227: Why the Jackée Spin-Off Failed

The classic '80s sitcom "227" launched the careers of Jackée Harry and Regina King. It also almost launched a spin-off for Jackée's character Sandra. Find out why the spin-off never happened on Behind the Backdoor Pilot: 227.
Watch more episodes of Behind the Backdoor Pilot: • Behind the Backdoor Pilot
Narrated by Kevin Maher
Written by Nick Nadel
Edited by Frank Reynolds
Produced by Kevin Maher and Nick Nadel for Atomic Abe productions
Executive Producer: Tim Finn
Thumbnail by Colton Ogburn ( / coltonogburn )
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[@trinaq]

It's obvious to see why this pilot wasn't ultimately picked up for a full series. While Jackee was as radiant and sassy as always, the supporting cast were forgettable by comparison. Luckily, she'd get to star in "Sister Sister" later on.

[@atomicabe]

Agreed. Jackee is great on Sister, Sister.

[@Jamessmith-xk3fh]

I did notice something that might have hurt the two pilots as well they tried spinning off a black comedy show by making them white comedies. You take Jackee that lived in a black apartment and neighborhood and in the spinoff and having her in a mostly white comedy

[@powerbadpowerbad]

Yeah,I LOVED that show too.😊😊😊😊 Man,nostalgia is kicking my behind right now. LOL.

[@RemoWilliams1227]

Heck yeah she was great.

[@yell0wberry]

Personally, I thought NBC was simply capitalizing on Jackée Harry’s sex appeal. She lost much of her sex appeal by the time the show sister sister debuted. (I could be wrong, but it seem like much of Jackée Harry’s swag from 227 was sort of imitated by Jenifer Lewis when she was on the show a different world.)

[@alvinsavage7701]

My Saturday nights as kid went like this 1. 227 2. Golden girls 3. Amen 4. Empty Nest 5. Hunter I miss my childhood. 227 was hilarious but they all were

[@gamerincorporated154]

And out of all those shows, the Golden Girls is on heavy rotation.

[@coldbilly7916]

Me too Grandma House Saturday Playlist also! After hunter then news then SNL on a lucky night WWF saturday Main event!! Lol

[@mattalan6618]

my saturdays as a kid were spent in the arcades dominating at Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter

[@juliemcarthur3004]

Mine to

[@mrmatthewgriffith]

Those were the days

[@ogami1972]

"I'm gonna have my own show, MEHRREE!" I can never get enough of that lady saying mary, lol

[@atomicabe]

it's so good. she finds comedy in just saying a name.

[@GetBenched2010]

Okay, a Jackee/Kelsey Grammer sitcom is the show I never knew I needed.

[@QuasarSniffer]

Absolutely WILD that network sitcoms were so popular that networks could air hit shows on Friday and Saturday nights, which have been timeslot graveyards before and after this era.

[@atomicabe]

We have fond memories of watching Golden Girls, 227, Amen, Empty Nest and Nurses on Saturday nights. And of course TGIF on Fridays.

[@vinnym5607]

​@@atomicabe "Facts of Life" aired on Saturdays, too.

[@a.b.sproductionsllc]

In the 80’s and 90’s some networks had huge hits on Friday and Saturday nights. ABC had a number of hits in the 80’s well into the late 90’s on Friday nights, One being “Family Matters.” And CBS dominated Fridays with Dallas and Falcon Crest in the 80’s. NBC had hits on Saturday nights in the 80’s until mid 90’s, 227, AMEN, Golden Girls, Empty Nest while the other networks considered Saturdays death slots. CBS managed to have a balance of hit shows on Saturdays up until the early 2000’s.

[@a.b.sproductionsllc]

@@vinnym5607 Not originally it moved to Saturdays in September 1985.

[@carayj]

That's cause we didn't have cable just network TV

[@nixboox]

Jackee is, was, and always will be the most amazing actress. Her comic timing and delivery is completely unrepresented by any modern comic actor. She's as unique as Mae West and deserves her own show.

[@JimiLaPointe]

She’s killing it on Days as Paulina Price

[@GreenLine4444]

She is currently on the drama soap opera Days of our Lives; has been for quite a while. And Marla Gibbs also has been on Days of our Lives many times, playing Jackee's mother. There was even one episode when Marla Gibbs, playing Jackee's mother, came to visit Jackee. Jackee let her in the apartment, and when the apartment door closed, the apartment number was 227. It was really funny.

