Jeffersons, The - The Complete 2nd. Season (1976)

Long before Bill Cosby started wearing his friendly sweaters, urban middle-class African Americans burst onto television in the form of Louise (better known as "Weezy") and George Jefferson, portrayed by Isabel Sanford and Sherman Hemsley. Spun off from All in the Family, The Jeffersons ran from 1975 to 1985, and it's easy to see what made the show so popular--Sanford and Hemsley were a knockout comic duo, surrounded by a skilled supporting cast that included the interracial couple Helen and Tom Willis (Roxie Roker and Franklin Cover), British expatriate Harry Bentley (Paul Benedict), as well as George's cantankerous mother Olivia (Zara Cully) and their snappy, cynical maid Florence (Marla Gibbs).

Set in a high-rise apartment building in the heart of New York City, the show spun around George, a classic character portrait of vanity, arrogance, and petty prejudice. Balanced by the more level-headed but just as strong-willed Weezy, George's self-serving abrasiveness struck comic gold, particularly in the second season, when the show's style had been set but was still fresh. Episodes tackled subjects trivial (George and Tom wear the same tacky dinner jacket to a party) and trenchant (a country club invites George to join, but only so that a newspaper reporter will think the club is open to minorities). The black and white mix of the cast allowed for a sharply satirical take on race relations, which managed to have a genuine sense of hope while never glossing over the complexity of racial tension--and was consistently funny. In fact, it's striking how well the show's humor holds up; The Jeffersons turned a series of half-hour farces into a sly examination of marriage, race, class, and the battle of the sexes; it's sad that so few contemporary sitcoms have this kind of intelligence, courage, and sheer talent. --Bret Fetzer<

Season 2
14. 2-1 201 13-Sep-1975 A Dinner for Harry
15. 2-2 202 20-Sep-1975 George's First Vacation
16. 2-3 203 27-Sep-1975 Louise's Daughter
17. 2-4 204 04-Oct-1975 Harry and Daphne
18. 2-5 206 11-Oct-1975 Mother Jefferson's Fall
19. 2-6 205 18-Oct-1975 Jefferson vs. Jefferson
20. 2-7 208 25-Oct-1975 Uncle Bertram
21. 2-8 207 01-Nov-1975 Movin' on Down
22. 2-9 209 08-Nov-1975 George Won't Talk
23. 2-10 211 15-Nov-1975 Jenny's Grandparents
24. 2-11 210 22-Nov-1975 George's Best Friend
25. 2-12 213 29-Nov-1975 George and the Manager
26. 2-13 212 06-Dec-1975 George's Alibi
27. 2-14 214 13-Dec-1975 Lunch With Mama
28. 2-15 215 20-Dec-1975 George vs. Wall Street
29. 2-16 216 03-Jan-1976 The Breakup (1)
30. 2-17 217 10-Jan-1976 The Breakup (2)
31. 2-18 218 24-Jan-1976 Florence's Problem
32. 2-19 219 31-Jan-1976 Mother Jefferson's Birthday
33. 2-20 220 07-Feb-1976 Louise's Cookbook
34. 2-21 221 14-Feb-1976 George Meets Whittendale
35. 2-22 222 21-Feb-1976 Lionel's Problem
36. 2-23 223 28-Feb-1976 Tennis, Anyone?
37. 2-24 224 06-Mar-1976 The Wedding

Seen it: Yes 30 mins 9/13/1975 1. A Dinner for Harry

It's Harry Bentley's birthday and the Jeffersons are planning a birthday party at there apartment. However, the joyous occasion is anything but when Tom arrives wearing the same dinner jacket as George. Meanwhile, Helen keeps the fact that she was mugged from Tom due to the fact that Tom is at the end of his rope with New York.

Director: Jack Shea Writer: Don Nicholl / Michael Ross

Guest starring: Richard Libertini, Zackie Cooper, Ben Rizzi

Seen it: Yes 30 mins 9/20/1975 2. George's First Vacation

George doesn't know what to do with himself on a Sunday, the only day of the week George doesn't work. Tom quickly points out the obvious that George is a workaholic. Just to spite him, George decides to show him that he can relax and decides to book him and Louise on a cruise. However, Louise and George find themselves with a problem, Mother Jefferson has invited herself along.

