The Jeffersons – The Complete Sixth Season

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: D     Episodes: B+

 

 

I have made no secret of what a fan I am of The Jeffersons and though I admit the show eventually had some drop-off, I was ecstatic to see that even in its Sixth Season, the show was still at the peak of its strength.  Though a little more humor had arrived, the social conscious remained undimmed and that makes The Complete Sixth Season DVD set as strong and important as its predecessors.

 

The 1979 – 1980 Season offered more terrific classic shows, 24 in all.  They include George talking himself into a boxing match, a rare but hysterical show where Louise vs. Florence, Jenny about to give birth over the course of the season and her amazing appetite for food, George almost ruining The Help Center’s new adoption program, George making a laundry delivery to a mental institute that leads to him being held as a patient, a very politically incorrect and remarkable show where Tom fells so left out he tries to “be black” with George’s help, a landmark show about how bad things were for the family back in 1968 just before the King Assassination and the great Halloween two-parter where Louise looks through a telescope at a building across the way makes her a murder witness, than a target!

 

With Mike Evans back, the original team (sans Zara Cully) was reunited and the chemistry and comic timing was tighter than ever.  It is like a great Rock or Soul group never loosing their touch years later, though the gap was not as long here.  They continued to be one of the greatest casts in TV history and few have come close since.  Now more than ever, especially on DVD, they are greater than ever.  Don’t miss this set.

 

The 1.33 X 1 image looks as good as it can for old analog professional NTSC video, on par with how good previous sets and transfers have looked.  To Sony’s credit, the picture over each of the episodes is colorful and consistent.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is also good for its age with the usual fidelity limits, but pretty clean and clear for a taped show of the time.  There are sadly again no extras, but they have some seasons left to issue and it is not too late.  As noted, Mike Evans had returned as Lionel this season but since our last review, has sadly passed away at a young age from throat cancer.  Most of the cast is no longer with us, made more unbelievable when you see how alive they are here.  This is from the first generation of hit videotaped TV series for this to happen to and will take a while to get used to.  It reminds us what a great legacy is really here.

 

For more about the show and my detailed defense and celebration of it, check out this link:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4162/The+Jeffersons

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo