A spinoff of All in the Family, The Jeffersons followes an older, upper-middle-class African-American couple, George (Sherman Hemsley) and Louise Jefferson (Isabel Sanford). After the supreme success of George's dry-cleaning business chain, the couple leaves their home in Queens and "moves on up to the deluxe apartment in the sky," aka a luxurious Manhattan penthouse, accompanied by their adult son, George's mother, and their sassy housekeeper. The show follows the family as they adjust to their fancy new digs, big-city living, and quirky neighbors.
Throughout its run, The Jeffersons made history in numerous ways. First, with 11 seasons, the series is the second longest-running sitcom with a primarily African-American cast. Secondly, Isabel Sanford became the first black actress to win an Emmy award for lead actress in a comedy. Lastly, the sitcom was one of the first shows to prominently feature an interracial couple.
Where to watch: Amazon, iTunes
