When Norman Lear created All in the Family and it’s spinoff The Jeffersons, he created a brilliant look at the times – and did it in such a way that exposed bigotry with a laugh. Controversial, probing, and sarcastic, both shows explored race relations as well as other contemporary issues. In the hilarious scene above, Archie and George learn just how alike they are when George’s son has decided to marry a woman with a white husband.
George Jefferson was played by Sherman Alexander Hemsley (February 1, 1938 – July 24, 2012). His death today at age 74 reminds us of the many smiles we’ve enjoyed by the characters he has portrayed. Not only George Jefferson, but also as deacon Earnest Frye on Amen. He once played a victim of the devil on an episode of the Twilight Zone!
We won’t really miss George. He’ll be living on in sitcom syndication forever. Maybe I’ll spend the rest of today humming that catchy theme song from The Jeffersons.
Thanks for reading,
John
DVD
Good stuff. I am a big fan of both shows. Amazing the thing they said in the 70′s that would be so unaccepted and politically incorrect today. But what they were really doing is making a spectacle out of such bigotry. Both shows were pretty brilliant in my opinion.