Early seasons of the show used racial epithets for both Black and white characters fairly often, but as time went on Hemsley thought his character should be evolving and stop using expressions like "honky." Hes mellowed. After his car was rear-ended by a bus, he filed a civil action and won $5000, enough to open his first store in Queens. Florence Johnston (Marla Gibbs) worked for the Jefferson family on their show, but Checking In focused on her life as the executive housekeeper of the St. Frederick Hotel in New York City. Weezy is initially reluctant to hire a housekeeper in the first episode in part because she's had that experience herself. The characters and mood set by All in the Family left a big mark on television history, including these seven spin-offs: The title character, played by Bea Arthur, was a tall, ultra-liberal feminist who drove Archie crazy; she was introduced in as Ediths cousin in two All in the Family episodes in the 1971-72 season. Faced with low ratings, the series was cancelled, and the final episode aired on April 30, 1981. Even when shows remain in the popular culture after their cancellation, they're usually relegated to a murky backwater on the cable or streaming menu. Television historians know that while the character of George Jefferson was introduced on All in the Family in 1971, he didn't actually show up on screen until 1973. I would like to see this forgotten TV show resurrected on TV Land or Nick at Night, or maybe a special DVD release. Gibbs then returned to her regular role on The Jeffersons and it was explained that the St. Frederick Hotel had burned down. WebSynopsis. The show's time slot, for example, changed a ridiculous 15 times over those 11 years. The shows spin-off series continued to break boundaries with discussions of abortion, alcoholism and racism. After the huge success of shows like All in the Family, Maude, Good Times, and Sanford and Sonin terms of ratings as well as critical receptionhe had the ability to do things other showrunners couldn't. Maude arrives at the Bunker home to help out when the family gets hit with the flu. Luckily, producer (and future network president) Fred Silverman fought to keep the scene in, and protest was muted. [18] However, the roles were all recast, with Berlinda Tolbert taking over the role of Jenny, veteran actor Franklin Cover playing her father, Tom Willis, whose first name was changed from Louis, as it was in their first All in the Family appearance, and Roxie Roker as her mother, Helen. As groundbreaking as The Jeffersons was in terms of depicting Black America on the small screen, it still earns criticism for some of its choices. The pilot even has the series signature catchphrase, God will get you for that, Walter, which Maude uses to express her displeasure with husband Walter (Bill Macy), owner of an appliance shop. This CBS spin-off of "All in the Family" featured an African-American couple, George and Louise, who rose from their humble beginnings and moved into an expensive high rise. In some ways, 1975 doesn't seem so long agobut it was truly a different time in more ways than one. This show debuted after the wrap of All in the Family. Archie Bunker (Carroll OConnor) and his new partner Murray (Martin Balsam) run a tavern in Queens. Another interesting connection of the sitcom universe is that Mike Evans (who played Lionel Jefferson on All in the FamilyandThe Jeffersons) createdGood Timeswith Eric Monte. 1. See Amos in the episodeA Visit From Lena Horne(January 12, 1973) and DuBois inSanford And Son And Sister Makes Three(December 1, 1972). Danny Wells played Charlie, the owner and a bartender of a nearby bar to the Jeffersons apartment building. Five is a lot, but its not a record. "HONKY IN THE HOUSE Writing & Producing The Jeffersons," Antler Publishing, LA, CA, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 18:06. Charlie was also revealed to be an alcoholic in the season 11 episode "A Secret in the Back Room", in which Charlie is in denial, but the Jeffersons eventually get him to admit to his problem and advise him to get some help. One other reason she kept her job despite becoming famous on a top-rate television show? Michael J. Which is why it's easy to forget that George Jefferson actually had a fascinating fictional background story that was more thoughtful than your typical sitcom fare. Gibbs says that she worked out an adjusted schedule with United that allowed her enough time to film her scenes and then race into work, where she worked the phones in their reservations office. As noted by The New York Times, the ostensible reason given was that he was uncomfortable walking into a white man's house, setting up the character as a foil for Archie Bunker's racism. Similar to its parent