Facts About The Jeffersons That The Producers Never Wanted You To Know
Running for 10 years, 11 seasons, and 253 episodes, The Jeffersons is among the longest-lasting sitcoms of all time. The All in the Family spin-off centered on the titular couple and their move to an upscale new home in Manhattan, while the show itself broke new ground with its principally black cast, its depiction of interracial marriage, and its occasional coverage of tough issues. Here are the secrets you might not know about the CBS show, created by the late comedy legend Norman Lear.
Isabel Sanford was 20 years older than Sherman Hemsley
Sanford and Hemsley may have convinced as husband and wife, but the pair were in fact two decades apart in real life. Sanford had been born in 1917; Hemsley, meanwhile, had entered the world in 1938. But that wasn’t the show’s only notable age difference, as Hemsley was in fact just 11 years older than his on-screen son Mike Evans.
Franklin Cover received hate mail from bigoted viewers
Unfortunately, some viewers also took offence to Tom and Helen’s marriage. Cover was even sent abusive messages in reaction to the affection that Tom showed his wife. But both the star and the show’s producers refused to let the bigots win, and the series chose to keep pushing boundaries throughout its 11-season run.
George Jefferson was written specifically for Hemsley
Sanford may not have been a fan of Hemsley, but producer Norman Lear certainly was. In fact, the show creator had the actor in mind to play George Jefferson from the start. And even when Hemsley found himself unavailable in the early stages of filming All in the Family, Lear still fought for him. Instead, Lear simply hired a temporary stand-in for Hemsley until the star’s Broadway production finished its run.
Mike Evans was reportedly fired over a pay dispute
The official line was that Mike Evans had given up the role of Lionel after just one season in order to concentrate on writing Good Times. However, a member of the Maude spin-off’s cast has since claimed that Evans didn’t jump but was pushed. Jimmie Walker has alleged that the actor was ultimately fired by Norman Lear after threatening to quit over a pay rise.
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