AMEN!

Lately I’ve been having some good evenings in the form of TV entertainment. TV-One has been doing a “227 vs. Amen” (the second-wind shows of “The Jeffersons” stars Sherman Hemsley and Marla Gibbs) mini-marathon each night. It’s so great to be able to see old childhood shows like that. I know they weren’t exactly the best but they were pretty cute. I saw one episode of “Amen” in which Thelma does not want to go to her high school reunion because her former best friend—who is married with children and rich—will be there and Thelma feels terrible about her own spinsterish situation. To cheer her up, Frye (Sherman Hemsley) asks the reverend (Clifton Davis) to escort her to the reunion. She is humiliated he had to ask but goes anyhow (she has no pride, apparently, when it comes to her love for the reverend) and has a great time. He is very attentive to her and makes a show of being in a great relationship with her.

At the end of the night, he says he has something to tell her. She says, “I know that you are going to tell me you only took me out because my daddy asked you to.” He says no. Then she says, “I know you’re going to tell me you only said all those nice things to impress my friends.” He says no. He then says, “What I wanted to tell you is…’You walk in beauty like the night…’” and he proceeds to recite the Lord Byron poem as he had earlier at the reunion only now he changes all “she’s” to “you’s”. It’s so romantic and sweet I cry. And then I think, “Where’s my reverend?” I mean, it’d be pretty great to score a cute reverend like that. Whether the ministers at my church are cute or not is a moot point as they’re not single.

As for “227”, I saw one where man-magnet Sandra (Jackee Harry) is one-upped by a tall striking woman who steals her congressman date at this important Washington affair. But Sandra quickly bounces back by getting a ride home from Billy Dee Williams. I say Billy Dee definitely trumps some lame congressman. You go, Sandra!

The funny thing is, Marla Gibbs as Florence on “The Jeffersons” got a lot of laughs and often stole the show, so it seemed natural to give her her own show. And “227” did alright- but not because of Marla. Her character was boring. In the case of “227”, the breakout star was Jackee Harry as Sandra. So then Jackee got her own show, albeit years later, with those twin girls. That one did okay. But what TV execs don’t get is people love the characters, not necessarily the actors who play them. We loved Florence being sassy and we loved Sandra being a hip-wiggling man-magnet. This phenomenon is why the people from “Seinfeld”—a hugely successful show—got no love for their own disastrous attempts.
I guess Matt LeBlanc knows this and that is why he spun off Joey from “Friends”. It still sucks, though. Another problem is sometimes people try to spin off a character that doesn’t work on his or her own. Joey is too stupid. It’s incredible. And, it’s annoying. I smell cancellation. Plus, the other show was “Friends”- and now we’re to believe Joey doesn’t talk to them anymore. And that sister of hers- where did she come from? Joey had a lot of sisters, including one that had a teenage pregnancy- but she was pregnant at the same time as Rachel. I hate it when shows change their stories like that. Remember Chuck from “Happy Days”? Richie’s brother? He came and went a couple of times with no explanation given. A “Joey”-type fiasco was also “Three’s A Crowd”. How could we go from “Three’s Company” to “Three’s A Crowd”- that’s too radical a change. Like from “Friends” to “no friends” “Joey”. It’s too much! Well, I’m definitely glad about “Everybody Hates Chris”—now I have something to watch on Thursday s again. I know, I know, what a couch potato. Well I’m sick a lot! And, I do read quite a bit as well. And exercise. So it all balances out. So there.