sitcom, All in the Family, the Jeffersons explored controversial issues such as alcoholism, racism, suicide, being transgender, and much more, certainly making it one of the most importantsitcoms of all time. John Amos (who played James Evans onGood Times) is the father, Ernie Cumberbatch. A sitcom world must be a good one for a spin-off to spawn another spin-off! Today were heading back to Manhattan, to revisit our favorite family, The Jeffersons. The characters of Lionel and Jenny were written out by stating that they had marital problems, the result of which became a two-part episode storyline as the series' eighth-season premiere. There was one episode that was actually sort of scary, involving a flute-playing ghost that haunted one of the rooms in the old hotel. [21], It returned to the Top 10 in 197980, and at the end of the 198182 season, The Jeffersons finished third overall, only surpassed by fellow CBS series Dallas and 60 Minutes. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The show was produced by the T.A.T. The series began after a backdoor pilot on Archie Bunker's Placecalled "Gloria: The First Day." Jefferson has plenty of reason to distrust white people and the power structures they use to oppress him. The Jeffersons avoided that by making the titular characters move to a different neighborhood. Archie Bunker's Place extended Archie's role to over twelve years on television. RELATED:10 Iconic Black TV Shows That Defined The Culture. [7], In its first season (197475), the show ranked at number four, surpassed by its parent series All in the Family (which landed at number one for the fifth year in a row). I remember watching Checking In in the early 80s and even remember the theme song. Thats not just impressive, its historic. Archie's bigotrywas never meant to be accepted; rather,the entire sitcom wasmeant to "throw a humorous spotlight" on human "frailties, prejudices, and concerns," as a disclaimer before the first episode said. Florence Johnston (Marla Gibbs) worked for the Jefferson family on their show, butChecking Infocused on her life as the executive housekeeper of the St. Frederick Hotel in New York City. In a reversal ofAll in the Family, Ernie is liberal while his son is quite conservative. But the moment you read the title you heard its iconic theme song in your head, and no matter your age or background you've probably seen an episode or a dozenand maybe not that long ago. The final spin-off of this world of Norman Lear shows is704 Hauser. A top 20 show for most of its 11 seasons, The Jeffersons was canceled abruptly without an official series finale. Archie and Mike are always butting heads since Archie is politically conservative and Mike is usually portrayed as being liberal. The Jeffersons ended up lasting 11 seasons, beating All In The Family's 9 seasons. The show was a spin-off of The Jeffersons. Often, people calling in to book flights would tell her that her voice sounded familiar, and she'd just laugh it off. She appeared in seven episodes in 197677, so watch any of those! During the January 11, 1975 episode of All in the Family, titled "The Jeffersons Move Up", Edith Bunker gave a tearful good-bye to her neighbor Louise Jefferson as her husband George, their son Lionel, and she moved from a working-class section of Queens, New York, into the luxurious Colby East, a fictitious high-rise apartment complex on East 63rd Street in Manhattan. 1. Checking In premiered on CBS on April 9, 1981, and lasted for only four episodes in the Thursday, 8:00p.m. EST timeslot. [23] Bentley also had a bad back, and frequently needed George to walk on it. Over the course of its 11-year run, the series was almost always one of the most-watched on television. The series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. [3] At the beginning of The Jeffersons, he was operating five stores throughout New York City, with another two opening during the following seasons. A spin-off of All in the Family. Hemsley was so good, show creator Norman Lear waited years to be able to hire him. Before the 1970s, there hadn't been any TV shows with majority Black casts in decades, and the Black characters that did appear on television were usually not particularly grounded in reality. Stapleton expressed a desire to distance herself from the role of Edith. It's unsurprising then that once The Jeffersons aired, it remained on television for almost a decade.The Jeffersons was a spin-off that took the blueprint provided by All in the Family and made minor changes by making the No episode was centered on Mother Jefferson's death, but it was occasionally mentioned that she had died in future episodes. But whatHappy Daysdidnt have were spin-offs of spin-offs. I remember watching Checking In in the early 80s and even remember the theme song. All in the Familyprimarily takes place at the Bunker residence on 704 Hauser Street. If you loveAll In The Familyand its iconic characters, the concept alone is problematic. 