Checking In
{{short description|Television series}}
{{About|the 1981 sitcom|the American Horror Story episode|Checking In (American Horror Story){{!}}Checking In (American Horror Story)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image =
| caption =
| alt_name =
| genre = Sitcom
| creator = Mike Milligan
Jay Moriarty
| developer =
| writer =
| director = Jack Shea
| starring = Marla Gibbs
Patrick Collins
Larry Linville
Liz Torres
Ruth Brown
Robert Costanzo
Jordan Gibbs
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| composer =
| country = United States
| language = English
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 4
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer =
| producer =
| editor =
| location =
| cinematography =
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| runtime = 30 minutes
| company = T.A.T. Communications Company
Ragamuffin Productions
| channel = CBS
| first_aired = {{Start date|1981|04|09|}}
| last_aired = {{End date|1981|04|30}}
| related = The Jeffersons
}}
Checking In is an American sitcom television series and a spin-off of The Jeffersons that aired for four episodes on CBS from April 9 to April 30, 1981.
Synopsis
In the seventh season finale of The Jeffersons, "Florence's New Job", the Jeffersons' maid, Florence Johnston (Marla Gibbs), accepted a job to become the executive housekeeper at the fictional St. Frederick Hotel in New York City. The series follows Florence's misadventures at the hotel with her co-workers: Lyle Block, her stuffy manager; Elena Beltran, her assistant; Earl Bellamy, the inept house detective; Hank Sabatino, the lewd handyman; Betty, the floor supervisor; Dennis, the bellboy; and Mr. Claymore, the hotel owner.{{cite web|author=TV Guide |url= http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/checking/200472|title=Checking In Episodes |publisher=TV Guide |accessdate=2016-10-02}}
Cast
- Marla Gibbs as Florence Johnston
- Larry Linville as Lyle Block
- Ruth Brown as Betty
- Patrick Collins as Earl Bellamy
- Robert Costanzo as Hank Sabatino
- Jordan Gibbs as Dennis
- Liz Torres as Elena Beltran
- John Anderson as Mr. Claymore
Episodes
{{Episode table|background=#c0a556|overall=5|title=20 |director=20|writer=22|airdate=18|episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=1
| Title=Boo Who?
| DirectedBy=Jack Shea
| WrittenBy=Howard Bendetson & Bob Bendetson
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1981|04|09}}
| ShortSummary=Florence and Elena suspect that a ghost is roaming the building, and Florence decides to spend the night alone in a room to prove that it's not haunted.
| LineColor=c0a556
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=2
| Title=Block's Party
| DirectedBy=Jack Shea
| WrittenBy=Bob Schiller & Bob Weiskopf
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1981|04|16}}
| ShortSummary=Lyle throws a party at the hotel, but his high school rival (now a pro football coach) and his team decide to crash it.
| LineColor=c0a556
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=3
| Title=Whose Side Are You On?
| DirectedBy=Jack Shea
| WrittenBy=Michael G. Moye
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1981|04|23}}
| ShortSummary=Florence is caught between Lyle and Elena when they have an argument, but she won't take anyone's side.
| LineColor=c0a556
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=4
| Title=Florence and the Salesman
| DirectedBy=Jack Shea
| WrittenBy=Lesa Kite, Cindy Begel, Howard Bendetson & Bob Bendetson
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1981|04|30}}
| ShortSummary=Florence misunderstands and thinks an elderly salesman is coming on to her, but he's really trying to make a sales pitch.
| LineColor=c0a556
}}
}}
Reception
Checking In premiered on CBS on April 9, 1981, and lasted for only four episodes in the Thursday, 8:00 p.m. ET timeslot. Faced with low ratings, the series was cancelled, and the final episode aired on April 30, 1981. Gibbs then returned to her regular role on The Jeffersons and it was explained that the St. Frederick Hotel had burned down.
Checking In was the first All in the Family spin-off series that was not successful, unlike The Jeffersons, Maude and Maude spin-off Good Times. Other failed spin-off attempts were Gloria in the 1982–1983 season and 704 Hauser in 1994.
Home media
The third episode, "Whose Side Are You On?", was added as a bonus feature on The Jeffersons: The Complete Series 33-disc DVD set issued by Shout! Factory.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|id=0081839|title=Checking In}}
{{All in the Family}}
{{The Jeffersons}}
{{Norman Lear Shows}}
Category:1981 American television series debuts
Category:1981 American television series endings
Category:1980s American black sitcoms
Category:1980s American workplace comedy television series
Category:American television spinoffs
Category:Television series by Sony Pictures Television
Category:Television series set in hotels
Category:Television shows set in New York City