‘The Jeffersons’: Little-Known Facts And Behind-The-Scenes Secrets
After 11 seasons, The Jeffersons became one of the longest-running sitcoms in television history. Running on CBS from 1975-1985, there are many behind-the-scenes facts fans might not know, like how the cast learned of the show’s cancelation and what they did afterward.
Keep clicking through because here are some little-known tidbits and facts about The Jeffersons! Leave a comment if you learned something new!
Louise’s Nickname “Weezy” Was A Little Accident
One of the more relatable points in The Jeffersons is George’s having a nickname for his wife Louise, Weezy. While it became a common term heard on the show, it actually came to be by accident.
As it turns out, Sherman Hemsley grew up with a girl he called Weezy, and one day on set, the name just slipped! It stuck, and Louise became Weezy to her husband!
Isabel Sanford Kept Acting After The Jeffersons
After The Jeffersons came to an abrupt end in 1985, actress Isabel Sanford stayed in the industry and appeared in numerous projects, including both film and television.
While none of her appearances measured up to her role as Louise Jefferson, she still added big-named shows on her resume before her passing, including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Steve Harvey Show, and The Simpson.
Coming off the hugely successful and popular show All in the Family, Isabel Sanford didn’t think a spin-off of the Jefferson family would bring money into the network. She didn’t think people were going to be interested in something so different.
As history proved, Sanford was very wrong, and The Jeffersons became one of CBS’s more popular sitcoms.
Marla Gibbs Continues To Appear In Hollywood
In The Jeffersons, Marla Gibbs plays the title family’s maid, a role that earned Gibbs solid five nominations for Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
After the series, she began to appear in numerous other series. In 2021, Gibbs landed the reoccurring role of Olivia Price on Days of Our Lives.
Mike Evans Left To Become A Writer For Good Times
When The Jeffersons first aired, Mike Evans reprised his role of Lionel Jefferson from All in the Family. As George and Lousie’s story took over the plot, Lionel’s appearances grew few and far between.
So much so that Evans decided to take his newfound time to co-create and write a new sitcom called Good Times.
Sherman Hemsley Once Delivered Mail For A Living
When Sherman Hemsley lived in Philadelphia, he made a living delivering mail around the city. He was a blue-collar worker, which stuck with him even after he moved to New York to get closer to his dreams of becoming an actor.
Hemsley even landed a job as a mailman when he moved to The Big Apple, just in case some of his acting gigs didn’t work out.