1. The influential sitcom was controversial when it first aired on 50 years ago on Jan. 12, 1971, and it went on to confront numerous issues that hadnt previously been portrayed on television. It was a sort-of spin-off of The Jeffersons, as it featured Lynne Moody as Nurse Julie Williams, the niece of George and Louis Jefferson. The location is the only concrete link fromAll in the Familyto the series, but it's a strong one despite the fact that704 Hauserwas only on the air for five episodes. As discussed by critic Robert E. Crafton, an insurance settlement allowed George to quit his job and launch his first dry-cleaning business, which in turn allowed the Jeffersons to move from Harlem to Queens (becoming Archie Bunker's neighbors in the process), and finally to make the move to Manhattan. The show was launched as the second (and longest running) spin-off of All in the Family, on which the Jeffersons had been the neighbors of Archie and Edith Bunker. Your subscription to our list has been confirmed. Paul Benedict arrived as Harry Bentley, an amiable, kind, loyal yet somewhat obtuse British next-door neighbor,[8] who worked as an interpreter at the United Nations. Besides being set in the same house, the only directAll In The Familyconnection comes withCasey Siemaszkoplaying grown-up Joey Stivic. CBS was nervous,Rob Reiner(Mike aka Meathead) told PBS in 2016. In reality, Joey (born 1975) would have only been 19, but Siemaszko was 33. This show wasnt very successful, however. Gloria Bunker Stivic became a single mom after Mike left her, so she got a job in a veterinary office. The show was a spin-off of The Jeffersons. Communications Company from 19751982 and by Embassy Television from 19821985. A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants. The Jeffersons spawned the television show Checking In. This show followed the Jeffersons maid Florence Johnston as she worked at a hotel in Manhattan. WebIn 1975, George Jefferson was eager to move out of Queens. Lionel is the first Jefferson to be seen onAll in the Family, but his parents become an important part of the show, too. Sherman Hemsley even appeared in the premiere. Archie Bunkers Place(19791983 97 episodes). Mike Evans would leave The Jeffersons to work behind the camera for another show in the All in the Family family tree Good Times. Making George a little ridiculous softened the blow, because it made it clear that no matter how successful he and his family might be, they would always be second-class. In that regard,Good Timesis more like a reboot of Rolle and Amoss characters than a spinoff. [8] The characters of Lionel's multiracial fiance, Jenny, and her family, all of whom first appeared in the 1974 All in the Family episode "Lionel's Engagement", were also written into the new series. Checking Infound Florence as executive housekeeper at a New York City Hotel. All in the Family was notable for many things including the fact that it spawned seven other TV series. The episode, the eighth of the series, centers on Louise, her son Lionel, and her husband George moving next door to Archie and Edith Bunker in the working-class section of Queens. Also worth noting: in the fifth season, Janet Jackson joined the cast. With Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover. [44] Season 8 was released on August 11, 2015. [22] One episode featured George requesting Florence to insult him, in order to get to a prospective business partner who was fond of her wisecracks. In response she showed a picture of her husband, Sy Kravitz, who was white. Members of the Black Panther Party set up a meeting with Lear to discuss Good Times. Lear said Good Times (created by Mike Evans and Eric Monte) was the first full Black family on television, meaning two parents and more than one kid. Mike Evans ("Lionel") left the show after the first season; his replacement was Damon Evans (no relation),[6] who took over the role until halfway through the fourth season. The twist was that the older generation were the liberals (with John Amos again starring, but in a different role, and Lynnie Godfrey) while their son was an arch-conservative (T.E. As the Atlanta Black Star notes, the Panthers told Lear that there were successful Black people in the world whose stories could be compelling and funny. This article is about the 1981 sitcom. All of that changed on May 9, 1971, whenAll In The Familywon Emmys for Best Comedy, Best New Series, and Best Actress forJean Stapleton(Edith Bunker). For airdates and times, visit theAll In The Familyshow page. Produced by Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin, the working-class sitcom was set in Queens, New York and was based on a British sitcom calledTill Death Do Us Part. Lionel is introduced in the pilot, and is a core cast member for season one. [11] The cancellation of The Jeffersons cleared the way for Marla Gibbs, who played Florence Johnston on the series, to move on to the NBC sitcom 227 in the fall of 1985, a year earlier than scheduled. Affluent and successful, the Jeffersons still had to deal with race, prejudice, and economic pressures, and the show represented a more nuanced and more complex view of the Black American experience. