The George Jefferson Museum: Open 24/7

February 1, 1938 – July 24, 2012

Dear Sherman Hemsley,

I wasn't supposed to be up, watching 'The Jeffersons'. My Dad told me to go to bed. I couldn't help it. "George Jefferson" was comic gold. I've seen EVERY episode. I laughed then and I still laugh now.

But you know what 'The Jeffersons' really did for me? It taught me screenwriting and it taught me timing. It showed me how modern sitcoms worked. More importantly, George Jefferson was an ideal. George opened a store; moved his family to a "deluxe apartment in the sky" and still remained who he was. He talked sh*t to everybody. He didn't care. He may crack on his fam but if YOU disrespected "Weezy" he'd fight you. He opened 9 Jefferson Cleaners....and wasn't afraid to tell you about it. He wasn't a begger. He had dreams. He was about a dollar but he never sold himself out. George Jefferson was a self-made man. And this was directly after the civil rights era. Portraying that type of character on TV, at that time, was a feat in itself. 

If the character accomplished one thing, it was this: George Jefferson was probably the most revolutionary African-American character on TV (ever). I'm sure there are "academics" who may disagree but you couldn't have Cliff Huxtable without George Jefferson. Mr. Jefferson was his own brand of ass-kicker....and at that time that's probably what we needed.

Goodnight, Mr. Hemsley....and Thank you, Mr. Jefferson.

Love,

Zee

p.s. I still think the George Jefferson Museum was a great idea.