Season 2

The Jeffersons: Season 2
The Jeffersons Season 2 DVD cover.
Program information
Episodes aired:
24
Dates aired:
September 13, 1975 - March 6, 1976
Network/Country:
CBS-TV / United States
Previous Season: Season 1
Next Season: Season 3

The Jeffersons: Season 2

A total of 24 episodes of The Jeffersons aired on CBS-TV during Season 2, from September 13, 1975 to the season's conclusion on March 6, 1976.

Season summary

Having wrapped up its first season as the fourth highest-rated network series, CBS' The Jeffersons was a shoe-in for a second-season renewal. The series remained a Saturday-night fixture, albeit in a slightly earlier time slot -- replacing its parent series All in the Family, which had moved to Mondays. Virtually the entire cast of season one had been retained for season two, save one.

Ironically, Mike Evans, who as Lionel Jefferson was the first member of the family ever seen on TV (he'd been a recurring character on All in the Family since that series' inaugural episode), had left the program to pursue other career vistas. He was replaced by Damon Evans (no relation), who would continue playing Lionel until the end of season 4 in 1979, at which time Mike Evans returned to the fold.

In other developments, Marla Gibbs as the Jeffersons' wisecracking maid Florence was seen on a more regular basis, while Zara Cully as Mother Jefferson began to curtail her appearances due to failing health. Though The Jeffersons had a large faithful following, its overall ratings dipped sharply during its second season, dropping from fourth to 21st place. This would result in a dizzying progression of time-slot changes over the next few years, beginning with a shift to Wednesdays in the early months of its third season.

Series overview

Seasons		Episodes	Originally aired
			Season premiere	Season finale
	1	13	January 18, 1975 (1975-01-18)	April 12, 1975 (1975-04-12)
	2	24	September 13, 1975 (1975-09-13)	March 6, 1976 (1976-03-06)
	3	24	September 25, 1976 (1976-09-25)	April 11, 1977 (1977-04-11)
	4	26	September 24, 1977 (1977-09-24)	March 4, 1978 (1978-03-04)
	5	24	September 20, 1978 (1978-09-20)	April 18, 1979 (1979-04-18)
	6	24	September 23, 1979 (1979-09-23)	April 13, 1980 (1980-04-13)
	7	20	November 2, 1980 (1980-11-02)	March 29, 1981 (1981-03-29)
	8	25	October 4, 1981 (1981-10-04)	May 16, 1982 (1982-05-16)
	9	27	September 26, 1982 (1982-09-26)	May 1, 1983 (1983-05-01)
	10	22	October 2, 1983 (1983-10-02)	May 6, 1984 (1984-05-06)
	11	24	October 14, 1984 (1984-10-14)	July 2, 1985 (1985-07-02)

Season 2 (1975-76)

• Sherman Hemsley as George Jefferson (24/24)
• Isabel Sanford as Louise Jefferson (24/24)
• Damon Evans as Lionel Jefferson (16/24)
• Zara Cully as Olivia "Mother" Jefferson (18/24)
• Marla Gibbs as Florence Johnston
• Franklin Cover as Thomas "Tom" Willis (16/24)
• Roxie Roker as Helen Willis (17/24)
• Berlinda Tolbert as Jenny Willis (11/24)
• Paul Benedict as Harry Bentley (15/24)
• Ned Wertimer as Ralph the Doorman