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. She got unlimited passes from the airline. George owns a profitable dry-cleaning chain, so he and the family move to a nice apartment on the Upper East Side of New York City in a backdoor pilot onAll in the Family. Florence and Elena suspect that a ghost is roaming the building, and Florence decides to spend the night alone in a room to prove that it's not haunted. The sitcom featured Burgess Meredith and Jo de Winter, and lasted one season. [42][43], On April 28, 2015, Shout! 704 Hauserflips the Archie/Meathead dynamic by making Ernie Cumberbatch (John Amos) the liberal and his son Thurgood Marshall Cumberbatch (T.E. 6. George's career as a dry-cleaner began in the first season of All in the Family in the third episode "Oh, My Aching Back" (though the character himself did not appear on-camera). [8][21] Lionel and Jenny experienced marital issues as evidenced in a two-part season 8 episode "The Separation", and divorced in the final season two-parter "Sayonara".[8]. [5][6] The show was the creation of Norman Lear. George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) doesnt make his debut until season four, because Hemsley was committed to the Broadway showPurlie. [49] Marla Gibbs reprised her role as Florence Johnston. When shows featured Black characters, they were often portrayed as stereotypes, as clownish fools or ominous criminals. And the series (which co-starred Oscar nomineeBurgess Meredithas a vet) didnt do much to win anybody over. Arthur was the only actor seen for the entire half-hour. According to Encyclopedia.com, Hemsley had built a reputation as a powerhouse performer, and Lear had caught his performance in Purlie in New York in 1970 and knew he wanted him for the character of George. Lionel is introduced in the pilot, and is a core cast member for season one. Sitcom following a successful African-American couple, George and Louise Weezy Jefferson as they move on up from working-class Queens to a ritzy Manhattan apartment. WebThis spinoff from "All in the Family" is about literal upward mobility - African- American couple George and Louise Jefferson move into a swanky high-rise building. This show wasnt very successful, however. The series endured for nine seasons, but the show we think of when we think ofAll In The Familyreally ended in season 8 when Gloria (Sally Struthers) and her husband Meathead (Reiner) moved to California. It was funny and entertaining. Fox tried out for a role on this show but was turned down. It only It became Tandems longest running show, with 11 seasons. In the 1984-85 season, CBS aired a forgotten comedy called E/R, starring Elliot Gould. But just because Lear could push those characters and storylines onto the screen didn't mean everyone was happy about it. Checking In, created by Mike Milligan and Jay Moriarty, only lasted for four episodes, one of the few Tandem/TAT sitcoms that wasnt a success. The series' eighth season was the first African-American sitcom in years (since Sanford and Son) to peak in the top 5 (the series' eighth season debuted at No. In the spring of 1981, Paul Benedict left the show for a season and a half, returning in the final two seasons of the series. A spin-off of All in the Family. ", "How 'All in the Family' Spawned the Most Spinoffs of Any Sitcom", "All in the Family Season 5, Episode 16 The Jeffersons Move Up", "Actor Paul Benedict, 70, Leaves the Stage", "Zara Cully: Known for Role as 'Mother Jefferson' on the Jeffersons", "Ned Wertimer, character actor known as 'The Jeffersons' doorman, dies at 89", "The Jeffersons Season 10 Episode 16: My Guy, George", https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/78-OCR/1978-05-01-BC-OCR-Page-0036.pdf, https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/79-OCR/BC-1979-06-18-OCR-Page-0056.pdf#search=%22rounding%20up%20the%20ratings%22, "The Norman Lear Experience: His Shows, His Honesty and One Thing He Wanted to Do", "Mill Creek Entertainment Signs Deals With Sony Pictures Home Entertainment To Expand Their Distribution Partnership", "Mill Creek's Re-Releases for Next Month Get Great