Overview of the Series “227” is an American sitcom television series that originally aired on NBC, captivating audiences from September 14, 1985, to May 6, 1990. The show revolves around the life of Mary Jenkins, portrayed by Marla Gibbs, who is known for her sharp wit, penchant for city gossip, and her role as a housewife. The central characters also include Mary’s husband Lester, played by Hal Williams, their daughter Brenda, brought to life by Regina King, landlady Rose Holloway, portrayed by Alaina Reed Hall, and their neighbors Sandra Clark, played by Jackée Harry, and Pearl Shay, portrayed by Helen Martin.
Popularity and Ratings During the first two seasons of its original run on NBC, “227” achieved remarkable success in terms of ratings. With the exception of “The Cosby Show” and “A Different World,” both well-known series, “227” garnered higher ratings than other sitcoms of its time that featured predominantly African-American casts.
Launchpad for Rising Stars “227” served as a significant launchpad for the careers of Regina King and Jackée Harry, two talented actors who would go on to make their mark in the entertainment industry.
Origin and Premise “The 227” series was adapted from a play written in 1978 by Christine Houston, focusing on the lives of women residing in a predominantly black apartment building in 1950s Chicago. However, the series deviated from the original setting, relocating to present-day Washington, D.C. It was conceived as a vehicle for Marla Gibbs, renowned for her role as Florence Johnston, the sassy maid on “The Jeffersons.” Gibbs had previously starred in Houston’s play in Los Angeles, and her character in “227,” housewife Mary Jenkins, shared similarities with her previous role – a gossip-loving woman who spoke her mind, sometimes with less-than-favorable outcomes.
Network Transition and Early Production Initially offered to ABC, “227” found its home on NBC. Originally scheduled to begin in 1986, the show’s production timeline accelerated when “The Jeffersons” was abruptly canceled in 1985, freeing up Marla Gibbs to start work on “227” a year earlier than planned.
Synopsis of the Series “227” revolved around the lives of residents in a middle-class apartment complex, specifically 227 Lexington Place, which also inspired the show’s name. Set in Northeast Washington, D.C., the series centered on Mary Jenkins (Marla Gibbs), a nosy yet affectionate housewife. Her husband, Lester (Hal Williams), owned a construction company, and their daughter, Brenda (Regina King, making her television debut), was a studious teenager with an interest in boys.
One of the show’s prominent characters was Sandra Clark (Jackée Harry), Mary’s vivacious and stylish younger neighbor. Initially, Mary and Sandra’s relationship was marked by antagonism, but it evolved into a close friendship. Sandra was known for her flamboyant personality, penchant for dating, and fashionable attire. Another neighbor was Pearl Shay (Helen Martin), an astute busybody with a sharp sense of humor. Mary’s level-headed best friend, Rose Lee Holloway (Alaina Reed Hall), often served as the voice of reason among the residents.
Rose, unexpectedly, became the building’s landlord after the previous stingy landlord, Mr. Calloway, passed away. She retained this role until the fourth season when Paul Winfield joined the cast as the new landlord, Julian C. Barlow.
Over the series’ run, additional characters, including Curtis Baldwin, Countess Vaughn, Toukie Smith, Barry Sobel, Stoney Jackson, and Kevin Peter Hall, joined in an attempt to boost ratings. However, these cast additions were unable to halt the show’s declining viewership, leading to its conclusion in the spring of 1990.
Awards and Recognition “227” received various awards and nominations, with Jackée Harry winning an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1987. Regina King was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress.
Syndication and Availability Following its original run, “227” enjoyed syndication, airing on several networks like BET, TV One, TV Land, Centric, UP (formerly GMC), Encore Black, Logo, Antenna TV, and Rewind TV. It also became available for streaming on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video and Hulu. In terms of home media, the complete first season was released on DVD by Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment in Region 1. Mill Creek Entertainment later re-released the first season on DVD in the same region on February 7, 2017.