The Jeffersons: Season 03  (1976)

Theatrical Release Information:
The Jeffersons: Season 03

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, All Movie Guide