Norman Lear Movies

The reflective documentary Pete Seeger: The Power of Song explores the legacy of revered American folk singer and activist Seeger - written and directed by filmmaker Jim Brown when Seeger was in his late '80s. In lieu of recounting the narrative of Seeger's life note-for-note, however, Brown uses that individual biography as a contextual lens, through which he recounts decades of American social history. To tell his story, the filmmaker interpolates original, exclusive interviews with such Seeger contemporaries as Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, archival footage of Seeger in concert, and extracts from Seeger's private home movies. In the process, Brown unveils the extent to which Seeger continually prompted societal change through his consciousness-raising music and offstage social efforts. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

A woman learns the value of friendship as she hears the story of two women and how their friendship shaped their lives in this warm comedy-drama. Evelyn Couch (Kathy Bates) is an emotionally repressed housewife with a habit of drowning her sorrows in candy bars. Her husband Ed (Gailard Sartain) barely acknowledges her existence, and while he visits his aunt at a nursing home every week, Evelyn is not permitted to come into the room because the old women doesn't like her. One week, while waiting out Ed's visit, Evelyn meets Ninny Threadgoode (Jessica Tandy), a frail but feisty old woman who lives at the same nursing home and loves to tell stories. Over the span of several weeks, she spins a whopper about one of her relatives, Idgie (Mary Stuart Masterson). Back in the 1920s, Idgie was a sweet but fiercely independent woman with her own way of doing things who ran the town diner in Whistle Stop, Alabama. Idgie was very close to her brother Buddy (Chris O'Donnell), and when he died, she wouldn't talk to anyone except Buddy's girl, Ruth Jamison (Mary-Louise Parker). Idgie gave Ruth a job at the cafe after she left her abusive husband, Frank Bennett (Nick Searcy). Between her habit of standing up for herself, standing up to Frank, and serving food to Black people out the back of the diner, Idgie raised the ire of the less tolerant citizens of Whistle Stop, and when Frank mysteriously disappeared, many locals suspected that Idgie, Ruth, and their friends may have been responsible. Evelyn finds herself looking forward to her weekly visits with Ninny, and is inspired by her story to take a new pride in herself and assert her independence from Ed. Fried Green Tomatoes was based on the novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by actress-turned-author Fannie Flagg, who makes a cameo appearance as the leader of a self-help group. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

By the time The Jeffersons set forth upon its eleventh season in the fall of 1984, the series had been out of the Top 25 programs for nearly two years. In fine sitcom tradition, the producers tried to remedy the situation by first changing the time slot (from Sundays to Tuesdays, beginning in January 1985) and then introducing a new character -- though this one was not "new" at all, merely remodelled. In the spring of 1980, George and Louise Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford) had become grandparents when their son Lionel (Mike Evans) and daughter-in-law Jenny (Berlinda Tolbert) brought forth a baby daughter, Jessica. This character had been virtually written out when both Evans and Tolbert left the series, and viewers were clearly unhappy. There was nothing to do but to bring Jessica back. Ebonie Smith was cast as Jessica, who through the magic of network television had grown into a healthy eight-year-old within a mere four-year span. While Jessica was a welcome addition, The Jeffersons itself was clearly tired and played out (as evidenced by its wearisome reliance upon celebrity guest stars in several episodes). Still, the cast assumed that the show would be renewed for a 12th season, and accordingly did not bother with taping a "grand finale," closing out the season with a standard, open-ended story line. But CBS had other plans, and with the telecast of the 253rd episode on June 26, 1985, the 11-year saga of The Jeffersons came to an abrupt end. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Ending its eighth season as the third top-rated TV series in America, The Jeffersons was assured its usual Sunday night CBS berth for a ninth season, beginning in the fall of 1981. Conspicuous by their absence were former series regulars Mike Evans (as Lionel Jefferson), Berlinda Tolbert (as Jenny Willis Jefferson) and Paul Benedict (as Harry Bentley), though both Evans and Tolbert would pop up as "guest stars" and Bentley would be seen in a smattering of episodes filmed for season eight but held back until the following year. Like many another long-running sitcom, The Jeffersons was beginning to show its age, most notably in its paucity of fresh and original story angles. The actors, too, seemed to be more subdued than in previous seasons -- especially Sherman Hemsley as George Jefferson, whose energy level had cooled considerably. The seemingly phlegmatic attitude of the series' cast and production crew spilled over into its fan following: The Jeffersons dropped from third to 12th place in the ratings, and would continue to drop throughout its final two years of existence. ~ 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

