 "227" was based on a
play of the same title by Christine Houston. It had
been presented at the Crossroads Theatre and Arts
Academy (Marla Gibbs's company) prior to being
adapted as a series that aired for five seasons
(1985-1990) on NBC.
During it's run, Jackée Harry won an Emmy for
"Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series"
but her role, Sandra Clark, was never intended to be
a regular character,. she was added to the cast
after testing positively with audience
The comedy is set around an apartment building,
numbered 227, located in a racially-mixed
neighborhood of Washington D. C. Featuring a cast
that includes such popular television personalities
as Marla Gibbs, Hal Williams, Paul Winfield, Barry
Sobel, Regina King, Helen Martin and Jackee Harry.
At it's height in 1987, "227" reached #14 in
the Nielsen Ratings.
The 227 apartment complex has a host of entertaining
and memorable characters. The show stars Marla
Gibbs. Gibbs plays Mary Jenkins, a housewife who
lives with her contractor husband, Lester and their
14-year-old daughter Brenda. Brenda is a studious,
talented, and mostly well behaved young woman just
beginning adolescence.
Sandra Clark, played by Jackée Harry, is the
wise-cracking, scatter-brained neighbor. Sandra's
whiny voice and wiggly, tight-dressed body became
staple features of 227. Rose Lee Holloway, the
landlady who was always there to lend a listening
ear, is Mary's best friend.
Next door to the Jenkins is the gossiping Pearl
Shay, an older woman who lives with her grandson
Calvin Dobbs and often leans out her front window to
listen and comment on the discussions of the day.
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