[@williammartinez840]

@@GreenLine4444 I hate soap operas but I will be looking at that one cause I love Jackee.

[@GreenLine4444]

@@williammartinez840 Yeah, it is an interesting show

[@anonimothy5979]

I think Anna Marie Horsford from Amen was genius, too.

[@COMPFUNK2]

Raise your hand if you are an 80s baby or older, but you have never heard of the show Rhythm & Blues. 🙋🏾‍♂️

[@powerbadpowerbad]

I'm an 80s baby,never heard of Rhythm & Blues tv show.

[@greenkoopa]

I was born in 87, never heard of it.

[@sistagirllondon]

🙋🏽‍♀️ never heard of it.

[@kevinpayton2664]

I don't remember it either.

[@TanikaRobinson]

I'm an 1800s baby and I've never heard of that show😂.

[@DonnyNoMarie]

227 was a hit, because of the chemistry with the cast. We had our favorites (for me: Mary, Sandra, and Pearl), but we loved them all. Lester, Rose, Brenda, and Calvin were just as important to the fabric of the show. When you create a spin-off from a hit TV show, the goal is to get your current audience to tune in to the new show. I'm going to say something a bit controversial, but true... the people who watched 227 fell in love with a black community. In the spin offs, they took "Sandra" and dropped her in a predominately white setting and sprinkled a few black faces into the mix. When Isabelle Sandford went from All In The Family to The Jeffersons, she needed Sherman Hemsley, Marla Gibbs, Roxy Roker, Franklin Cover, and Zara Cully to make it pop! Cully, who played Mother Jefferson, was freakin' hilarious! My point is, you can't pluck a star from a hit TV show, dropped them in an environment with unfamiliar and underdeveloped characters, and expect magic.

[@captaincrunch104]

Yes they sure did, just like when they took Florences character from the Jeffersons and gave her a spin-off that completely failed

[@DonnyNoMarie]

@@captaincrunch104 you would think they would be smart enough to figure this out. You can't create a successful spin-off by alienating or confusing your viewers.

[@MountTheodore72]

I need you to follow me with this take: Black characters tend to come across very dominant in television shows. If you take a black character from a predominantly white cast and drop him/her in a predominantly black cast, the show will and has always worked. Case in point, Florida Evans from the show "Maude", a predominantly white cast, she later formed Good Times. The chemistry was beautiful, you felt the kindredness among the cast; same as George and Weezy Jefferson from "All in the Family" later formed the Jefferson's. Even tho the cast was a mixed cast, but the leads were predominantly black. It still works. Harriet Winslow, from "Perfect Strangers", leaves a predominantly white cast, to form "Family Matters" predominantly black cast. Awesome show, it worked. Unfortunately, we've seen time and time again where strong black characters tend to never work when snatched from predominantly black cast and dropped into a predominantly white cast. That strong black lead character never fairs well in that environment, as far as ratings. Apparently, the audience can't sense the chemistry, nor the kindredness among the cast. Case in point, Sondra/Jackeé, strong black character, as a lead, dropped in a cast of predominantly white individuals, fails. Isabel Sandford (Weezy) had her run, same thing, failed. Shirley Hempfeld from "What's Happening", didn't do well. Florence, same thing. It's almost as if the strong character becomes watered down. I believe they're trying to make the black character more palpable for white audiences by adding more white characters. But ratings wise, it doesn't work. Almost as if the character is being whitewashed. Again, it never works. I may be wrong, but I feel that might be the issue for black characters in certain spinoffs.

[@sistagirllondon]

OUTSTANDING COMMENT!!

[@sistagirllondon]

​​@@MountTheodore72MG! your comment was AMAZING and THOUGHT-PROVOKING! THANK YOU! Has there ever been a white character that they took & put in a mostly black setting??

[@TheTVsTim]

If it hasn't been mentioned yet, the irony here was that Marla Gibbs as Florence Johnston ended up basically stealing the spotlight from Isabel Sanford on The Jeffersons and got HER own short-lived spinoff as result (Checking In) but it failed and she was brought back to the parent show.

[@DreamChaserAtlanta]

I had no idea 227 was a play! 😮

[@paranormalgangsta]

As a Black family living in Alabama, I grew up watching 227. And I never knew about these spin-offs. Maybe I was too young, but I use to love this show and had a huge crush on Jackee. But after 227 I got to watch her again growing up but as the mom in Sister Sister. She was also good in the movie Ladybugs!!