Image	No. in series	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code
	14	1	"A Dinner for Harry"	Jack Shea	Don Nicholl,Michael Ross, & Bernie West	September 13, 1975	2.1 / 201
When the Jeffersons host a dinner party for Mr. Bentley's birthday, the Willises cause problems -- one funny, one shocking. The funny one deals with George and Tom wearing the same tux. The shocker deals with an incident involving Helen.
	15	2	"George's First Vacation"	Jack Shea	Frank Tarloff	September 20, 1975	2.2 / 202
George balks when Tom calls him a workaholic. To prove him wrong, George books a cruise for him and Louise. As usual, Louise has to bear the consequences. In this case, Mother Jefferson wants to join her son on vacation.
	16	3	"Louise's Daughter"	Jack Shea	Jay Moriarty & Mike Milligan	September 27, 1975	2.3 / 203
Damon Evans joins the cast as the new Lionel Jefferson. In this episode, a woman claims to be Louise's daughter.
	17	4	"Harry and Daphne"	Jack Shea	Lloyd Turner & Gordon Mitchell	October 4, 1975	2.4 / 204
George deals with a building inspector while Harry Bentley hides out from his marauding, marriage-minded girlfriend, Daphne.
	18	5	"Mother Jefferson's Fall"	Jack Shea	Erik Tarloff	October 11, 1975	2.5 / 206
Feeling ignored, Mother Jefferson gets attention after she fakes a fall. Meanwhile, Louise goes to battle in a gin tournament.
	19	6	"Jefferson vs. Jefferson"	Jack Shea	Robert Fisher & Arthur Marx	October 18, 1975	2.6 / 205
Mother Jefferson intrudes on Louise and Georges anniversary. Worse, George asks Louise to lie for him after a bicycle accident.
	20	7	"Uncle Bertram"	Jack Shea	Lloyd Turner, Gordon Mitchell, Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, and Bernie West	October 25, 1975	2.7 / 208
An elderly white man tries to flirt with Mother Jefferson in an elevator. He turns out to be related to the Willises. When she begins dating this Uncle Bertram, George is not so happy.
	21	8	"Movin' on Down"	Jack Shea	Ken Levine and David Isaacs	November 1, 1975	2.8 / 207
George fears that some financial setbacks will put him out of business. Adding to his stresses are Lionels begging for more money and Florence pressuring him for a raise.
	22	9	"George Won't Talk"	Jack Shea	John Ashby	November 8, 1975	2.9 / 209
George is bursting with excitement when he's asked to speak at a college, but he hesitates when he learns the school is in Harlem.
	23	10	"Jenny's Grandparents"	Jack Shea	James Ritz	November 15, 1975	2.10 / 211
Thanks to the machinations of the Jefferson and Willis families (including coupled Mother Jefferson and Uncle Bertram, played by Victor Killian); Jennys bickering grandfathers end up alone together in the Jeffersons apartment.
	24	11	"George's Best Friend"	Jack Shea	Calvin Kelly, Lloyd Turner & Gordon Mitchell	November 22, 1975	2.11 / 210
Louis Gossett, Jr. guest appears as an old navy friend of George who visits and hits on Louise. The incident brings to light that George has not been paying enough attention to his wife.
	25	12	"George and the Manager"	Jack Shea	Jay Moriarty, Mike Milligan & Donald R. Boyle	November 29, 1975	2.12 / 213
George's refusal to hire a white woman as a store manager leads to a battle between him and the rare united front of Louise and Mother Jefferson.
	26	13	"George's Alibi"	Jack Shea	Sandy Krinski	December 6, 1975	2.13 / 212
Lionel's fear of telling his father about a fender bender leads to George's fear of the Mob. Note: Videotaped on November 04, 1975.
	27	14	"Lunch with Mama"	Jack Shea	Lloyd Turner, Gordon Mitchell, Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, & Bernie West	December 13, 1975	2.14 / 214
Mama's boy must cut the apron strings: After Louise asks George to attend a funeral with her, he refuses to cancel his monthly lunch with his mother. The solution gets worse: Mother Jefferson joins them at the funeral.
	28	15	"George vs. Wall Street"	Jack Shea	George Burditt	December 20, 1975	2.15 / 215
A Willis/Jefferson fight ensues when Lionel refuses to take a cushy job. Speaking of cushy, George gets a juicy stock tip.
	29	16	"The Break-Up: Part One"	Jack Shea	Dixie Brown Grossman	January 3, 1976	2.16 / 216
A two-parter begins with Lionel's difficulty writing a paper on homosexuality. The issue at hand changes after George buys him a term paper. Tempers flare, and he splits with Jenny.  Absent: Paul Benedict as Harry Bentley
	30	17	"The Break-Up: Part Two"	Jack Shea	Lloyd Turner & Gordon Mitchell	January 10, 1976	2.17 / 217
The Jeffersons and the Willises each debate about getting Lionel and Jenny back together. Meanwhile, Lionel makes a decision about his term paper, and George sets him up on a date.
	31	18	"Florence's Problem"	Jack Shea	Jay Moriarty & Mike Milligan	January 24, 1976	2.18 / 218
Florence's unusual behavior, namely being nice and going on a cleaning spree, leads Louise to believe she is suicidal. Note: Videotaped on December 23, 1975.
	32	19	"Mother Jefferson's Birthday"	Jack Shea	Fred S. Fox & Seaman Jacobs	January 31, 1976	2.19 / 219
Hell hath no fury like a mother whose son has forgotten her birthday - especially her 70th. Louise decides to reunite Mother Jefferson with her estranged sister.
	33	20	"Louise's Cookbook"	Jack Shea	Teleplay by: Ann Gibbs & Joel Kimmel Story by: Jay Moriarty, Mike Milligan, Lloyd Turner & Gordon Mitchell	February 7, 1976	2.20 / 220
Possum stew causes George to boil over after a publisher asks Louise to write a cookbook of her ghetto recipes.
	34	21	"George Meets Whittendale"	Jack Shea	Lloyd Turner & Gordon Mitchell	February 14, 1976	2.21 / 221
George goes to extremes to meet Mr. Whittendale at a party, by hiding in the bathroom with Tom and Helen.
	35	22	"Lionel's Problem"	Jack Shea	Story by: Mea Abbott<bra>Teleplay by: James Ritz	February 21, 1976	2.22 / 222
Lionel has a very-special-episode kind of problem when his graduation lurks and he starts to feel the pressure. Louise and Jenny try to hide Lionel from George when the graduate arrives at the apartment smashed.
	36	23	"Tennis, Anyone?"	Jack Shea	Sandy Veith	February 28, 1976	2.23 / 223
George's excitement about being asked to join an exclusive tennis club is severely mitigated when the word token is volleyed.
	37	24	"The Wedding"	Jack Shea	John Donley, Lloyd Turner & Gordon Mitchell	March 6, 1976	2.24 / 224
George wants to renew his vows with Louise because Harry Belafonte did it; but Harry Belafonte's wife did not ask to be an equal partner in the dry cleaning business.