuff they see as normal (cheating..referring to blacks as "YOU people" and all the typical stuff that whites refer to us as....) I wouldn't tolerate! Same with Africans. Wouldn't touch one with a 10 foot pole...again! LOL!
mslegacy01 2 months ago
LOL@ Poor Tom! He just don't fit in....no matter how hard he tried!
mslegacy01 2 months ago
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mslegacy01 2 months ago
Unlike Norman Lear's other sitcoms; topical, political and edgy content was gradually phased out as the series progressed.
mslegacy01 2 months ago
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Tom and Helen Willis were TV's first white and black interracial couple. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz (Lucy and Ricky Ricardo) were TV's actual first interracial couple on I Love Lucy (1951.)
mslegacy01 2 months ago
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Sherman Hemsley was the only actor to appear on all 253 episodes.
mslegacy01 2 months ago
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In terms of number of seasons (11) and episodes (253), this is by far the longest airing All in the Family spin-off. In fact, The Jeffersons aired more seasons and episodes than All In The Family itself.
mslegacy01 2 months ago
Like her character Helen, Actress Roxie Roker has a white husband. During a casting interview, Roker was asked if she'd feel comfortable with her character being married to a white man. She responded by showing the producers a photo of her husband...(rocker, Lenny Kravitz father!) I can almost see the bemused look on her face when she did...as the color drained out of theirs!
mslegacy01 2 months ago
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Several CBS executives tried to get the interracial kiss between Tom and Helen Willis edited out, but executive producer Fred Silverman successfully lobbied to keep it in.
mslegacy01 2 months ago
Mike Evans left the original role of Lionel Jefferson to work as a writer/producer on Good Times. When that show ended, he came back to the Jeffersons again.
mslegacy01 2 months ago
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Florence was originally intended to be a recurring cast member, but the character became so popular with fans, that the producers made Marla Gibbs a series regular.
mslegacy01 2 months ago
This is just one of the reasons why mixed marriages don't work!
RANGERROCKET25 3 months ago
@RANGERROCKET25---Mixed marriages don't work mostly because of ignorant folks! Speaking of which, are you only referring to those via black and whites? What about of other ethnicities or religions? Take a quick trip over to Belfast (Ireland) and see the issues that goes on over there...between Catholics and Protastants who kill each other (incl school kids to and from school) almost everyday simply because each is intolerant of the other's beliefs.
mslegacy01 2 months ago
@mslegacy01 I have nothing against mixed marriages. I was speaking in terms like this episode when you have two different people from two different backgrounds that didn't have nothing in common when they were talking about how things used to be and Tom felt out of place. That's what I meant. I'm all for mixed marriages but you do have to weigh the good and the bad.
RANGERROCKET25 2 months ago
@RANGERROCKET25...and I agree. Which brings me to this *Helen* character. Yeah, she likes to *mix* it up for a minute with her old friends...but she (and those like her) wouldn't touch a black man with a 10 foot pole because of relationship.marriages like her high school friends and the Jefferson's go through. She made it her business to find a financially well off white guy she could boss around and take control of...to marry and she wouldn't have it/or Tom any other way! *wink*
mslegacy01 2 months ago
@mslegacy01 Funny you would say that about Helen(Roxy Roker). Because in real life, she did marry a white man. And in result, came "LENNY KRAVITZ".
RANGERROCKET25 2 months ago
@RANGERROCKET25, Yes, I know (Lenny is her son). When she auditioned for the part of Helen, the producers asked her if she'd have a problem playing the wife of white man, to which she pulled a picture out and showed him her husband, rocker, Lenny Kravitz's father!
mslegacy01 2 months ago
That guy reminds me of Donovan on Indiana jones and the last crusade
themooddisorders 6 months ago
its alot better than your friends what friends i restmy case
The227MARY 9 months ago 5
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@The227MARY ---its alot better than your friends what friends i restmy case
ROTFLOL!!
mslegacy01 2 months ago
This is my all-time favorite Jeffersons episode! lol
quirpco 10 months ago
When I meet my high school classmates, we NEVER reminisce. There's nothing to reminisce about. It stunk.
The ones that do reminisce about our high school days don't have much else to reminisce about.
MondoBeno 11 months ago
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@MondoBeno---LOL@When I meet my high school classmates, we NEVER reminisce. There's nothing to reminisce about. It stunk. & ROTFLMAO@ The ones that do reminisce about our high school days don't have much else to reminisce about.
mslegacy01 2 months ago
This is the reason I decided NEVER to get married.
MondoBeno 11 months ago
@RnBeautyJazzflower
It's the point of stating the obvious I was getting at. That much was apparent to many and most.
It's more interesting to read comment that are insights into aspects that may have been overlooked. That's all I meant by what I wrote.
dakotagerman1 1 year ago
@RnBeautyJazzflower
Well, keep watching. Helen's friends came around to realizing this.
If that would have been realized in the first place, there wouldn't be much of show, now: would there?
dakotagerman1 1 year ago
Poor Tom. He's trying so hard and they are being so rude for leaving him out.
dwood37 1 year ago
Tom is a Country Club Liberal
SuperCreamface 1 year ago
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dakotagerman1 1 year ago
Helen's pants are amazing lol
21melpomene 1 year ago
@21melpomene she was a classy lady. RIP
shewstring2000 1 year ago
"Wayne, your wife is a KNOCKOUT! Minton's in Harlem, that RINGS a BELL... Hey, I think I'll smoke. Got a MATCH?"
DiAnno13 1 year ago
george like lil kid lol
sunburst01979 1 year ago
Yeah George wanted to look like Duke Ellington, but he wind up lookin' like Moms Mabley!" That sounds like my mom & dad went they would have company over when we were small...those were the good ole days
hudson19947 1 year ago 2
Ok. Now WTF is cowlick???!!?
DontNVdaVIP 1 year ago
@DontNVdaVIP you aren't serious... a cowlick is a lock of hair that grows in a different direction than the rest of your hair... and it resists laying flat. I guess you dont have one.
cjs33139 1 year ago
@cjs33139 lol. thanks. no i seriously didnt know that
DontNVdaVIP 1 year ago
@DontNVdaVIP yeah like Alfalfa from The Little Rascals aka Our Gang.
ChicagoTyme 1 year ago
@ChicagoTyme OHHHHHHH! n-w i get it fr0m a "visual" p0int of view. lol.G0od l0okin out my friend
DontNVdaVIP 1 year ago
Tom is so pathetic it's actually kind of sweet. Cowlick...tennis court...haha
pixigirl999 2 years ago 6