[@IDONTLIKETHATSHIT]

Why'd you start your statement with "As a black family...."? Who cares about your race, that's so irrelevant.

[@Djrexda1]

@@IDONTLIKETHATSHIT why you pressed about him mentioning his race? Probably the type of person to call people cupcakes

[@paranormalgangsta]

@I Don't Like That Shit Because this show meant something different for Black families where I'm from. That's why it's relevant for me!! I don't know you, and don't really care what you think is or not relevant for you. Where are you from? Are your people from the U.S.? Are you a Black American? Are you even Black? Because that response seems really questionable! Especially out of that whole comment, the Black family part seemed to upset you. 👀🤔

[@YankeeGirl226]

I loved Ladybugs when I was a kid.😊

[@Drew791]

There’s something so fascinating, yet cringe inducing, about watching topical references in a sitcom format which usually don’t age well. Just maybe because society and pop culture is in a constant state of flux. But I’m still happy to view this, and thank you for sharing!

[@atomicabe]

Absolutely. We found all the '80s topical references in The Audit episode fascinating. It's a real history lesson and flashback. Glad you appreciated them as well.

[@Attmay]

Nowadays, it’s easier to look up a reference you don’t get on a search engine. Even if it does date a show, it’s interesting to see what topics they considered important enough to joke about.

[@edreid7872]

I loved when they thought the Jackee spinoff was going to be a hit, and replaced her with Toukie Smith, a kooky artist.. When it failed, they awkwardly wrote Jackee back in, half-heartedly and her character was never the same..I love back door episodes.. I blame Norman Lear for being so successful at it...😂

[@atomicabe]

We've done 19 videos about Backdoor Pilots, but we haven't gotten to any of the Norman Lear ones yet. It's wild that there are backdoor pilots for sitcoms, mysteries, teen melodramas -- you name it. We've got more coming.

[@edreid7872]

@@atomicabe Back doors are a nice relief sometimes.. And fun to pick apart...the way the main characters disappear after 5 minutes, and return in the last two is hilarious to me..one of my favorites were the attempts on Who's the Boss, and I'm pretty sure you covered it..I love your channel.. And look forward to more..😎

[@seanm6215]

​@@atomicabe you'd need a long one for facts of life. They did at least 3 even before that horrible final that was yet another back door pilot.

[@blackamerican40]

Hmmmm. I wonder if Robert De Niro had a hand in Toukie being on the show.

[@vinnym5607]

Guest Star Jackee.

[@blackamerican40]

Sometimes a supporting character should just stay a supporting character.

[@GreenLine4444]

Good video. I think, however, at the 3:30 mark you could have given Countess Vaughn more proper acknowledgement. She went on to play the character of Kim Parker on two different TV shows. At one point, both Kelsey Grammer and Countess Vaughn were the two actors playing the longest running television characters, each on different prime time shows; Grammer playing Frasier Crane on both "Cheers" and "Frasier" for several years, and Vaughn playing Kim Parker on both "Moesha" and "The Parkers" for several years.

[@gamerincorporated154]

The short answer: nobody cares. They could have kept her off the show.

[@IDONTLIKETHATSHIT]

The video also didn't mention that one of Regina King's most memorable role(s) were voicing both Riley and Huey on the show "The Boondocks", but give the content creator credit for such an informative video.

[@differentlydifferent]

​@@gamerincorporated154 if nobody cared she would have never gotten a spinoff called The Parkers

[@Wonderouz]

​@Ron Isley right tf! "Ain't no mystery"

[@jusme164]

Kimberly Ann Parker aka Puddin!!! ❤

[@smoothnubian]

I always thought The Audit episode was strange. I didn't know it was a pilot for another sitcom

[@mutechannel13]

The smart little girl Alexandrea is Countess Vaughn... Kim from Moesha and The Parkers. She did her thing in the 90s and early 2000s

[@wilnerolivier7971]

No doubt!!

[@ginacleveland7995]

Yup, that was her!

[@mrsx7944]

We know

[@gamerincorporated154]

They didn't need to add her

[@Gen_X_Rosey]

I still remember the night that 227 premiered! Oh wow! I remember the little rhyme that the announcer did just before it came on: "227 is the place to be with Marla Gibbs and her ... fa-mi-ly. 227 is the place to go ... premiering next!" Don't ask me how I remember something I saw as a nine-year-old. Oh wow!

[@atomicabe]

"227 is the com-e-dy about Marla Gibbs and her fam-i-ly. 227 is the place to be, Saturday nights on N-B-C!"

