Sherman Hemsley Movies

George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) is miffed when his friends claim that he is obsessively devoted to his work. To prove them wrong, George decides to go on his first vacation since striking it rich. He books passage for himself and wife Louise (Isabel Sanford) on a luxury cruise, and for a while the couple eagerly anticipates their exciting getaway. That's when Mother Jefferson (Zara Cully) fouls things up in her inimitable fashion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The second Norman Lear-produced TV series to be spun off from All in the Family (Maude was the first), The Jeffersons grew out of a character who appeared on the very first episode of Family -- college student Lionel Jefferson (originally played by Mike Evans), the young African-American friend of Mike Stivic, son-in-law of super-bigot Archie Bunker. To Archie's horror, Lionel's entire family moved across the street from the Bunker home in the spring of 1971, and over the next few weeks, viewers were introduced to Lionel's mother Louise Jefferson (Isabel Sanford), who became the best friend and closest confidante of Archie's wife Edith. Later on, two more Jeffersons made their first appearances: Henry Jefferson (Mel Stewart), Lionel's uncle, who was in many ways as racially prejudiced as Archie Bunker; and, finally, Lionel's father and Louise's husband George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley), bombastic owner of a string of dry-cleaning establishments. Ultimately Henry Jefferson was written out of All in the Family, whereupon George "inherited" most of Henry's anti-white attitudes.
In the middle of All in the Family's fifth season, the Jeffersons had accumulated enough wealth to move out of Archie Bunker's blue-collar Queens neighborhood and into a "dee-luxe" high-rise apartment on New York's fashionable East Side. This was the status quo when The Jeffersons debuted Saturday, January 18, 1975, as a mid-season replacement for the failed CBS sitcom Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers (ironically, All in the Family had also premiered as a mid-season replacement). In short order, viewers were introduced to the Jefferson's new neighbors: book editor Tom Willis (Franklin Cover), his wife Helen (Roxie Roker), their daughter Jenny (Berlinda Tolbert), and eccentric Englishman Harry Bentley (Paul Benedict), a translator at the UN. The fact that the Willises were an interracial couple (he was white, she was black) served as grist for the mill of George Jefferson's bigotry and wisecracking humor; meanwhile, Lionel fell in love with the Willises' daughter Jenny, much to the dismay of George but to the delight of everyone else. Other recurring characters included George Jefferson's diminutive but overbearing mother (Zara Cully), who made no secret of her disdain for Louise; Ralph Hart (Ned Wertimer), the doorman of the Jeffersons' luxury apartment building, whose hand was ever outstretched for the tip that George habitually denied him; and Florence Johnston (Marla Gibbs), the Jeffersons' sassy maid, who seldom worked any harder than she had to and whose never-ending battle of wits with the irascible George was one of the series' highlights. (Florence was not a "regular" during season one, and in fact would not graduate to that status for several seasons to come.) Despite its late start, The Jeffersons closed out its first season as the fourth highest-rated program on network television, posting a whopping 27.6 audience share (even higher than that enjoyed by M*A*S*H). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

His year-long college fellowship at an end, Mike lands a teaching job. At long last, he and Gloria are able to move out of the Bunker house and find a place of their own; in fact, Gloria has promised her parents that she and Mike will locate an apartment within the week. But if Archie thinks that he is rid of his pesky son-in-law, he's in for another disappointment. Scripted by Lou Derman and Bill Davenport from a story by Robert Arnott, "Mike Makes His Move" originally aired on March 8, 1975, as the final episode of All in the Family's fifth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

George Jefferson's contention that Archie Bunker was placed on this earth just to make trouble for him seems to be confirmed when Archie accidentally pays George with a counterfeit 20-dollar bill. Much as it pains him, Archie bends over backward to rectify his error, only to make the situation even worse. Like many another fourth-season All in the Family episode, this one was written by Michael Ross and Bernie West. "Pay the Twenty Dollars" originally aired on March 9, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lionel moves out of the Jefferson household after an argument with his parents. Normally, this domestic squabble would be of no concern to Archie Bunker, who would just as soon have all the Jeffersons move away. But Archie hadn't reckoned with Edith, who not only allows Lionel to move in with the Bunkers, but extends him every conceivable courtesy of the house. Scripted by Woody Kling from a story by Jeffrey Mackowsky, "Lionel the Live-In" originally aired on October 12, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In order to run for public office, George Jefferson must have all his neighbors sign a petition in his favor. Yes, all the neighbors -- including Archie Bunker. But what will Archie demand in return for his support of George's political aspirations? It was clear when "George and Archie Make a Deal" first aired on November 30, 1974, that Sherman Hemsley (George Jefferson) had outgrown his supporting-player status and would soon have a series of his own. This particular episode was written by David P. Harmon. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When preacher Purlie comes to town, he brings with him all kinds of trouble, from conspiracy to deceit, along with other identity and love absurdities. Termed a "black musical," Purlie exemplifies musical theater of its kind, and this film version is based on the original play by Ossie Davis. Melba Moore, Robert Guillaume, and Sherman Hemsley give strong performances, and the dramatic twists of plot are accentuated by Purlie's outrageous persona. The creative score offers a wide range of grooving musical styles, and has provided abundant success on the stage for this now-filmed tale of breaking the rules. ~ Sarah Sloboda, All Movie Guide