DVD Package Art", "The Jeffersons CORRECT DATE, Packaging for 'The Complete Series: The Deee-luxe Edition', "Great Extras Revealed for 'The Complete Series: The Deee-luxe Edition', "The Jeffersons Shout! Oddly, whenGood Timesbegan in February of 1974, no mention was made of Maude or how the Evanses got from New York to the Chicago. The successful series ran for six seasons and, like its predecessor, dealt with some serious issues during its day. So when shows like Norman Lear's Good Times hit the airwaves in the early 1970s, it was seen as huge progress. But, if you love Carroll OConnors Archie, its a gift that we got to see more of him (even if the show isnt as good). And Louises brother-in-law Henry (Mel Stewart) appears for the first time in the last episode of season one. Web3. Lear created this series, which had an inventive concept: an African-American family moves into the house formerly occupied by Archie Bunker. a disclaimer before the first episode said. Dont miss on getTV:Cousin Maudes Visit(December 11, 1971) andMaude(March 11, 1972). Both men are bigoted, and both use sarcasm and insults as weapons. Bunker has no reason to hate Blacks or to view them as inferior. The cast reunited in a stage play based on the sitcom. After eight seasons, Lear thoughtAll In The Familyhad run its course, but OConnor didnt agree. It's unsurprising then that once The Jeffersons aired, it remained on television for almost a decade.The Jeffersons was a spin-off that took the blueprint provided by All in the Family and made minor changes by making the Yes, Scream VI Marketing Is Behind the Creepy Ghostface Sightings Causing Scares Across the U.S. David Oyelowo, Taylor Sheridan's 'Bass Reeves' Series at Paramount+ Casts King Richard Star Demi Singleton (EXCLUSIVE), Star Trek: Discovery to End With Season 5, Paramount+ Pushes Premiere to 2024. The sitcoms breakout star was Jimmie J.J. Walker, with his trademark phrase Dy-no-mite!. Today were heading back to Manhattan, to revisit our favorite family, The Jeffersons. You would be, too, if your neighbor was Archie Bunker. With Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover. Arthur was the only actor seen for the entire half-hour. It took until 1975 until television finally gave Black audiences a family that looked like them and that wasn't struggling. [14] In season 5 episode 17 of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, titled "Will Is from Mars" (1995), the Jeffersons made a guest appearance as a couple in therapy class. They were guests in the fictional hotel and their voices were dubbed by Italian actors Enzo Garinei (George) and Isa di Marzio (Louise), who also dubbed their characters for the full series. This CBS spin-off of "All in the Family" featured an African-American couple, George and Louise, who rose from their humble beginnings and moved into an expensive high rise. George is an obstreperous, often rude guy who thinks his wealth should get him anywhere he wants to go. MeTV points out that it was the first situation comedy on prime time television to depict a transgender characterGeorge's old Navy pal Eddie, revealed to now be Edie. Web3. Weve both mellowed. A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants. Theres certainly no human alive who believesArchie Bunkers Placeis better thanAll In The Family,and theres probably a few of us who would rather it didnt exist at all. A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants. Stage actressEsther Rolleshows up in the third episode ofMaudeas Florida, an AfricanAmerican housecleaner who has little patience for Maudes political correctness. 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We cant talk about the offspring without a few words about the parent. WebThe Jeffersons: Created by Norman Lear, Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, Bernard West. [5][7] The Jeffersons eventually evolved into more of a traditional sitcom, but episodes occasionally focused on serious issues such as alcoholism, racism, suicide, gun control, being transgender, the KKK, and adult illiteracy. As The NWI Times notes, George worked as a janitor for a large apartment building while his wife, Louise "Weezy" Jefferson, worked as a housekeeper. RELATED:10 Sitcom Characters With Supernatural Abilities, Ranked By Power. Dont miss on getTV:While theres no direct Bunker connection,Checking Indoes featureLiz Torresas Florences assistant. Archie and Edith travel up to wealthy Tuckahoe, New York for the wedding of Maudes daughter Carol (played in this episode byMarcia Roddand in the series byAdrienne Barbeau). It was a spinoff of a spinoff, centering on Maudes maid Florida (Esther Rolle) and her family. Variety said it underscored that sitcoms this year are treading more realistic areas