The Jeffersons
"The Jeffersons" was perhaps the most-successful spin-off series to "All in the Family." George Jefferson was the Black version of Archie Bunker in many respects: both were loud-mouthed, opinionated, and set in their bigoted ways. By 1975, Jefferson's fledgling dry-cleaning business, Jefferson Cleaners, had successfully grown into a small chain; his newfound wealth led to moving his family to a "deluxe apartment in the sky" in Manhattan. His family included his wife Louise, a level-headed and open-minded woman who often had to scold George when his mouth got him into trouble; and their son Lionel, an engineering major at a local college. George especially disliked Tom and Helen Willis, an interracial couple (he was white, she was Black) whose daughter Jenny was dating and later married Lionel; Florence, his sharp-tongued maid; and Harry Bentley, the esoteric Englishman who lived next door. George often flaunted his wealth and displayed rude, arrogant, bigoted behavior; however, he often found that money didn't open every door or win him favor with everyone. In later years, George and Louise became grandparents when Lionel and Jenny welcomed their adorable little daughter Jessica; and Lionel and Jenny found work, he as an electrical engineer, she as a fashion designer; but Lionel and Jenny's marriage crumbled. Meanwhile, as Jefferson Cleaners continued to expand, George continually had to deal with competing dry-cleaning franchises who sought to put him out of business. In the final season, George and Tom formed a partnership and purchased Charlie's Bar, their favorite hangout.
- 1975-1985
- 11 seasons
- Amazon Prime Video
- Comedy
- TV-PG
"The Jeffersons" was perhaps the most-successful spin-off series to "All in the Family." George Jefferson was the Black version of Archie Bunker in many respects: both were loud-mouthed, opinionated, and set in their bigoted ways. By 1975, Jefferson's fledgling dry-cleaning business, Jefferson Cleaners, had successfully grown into a small chain; his newfound wealth led to moving his family to a "deluxe apartment in the sky" in Manhattan. His family included his wife Louise, a level-headed and open-minded woman who often had to scold George when his mouth got him into trouble; and their son Lionel, an engineering major at a local college. George especially disliked Tom and Helen Willis, an interracial couple (he was white, she was Black) whose daughter Jenny was dating and later married Lionel; Florence, his sharp-tongued maid; and Harry Bentley, the esoteric Englishman who lived next door. George often flaunted his wealth and displayed rude, arrogant, bigoted behavior; however, he often found that money didn't open every door or win him favor with everyone. In later years, George and Louise became grandparents when Lionel and Jenny welcomed their adorable little daughter Jessica; and Lionel and Jenny found work, he as an electrical engineer, she as a fashion designer; but Lionel and Jenny's marriage crumbled. Meanwhile, as Jefferson Cleaners continued to expand, George continually had to deal with competing dry-cleaning franchises who sought to put him out of business. In the final season, George and Tom formed a partnership and purchased Charlie's Bar, their favorite hangout.
Season 4 Episode Guide
26 Episodes 1977 - 1978
Episode 1
The Grand Opening: Part 1
Sat, Sep 24, 1977 23 mins
George and Louise are prepared to celebrate a milestone in the history of Jefferson Cleaners: the opening of a new corporate office. During the celebration at Charlie's Bar, George boasts about his wealth to his guests. However, he is unaware that two of the guests are hardened criminals, who are planning to get their share of the wealth. When Louise is a no-show at the party, a phone call reveals the reason why: The crooks have kidnapped her, and are demanding a $100,000 ransom.
Episode 2
The Grand Opening: Part 2
Sat, Sep 24, 1977 28 mins
George and the others anxiously wait for the telephone call from the crooks who claimed they have kidnapped Louise, until she walks right into the apartment unscathed. Louise insists she never knew anything about kidnappers, and while everyone breathes a sigh of relief, there's one more question: Where is Florence?
Episode 3
Once a Friend
Sat, Oct 1, 1977 25 mins
George is excited to learn that an old Navy pal is in town and wants her to come to his hotel for a visit. However, his old pal has a big surprise for George: she is actually a trans woman called Edie and has transitioned since they last met. Meanwhile, confusion with Edie's name leads Louise to believe that George is having an affair with Edie.
Episode 4
George's Help
Sat, Oct 8, 1977 25 mins
George hires Marcus from Louise's youth center to work in one of the cleaning stores, but Marcus quickly steals an expensive suede jacket that belongs to one of George's best customers.
Episode 5
George's Legacy
Sat, Oct 15, 1977 25 mins
Many greats in history have their legacies preserved and are known to the public throughout the years. George wants to have his legacy known for generations to come as well. Therefore, he pays a sculptor to carve a bust of his likeness, with a style similar to that of a Greek god. George invites his family and neighbors to his apartment for the unveiling of the statue, but they laugh at it.
Episode 6
Good News, Bad News
Sat, Oct 22, 1977 25 mins
Louise hopes that Fay Blanchard, the director of the Neighborhood Help Center, will appoint her as editor of the center's newsletter. While Helen visits Louise to invite her to go shopping for a party, she invites Helen to stay to meet Ms. Blanchard. While Ms. Blanchard discusses the newsletter job with Louise, she is impressed with Helen's journalism experience. As a result, she appoints Helen as editor instead, making Louise think that Helen stole from her the job she wanted.
Episode 7
The Visitors
Sat, Oct 29, 1977 25 mins
Florence receives unexpected visits from her parents, who have come to tell her that they have decided to divorce after decades of marriage.
