JEFFERSONS, THE: JENNY'S GRANDPARENTS (TV)
Summary
One in this series of comedy programs -- a spin-off of "All in the Family" -- about George Jefferson, an opinionated, successful black entrepreneur, his sensible wife Louise ("Weezie"), their adult son Lionel, and their assorted neighbors in a high-rise apartment building on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
In this episode, George is annoyed to hear that Tom's white Uncle Bertram is still romancing Mother Jefferson, and he asks Weezie to get him out of going to church with yet another lie. Mother Jefferson and Bertram return from their morning out and Jenny arrives as well, telling Lionel that her grandfather is in town. He refuses to come to her home because he disapproves of Tom and Helen's mixed marriage, as does her other grandfather. Weezie suggests that they arrange for both men to come to her own apartment and force them to reconcile. Bertram offers to entice his brother by telling him that Tom and Helen are divorcing. Knowing that George will object to the reunion, Mother Jefferson cleverly sends him out of the house by claiming that the reverend will be stopping by to repeat the sermon that George missed while "ill."
Grandpa Willis, Helen's father, arrives first, and Mother Jefferson observes that he is a "fine gentleman." George arrives home early, however, and mistakes him for the reverend. Mother Jefferson quickly fakes an illness and tells George to take her home. Bertram then arrives with his brother Henry, however, revealing at the last moment that there will be no divorce; the grandfathers are surprised and annoyed to realize that they have been tricked. Jenny introduces Lionel to Henry, who observes that the two of them "picked right," and immediately gets into a disagreement with Willis about his "touchy" nature. Exasperated, Jenny emotionally declares that she herself is the thing that they have in common, and both men attempt to comfort her. They begin to discuss the reasons behind their prejudices, though George reappears and is annoyed that his home is being used for such purposes. Tom and Helen arrive as well, but the grandfathers soon begin arguing again, both declaring that they are too old and set in their ways to change. Jenny is saddened by the failed attempt, but the remaining couples decide that it is up to the younger generation to bring the races together. George remains convinced that people should date "their own kind," but Lionel suggests that the Bible itself says otherwise. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: November 15, 1975 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:24:36
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 108537
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; African-American Collection - Comedy
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1975-1985
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Promos - "That's Entertainment!"
CREDITS
- Don Nicholl … Producer, Created by
- Michael Ross … Producer, Created by
- Bernie West … Producer, Created by
- George Sunga … Associate Producer
- Jack Shea … Director
- Norman Lear … Developed by
- James Ritz … Writer
- Jeff Barry … Theme Music by
- Ja'net DuBois … Theme Music by
- Sherman Hemsley … Cast, George Jefferson
- Isabel Sanford … Cast, Louise "Weezie" Jefferson
- Roxie Roker … Cast, Helen Willis
- Franklin Cover … Cast, Tom Willis
- Zara Cully … Cast, Olivia "Mother" Jefferson
- Berlina Tolbert … Cast, Jenny Willis Jefferson
- Damon Evans … Cast, Lionel Jefferson
- Paul Benedict … Cast, Harry Bentley
- Leon Ames … Cast, Grandpa Willis
- Victor Kilian … Cast, Uncle Bertram
- Fred Pinkard … Cast, Grandpa Douglass