Movie Review: THE JEFFERSONS (SEASON 5) Author: Paul Coffland Friday, August 4, 2006 U.S. Release Date: August 15, 2006 Distributor: Columbia/Tri Star Director: Various Writing Credits: Various Cast: Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover, Marla Gibbs, et al. Genre: Situation Comedy MPAA Rating: None WEBSITE: IMDB.COM TRAILERS: Via IMDB.COM The fifth season of The Jeffersons on DVD is a three-disc set with 24 episodes. Watching the old shows from nearly 30 years ago was a great stroll down memory lane; the verbal barbs between George and Florence make me laugh more now than they did years ago. It has always been my contention that The Jeffersons ranks near the top of the list of the all-time great situation comedies- just slightly below works like M.A.S.H. and Seinfeld. Watching this set only confirmed this long-held contention. What struck me about watching episode after episode of George Jefferson and friends was the depth of the content. Not all of them, but many, concentrated on subject areas that keep the shows relevant today. The most general and obvious is that an African-American couple were featured in a mainstream television program, and they weren’t portrayed in a stereotypical fashion. Throw in the fact that there was a bi-racial marriage in the high rise and its obvious that this show was at the cutting edge of American culture. Not surprising for a show spun from All in the Family which, I believe, is the most important sit-com ever made. Specifically, there were episodes on impotence, a suspected affair years before between a family friend and George’s widowed mother, a long-held grudge between adult siblings- all kinds of good stuff that still affect American families. Even the episodes with weak story lines were buffered by strong, energetic performances. Favorite episode: Episode 13 strikes a chord because it explores a topic that almost all people experience at one time or another- rivalry and resentment between adult siblings. George thinks he’s doing Louise a big favor by bringing her sister from France for a surprise visit. Louise is ready to throw Maxine (her sister) out the door the moment she sees her face because of the favoritism that Maxine received years ago. Least favorite: Episode 11 simply fills a space. Harry has an obnoxious, nerve-fraying guest from England that has the charm of a toad. Through a misunderstanding with George, she believes that Harry wishes to marry her. Brutal. One lasting impression from watching these old classics was the way this show looks. While I wouldn’t dare to throw out a number, the overwhelming percentage of this show was shot in one setting: the living room of the Jeffersons’ apartment. Combine this with the exuberance of the actors and this show contains the fun found in watching a play. The most disappointing part of going through the three-disc set was the absence of any special features, commentary, or add-ons. None exist. However, the fifth season of The Jeffersons has the strength of content that makes it able to stand on its own, making it a worthy addition to your video library despite it lack of any special features PAUL’S GRADE: B Paul Coffland is a senior writer/reviewer for ON-FILM.NET. Send feedback to pcoffland@houston.rr.com.