227 (TV series)

Did You Know?

• With the exception of The Cosby Show and A Different World, 227 achieved higher ratings than other sitcoms with a predominantly African-American cast during its first two seasons.
• The series became available to stream on Amazon Prime Video on July 15, 2021 and on Hulu on May 23, 2022.
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment released the complete first season on DVD on September 28, 2004.

Origins

The sitcom 227 was based on Christine Houston's 1978 stage play Two Twenty Seven, which followed women living in a predominantly Black Chicago apartment building in the 1950s. For television, the setting moved to contemporary Washington, D.C. The show was built as a starring vehicle for Marla Gibbs, already well-known for playing the sharp-tongued maid Florence Johnston on The Jeffersons. Gibbs had also performed in Houston's Los Angeles production. Her character, housewife Mary Jenkins, shared Florence's blunt, gossipy nature, often speaking her mind with mixed results. Gibbs also served as a creative consultant. Gibbs stated that NBC picked up the series after ABC passed on it. The Jeffersons was still airing on CBS, so 227 was scheduled for a 1986 debut. However, when The Jeffersons was cancelled unexpectedly in 1985, Gibbs became available earlier, allowing production to begin a full year ahead of schedule.

Synopsis

227 followed the lives of people in a middle-class apartment building, 227 Lexington Place, in a Black neighborhood in Northeast, Washington, D.C. The show centered on Mary Jenkins, a nosy and tart-tongued but loving housewife. Her husband Lester ran his own construction company, and their daughter Brenda was boy-crazy yet smart and studious. Also living in the building was Sandra Clark, Mary's younger neighbor who constantly bickered with her; their relationship became friendly over time. Pearl Shay was a feisty, kind-hearted busybody neighbor who snooped from her first-floor window. Pearl had a grandson named Calvin Dobbs, whom Brenda had a crush on and later dated. Rose Lee Holloway was Mary's level-headed best friend and often the voice of reason. In the premiere episode, Rose became the unexpected landlady after the stingy slumlord Mr. Calloway died. Rose stayed as landlady until the fourth season and had a daughter named Tiffany Holloway, who was Brenda's closest friend. Tiffany was written out after the second season. Helen Martin and Curtis Baldwin, initially recurring, became series regulars from season 2 onward.

Characters

Mary Jenkins, portrayed by Marla Gibbs, is a housewife living at 227 Lexington Place. Lester Jenkins, played by Hal Williams, is the patriarch and proprietor of a construction company. Rose Lee Holloway, played by Alaina Reed Hall, is Mary's level-headed best friend who becomes landlady after Mr. Calloway dies; she loses this job in season five when Julian C. Barlow succeeds her. Sandra Clark, portrayed by Jackée Harry, is a younger neighbor who initially bickers with Mary; she is a stylish, man-hungry serial dater. Pearl Shay, played by Helen Martin, is a feisty old busybody who appears in all 116 episodes. Brenda Jenkins, played by Regina King, is Mary and Lester's daughter. Tiffany Holloway, played by Kia Goodwin, is Rose's daughter and Brenda's friend, dropped after season two. Calvin Dobbs, played by Curtis Baldwin, is Pearl's grandson and later Brenda's boyfriend. Alexandra DeWitt, played by Countess Vaughn, is an 11-year-old prodigy who stays with the Jenkins in season four. Eva Rawley, played by Toukie Smith, is an artist who becomes building manager in season four but loses the job in season five. Dylan McMillan, played by Barry Sobel, is a history teacher living at 227 since season four. Travis Filmore, played by Stoney Jackson, is a limousine service owner who becomes Dylan's roommate in season five.

Series syndication

After NBC aired daytime reruns from September 1989 to July 1990, 227 entered syndication in fall 1990. It later appeared on BET, TV One, TV Land, Centric, UP, Encore Black, OWN, Logo, and The Grio. The series joined Antenna TV in January 2017, moved to Rewind TV in September 2021, then returned to Antenna on May 26, 2025, airing weeknights at 4 a.m. ET and Sundays 3-5 p.m. ET. Rewind also carries it weeknights at 7 p.m. ET and Saturdays 6-8 a.m. ET. Sony Pictures Television owns and distributes the show.