JEFFERSONS, THE: ONCE A FRIEND (TV)
Summary
One in this series of comedy programs -- a spin-off of "All in the Family" -- about George Jefferson, an opinionated, successful black entrepreneur, his sensible wife Louise ("Weezie"), their adult son Lionel, and their assorted neighbors in a high-rise apartment building on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
In this episode, George is pleased to learn that his jokester Navy buddy, Eddie Stokes, is in town for a visit. When George arrives at the hotel, he is greeted by a glamorous woman, and he is sure that his friend is playing one of his classic pranks until Eddie – now Edie – explains that she has had gender-reassignment surgery. She explains that she has always felt like a woman inside and is now happy to be living her authentic life. George quickly decides that he cannot handle the news and flees. Back at home, Florence informs Weezie that George was definitely visiting a woman, not a man as he claimed; Weezie begins to fear that he has a mistress.
George returns home and tries to explain about Eddie's transformation, but Weezie angrily accuses him of being a "no-good two-timer." Upon learning that Edie has already checked out of the hotel on her way home to Ohio, a desperate George enlists his co-worker Leroy to pose as Edie; the charade proves unconvincing and Weezie orders her husband out of the house. Edie suddenly arrives, however, having received George's message, and she finally proves her true identity by quoting Weezie's affectionate wartime letters to George. Relieved, Weezie dismisses her fears and makes up with her husband. George resolves to accept his "new" friend – though Edie then proves that she has not lost her knack for pranks after all. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: November 30, 1999 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:22:03
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 122943
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: LGBTQ+ Collection - Comedy; African-American Collection - Comedy; Comedy; Families
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1975-1985
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Don Nicholl … Producer, Created by
- Michael Ross … Producer, Created by
- Bernie West … Producer, Created by
- George Sunga … Associate Producer
- Jack Shea … Director
- Norman Lear … Developed by
- Michael S. Baser … Writer
- Kim Weiskopf … Writer
- Jeff Barry … Theme Music by
- Ja'net DuBois … Theme Music by
- Sherman Hemsley … Cast, George Jefferson
- Isabel Sanford … Cast, Louise "Weezie" Jefferson
- Roxie Roker … Cast, Helen Willis
- Franklin Cover … Cast, Tom Willis
- Marla Gibbs … Cast, Florence Johnston
- Zara Cully … Cast, Mother Jefferson
- Berlinda Tolbert … Cast, Jenny Willis Jefferson
- Damon Evans … Cast, Lionel Jefferson
- Paul Benedict … Cast, Harry Bentley
- Veronica Redd … Cast, Eddie / Edie Stokes
- Vernon Washington … Cast, Leroy