than the dramatic series., Also in the second season, Maude decided to have an abortion. The show was a spinoff from "All in the Family." Fame10 notes that executives worried depicting an interracial kiss would lead to violenceand, worse, to affiliate stations dropping the show. [8] The Jeffersons' sixth season peaked at No. Normally successful shows are allowed to develop in a specific time slot in order to become an anchor for the network, but for some reason The Jeffersons was moved around constantly, forcing viewers to seek it out and figure out how to re-arrange their viewing schedules to accommodate it. Gloria(19821983 21 episodes plus unaired pilot). It's rare for a television comedy to lead cultural change like this, and it puts The Jeffersons into historical perspective. 0. DuBois infused the song with her own storyCNN reports that DuBois had always dreamed of moving her mother into a "deluxe apartment" when she achieved success. Groundbreaking and performed by some of the most talented actors and actresses of its time, The Jeffersons has remained a cultural touchstone for some very good reasons. Norman Lear created the character of George Jefferson specifically for Hemsley. George Jefferson was, in some ways, a black version of the white anti-hero Archie Bunker. For other uses, see, Learn how and when to remove this template message, List of awards and nominations received by The Jeffersons, "The Jeffersons: A look at life on black America's new 'Striver's Row', "Sherman Hemsley dies: Watch George Jefferson at his finest", "The Jeffersons and Happy Days and Valerie Bertinelli Bio", "Tyler Perry's House of Payne: Paying Homage to Sherman Hemsley", "Are Any of 'The Jeffersons' Cast Members Still Alive Today? As a result, the series remained among the Top 20 for the next two seasons. Gibbs then returned to The Jeffersons.. The Jeffersonsis the next spin-off to come directly fromAll in the Family. His alcohol problem isn't referenced anymore throughout the series, but it is assumable Charlie overcame it. As BET reports, it was the first TV show to directly address suicide in an episode where Florence the housekeeper falls into a depression and contemplates ending her life. Larry Linville(Frank Burns on MASH) plays her manager. And then there's The Jeffersons. Gloria and Mike are no longer together, so Gloria and her son, Joey, leave California and go home to New York. The Cumberbatches are a Black family moving into the Bunkers' old house in Queens. George is an obstreperous, often rude guy who thinks his wealth should get him anywhere he wants to go. In the 1984-85 season, CBS aired a forgotten comedy called E/R, starring Elliot Gould. Sign up for the newsletter to get the latest updates about getTV. [1][4], The show focuses on George and Louise Jefferson, a prosperous African-American couple who have been able to move from Queens to Manhattan owing to the success of George's dry-cleaning chain, Jefferson Cleaners. Lesa Kite, Cindy Begel, Howard Bendetson & Bob Bendetson. George is an obstreperous, often rude guy who thinks his wealth should get him anywhere he wants to go. To make matters worse, when the show finally debuted on CBS, it was largely ignored by the public. Even though it flopped,704 Hauserhas a special place in the heart of many Norman Lear fans. As noted by BET, The Jeffersons was a consistently high-rated showonly the second sitcom with a majority Black cast to land in the Top Five of the Nielsen Ratings, in fact. The series gave John Amos and Norman Lear another chance to work together after tensions on set led Amos to leaveGood Times. Lear and associate Al Burton talked about a possible show in which a Black family is moving on up to the East Side. The series was created by Don Nicholl, Michael Ross and Bernie West, and developed by Lear. In fact, the parent show would have been completely different without the Jefferson family in the neighborhood. And as The New York Daily news reports, it was the first time in American television history that an interracial marriage was depicted in a regular series with the characters of Helen and Tom Willis. Lear created the character of Henry Jefferson, George's younger brother, who was portrayed by Mel Stewart which replaced George with Henry in the series's scripts until Purlie finished its run. Tolbert became a regular guest star throughout the rest of the series. [1] The Jeffersons is one of the longest-running sitcoms in history,[2] the second-longest-running series with a primarily African American cast by episode count behind Tyler Perry's House of Payne[1][3] and the first to prominently feature a married interracial couple. When it flopped, Florence returned to work for George and Louise. Most television is ephemeral. The Bunker-Verse!