Sherman Hemsley Movies

Louise Jefferson (Isabel Sanford) is touched and impressed when her neighbor Tom Willis (Franklin Cover) writes a Valentine's Day poem to his wife, Helen (Roxie Roker). Is it any wonder, then, that Louise is outraged when her own husband, George (Sherman Hemsley), not only forgets the holiday, but then crassly offers her money to compensate for his bad memory? Hoping to get back into Louise's good graces, George commissions a love song from composer Sammy (played by real-life composer Frank DeVol, in his first appearance on The Jeffersons). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) has had just about enough of his contentious store manager, Wendell Thomas (Earl Billings) -- a sentiment shared by the rest of George's employees. Alas, just as George is firing Wendell, the much-despised manager drops dead. Can things get any worse? You bet: George is called upon to deliver the eulogy at Wendell's funeral. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Louise Jefferson (Isabel Sanford) has grown up with the belief that her father died when she was two years old. All of this changes when Louise's husband, George (Sherman Hemsley), sees a newspaper photo of a "Harold Mills" -- which happened to be the name of Louise's long lost dad. Instead of expressing joy at this discovery, Louise adamantly refuses to entertain the notion that her father might still be alive. Originally filmed for the seventh season of The Jeffersons, "Louise's Father" was held back until season eight. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The first eighth-season Jeffersons episode to be taped (though not the first shown), this one finds George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) brooding over the likelihood that old age is creeping up on him. George's wife, Louise (Isabel Sanford), tries to boost his ego by anonymously sending flowers -- with a sexily suggestive card -- to his office. As usual, George leaps to the wrong conclusion, convinced that his secretary is coming on to him. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this elaborate spoof of the legendary "Who Shot J.R.?" episode of Dallas, the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence (Marla Gibbs), takes it upon herself to write a soap opera script. What emerges from Florence's typewriter is a tale of lust, intrigue, and betrayal, centered around a ruthless dry-cleaning tycoon named G.R. -- who bears a striking resemblance to George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley). When the much-despised G.R. is shot, the rest of the Jeffersons cast members pop up as the most likely suspects. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley), upset over the number of robberies in his apartment building, attends what he thinks is a tenants' meeting. Imagine his surprise and outrage when George discovers that the meeting is being sponsored by a local chapter of the KKK. There's no "happy sitcom ending" in this sobering episode, in which George must rely upon his CPR training to save the life of the man who may well be his worst enemy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) squares off against his dry-cleaning rival, Cunningham (Paul B. Price), in the race for the championship of their local bowling league. Unfortunately, just before the deciding match, George's star bowler falls ill. Desperately, George asks his neighbor Tom Willis (Franklin Cover) -- who hasn't set foot in a bowling alley in years -- to take his ailing star's place. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Its popularity having grown apace since its move to a Sunday night time slot in June 1979, The Jeffersons remained on CBS' Sunday Prime Time manifest as it launched its eighth season in the fall of 1981. Season eight would ultimately yield more first-run episodes than any previous season (27 in all), due to the producers' foresighted decision to "stockpile" new episodes during season seven in the event of another Hollywood union strike such as the one that disrupted production in 1980. At the end of The Jeffersons' 1980-1981 season, Marla Gibbs' character of sassy housekeeper Florence Johnston had been spun off into her own starring series, Checking In, which found Florence appointed as executive housekeeper for the posh St. Frederick Hotel. Alas, Checking In, which premiered April 9, 1981, ran a piddling four episodes. This necessitated Florence's return to The Jeffersons, which in turn required a two-part episode titled "Florence Did It Different," in which it was "explained" that Florence was rehired by George and Louise Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford) after the St. Frederick burned to the ground. (No one missed Florence's temporary replacement in the Jefferson household, a maid named Carmen played by Roseanna Christensen). Though Florence was back, several other Jeffersons' regulars were on their way out. Both Mike Evans and Berlinda Tolbert, cast respectively as Lionel Jefferson and Lionel's wife Jenny, had decided to leave the series at the end of season eight. Though their characters weren't precisely written out, Evans and Tolbert would henceforth be seen only in a sporadic "guest-star" capacity (The couple's infant daughter Jessica, previously all but invisible, finally appeared during the eighth season, played by twin girls Erin and Leslie Holland). And Paul Benedict, who'd been in the series from the beginning as the Jeffersons' eccentric British neighbor Harry Bentley, likewise ankled The Jeffersons in the spring of 1981 -- though he would return, again as a regular, two years later. The Jeffersons closed out its eighth season as the third highest-rated network series -- its most lofty ratings perch ever, and one that it would never attain again. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Delayed for several months due to an industry strike, season seven of The Jeffersons was belatedly launched on November 2, 1980, with "Marathon Man." Determined to prove that each is in better physical shape than the other man, George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) and Tom Willis (Franklin Cover) enter a Central Park marathon. By the time the two men have gotten ready, set, and gone, their rivalry has sorely strained the friendship between their respective wives, Louise (Isabel Sanford) and Helen (Roxie Roker). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a four-part story, George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) and Tom Willis (Franklin Cover), lost at sea around the Hawaiian islands, are rescued by a group of friendly natives on Oahu. At first grateful, George is dismayed to learn that these natives are soon to be displaced by a big, new land development project. It seems that George has invested heavily in that selfsame project so that he can remain in Hawaii permanently. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this second episode of a four-part story, George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) is determined to enjoy his Hawaiian vacation despite the fact that his in-laws Tom and Helen Willis (Franklin Cover, Roxie Roker) and his housekeeper, Florence (Marla Gibbs), are also in Hawaii. The tranquility and the restful climate does wonders for George's high blood pressure -- so much so that he starts making plans to remain in Hawaii permanently. But how will he break the news to his wife, Louise (Isabel Sanford)? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

William Allen Young guest stars as Ernie, the ne'er-do-well cousin of the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence (Marla Gibbs). In dire need of 1,000 dollars, Ernie prevails upon Florence to borrow the money from her boss, George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley). George refuses, insisting that Ernie is a crook -- an assertion that Florence spends the rest of the episode trying to disprove. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this first episode of a two-part story, George and Louise Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford) reluctantly face the possibility that their son, Lionel (Mike Evans), and his wife, Jenny (Berlinda Tolbert), may move to Chicago. While Lionel is out of town to talk to his potential new employer, George is pressed into service to take the pregnant Jenny to her natural-childbirth class. This being a sitcom, it is only to be expected that Jenny will go into labor with no one but George around to help her. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide