Ned Wertimer Movies

Louise Jefferson (Isabel Sanford) is so excited about being interviewed on TV about the Help Center's suicide helpline that she ignores one of her teenaged charges, a melancholy girl named Ruthie (Renee Brown). Feeling rejected by Louise, Ruthie OD's on sleeping pills. With Ruthie's life in the balance, Louise is tormented by both grief and profound guilt. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Louise Jefferson (Isabel Sanford) secretly prepares a surprise 50th birthday party for her husband, George (Sherman Hemsley). Unaware of this, George tries to arrange his own party. Not surprisingly, no one accepts George's invitation (they've all committed themselves to Louise's bash), so our self-pitying hero heads to Charlie's Bar to cry in his beer. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A baby shower is held to celebrate the birth of Jessica Jefferson, daughter of Lionel and Jenny Jefferson (Mike Evans, Berlinda Tolbert). Everybody shows up with gifts and good cheer -- everybody, that is, except Jessica's daddy. Following in the footsteps of his father, George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley), Lionel has decided that it is more important to go to work than to attend the shower. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In a lengthy flashback sequence, George and Louise Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford) recall a fateful day in the lives of themselves and every other African-American. The year is 1968. Fired up by racial pride, George announces that he is going to open up his own business. The anti-police activism of his son, Lionel (Mike Evans), nearly costs George the business loan he is counting upon, but this problem is straightened out just in time for George to set up shop. As it happens, however, "opening day" is April 4, 1968 -- the date that Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated. As the episode draws to a dramatic close, it looks as if even Louise Jefferson (Isabel Sanford) will not be able to counteract the anger and frustration which now threaten to overwhelm her husband and son. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Lionel and Jenny Jefferson (Mike Evans, Berlinda Tolbert) want to purchase a home, but the bank turns down their mortgage loan application. Despite this setback, the couple insists that their parents not interfere in their financial travails. Amazingly, George and Louise Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford) and Tom and Helen Willis (Franklin Cover, Roxie Roker) keep that promise -- just long enough for all four to make separate visits to the bank, that is. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

After several seasons in the ratings doldrums, The Jeffersons had enjoyed an incredible upsurge in viewership during its sixth season, due in no small part to the decision by CBS to move the series to Sunday night, traditionally the "best" TV evening of the week. Thus, it was no surprise that the series would retain its Sunday slot when it entered its seventh season in the fall of 1980; indeed, Sunday would remain "Jeffersons" night until December 1984. Perhaps because the series had finally found its bearings, there were no cast changes or additions during season eight. Clearly, audiences were happy that Mike Evans, the original Lionel Jefferson, had returned to the fold during the previous season after a four-year absence. Jessica Jefferson, newborn daughter of Lionel and Jenny Jefferson (Berlinda Tolbert), was more talked about than seen. A few uncredited infant "actors" appeared as Jessica during season eight, but otherwise the character was conveyed via prerecorded crying sounds. Early in 1981, Marla Gibbs, who had been playing The Jeffersons' sassy housekeeper Florence Johnston since 1975, was given the opportunity to essay the same character on a series of her own. The final two seventh-season Jeffersons episodes were designed as a one-hour pilot for the new Gibbs series, Checking In, in which Florence was promoted to executive housekeeper at the ritzy St. Frederick Hotel. Debuting April 9, 1981, Checking In ultimately checked out after a mere four episodes. Because of a lengthy Hollywood writers' strike in 1980, fewer Jeffersons episodes were produced that year than in previous seasons. Only 20 new half-hours were seen during season seven, though a "stockpile" of 1980-1981 episodes would spill over into season eight. The paucity of first-run episodes did not affect the series' popularity in the least: By April 1981, The Jeffersons was the sixth highest-rated network program. And as a bonus, Isabel Sanford (Louise Jefferson) had won an Emmy Award as outstanding lead actress in a comedy series. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A huge corporation intends to buy all the buildings on a certain city block, throwing people out of their apartments in order to construct huge luxury condos. One of the buildings is a dry-cleaning store owned by George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley), who becomes a darling of the media when he refuses to sell out. But George is hardly altruistic -- he is merely holding out in hopes of getting more money for his property. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Inspired by a novel, the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence (Marla Gibbs), decides to be a "different woman" (with a different background and set of interests) to every potential sweetheart she comes across. One of the men who is treated to the "new" Florence is Greg Martin (Adam Wade), whom she meets at the Help Center. Alas, Martin happens to be a psychiatrist -- and also happens to be convinced that Florence is suffering from a multiple-personality disorder. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

On the night that George and Louise Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford) plan to celebrate the anniversary of their first date, the heating in their apartment building goes on the fritz. Rather than freeze in their own apartments, Tom and Helen Willis (Franklin Cover, Roxie Roker) and Harry Bentley (Paul Benedict) converge upon the toasty-warm Jefferson living room. As things become too crowded for comfort, tempers roar into flame. This was the final episode of The Jeffersons' fifth season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) is thrilled and honored to receive the Small Businessman of the Year award. Naturally, he assumes that the award is given annually to people in medium-income businesses. His wife, Louise (Isabel Sanford), hasn't the heart to tell George that the word "small" in the award is meant to be taken literally -- all previous winners were decidedly on the short side. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This two-part story was apparently inspired by an incident in the life of President Jimmy Carter, who while swimming one day was "attacked" by a hostile rabbit. In this instance, the "killer rabbit" is a man in a bunny suit, who commits a murder in a high-rise apartment. Unfortunately, Louise Jefferson (Isabel Sanford) witnesses the killing while preparing to attend a costume party with husband George (Sherman Hemsley) and the Willises (Franklin Cover, Roxie Roker). Part one of "Now You See, It Now You Don't" originally aired on October 21, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

George and Louise Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford) come across an old will written by George's father. It turns out that the senior Jefferson insisted upon being buried next to his wife, George's mother. Naturally, George wants to honor his late father's wishes by arranging for adjoining graves. Only one problem: Nobody seems to know where Papa Jefferson's body is interred. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi