Season 8

The Jeffersons: Season 8
The Jeffersons Season 8 DVD cover.
Program information
Episodes aired:
25
Dates aired:
October 4, 1981 - April 16, 1982
Network/Country:
CBS-TV / United States
Previous Season: Season 7
Next Season: Season 9

The Jeffersons: Season 8

A total of 25 episodes of The Jeffersons aired on CBS-TV during Season 8, from October 4, 1981 to the season's conclusion on April 16, 1982.

Series overview 

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

Season summary

In the season opening Two-part story, "The Seperation", Geroge Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) and Louise (Isabel Sanford)  and the Willises (Roxie Roker and Franklin Cover) are shaken by finding out about the marital problems of Lionel (Mike Evans) and Jenny (Berlinda Tolbert) as the young couple decide to seperate, as their families all band to try to get Lionel and jenny back together.

In the episode "Louise's Father" (#3), George, upon discovering that  Louises long-lost dad, whom she thought to be deceased, may be still alive, decides to pay a visit to the man's shop, as he learns that his suspicions about the amn being Louise's dad is true, as he must not let his wife know.

in the episode "A Charmed Life" (#11),  George, in desperately wanting try earn the favor of the Whittindales by "kissing up" to them, George takes charm lessons in order to live up to the standards of the behavior of "rich folks."   in the episode "Dog Gone" (#14),  George, in still another attempt to earn the favor of the Whittindales, has the task of taking care of Mr. Whittendale's wife's pet Doberman. However, when a freak accident occurs, ending in the dog's death, George is scared that he and Louise will get evicted.

Casting changes

After a 2 1/2 year return to the series, "Blazing Jeffersons" was Mike Evans's final episode as Lionel until the Season 11 two-part episode "Sayonara". The episode "Man of the Cloth" establishes Lionel as going to work in Japan. Within the context of the storyline, he would remain there until his final season appearance.

With Evans's second departure from the series, Berlinda Tolbert would recur for the remainder of the show's run and be billed as a special guest star.

Paul Benedict left the series in the middle of the season and his Harry Bentley character's absence was explained at the beginning of "Thammy the Thongwriter" that he was sent to Russia for work.

Season 8 (1981-82)

• Sherman Hemsley as George Jefferson
• Isabel Sanford as Louise Jefferson
• Mike Evans as Lionel Jefferson
• Marla Gibbs as Florence Johnston
• Franklin Cover as Tom Willis
• Roxie Roker as Helen Willis
• Berlinda Tolbert as Jenny Willis-Jefferson
• Paul Benedict as Harry Bentley
• Ned Wertimer as Ralph the Doorman

Image	No. in series	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code
	156	1	"The Separation: Part One"	Bob Lally	Bob Bendetson & Howard Bendetson	October 4, 1981	8.1 / 723
Louise and George are heartbroken when they discover Lionel and Jenny are having marital problems that result in a separation. This prompts George, Louise, Helen and Tom to convene to try to get them back together.
	157	2	"The Separation: Part Two"	Bob Lally	Writers: Ted Dale, Nancy Vince Story by: Jay Moriarty, Mike Milligan	October 11, 1981	8.2 / 724
Due to the separation, Lionel is living at home with George and Louise. This prompts George to trick a marriage counselor into showing up at the Jefferson's apartment for the intention of bring Lionel and Jenny back together.
	158	3	"Louise's Father"	Bob Lally	Jerry Perzigian and Don Siegel	October 18, 1981	8.3 / 722
A newspaper photo alerts George to the fact that the man in the photo could very well be Louise's father, since they both have the same name. Louise refuses to entertain this notion since she believes that her father died when she was young. However, George learns the truth after visiting the man.
	159	4	"My Maid, Your Maid"	Bob Lally	Jerry Perzigian, Don Siegel, Peter Casey & David Lee	October 25, 1981	8.4 / 802
With Florence working at a new job, Louise and George decide to hire a new maid. However, George and Louise are at odds when they each have separate candidates in mind for the position.
	160	5	"I've Still Got It"	Bob Lally	Fred S. Fox and Seaman Jacobs	November 1, 1981	8.5 / 801
George has become convinced that age is taking its toll on him, with a receding hairline and larger midsection. To try to revitalize him, Louise sends him some flowers with a seductive note at his office. However, George becomes convinced the flowers are from his secretary.
	161	6	"Florence Did It Different: Part One"	Bob Lally	Michael Moye	November 8, 1981	8.6 / 803
Constant bickering between George and Carmen prompts Louise to tell Carmen how Florence handled George (via flashbacks). However, just as Carmen gets a handle on how to handle George, Florence shows up with news that the hotel burned down and she would like her old job back.
	162	7	"Florence Did It Different: Part Two"	Bob Lally	Michael Moye	November 15, 1981	8.7 / 804
When Florence learns the Jeffersons have hired a new maid she decides to let Carmen have the job. However, Carmen doesn't want to take Florence's job away from her so she decides to let her have it. With both Florence and Carmen at odds over who should keep the job, Louise decides to hire them both. However, on the sly, Florence makes plans to get fired.
	163	8	"The House That George Built"	Bob Lally	Jerry Perzigian and Don Siegel	November 29, 1981	8.8 / 806
George wants everyone to know him when he dies so he sets out to create himself into a legend. First he tries writing a book about his life but he then changes his mind and does the unthinkable: He buys a building and turns it into the George Jefferson Museum, complete with exhibits about his life and times.
	164	9	"A Whole Lot of Trouble"	Bob Lally	Jerry Perzigian and Don Siegel	December 6, 1981	8.9 / 808
Louise is furious when she learns that George is the businessman who plans on building over a local children's playground. However, George has second thoughts after he makes a visit to the playground.
	165	10	"I've Got a Secret"	Bob Lally	Jerry Perzigian, Don Siegel, Peter Casey & David Lee	December 20, 1981	8.10 / 721
When George discovers Louise is keeping a diary, he goes all out to try to read it. Including staying up all night to try to wriggle it out of Louise's clutches. However, one day when she leaves it unguarded, George takes a peek and is shocked by its contents which detail a number of affairs that Louise appears to be carrying on.
	166	11	"A Charmed Life"	Bob Lally	Peter Casey & David Lee	December 27, 1981	8.11 / 813
George doesn't understand why he wasn't invited to a posh gala event at the Whittendale apartment, until Tom, Helen, Louise and Florence break the news the Whittendale "hates his guts." Wanting to earn some respect, George takes charm lessons in order to live up to the standards of the behavior of "rich folks."
	167	12	"Thammy the Thongwriter"	Bob Lally	David W. Duclon & Ron Leavitt	January 3, 1982	8.12 / 809
George and Louise receive a post card from Harry, who's been transferred out of the country. Soon after, they meet the man who's moving into Harry's old apartment, a jingle writer whom George tries to get to write a jingle for his business. However, jingles are far from his mind, since he's having marital problems.
	168	13	"I Spy"	Bob Lally	Sara V. Finney	January 17, 1982	8.13 / 811
Helen's comments that Tom hasn't been paying any attention to her, fuel George's belief that she is having an affair especially since he sees her and another man having lunch together. This leads George to bring Tom down to the restaurant to see for himself.
	169	14	"Dog-Gone"	Bob Lally	Mark Rothman & Jeffrey Duteil	January 24, 1982	8.14 / 807
George has the task of taking care of Mr. Whittendale's wife's pet Doberman. However, when a freak accident occurs, ending in the dog's death, George is scared that he will end up on the streets.
	170	15	"Blazing Jeffersons"	Bob Lally	Story by: David W. Duclon, Ron Leavitt Writers: Don Siegel, Jerry Perzigian, Peter Casey and David Lee	January 31, 1982	8.15 / 805
George is distraught when he learns that his Brooklyn store has burned down due to faulty wiring. However, Tom raises his spirits by reminding him that his insurance will cover it by taking to court the person responsible for the faulty wiring. Just then George remembers who put in the wiring: Lionel.
	171	16	"Men of the Cloth"	Bob Lally	Michael Moye	February 7, 1982	8.16 / 812
For Jessica's baptism, Louise wants Florence and her gospel singing group to perform and Jenny agrees with her. However, George wants someone else and sets out to get Andrae Crouch to perform at the baptism, going so far as to say he is a reverend.
	172	17	"A Case of Self-Defense"	Bob Lally	Joyce Gittlin and Jeffrey Richman	February 21, 1982	8.17 / 810
When Lionel and Jenny's apartment gets broken into, George begins to worry that his apartment could just as easily be broken into. His solution: buy a gun, something that Louise is totally against. However, George buys one on the sly, and it later proves to be a dangerous possession.
	173	18	"My Wife, I Think I'll Keep Her"	Bob Lally	Peter Casey & David Lee	March 7, 1982	8.18 / 816
Upset that their husbands do not feel they should be involved in business matters, Louise and Helen move in together leaving George and Tom to live together in the Jefferson apartment. All this prompted by George not consulting Louise about a commercial he was making and Tom's plans to go ahead publishing a book by written by a sexist.
	174	19	"Guess Who's Not Coming to Dinner"	Bob Lally	Brian Pollack & Rick Shaw	March 14, 1982	8.19 / 819
Louise, George, Tom and Helen plan a surprise party for Florence just to let her know how much they appreciate her friendship. However, when Florence walks in on the planning stages Tom makes an excuse and tells her she's invited but only to serve the meal. This prompts Florence to drown her sorrows in a $500 bottle of wine George just bought.
	175	20	"The Strays: Part One"	Bob Lally	Michael Moye	March 21, 1982	8.20 / 821
For their anniversary, George decides to replace the setting on Louise's wedding ring. Meanwhile, one of George's messengers is robbed by an all-female street gang who gets away with the week's proceeds. Trying to combat the gang, George is stabbed and left for dead but not before they steal Louise's ring.
	176	21	"The Strays: Part Two"	Bob Lally	Michael Moye	March 28, 1982	8.21 / 822
Determined to retrieve Louise's ring, a very sore George arrives at the gang's hideout while they are out, only to find that one of the members has stayed behind, and she's also pregnant. When she goes into labor, with no time to call an ambulance, George delivers the baby just as the gang walks in. Thankful that he was there to save the new mother and her baby, the gang leader returns the ring to George.
	177	22	"Jefferson's Greatest Hits"	Bob Lally	Ralph Phillips	April 11, 1982	8.22 / 815
A record producer follows Florence home from church, after hearing her gospel singing. Once at the Jefferson's apartment, he offers Florence the chance to make a record in exchange for $1200. Smelling a con, Louise and George try to stop Florence from making a big mistake that would cost her dearly.
	178	23	"A Small Victory"	Bob Lally	Ron Leavitt & David W. Duclon	April 18, 1982	8.23 / 814
Louise and Helen consider leaving the Help Center due to lack of involvement from others as well as lack of funds. However, just as they're about to call it quits, a young hooker named Maggie walks in the door.
	179	24	"Lesson in Love"	Bob Lally	Jerry Perzigian & Don Siegel	May 2, 1982	8.24 / 823
Florence becomes depressed when her latest boyfriend doesn't call her for a second date. She later is asked out by a police officer and in order to keep him interested her, George gives Florence some tips on what men like in a woman.
	180	25	"Do Not Forsake Me, Oh, My Helen"	Bob Lally	Peter Casey & David Lee	May 16, 1982	8.25 / 824
Helen gets an invitation to have lunch with an old boyfriend and Tom is seething with jealousy. This leads him to have a dream about the Old West where he has a shootout with Pecos Darryl, a man after Helen's heart.