[@Gen_X_Rosey]

@@atomicabe Now that one, I didn't remember!

[@nassauguy48]

Jackee was like many supporting actors and actresses in sitcoms who became popular because of a certain characteristic or gimmick, but these were never enough to star in or carry an entire show.

[@yell0wberry]

It sure didn’t hurt that Jackee was pretty damn good on a little show called sister sister. I always wondered why they didn’t have a sitcom where they would pair Jackée Harry with Kym Whitley

[@ebonyrushharrington2197]

I do not think they should not an 227 cause of this talented are no longer w/ us R.I.P. , we miss) you'll/ them , some things just leave alone , will / would not be the same without them

[@abeck7929]

Jackee actually hated the fact that people compares her to Kym. She would throw lots of shade her way. But Kym recently said things are cool now.

[@DreQueary]

In so many of these sitcoms, some of the cast members end up hating each other. It's nice that these ladies managed to stay friendly after all these years. 🙏🏾💖

[@ilikeditbetterbefore]

Oh my god... That coffee shop drained me...I wonder why it didn't work. --- And Corine Bohrer later became Veronica Mars' mom

[@larrydalesowell1016]

The tension between Jackee and Marla is reminiscent of the stars of Alice. The character of Flo outshined Alice, so Flo received her own show which also failed.

[@marvin469]

Kiss my grits lol

[@kevinpayton2664]

I missed Flo on Alice.

[@curtisthomas2670]

Jackee and Thelma Hopkins are among the Queens of sitcoms, they're all over the genre in their own shows and as guest stars and they always kill it

[@danielveiga7909]

I think u meant Telma Hopkins, Thelma is a singer, well Telma is too lol

[@curtisthomas2670]

@@danielveiga7909 yes, Queen Hopkins

[@LOUISVILLECARDINALS]

Telma Hopkins is such a beauty and very talented she's one of my city's hometown heroes

[@GeminiladyJackson-xq6hc]

Telma Hopkins was part of Tony Orlando and Dawn.

[@Ccoco8623]

Yes! Those 2 stayed on sitcoms over a span of decades!

[@gaudeo]

Fantastic info and production values on this. Well done

[@atomicabe]

Thanks! Glad you like the video.

[@eastsidereviews727]

Sucks that issues did come up between Marla Gibbs and Jackee, you can tell they show missed the energy and character of Sandra once she left. Glad they patched things up. 227 does not get enough love these days for how big of a show it was at its peak, probably the least talked about 80s success show.

[@endokuken1678]

Probably overshadowed by how massive The Cosby Show was at the time

[@GreenLine4444]

@@endokuken1678 I don't think that's why. That's implying that 227 was overshadowed by The Cosby Show because they were both Black shows. Perhaps if one show were White and the other Black, that may be a plausible reason. I just think sometimes these things happen. Like how the show Perfect Strangers is overlooked and that was a hit show that lasted for 8 seasons, yet no one really talks about that show. And it was a pretty good show; the two lead actors had great chemistry together. Small Wonder is another show that's not mentioned a lot.

[@gamerincorporated154]

​@@GreenLine4444 them both being black shows has nothing to do with it. During that time, the Cosby Show was overshadowing almost all the shows on television. Why must everything be centered on race? 227 just wasn't as popular to the masses. It was more like Family Matters.

[@pa.encema2821]

Its also show how popular Jackee was. Funny that Marla Gibbs vouche for Jackee only to get upstaged by her

[@KrisBryant99]

@@GreenLine4444 227 kind of was overshadowed by the Cosby Show just like the Steve Harvey Show was overshadowed by Friends and other sitcoms at the time. Sometimes when you have too much of something, it's hard to get the other thing right away.

[@anonimothy5979]

Hey, Countess Vaughn was a big deal on TV. She went on to get her own show and Rose's daughter played the leading lady in a film, starring opposite Bokeem Woodbine.

[@ebonyepps2261]

They started forcing unnecessary characters on 227 & the Jackee pilot that's why it did not work. If it's not broke don't fix it.

[@absolutelypositivelyme]

I just watched the whole 27 minutes video about a show I never knew existed and attempted spin offs. KZbin is amazing.

[@abeiradapraia]

Same here!~ I never knew '227' and it's spinoff 'Jackée' existed, but it was a very entertaining watch nonetheless!

[@vinnym5607]

It's so strange that the last episode of "227" freels like a Christmas episode

[@MrShug2010]

To actually be a kid in the 80s and watching this faithfully sure did brings things all in perspective. #227skid

[@anonimothy5979]

It was the best. I like to think we're the most creative generation.

