Marla Gibbs appears in this first episode, and ensured her permanent place in the series. At the end of the episode, Florence asks: "Howcome we overcame, and nobody told me?" That line probably got the biggest laughs of the entire series. But, what exactly was everyone laughing at? A valid point had been raised. In this case, the women working as maids were racially the same as the affluent people hiring them. The maids didn't "have to" be maids. Paulene Meyers (as Diane) would go on to play a judge on All in the Family. The fact that the same actress played both roles was, in itself, an indication of how much times had changed. There's also the scene where George verbally assaults the Willises, and almost makes Helen cry. I loved the way she and Tom talked it out, and shared a passionate kiss. Roxie Roker and Franklin Cover were great together. All in all, a great first episode.
Review of A Friend in Need
