Ep 21. George Meets Whittendale

George Meets Whittendale is the twenty-first episode of the second season of the classic American sitcom, The Jeffersons. The show premiered on CBS on January 28, 1976, and was created by Norman Lear. The show revolves around the life of an affluent African American family, the Jeffersons, who move to the upper east side of Manhattan, New York, after George Jefferson (played by Sherman Hemsley) becomes a successful businessman. This particular episode follows George Jefferson as he tries to win the favor of Mr. Whittendale, a wealthy businessman who could potentially become one of his clients.

The episode begins with George Jefferson receiving a phone call from his wife, Louise (played by Isabel Sanford), informing him that Mr. Whittendale (played by Paul Ford) is on his way down to their apartment to meet him. George is ecstatic about this opportunity, as he has been trying to win the businessman over for quite some time. He quickly shuffles around the apartment, making sure everything is in order and that he looks presentable.

When Whittendale arrives, George is initially nervous but quickly manages to charm him with his witty banter and confident demeanor. The two hit it off, and Whittendale seems impressed by George's business acumen. However, as the meeting progresses, George becomes increasingly annoyed by the businessman's condescending attitude and thinly veiled racism.

Despite this, George continues to put on a socially acceptable facade and even offers to take Whittendale to dinner at a fancy restaurant. However, things take a turn for the worse when the restaurant refuses to serve them, citing a dress code that George claims he was not aware of. This prompts an argument between the two men, which culminates in Whittendale making a racist comment towards George. This sets George off, and he delivers an impassioned speech about how he and his family have worked hard to get where they are and that they will not be treated as second-class citizens.

In the end, Whittendale is impressed by George's honesty and drive, and they end up shaking hands and agreeing to do business together. The episode closes with George and Louise in bed, discussing the events of the evening and George vowing to never let anyone treat them with disrespect again.

Overall, George Meets Whittendale is a powerful and thought-provoking episode that tackles issues of race and class head-on. The writing is sharp and incisive, and the performances by the cast are spot-on. Despite the fact that it was originally aired over 40 years ago, the themes and messages of this episode are still relevant today, making it a true classic of American television.