Every parent wants to see their child surpass them in success. But it is rare for a television series to see its spin-off become a bigger hit. All in the Family spawned a slew of spin-offs, everything from Maude to Gloria. Heck, even its spin-offs had spin-offs. But none were the juggernaut of The Jeffersons.
Kicking off in January 1975, as All in the Family was in the midst of its fifth season, The Jeffersons quickly became a hit. It was the No. 4 show on television in its inaugural year. The comedy about a laundromat entrepreneur who strikes it rich went on to air for a whopping 11 seasons. All in the Family only lasted nine.
Along the way, The Jeffersons, like most Norman Lear–developed shows, broke through boundaries and gave voice sects of America not often seen on television at the time.
Your level of television knowledge is going to be movin’ on up after reading these fascinating facts about The Jeffersons.
1. Lionel was the first Jefferson to appear on television.
Lionel Jefferson (played by Mike Evans) pops up in the very first episode of All in the Family, “Meet the Bunkers.” Louise, his mother, would turn up later that first season. George Jeffersons was mentioned repeatedly, but it would be a couple years before Sherman Hemsley appeared on the sitcom. Norman Lear was waiting for Hemsley to wrap up a role on Broadway.
2. Sherman Hemsley used to be a mailman.
Before he became a successful actor, Hemsley worked as a postman in Philadelphia. Evan after he made the move to New York City to pursue his dream, he continued to work in a Post Office.
3. Franklin Cover took the bus to work.
That blue-collar work ethic carried through the entire cast. Franklin Cover, who portrayed the friendly Tom Willis, was far from a diva. He took a Los Angeles public bus to the studio every day. He didn’t even own a car. Cover rented an apartment on Sunset Boulevard during production, and made his home in New York. Co-star Roxie Roker jokingly called Cover “the black woman’s burden,” as she would give him rides to his rental unit after taping.
4. Hemsley was only 11 years older than the actor who played his son.
Yep, Hemsley (George) was only 11 years older than Mike Evans (Lionel).
5. Isabel Sanford was the first black woman to win the Lead Actress in a Comedy Emmy.
For her role as Louise, Sanford became the first black woman to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. She was just the second black American actress overall to earn a Primetime Emmy award.