Writer: Frank Tarloff

Seen it: Yes 30 mins 9/27/1975 3. Louise's Daughter

When a young woman shows up at the Jefferson's door with the news that she thinks that she's Louise's daughter, George has a fit and begins to doubt Louise. Especially since, the young woman was born while George was in the Korean War.

Director: Jack Shea Writer: Mike Milligan / Jay Moriarty

Guest starring: Diane Sommerfield

Seen it: Yes 30 mins 10/4/1975 4. Harry and Daphne

Harry is sure that his latest girlfriend, Daphne is going to pop the question and doesn't have the heart to let her down. So he bolts to the Jefferson's bathroom. Meanwhile, George tries to handle an inspector who's inspecting one of George's stores. However, George's method to avoid paying a fine by blackmailing the inspector, doesn't go over too well.

Director: Jack Shea Writer: Gordon Mitchell / Lloyd Turner

Guest starring: Rene Auberjonois, Melinda Dillon

Seen it: Yes 30 mins 10/11/1975 5. Mother Jefferson's Fall

After being ignored, a hurt Mother Jefferson fakes a fall and gets all the attention she wants and proves to be an even bigger burden to Louise than usual.

Director: Jack Shea Writer: Erik Tarloff

Guest starring: Hilda Haynes, Maidie Norman, Estelle Evans, Dorothy Butts, Ruth Lee

Seen it: Yes 30 mins 10/18/1975 6. Jefferson vs. Jefferson

Things aren't going to well for George and Louise on their anniversary. First, Louise must contend with the unwelcome Mother Jefferson and then she must contend with George's odd anniversary gift, bicycles. She quickly learns his motive for buying them, to meet Mr. Whittendale.

Writer: Arthur Marx / Robert Fisher

Seen it: Yes 30 mins 10/25/1975 7. Uncle Bertram

Mother Jefferson encounters a masher in the elevator and later discovers he's Jenny's uncle. Things get out of hand when she locks him out on the balcony. Meanwhile, George wants to buy antique furniture, much to Louise's dismay.

Director: Jack Shea Writer: Don Nicholl / Michael Ross

Guest starring: Victor Kilian

Seen it: Yes 30 mins 11/1/1975 8. Movin' on Down

George is sure that he's movin' back down the ladder after some financial setbacks. His worries soon turn into nightmares and with both Lionel asking for money and Florence asking for a raise, George's worries don't appear to be ending anytime soon.

Writer: David Isaacs / Ken Levine

Seen it: Yes 30 mins 11/8/1975 9. George Won't Talk

George is all excited about being invited to speak in front of some youths about his success, that is until he discovers the place he is to speak at is in Harlem. Later, George's fears are justified when his delivery van is looted.

Director: Jack Shea Writer: John Ashby

Guest starring: Robert Guillaume, Ernest Thomas

Seen it: Yes 30 mins 11/15/1975 10. Jenny's Grandparents

Jenny is tired of the bickering between her two grandfathers who have been against each other ever since Tom and Helen wed. So this leads Jenny, Louise and Mother Jefferson to concoct a scheme to get the two together at the Jeffersons' apartment since neither of the grandfathers will step foot in the Willis' apartment.

Director: Jack Shea Writer: James Ritz

Guest starring: Leon Ames, Victor Kilian, Fred Pinkard

Seen it: Yes 30 mins 11/22/1975 11. George's Best Friend

George's old navy buddy, Wendell comes for a visit and immediately begins making passes at Louise. Louise quickly finds herself in a difficult situation, especially since she likes the unexpected attention, since George has recently not been spending any time with her.

Director: Jack Shea / Calvin Kelly Writer: Gordon Mitchell / Lloyd Turner

Guest starring: Louis Gossett, Jr.

Seen it: Yes 30 mins 11/29/1975 12. George and the Manager

George needs a new manager for his store on the first floor in the apartment building. However, the person who's the most qualified for the job he refuses to hire for two reasons, she's a woman and she's white.

Director: Jack Shea / Don Boyle Writer: Mike Milligan / Jay Moriarty

Guest starring: Rhoda Gemignani, Norma Donaldson

Seen it: Yes 30 mins 12/6/1975 13. George's Alibi

Lionel is in a car accident with the van which results in a broken headlight and dented fender. When Lionel doesn't tell George about it, George becomes convinced he was in an accident which could get him in trouble with the mob.

