Checking In

In this Jeffersons spin off and Marla Gibbs vehicle, this was a show that could've been good, but it wasn't.

It had a good start and cast with Marla Gibbs as the same wise-cracking Florence Johnston and Larry Linville as Lyle Block; A cross between George Jefferson and a somewhat mellow Frank Burns. The two played well off each other; The problem was, both had very little to work with. The lines hey recited ranged to mediocre at best to bad. One that sticks out was in the pilot, where Lyle Block (Linville) says to Florence (Gibbs), "so in other words, tough noogies", which Florence responds by saying, "isn't it time for you to watch the Muppet Show??" That produced a lot of laughs in the beginning, however, the problem was that was probably the best line uttered on the show; It was repeated on every episode and hearing it got old very quickly.

With two brilliant comedic actors in Gibbs and Linville and some decent writing this show could've gone places, but it didn't have that and it wasn't a surprise when CBS dropped it after 4 episodes.

"All In The Family" had several spin-offs,but none of them was as popular as "The Jeffersons",that became the longest-running of all of the spin-offs that were associated with "All In The Family". One of the reasons why "The Jeffersons" was so successful and wildly popular and one of the great highlights of the show was the wise-cracking maid Florence Johnston,who constantly engaged in disputed battle of wits with her employer George Jefferson,in which Florence always had the upper hand with Mr.Jefferson every time. In this short-lived sitcom that was a spin-off to "The Jeffersons",titled "Checking In",Marla Gibbs' character of Florence Johnston quits her job as the Jeffersons' housekeeper for an executive position at a push Manhattan hotel. The series within itself was very funny and outlandishly hilarious(mostly having Marla Gibbs' character coming up with the wise-cracks and one-liner insults)while having a battle of wits with the owner of the hotel (Larry Linville who was basically in another Frank Burns role that he established on M*A*S*H).

"Checking In" didn't last very long on the CBS schedule since the show lasted no more than four episodes when the network put the show opposite ABC's "Mork and Mindy" which clobbered it in the ratings. I do remember this show coming on after another short-lived series titled "Park Place" which suffered the same fate as this show. "Checking In" provided two brilliant comedic actors(Marla Gibbs and Larry Linville)not to mention some decent writing to boot would have gotten this show to some great places and almost have the notion to last longer on the air. It wasn't a surprise when Gibbs' character went back to her former employer,not to mention CBS dropped it after no more than four episodes from April 9,1981 until April 30,1981. It was a surprise the following season when it was replaced by the action-adventure crime drama series "Mangum P.I." that CBS put onto its Thursday night schedule for the rest of the 1981-1982 season.

Since I just reviewed "Park Place" (the show that was on after this one,on CBS Thursdays:April 9th,16th,23rd & 30th,1981,"4" years before "227".)I figured I'd review this one too. I can't "really" rate it but I do know it was good so I'll give it 8 out of 10.

The set up was this,Florence meets the owner of the St. Fredrick Hotel,located in Manhattan and he hires her to be his executive housekeeper. (In charge of all the other ladies who clean the rooms).

Thus The Jeffersons loses one of it's best characters (temporarily). Co-starring with Marla was M*A*S*H's Larry Linville as the hotel's stuffed shirt manager Lyle Block,basically another Frank Burns role for him,which he was never able to get away from. True to the CBS form at the time,the show was very funny (mostly Florenece's wise-cracks and one-liner insults).

The episode I really remember is the possibility that one of the floors of the hotel is haunted by spirits or ghosts and I remember the end of it where both Linville & Gibbs end up quickly exiting the area,despite having reached the conclusion it's not "spooked".

(Spoiler,kind of:)Despite not being on the air very long,"Checking In" and "Park Place" were yanked off the schedule and Florence returned to, "The Jeffersons". How? The St. Fredrick burns down (off camera),with all barely escaping with their lives! She shows up at George and Lousie's with singed clothes and looking a mess,on top of that her former bosses have hired another housekeeper but after "competing" with each other for the job...she gets her old job back! (Isn't TV great?)

Lastly,all cast members except Jordan Gibbs,had previously or went on to established careers. Liz Torres later co-starred in "The John Laroquette Show",Ruth Brown was a former 1960's Motown singer,Patrick Collins and Robert Costanzo while not leads have guested on a variety of TV shows and done animated voice work,such as "Fairly Odd Parents".

This spin-off of The Jeffersons came out about 8 years before Marla Gibbs' second series, "227." I remember watching Checking In in the early 80s and even remember the theme song. It was funny and entertaining. There was one episode that was actually sort of scary, involving a flute-playing ghost that haunted one of the rooms in the old hotel. I would like to see this forgotten TV show resurrected on TV Land or Nick at Night, or maybe a special DVD release. Other lost, short-lived classics of the late 70s/early 80s I'd like to see--"It's a Living," about the friends who worked on top of the Bonaventure Hotel in downtown LA; "All's Fair," with Bernadette Peters; "On Our Own," with Bess Armstrong; "Best of the West," an amusing big budget comedy/western series. Sometimes the best, and most intelligent, TV shows never get a chance!

I remember when the network gave Marla Gibbs her own show as Florence Johnston who worked in a posh hotel with Ruth Brown and Liz Torres in the housekeeping department. Of course, Marla was much better on The JEffersons and when the show got canceled that Marla was welcome back on the Jeffersons. it proved how much she meant to the cast as wisecracking sidekick to Isabel Sanford and Sherman Hemsley as the Jeffersons in their upscale New York City apartment. Of course, the show never lasted long even with Marla Gibbs as Florence Johnston in her own series. Fortunately, she had gained sitcom stardom on 227 playing straight to Jackee's character. As Florence Johnston, Marla Gibbs was outstanding as the maid that you just love to hate and learn to love at the same time. Florence was never more truthful, honest, or kinder than when she was the with the Jeffersons. Thank God, the show did get canceled and we got Flo back.