After five seasons as recurring characters on Norman Lear's groundbreaking sitcom All in the Family, George and Weezy Jefferson moved from the house next to the Bunkers to a “deee-luxe” apartment on Manhattan's East Side to spin-off this long-running sitcom. Sherman Hemsley is insufferable dry-cleaning mogul George, and Isabel Sanford is the even-tempered Weezy, living in a high-rise surrounded by very liberal neighbors (Roxie Roker and Franklin Cover as Helen and Tom Willis, Paul Benedict as Brit Harry Bentley) and their opinionated maid, Florence (Marla Gibbs), who became a regular cast member by the third year. Jefferson son Lionel (alternately played by Damon Evans and Mike Evans—no relation) literally marries the girl next door, Helen and Tom's daughter—in the fourth season, and the fifth run features a classic episode in which George receives an award as a small business owner and then discovers that it's due to his stature. While not as aggressively topical as All in the Family, the show dealt with race and prejudice, and was the first American TV program to feature a black-and-white interracial couple as characters. The series lasted a whopping 11 seasons—longer than All in the Family—and this comprehensive set compiles all 253 episodes from 1975-85. Extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette, the All in the Family episode that sent the Jeffersons to Manhattan, episodes from two spin-off shows, and a booklet with an episode guide and an essay by critic Tom Shales. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)
The Jeffersons: The Complete Series
Shout! Factory, 33 discs, 4,440 min., not rated, DVD: $229.99 Volume 30, Issue 1
The Jeffersons: The Complete Series
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