Director: Jack Shea Writer: Sandy Krinski

Guest starring: Thomas Brown

Seen it: Yes 30 mins 12/13/1975 14. Lunch With Mama

Louise realizes that Mother Jefferson has a strong hold on George when he refuses to cancel a monthly lunch with his mother and go with Louise to a funeral for a family friend.

Director: Jack Shea Writer: Don Nicholl / Gordon Mitchell

Guest starring: J.A. Preston

Seen it: Yes 30 mins 12/20/1975 15. George vs. Wall Street

A late night phone call makes George wide-awake when he learns that a flood in Illinois will cause his investment in the stock market to go through the roof. However, George himself is the one going through the roof when he learns Lionel turned down an engineering job which quickly leads to a Jefferson/Willis fight at the Willis apartment.

Writer: George Burditt

Seen it: Yes 30 mins 1/3/1976 16. The Breakup (1)

Lionel is desperate to pass a course but his odds are slim since his passing hinges on a paper he has to write about homosexuality. This leads George to buy a term paper for him, but this leads to a tremendous blow up ending with Jenny and Lionel breaking up and Louise and Helen ending their friendship.

Writer: Dixie Brown Grossman

Seen it: Yes 30 mins 1/10/1976 17. The Breakup (2)

Tom and Helen debate on whether or not to take the first step and try to patch things up with George and Louise while Louise debates the same thing. Meanwhile, Lionel makes a final decision about whether or not to use the ready made term paper.

Director: Jack Shea Writer: Gordon Mitchell / Lloyd Turner

Guest starring: Marion Ramsey

Seen it: Yes 30 mins 1/24/1976 18. Florence's Problem

Florence goes on a cleaning spree in the Jefferson's apartment as well as behaving extremely strange including, kissing Harry and giving away a swimming award to Louise. This leads Louise to believe Florence is contemplating suicide.

Writer: Mike Milligan / Jay Moriarty

Seen it: Yes 30 mins 1/31/1976 19. Mother Jefferson's Birthday

Mother Jefferson is all excited about it being her 70th birthday and even more excited about what George is giving her for a gift. However, George and Louise have totally forgotten all about it leading them to scramble to come up with something to please the old bitty.

Director: Jack Shea Writer: Seaman Jacobs / Fred S. Fox

Guest starring: Lillian Randolph

Seen it: Yes 30 mins 2/7/1976 20. Louise's Cookbook

Louise is offered the opportunity to write a cookbook for Tom's publishing company, Pelham Publishing. However, just as she gets started, a green-eyed George tries his best to put an end to her cookbook.

Director: Jack Shea / Ann Gibbs Writer: Gordon Mitchell / Mike Milligan

Guest starring: Robert Lussier

Seen it: Yes 30 mins 2/14/1976 21. George Meets Whittendale

George is excited that he's going to finally meet Mr. Whittendale, however a previous engagement with Harry could foil George's plans. Things get even worse for George when he becomes trapped in the bathroom with Tom and Helen.

Writer: Gordon Mitchell / Lloyd Turner

Seen it: Yes 30 mins 2/21/1976 22. Lionel's Problem

Prior to his graduation from college, Lionel takes to drinking to ease the pressure of his expected success. Things come to a head when, on the day of his graduation, comes home drunk.

Writer: James Ritz

Seen it: Yes 30 mins 2/28/1976 23. Tennis, Anyone?

George is all excited to be the newest member of an exclusive tennis club. However, the real reasons for his induction slowly come to the surface after he meets the club's towel ""boy.""

Director: Jack Shea Writer: Sandy Veith

Guest starring: Keene Curtis, Davis Roberts, Ray Sharkey

Seen it: Yes 30 mins 3/6/1976 24. The Wedding

After reading an article about Harry Belafonte renewing his marriage vows, George decides to do the same thing. However, Louise has second thoughts when she gets into an argument with George over her being an equal partner in Jefferson Cleaners.

Director: Jack Shea Writer: Gordon Mitchell / Lloyd Turner

Guest starring: Nick LaTour, Bobby Johnson

Sherman Hemsley	George Jefferson
Paul Benedict	Harry Bentley
Franklin Cover	Tom Willis
Zara Cully	Mother Jefferson
Damon Evans	Lionel Jefferson
Mike Evans
Marla Gibbs	Florence Johnston
Roxie Roker	Helen Willis
Isabel Sanford	Louise Jefferson
Berlinda Tolbert	Jenny Willis
Zara Culley
Jay Hammer