The biggest news attending The Jeffersons' sixth season was the return of Mike Evans as Lionel Jefferson, the role he'd created on the series' parent program, All in the Family, way back in 1971. Having been replaced by Damon Evans (no relation) from 1975 to 1979, Mike Evans stepped back into Lionel's shoes with remarkable smoothness, almost as if he'd never been gone. The other "big event" during season six was the birth of Jessica Jefferson, the daughter of Lionel and his wife, Jenny Willis Jefferson (Berlinda Tolbert). As was usually the case in sitcomland, Jessica's arrival was served up in a hectic two-part episode, replete with frantic chases to the hospital and an abundance of waiting-room tension. Since Jessica was the interracial daughter of an interracial couple, Lionel's highly opinionated dad, George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley), found he had struck a whole new mother lode of sarcastic humor. Having occupied a new Sunday-night slot since June 1979, The Jeffersons enjoyed the best ratings it had seen in years. The program not only returned to the Top Ten, but had attained the coveted number eight ratings slot, surpassing even its source series, All in the Family. Perhaps this viewer upsurge was due to its new Sunday berth, or maybe the return of Mike Evans and the introduction of baby Jessica did the trick. Whatever the case, The Jeffersons was assured a renewal for an seventh season in the fall of 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Assured that the character played by her co-star Jimmie Walker, brash, budding inner-city artist J.J. Evans, had become more mature and responsible during her year-long absence, actress Esther Rolle agreed to return to the role of J.J.'s mom, Florida Evans, as Good Times launched its sixth season. Conspicuous by his absence was Moses Gunn as Florida's second husband, Carl Dixon, whom she ostensibly married at the end of season four -- and with whom she'd been living in Arizona while "missing in action" throughout season five. When Florida made her comeback to the Evanses' tiny Chicago apartment, it was minus Carl, with no explanation given as to what had happened to him; indeed, it was if Carl had never existed. The series' scripters contrived to bring Florida back into the Evans fold by having her invited to the wedding of her daughter, Thelma (BernNadette Stanis), and up-and-coming, award-winning football flash Keith Anderson, played by new Good Times regular Ben Powers. It was hoped that Keith's impending contract with the Chicago Bears would enable the Evanses to at last leave the Projects and move into more attractive surroundings. Alas, no sooner had Thelma and Keith said "I do," than Keith tripped and broke his knee, thereby effectively squashing any hopes he had for a pro football career. Thus did Keith move into the increasingly crowded Evans apartment, contributing to the family's meager finances by working as a cab driver. Since Keith could only work a few hours a day, and J.J. had just been fired by the ad agency where he worked, former maid Florida had to go job-hunting, landing a part-time position as a school bus driver. J.J.'s efforts to make ends meet caused him to cross paths more than once with brutish neighborhood loan shark "Sweet Daddy" Williams, played by Theodore Wilson, a formerly recurring character who graduated that season to semi-regular status.

