"227" (1985) TV series 1985-1990

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Creators:

C.J. Banks
Bill Boulware

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

14 September 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

This series took place in an apartment building, numbered 227. The cast would frequently be found sitting outside on a large set of stone stairs...

Plot Keywords:

African American | Address As Title | Number In Title

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Marla Gibbs	...	Mary Jenkins (115 episodes, 1985-1990)
Hal Williams	...	Lester Jenkins (115 episodes, 1985-1990)
Alaina Reed Hall	...	Rose Lee Holloway (115 episodes, 1985-1990)
Helen Martin	...	Pearl Shay (115 episodes, 1985-1990)
Regina King	...	Brenda Jenkins (114 episodes, 1985-1990)
Curtis Baldwin	...	Calvin Dobbs (103 episodes, 1985-1990)
Jackée Harry	...	Sandra Clark (100 episodes, 1985-1989)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Columbia/Sunset Gower Studios - 1438 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Television

Trivia:

Series was based on a play of the same title by Christine Houston. It had been presented at the Crossroads Theatre and Arts Academy (Marla Gibbs's company) prior to being adapted as a series.

Quotes:

Rose Lee: Mary, now you know I am a very understanding person.
Sandra: HA!
Rose Lee: But I told Sandra if she didn't have that rent money by the end of the week, she was out of here!
Sandra: And after all the favors I've done for her!
Rose Lee: Favors? What favors?
Sandra: What about last week? You were feeling kind of low. You spent all that money on a new dress and you didn't know if it was attractive. You came to me for help, and I looked you straight in the eye and said it was gorgeous.
[smugly]
Sandra: I lied, Rose.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "TV Land Confidential: Oddballs & Original Characters (#2.1)" (2007)

Marla Gibbs Continued To Be In A Zany Sitcom Just Like The Jeffersons

This show came on after my bedtime when it first came on. Therefore I saw the first seasons episodes in reruns. Marla Gibbs had that same Florence Johnston personality. But she did not whine as much. Hal Williams was the husband who was a construction worker. He was not funny. Regina King played Brenda, the spoiled daughter. Then there was Alaina Reed, the lady from Sesame Street, who had a daughter who disappeared (a la Judy Winslow) and fly Jackee Harry who also lived in the building. Helen Martin played Pearl, who was just a reoccurring guest star who would just look out the window and make wise remarks the 1st season. The 2nd season she became a regular and finally came out of the window. She had a grandson named Calvin who thought he was cool. I hated the episode when Bobby Brown appeared. When Brenda got in trouble, she should have really been punished by not seeing Bobby Brown. She was still allowed to dance with him! When Countess Vaughn came on the show, the show got worse. When Jackee got demoted to guest star and Toukie Smith, Paul Winfield, Barry Sobel, and Stoney Jackson became regulars, the show got even much worse than that! I was still mad that the 227 characters didn't get to win on Wheel Of Fortune or Family Feud. I was also mad at the episode when Gary Coleman was a criminal on the show and Mary and Lester didn't get to go to Hawaii as planned. It's not their fault that they got robbed!