[@MrShug2010]

@@anonimothy5979 I concur👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@beximus]

227 was so loved and YET we STILL don't have a way of watching it.

[@HisPrincessa626]

It’s streaming on HULU

[@beximus]

@@HisPrincessa626 oh wow the whole series?

[@HisPrincessa626]

@@beximus Yup! Just finished watching it and I’m so sad it’s over. I really enjoyed it

[@beximus]

@@HisPrincessa626 OMG this is such great news! thank you!

[@HisPrincessa626]

@@beximus Enjoy!!

[@hatednyc]

Wow, what an AWESOME idea for a series of videos. I LOVE BACK DOOR PILOTS. Ever since I was a kid and would wonder what was up with the one weird episode until I figured it out. Anyway. Great stuff!

[@gars129]

Jackee and Ron Glass' dynamic really reminds of Jackee's dynamic with Tim Reid in Sister Sister.

[@atomicabe]

Yes! Tim Reid is a great actor as well. Jackee has great chemistry with both Reid and Glass.

[@wilnerolivier7971]

@@atomicabe Venus Flytrap & Sandra Clark!!

[@nickimillennium]

They look slightly similar too

[@MrJacalantern]

There’s no question why both spinoffs bombed; and well deserved.

[@jerseytomato100]

I recently watched that episode of 227 with Red Buttons and I was thinking “wtf am I watching”

[@MackeyDeez]

I can tell you why Jakee's spin-off miserably failed. It's because they took a character out of their element. We have Sondra a black female character in a show with other black female and male characters. And put her in a show with mostly white characters, which she doesn't have the same black chemistry with. Then too the networks make the same mistake by trying to add "universal appeal" to a show that's even popular amongst white audiences.

[@anonimothy5979]

When I think of her best moments, they were 227, Women of Brewster Place, Sister, Sister, Everybody Hates Chris, and Amen (as Thelma's old friend). Seems most people don't recognize her pilot or that she was in Ladybugs ⚽ 🐞

[@tiffaniterris2886]

The cream rises my guy, regardless of the color.

[@MackeyDeez]

@Tiffani Terris I agree but, this was a unique character taken out of her element for what universal appeal. This is why many black shows ratings fall after so many seasons.

[@anonimothy5979]

@@MackeyDeez Would you agree that it seems to work better for recording artists and Black stand-up comics (ie. Eddie Murphy, Michael and Janet Jackson with their back up dancers, entourage, associates, etc)?

[@anonimothy5979]

@@tiffaniterris2886 Cream can be skimmed from the top as well. When I saw all the deleted scenes from Percy Jackson & The Olympians, I noticed the majority of them were Brandon T. Jackson's scenes (and they were excellent). One was a fight scene where Brandon looked more like the main hero than the star. And another was so hilarious that I believe his character would've stolen the show because of it. But I'm not mad that none of it made the final cut. In some cases, performers are kept from upstaging the lead, and that's just how it is, I guess.

[@teeteew.8969]

This was an awesome breakdown, I loved this show growing up

[@TheWriterWalker]

This was such a joy to watch. Thank you for your respectful analysis. I love Saaahn-dra, Mary, and 227!

[@atomicabe]

You're very welcome!

[@TheWriterWalker]

@@atomicabe :-)

[@ljlaw21]

Honestly i dunno how this spinoff didn't last! Jackee' is just good on everyyyythinggggg!!

[@carmenblk440]

It was rated good too

[@ebonyrushharrington2197]

What happen to the guy who played Calvin?????/ He kind of reminds me of Bobby Brown (something)

[@mrsx7944]

It was dumb

[@ENDTIMEsVideoLibrary]

My bandmate was Marla Gibbs adopted son so I did end up meeting Marla and seeing a taping of the show. Marla was very nice..

[@JS-bd5kf]

Love 227 and Jakee. Thanks for this informative episode!

[@atomicabe]

Thanks!

