This Day in TV History: Two short-lived comedies debut on CBS

OK, these two interesting but failed sitcoms actually debuted 40 years ago yesterday, but you can understand why we wanted to give Digger Doyle the spotlight on Friday. So today let's look at the two programs that preceded that episode of Magnum P.I. on April 9, 1981.

At 8:00, CBS began the night with the premiere of Checking In, Marla Gibbs' spinoff from The Jeffersons.  Maid Florence becomes the "executive housekeeper" at a swank New York City hotel. The T.A.T. Communications (soon to be Embassy) program also featured Larry Linville as Gibbs' boss, who sounds like a classic Linville-style foil; and Liz Torres, but the most interesting regular to me is R&B singer Ruth Brown!

The series is rarely seen, though one episode made it onto the complete series set of The Jeffersons as a bonus feature. Gibbs returned to the flagship program after a paltry 4-episode run on the spinoff. That season's TV Guide Fall preview issue lists this one in the "In the Wings" section and says CBS calls the then-titled Marla Gibbs Show "a definite replacement series."

After Checking In, another sitcom appeared for the first time: Park Place with Harold Gould as a lawyer who runs a NYC clinic offering free legal aid. Of course the lawyers on staff are themselves in need of various forms of aid! It lasted a mere 5 episodes.

Brooks and Marsh's Complete Directory to Prime Time Shows says that Park Place was inspired by "urban gang comedies" like Barney Miller and Taxi. The capsule description amuses me with its rundown of all the character types who make up Gould's staff of young lawyers:

"Jeff O'Neil, the naive eager beaver; Howie beach, the status-seeking opportunist; Jo Keene, the aggressive women's libber; Mac MacRae, the wheelchair-ridden Black Vietnam veteran; and Brad Lincoln, the inexperienced young Harvard graduate trying to obtain some recognition from his peers. Frances, the efficient but spaced-out secretary; and Ernie, the hip receptionist, round out the cast."

That show must have written itself with such an array of rich characters!

One more note: This episode has one of the best behind-the-camera name combos ever. It was created by Reinhold Weege, whose Starry Night Productions later got a hit with Night Court; and directed by longtime vet and former The Bob Newhart Show star Peter Bonerz.

Promo Theatre: The George Jefferson Museum and Vera dunks Henry!

Here's a cool CBS promo that wasn't online when we discussed the Jeffersons. You get a brief glimpse of one of the episodes we cover:




This promo touts CBS' lineup for November 29, 1981, and The Jeffersons looks like the winner on that Sunday night.  It's interesting that both Archie Bunker's Place and One Day at a Time have the first of two-part episodes. A highlight is Archie Bunker telling Stephanie's father to get out. It's nice to see the distaff side of the "booked two dates for the same night--oh, no" plot on One Day at a Time.

On Alice, I can't condone a promo that mentions Mel but doesn't show Mel, even if time is limited. And I do admit I am intrigued by Vera pushing Henry's face into--what is that? A mixing bowl? Did Mel start serving his chili in mixing bowls? It looks tense on Trapper, but I have to investigate this Alice situation.

Is Henry the friend who gives a bad check? I can't believe that. There must be extenuating circumstances!

According to IMDB: Vera cashes a check for an old boyfriend that bounces.

Whew! Henry is off the hook.  Yet he still winds up with a faceful of something. Vera is outraged!

You know, Flo should have kept a bowl of grits handy so when she got the urge to lash out at a regular, she could yell, "Kiss my grits,": while actually forcing the offender to kiss her grits.

The Jeffersons playlist is live!

This week our YouTube playlist focuses on The Jeffersons. Click below to enjoy: Isabel Sanford shilling yogurt! A glimpse of Checking In! Sherman Hemsley on Soul Train! Plus more commercials, promos, and music!

Show Notes: Episode 5-9: The Jeffersons

*The Jeffersons aired 1975-1985, 11 seasons, on CBS, mostly on Sunday nights.

*A Case of Black and White, season 3, episode 17, premiered January 31, 1977 at 8:00 P.M. opposite The Captain and Tenille (guest star: Tony Randall) (ABC) and Little House on the Prairie (guest star: Willie Aames) (NBC).

*The House That George Built, season 8, episode 8, premiered November 29, 1981 at 9:30 P.M. following Alice. On ABC that night: Sizzle, a TV movie with Loni Anderson and John Forsythe, while NBC aired a new TV version of Of Mice and Men starring Robert Blake and Randy Quaid.

*Murder She Wrote aired on CBS 1984-1996.

*Norman Lear and All in the Family had to wait for Sherman Helmsley because the actor was in Purlie on Broadway.

*Paul Benedict, who played the veddy English neighbor Bentley, was born in New Mexico and actually served in the Marines.

*The crack research team has been unable to find evidence of Ned Wertimer (Ralph the doorman) starring in a PSA about racial discrimination in housing. Please let us know if you can track down this ad!

*Zara Cully played Mother Jefferson on the show until her death at age 86 in 1978.

*Peter Lawford, British actor and personality, was of course related to the Kennedys by marriage and was one of the Rat Pack.

*Ja'net Dubois not only sings "Movin' on Up," but she gets a writing credit for it along with Hall of Fame songwriter Jeff Barry.

*Here's Bruce Fretts' Entertainment Weekly piece about the stage revival of the series.

*The short-lived medical comedy E/R (Elliot Gould and George Clooney, awesome theme song performance by Lou Rawls) was technically a Jeffersons spinoff because George and Louise's niece was one of the nurses.

5-9: The Jeffersons "A Case of Black and White" and "The House That George Built"

After George airs his feelings about mixed marriages, he has to engage in full-on farce to save a business deal. Years later, a near-death experience leads him to open a museum...about himself.

Check out this episode!

Tomorrow on Battle of the Network Shows...