As for the other cast members, younger brother Michael Evans (Ralph Carter) continued to seek out his niche in the world; neighbor Willona (Ja'net Dubois) was relatively content in her new role as single adoptive mother to the precocious Penny (Janet Jackson); and usurious landlord Bookman (Johnny Brown) continued to pinch as many pennies as possible in maintaining the Evans apartment. Beginning the season in a "death" time slot opposite NBC's Saturday-night league leader, CHiPs, Good Times continued to lose viewers at an alarming rate. Having already gone on a brief hiatus in November 1978, the series left the air entirely in December, resurfacing in May 1979, only so that the remaining episode could be played off, thereby avoiding a total loss of CBS' investment. In a Wednesday-night time slot that was no more beneficial than its previous Saturday berth, the series died a quiet death on August 1, 1979, with one of the most outrageously unrealistic "happy" endings in TV series history: To make a long story short, everything turned out all right. Only 21 of the 24 episodes filmed for the 1978-1979 season were telecast by CBS; the three "orphaned" episodes would not be seen until Good Times entered local syndication in the fall of 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Even though its ratings had dropped precipitously since its January 1975 debut, The Jeffersons remained on the CBS prime time schedule during the 1977-1978 season, if for no other reason than the "clout" of series producer Norman Lear. Having been moved all over the map during its third season, from Saturday evenings to Wednesdays and finally Mondays, the series launched season four by returning to Saturdays, albeit in a later time slot than it had occupied in previous years. The cast of characters remained the same as before, with the notable and tragic exception of Zara Cully as the imperious Mother Jefferson. Having been too ill to appear in anything but "guest-star" assignments since the end of season two, Cully died in January 1978. Meanwhile, a new recurring character had been added to the fold in the form of Ernest Harden Jr. as Marcus Garvey Henderson, a street-smart young employee of dry-cleaning entrepreneur George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley). Marcus was one of several characters introduced when George's wife Louise (Isabel Sanford), in concert with best friend Helen Willis (Roxie Roker) and the Jeffersons' housekeeper Florence (Marla Gibbs), began volunteering her services at the Help Center, an outreach organization designed to assist inner-city youngsters. The series' move back to Saturdays evidently helped not at all. The Jeffersons dropped even lower on the ratings scale, not even appearing on the Top 30 programs of the year. Clearly, another time slot change was in order; thus in June 1978, The Jeffersons hopped back to Mondays, where it would remain until returning to Wednesdays for its fifth-season debut. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Season four of Good Times marked the first of the series' significant cast changes -- or, to be more precise, cast deletions. Long disenchanted with the way in which the series had devolved from the weekly saga of a poor but indomitable ghetto family into a vehicle for the brash buffoonery of Jimmie Walker (aka J.J. Evans), actor John Amos, who had played Evans family patriarch James from the outset of the show in January 1974, quit the series outright. Amos' abrupt departure prompted the series' producers to exhume a script that had initially been written for another Norman Lear TV sitcom, All in the Family. Originally conceived to compensate for the possible defection of series star Carroll O'Connor, the script, as written, showed the members of Bunker household -- mother Edith, daughter Gloria, and son-in-law Mike -- coping with the accidental death of bumptious bigot Archie Bunker. As it happened, O'Connor remained with All in the Family, and thus this pivotal script went unfilmed -- until John Amos quit Good Times. Undergoing a hasty rewrite, the script emerged as the two-part opener for Good Times' fourth season; it was thus James Evans, and not Archie Bunker, who was killed in a traffic accident while on an out-of-town trip. Esther Rolle, who played James's wife, Florida, was not altogether pleased with Amos' departure, but she could understand his motivation. She, too, regarded the character of J.J. as a poor role model for African-American youths, and she hoped that J.J.'s sudden ascension to "man of the house" status would force the character to grow and mature. At the same time, one of the reasons that Rolle signed on to Good Times was because of the series' depiction of an closely knit inner-city family with a strong and positive father figure at the head. With Amos gone, Rolle was herself less than anxious to continue with her participation in the series. And this, coupled with the producers' insistence upon retaining the "zany" qualities that had endeared J.J. to millions of viewers, prompted her to consider leaving the series as well -- which indeed she did, at the end of season four. Before this happened, however, the series' writers contrived to pair off Florida Evans with a new sweetheart in the form of Carl Dixon (Moses Gunn), the employer of Florida's youngest son, Michael (Ralph Carter). Although Carl was obstreperous, profane, and something of an atheist, Florida managed to bring out the best in the man, and with the blessings of her children -- including daughter Thelma (BernNadette Stanis) -- Florida and Carl had decided to wed by the time the last fourth-season episode had rolled around. The many changes in Good Times' basic premise, combined with its move to a suicidal Wednesday-night time slot opposite ABC's surprise hit The Bionic Woman, had an injurious effect on the program's ratings. Having already dropped from seventh to 24th place during season three, the series failed to even crack the Top 25 during season four. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Still in its regular Saturday-night time slot, The Jeffersons entered its third season on CBS. Although the cast had not undergone any radical changes since season two, there were a few differences. For one, Marla Gibbs, who'd been seen in the recurring role of the Jeffersons' sassy maid Florence since the series' debut in 1975, graduated to full "regular" status when she became the family's live-in housekeeper. For another, Zara Cully, the inimitable (and intimidating) Mother Jefferson, was unable to appear on a weekly basis due to advancing age and illness. She did, however, make a handful of token appearances toward the end of the season. The romance between Lionel Jefferson (Damon Evans) and Jenny Willis (Berlinda Tolbert) culminated in marriage on the Christmas 1976 episode. The union of the Jefferson and Willis clans would result in a softening of George Jefferson's (Sherman Hemsley) "race" jokes aimed at interracial couple Tom and Helen Willis (Franklin Cover, Roxie Roker), though George still seldom spared the Willises his wicked wit. As for Louise Jefferson (Isabel Sanford), her efforts to broaden her knowledge and interests would increase during season three, usually with a devastatingly comic effort on husband George. Unable to regain the high ratings it had enjoyed during its first season, The Jeffersons began changing its time slot with dizzying frequency. The series moved from Saturdays to Wednesdays in November 1976, then from Wednesdays to Mondays in January 1977. This hopscotching had little effect on the series' ratings; in fact, since The Jeffersons dropped from 21st to 24th place during season three, its chaotic reshuffling probably did more harm than good. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This 1976 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Norman Lear and features musical guest Boz Scaggs. ~ Skyler Miller, Rovi