[@DavidRichardson95]

Seasons 1 to 2 of _227_ were top notch and quality writing. By season 3, Jackée had won the Emmy (Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series) and due to her growing popularity, the episodes/storylines were centered on her. This formula was repeated for the next season when they added Countess Vaughn via her winning on _Star Search_ and earned her role after she said her favorite TV show was _227_ (in the vein of Cousin Oliver on _The Brady Bunch_ and Seven from _MWC_ years later.) but she left (later revealed one of the adult main cast members made disparaging remarks regarding her looks.). Jackée should've gotten more opportunities to capitalize on her popularity (i.e. host _SNL_ during a period when there were hardly any POCs in the main cast, and transition to film, working with the likes of Carl Weathers, Jean-Claude van Damme, Schwarzenegger, etc.) I never watch that last season. It was nonsensical, stale and unfunny. Even when they kept Jackée on the show for the final season's first 7 episodes the magic was gone.

[@carmenblk440]

Last seqson was awful only the first 3 seasons were good

[@wilnerolivier7971]

@@carmenblk440 Agree!! Adding Dylan & Stoney Jackson didn't help.

[@riyadali4082]

It was that old goat, Helen Martin who used to bully Countess.

[@maxtheknife]

That last season was atrocious!

[@gamerincorporated154]

I never watched anything past them bringing Countess Vaughn. When they start adding new kids to already established shows, things start to turn left and become uninteresting

[@kristinazubic9669]

Thank you!!!! I love 227 and really liked that Sondra pilot episode, I wish it would have made it to series.

[@jn9907a]

Enjoying the video already. I think it's important notnto gloss over Countess Vaughn in the early overview of the 227 cast. Countess was a unique talent having won Star Search. Post-227, she went on to a featured role in Moesha. That led to a successful spinoff she costarred in alongside Monique. Countess had, perhaps, the most visibility immediately following the 227 amongst the cast.

[@anonimothy5979]

EXACTLY. And I loved all her episodes, which is rare for me cause newly added characters got on my nerves, otherwise.

[@stephaniehall8179]

Remember when Florence (Marla Gibbs) from the Jefferson's had her own show for one season? The reason why it failed is the same with Jackee, they made their characters too serious and their supporting cast were the clowns. That never works, because the reason why we follow them to a new show is because of their quick humor that stood out from the rest of the cast..

[@GeminiladyJackson-xq6hc]

The spinoff was called Checking In.

[@MrMorningstar87]

I was born the same day the pilot was released on February 21, 1987

[@technicolordreamer]

Interesting how Jackee played a set of twins, then was mom to a set of twins on the tv show Sister Sister.

[@evane.6104]

This was incredible! I remember the Jackee back door pilot but not so much about the other stuff mentioned. I learned so much. Thanks for posting!

[@jerseytomato100]

Sandra is one of my all-time favorite characters. Along with Archie Bunker, Thelma Harper “Mama”, and Suzanne Sugarbaker.

[@52icon]

Love these back door pilots episodes

[@atomicabe]

Thanks for watching!

[@vinnym5607]

They're much better than the episodes themselves.

[@joey_dangerously]

The problem with the spinoffs....is that there were too many white people.

[@Jamessmith-xk3fh]

See I said that on an earlier comment. Taking a show about black people and with the first pilot making it a white cast and then Jakee taking her from a black neighborhood with an all black cast moving her to New York and putting her with an all white cast 🤦

[@leocook8235]

This is a fascinating channel. I always learn so much by your research! Please do a few on The Rifleman backdoor pilots as well as Gunsmoke!

[@atomicabe]

Great idea! We'll add Gunsmoke and The Rifleman to our list of upcoming backdoor pilot episodes.

[@franksmith8298]

I hope Fox's Werewolf is mentioned in some capacity!

[@seanpowell1661]

The actress that the network executives originally wanted to play Sandra is ...Sheryl Lee Ralph. However, Marla Gibbs felt that Sheryl was "too sophisticated" to play Sandra. Although Sheryl is a great comedic actress, she couldn't bring what Jackee' did to the role. A year later, Ralph joined the cast of It's A Living when Ann Jillian left the show.

[@ceemore7778]

Countess Vaughn actually had a decent TV career.

[@nickimillennium]

More than decent. She was a regular Moesha for years then had her own spin-off The Parkers which also had a successful run.

[@ceemore7778]

@@nickimillennium totally agree 🙌

[@markelijio6012]

@@nickimillennium It was all thanks to Aaron Spelling, who gave Countess to join Moesha and its spin-off, The Parkers. Both programs were incredibly successful and profitable.

[@farrel13sw]

Loved the show. This show was incredibly famous in South Africa. It had a prime time Friday slot . Loved the show.

[@jartober]

227 was brilliant... but Sep of 1985 belongs to The Golden Girls.

[@seanm6215]

Loved the look of that health club. They should have kept the set. It would have been great for like Saved by the bell or something with all those pastel colors.

