The Jeffersons

The Jeffersons is a sitcom that aired on CBS from 1975 until 1985 that chronicled the Afican-American Jefferson family who had recently moved up the socioeconomic ladder. The Jeffersons is the longest-running sitcom with a predominantly African American cast in the history of American television.


"We're moving on up, to the East Side, to a deee-luxe apartment in the sky" ... This spin-off from All in the Family was about literal upward mobility - African American couple George and Louise Jefferson move into a swanky high-rise building. George was an obstreperous, often rude guy who thought his wealth should get him anywhere he wanted to go. His wife was more level-headed and often cut him down to size when his schemes went awry. The cast included their son, Lionel, neighbors Tom and Helen Willis, maid Florence and other friends and neighbors.

Cast & Characters

• Mike Evans as Lionel Jefferson (1975, 1979-1981)
• Isabel Sanford as Louise Jefferson
• Mel Stewart as Henry Jefferson
• Sherman Hemsley as George Jefferson
• Damon Evans as Lionel Jefferson (1975-1978)
• Roxie Roker as Helen Willis
• Franklin Cover as Tom Willis
• Berlinda Tolbert as Jenny Willis Jefferson
• Paul Benedict as Harry Bentley (1975-1981, 1983-1985)
• Zara Cully as Mother Olivia Jefferson (1975-1978)
• Ned Wertimer as Ralph the Doorman
• Marla Gibbs as Florence Johnston
• Ernest Harden Jr. as Marcus Garvey (1977-1979)
• Jay Hammer as Allan Willis (1978-1979)
• Ebonie Smith as Jessica Jefferson (1984-1985)
• Danny Wells as Charlie (1984-1985)

Broadcast History

First Telecast: January 18, 1975
Last Telecast: July 23, 1985
Original Network:  CBS
Number of Seasons: 11
Number of Episodes: 253
Original Primetime TV Schedule:

• January 1975- August 1975, CBS, Saturday 8:30-9:00pm
• September 1975- October 1976, CBS, Saturday 8:00-8:30pm
• November 1976- January 1977, CBS, Wednesday 8:00-8:30pm
• January 1977- August 1977, CBS, Monday 8:00-8:30pm
• September 1977- March 1978, CBS, Saturday 9:00-9:30pm
• April 1978- May 1978, CBS, Saturday 9:00-9:30pm
• June 1978- September 1978, CBS, Monday 8:00-8:30pm
• September 1978- January 1979, CBS, Wednesday 8:00-8:30pm
• January 1979- March 1979, CBS, Wednesday 9:30-10:00pm
• March 1979- June 1979, CBS, Wednesday 8:00-8:30pm
• June 1979- September 1982, CBS, Sunday 9:30-10:00pm
• September 1982- December 1984, CBS, Sunday 9:00-9:30pm
• January 1985- March 1985, CBS, Tuesday 8:00-8:30pm
• April 1985, CBS, Tuesday 8:30-9:00pm
• June 1985, CBS, Tuesday 8:30-9:00pm
• June 1985- July 1985, CBS, Tuesday 8:00-8:30pm

Theme Song Lyrics & Opening Credits

"Movin' on Up" by Jeff Barry and Ja'net Dubois

Watch opening intro:


Well we're movin on up,
To the east side.
To a deluxe apartment in the sky.
Movin on up
To the east side.
We finally got a piece of the pie.
Fish don't fry in the kitchen;
Beans don't burn on the grill.
Took a whole lotta tryin'
Just to get up that hill.
Now we're up in teh big leagues
Gettin' our turn at bat.
As long as we live, it's you and me baby
There ain't nothin wrong with that.
Well we're movin on up,
To the east side.
To a deluxe apartment in the sky.
Movin on up
To the east side.
We finally got a piece of the pie.

Listen to theme song:

The Jeffersons on DVD

The Jeffersons Trivia

The Jeffersons was a "spin-off" of the series, "All In The Family".

Archie Bunker (from All in the Family) and George Jefferson were two very similar personalities. They both looked down on each other (and everyone else). Archie felt himself superior because George was one of "those people" (Afro-American) and George looked down on Archie because he was a "blue-collar, redneck". It really got to Archie when George's dry-cleaning business grew to several locations, and he moved his family on up to a deluxe apartment on the East Side of Manhattan. And George's success and wealth give him even more excuses to continue his snobbish ways!