For 253 episodes, George and Louise Jefferson delighted audiences as a wealthy, successful Black married couple living in Manhattan. Having begun as a spin-off to Norman Lear’s All in the Family, The Jeffersons won over TV viewers throughout the country.
The Jeffersons
As a trailblazing sitcom with a predominantly Black cast, The Jeffersons tackled heavy topics along with traditional sitcom shenanigans.
In this clip, George’s mother comes to visit for her birthday. The writers often gave the feisty mama a lot of classic one-liners, most often focused on Lousie.
The Jeffersons
However, in this clip, Mother Jefferson needs Weezy on her side, so she tries not to throw too many insults her way though some still hit Lousie square in the chest. Mother Jefferson has something to tell her son–she’s met someone.
At first, George is happy for his mother when she tells him she’s met a man, they’ve gone to church, played bingo, and ridden a ferry. However, when she tells her son he’s about to get a stepfather, George loses it.
The Jeffersons
Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford star as the title characters, with Mother Jefferson played by Zara Cully. The show was nominated for fourteen Emmy awards during its run, and viewers continue to watch reruns for the undeniable chemistry of all the main characters.