[@1mrflo]

Zaul tan is giving Morris Day vibes!

[@Hollyw00d__b]

This was such an insightful video thank you ❤

[@ambitiousldy]

Marla Gibbs didn't strike me as the jealous type. She fought for Jackeé to get the role. I suppose after playing second fiddle to Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford for years she wanted to be in the spotlight.

[@solo13th]

I love this series so much ❤. Please do them forever!

[@anonimothy5979]

YES

[@Fordie47]

"227" was a funny as hell show. Marla Gibbs was fantastic. Jackée Harris couldn't carry this show. She is a crafty comedienne but more in a stand-up role. That is where she excels. With a cast of characters like "Rose" and "Pearl" this show couldn't help but take off! "227" took off where "The Jefferson's" and "Good Times" left off -- high fallutin' funky ass humor!

[@martyhall3922]

The guy eavesdropping for stock secrets (the horror!) Is Frank Luz. He starred in Free Spirit with Corrine Bohrer.

[@atomicabe]

Good catch! Free Spirit was great. Corrine Bohrer costarred in a pilot with Jackee we discuss in this episode. And of course she played Veronica Mars' mom.

[@DivaDivaFashionista]

The spinoff didn’t work because it was too different from what we already liked. She could have just moved and had new neighbors.

[@carmenblk440]

That could have been true but the episode did get good ratings

[@GreenLine4444]

Yeah, that's why I think the show "Flo" didn't work, it was a spin-off of "Alice". Flo was played by actress Polly Holliday, who was very, very good. She was even nominated for several Emmy Awards. She got her own show because Linda Lavin on "Alice" was hard to work with. "Flo" lasted for two seasons, probably because the new environment they put Flo in was very different from where she had been. Also, the network kept changing the day and times of its airing so that didn't help.

[@392_RHINO]

Great job on putting together this information. ❤

[@javieravalentin]

I Remember Watching The Jackee Episode When I Was Younger And Knowing That It Was A Spin-Off But Kinda Being Upset That It Didn’t Get Picked Up! Oh The Possibilities!! You Should Check Out The That’s So Raven Backdoor Pilot Episode Entitled “Goin’ Hollywood.” Jackee Harry Also Starred In That Backdoor Pilot As Well, Coincidentally!

[@atomicabe]

Interesting! We will check out the That's So Raven backdoor pilot.

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Rip Helen

[@anthonycerulli1423]

Jackee was the sexiest woman alive at that time.

[@powerbadpowerbad]

YES,she sure was. I had a huge crush on her character back then. LOL.

[@MsDisneylandlover]

I never saw that espsiode before of 227 thanked God I remember the saved bell episodes with drugs

[@amcaesar]

In the annals of eponymous sitcoms with the lead character named something different from the title, there was also "The Michael Richards Show" (2000) where he played a PI named "Vic Nardozza."

[@atomicabe]

True. "Nardozza" sounds like a ABC cop show from Steven Bochco.

[@pysq8]

The name of The Cosby Show used to bother me because of that. 😅

[@amcaesar]

@@pysq8 I take your point.

[@LeimertDreamer]

Really well put together video on one of my favorite characters from one of my favorite shows ever! One small error: at the 25:00 mark it says “Sandra was never mentioned again” after Jackee left the show. But she actually was mentioned during the final season’s Christmas episode where Mary did an imitation of her. That episode was called “Guess Who’s Not Coming to Christmas”. It was actually quite hilarious but probably helped put the ‘nail in the coffin’ for the show so to speak, as it only made us miss Sandra even more. Anyway, great video! 💯

[@markelijio6012]

That's why she was out of the show.

[@ddbjg]

Jakee.was great on 227

[@maximusprime3459]

Jackee earned her own series but, thing is the character of Sandra doesnt work in a different environment with a different cast of characters surrounding her.

[@true90skid]

This was great except when you shaded Countess Vaughan who played Alexandria. #227 jump-started her career as an actress. She starred on #Moesha as #KimParker and eventually got her own long running successful spin-off show called #TheParkers! #KimParker #Monique #Brandy #SherylLeeRalph

[@sarahsimpkins1311]

Also I remember when countess Vaughn started on Star Search

[@stingrey1571]

kids dont understand how big jackee was. after a-team went off the air. she took over the spot mr.t once had as the unofficial mascot/spokesperson for nbc.

[@atomicabe]

Yes, she was a superstar

[@marctronixx]

wow this was nicely done. YT recommended this episode and now i need to watch more.