Episode 8
The Camp Out
Sat, Nov 5, 1977 25 mins
Marcus never got to go camping as a child. Louise persuades George to take him without realizing that Mother Jefferson is slated to come over. So George dumps his mother on Louise and takes Marcus camping.
Episode 9
The Last Leaf
Sat, Nov 12, 1977 25 mins
Louise is convinced that her marital stability rests on the presence of her wedding corsage inside a book. But when the corsage turns up missing, Louise's imagination runs wild.
Episode 10
Louise's New Interest
Sat, Nov 19, 1977 25 mins
Louise's new interest involves doing office work at a museum. But when an archaeologist invites her on a weekend dig where they will be the only ones present, suspicions arise.
Episode 11
The Costume Party
Sat, Nov 26, 1977 30 mins
Before a costume party, George tells Florence to spill grape juice on a prospective client's pirate suit so that George can substitute a duplicate suit and pretend it's the original suit cleaned in record time. But things go wrong.
Episode 12
Florence Gets Lucky
Sat, Dec 3, 1977 25 mins
George feigns interest in horse-racing to impress client Curt Hendricks, who is charmed by Florence's insults to George and invites Florence to join him in Las Vegas for a weekend.
Episode 13
George Needs Help
Sat, Dec 10, 1977 30 mins
Workaholic George neglects Louise, so Tom suggests that George hire a general manager to help ease the load. Florence coaches qualified applicant Clarence on how to schmooze with George and ace the interview.
Episode 14
The Jefferson Curve
Sat, Dec 17, 1977 25 mins
Customer Natalie Parker visits Jefferson Cleaners and meets Marcus, who asks her out. To make sure she doesn't think he's just a clerk in a cleaning store, he gives her the impression that he's George's son. After they start dating, she meets George when she comes to the store to pick up her dry-cleaning; she tells him she's dating his son, so George thinks Lionel is having an affair with her.
Episode 15
984 W. 124th Street, Apt. 5C
Sat, Dec 24, 1977 25 mins
At Christmastime, George and Louise invite Lionel, Jenny, Tom, Helen, and Bentley over to sing carols. George asks Leroy to run some errands for him, including delivering a present to an address in Harlem. Louise becomes suspicious about why George would be sending things to an unknown address in Harlem, especially when she discovers that he has been sending money there every month. When Leroy forgets, George goes to deliver the gift himself; as he leaves for Harlem, Louise follows him.
Episode 16
George and Whitty
Sat, Jan 7, 1978 25 mins
When the lease on the Jeffersons' apartment is about to expire, H.L. Whittendale is thinking about renting the apartment to close friends of his. Worried about losing their home, George and Louise invite Mr. Whittendale over for a drink and social hour, hoping to gain his friendship. However, the man they invited over turns out to be H.L.'s brother, R.S. Whittendale.
Episode 17
Lionel Gets the Business
Sat, Jan 14, 1978 25 mins
When Lionel gets laid off from his engineering job, George hires him to work in his office as his vice-president. But Lionel starts making executive decisions without George's approval, such as spending company money on new furniture for his stores and blazers for his employees, and advertising a discount sale on cleaning. With all the commotion and chaos that follows, Louise tells George to fire Lionel.
Episode 18
The Blackout
Sat, Jan 21, 1978 25 mins
During a city-wide blackout, George and Marcus make a trip to one of the cleaning stores in a bad part of town in order to prevent possible looting. But the mission goes from bad to worse.
Episode 19
Florence's Union
Sat, Jan 28, 1978 25 mins
Florence and the other maids in the building decide to form a union. Louise supports the idea, but George opposes the idea because Mr. Whittendale does, too.
Episode 20
George and Jimmy
Sat, Feb 4, 1978 25 mins
As a publicity gimmick for his store, George tries to get President Carter to stay at the Jeffersons', but after a phone call to the White House degenerates into an argument, the Secret Service interprets George's comments as a threat to the President.
Episode 21
Thomas H. Willis & Co.
Sat, Feb 11, 1978 25 mins
Tom wants to start his own publishing firm but doesn't have collateral and asks George to cosign a loan. But after enduring another verbal battle with George, Helen finds out and vehemently objects.
Episode 22
Uncle George and Aunt Louise
Sat, Feb 18, 1978 25 mins
George's 8-year-old nephew Raymond comes from Chicago to stay for six weeks. George promises his brother Henry that he will take good care of Raymond during his visit, but the boy turns out to be a troublemaker. George feels a little guilt for not getting along with Raymond and tries to keep him entertained and happy.
Episode 23
George and Louise in a Bind: Part 1
Sat, Feb 25, 1978 30 mins
A burglar breaks into the Jeffersons' apartment and ties up George and Louise. As the burglar goes about his work, the couple are left to reminisce about their past. This episode includes clips from both "The Jeffersons" and "All in the Family."
Episode 24
George and Louise in a Bind: Part 2
Sat, Feb 25, 1978
George and Louise, still tied up in the kitchen, recall and talk about past times while the burglar's still at work robbing their apartment.
Episode 25
George and Louise in a Bind: Part 3
Sat, Feb 25, 1978
Along with talking about old times, the Jeffersons reflect on how lucky they are to be alive, have each other, their son Lionel and good friends. ..and wonder if that burglar will ever finish.
Episode 26
Jenny's Thesis
Sat, Mar 4, 1978 25 mins
Jenny goes to the ghetto to write a thesis about gang violence. There, she meets a 12 year old boy who is already a veteran gang member.