[@antoinecampbell7473]

Kym Whitley should have played Jackee’s double.

[@GeminiladyJackson-xq6hc]

I agree.

[@Boobalopbop]

Sandra was the only reason to watch 227. To me, she was the Urkel of the show.

[@harperstacey9604]

Marla Gibbs was also another reason to watch the show. Marla was hilarious as Florence on the TV sitcom, the Jeffersons. From Ms. Harper Stacey.

[@Chocolatecherry291]

I loved Marla and Lester.

[@mrsx7944]

​@@Chocolatecherry291me too

[@pumbaaj]

I'll never forget Barry Sobel , the white "urban contemporary" high school teacher.

[@atomicabe]

Yeah, we remember him from Revenge of the Nerds 2 as well. He played a lot of dorky guys.

[@Novakane78]

Thanks for this! I was thinking about this spin-off last week thinking it was a fever dream

[@COMPFUNK2]

4:53 - Teddy Wilson was sort of an all-purpose guest star in the 70s and 80s.

[@2ToyBoys]

A lot of times...breakout characters just work better on their original show...think Flo...when they become the star...their once outrageous character(istics) become more grounded and its just not the same.

[@josephd15]

Primetime tv at it's best. 227, cosby show, different world, Golden girls, empty nest, amen

[@atomicabe]

Amen!

[@incognitonegress3453]

Empty nest. 💕

[@Jamessmith-xk3fh]

NBC dominated the 80s except for ABC with TGIF

[@a.b.sproductionsllc]

Ron Glass was such a great actor but a leader on a sitcom he just couldn’t do.

[@kevinpayton2664]

His sitcom The New Odd Couple with Demond Wilson didn't half a season.

[@GeminiladyJackson-xq6hc]

Ron Glass was hilarious on Barney Miller.

[@nicholefontaine9299]

I loooooooove 227

[@atomicabe]

Yes, such a strong cast.

[@riship6581]

This was great 👍. Thank you so much.

[@arodriguez7158]

She should have been giving a black cast.

[@CanaryDiamond82]

This was one of my favorite shows as a kid, I enjoyed the video 👍🏾👍🏾

[@jrsmith1998]

I was only a kid back then. And at the time, the 227 coffee shop episode was even weird to me.

[@JustAPrayer]

Unfortunately this show aired before I was born but I love Jackee’s comedy so I will be watching it. Thanks for introducing me!

[@marvin469]

She was the main reason I watched 227

[@odalisgonzalez6875]

Actress Kim Whitley from the movie Next Friday movie reminds me of Jackee.

[@mannyja]

Didn't they run 227 and Amen back to back?

[@atomicabe]

I *think* so. 227 aired for a few years and they moved it around a little. But I think Amen followed it for a few seasons.

[@its_kalah_not_kayla]

That’s how I remember watching it I was super young though 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@obeewopp]

Yes, from the 1986-1990 seasons, 227 came first, followed by Amen.

[@bcranford714]

Facts of life, amen, 227, and golden girls

[@vinnym5607]

​@@bcranford714 What a lineup. Even though these were the latter and lesser years of "Facts of Life", still a great lineup.

[@gelatinskeleton8745]

This channel is soooo damn good. I didn’t even watch this show, the OG, but knowing about all the threads that came from it… the actors in them… interesting stuff.

[@user-xt8sm9xc1e]

Jackee Harry made it to Days of Our Lives.

[@YakkoWarnerTower]

I never watched 227 but I do remember seeing reruns a lot while zapping channels in the 90's and 00's I didn't known that show had a spinoff lol.

[@moonprincesst.s.h.4ever115]

Pee-Wee Herman was on 227! 🤯

[@HisPrincessa626]

The episode was hilarious

[@BostonMarcus]

I love Jackee as Paulina Price on Days of Our lives!

[@ninastout3522]

I don't

[@W81Researcher]

She does not fit that show.

[@GeminiladyJackson-xq6hc]

Marla Gibbs was briefly in Days of our Lives as Paulina's mother.

[@BostonMarcus]

@@GeminiladyJackson-xq6hc Marla reprised as role as Paulina's mother a couple of weeks ago, too. Love their dynamic.

[@GeminiladyJackson-xq6hc]

@@BostonMarcus Marla Gibbs is 92 years old and still going strong.

[@theone-jm3gl]

So a full black cast and the spin off was a full white cast.. what audience was that supposed to grab?