Set in a Washington, D.C., apartment building at 227 Lexington Place, and airing on NBC from 1985 to 1990, 227 blended touched many different aspects of life. From neighborhood gossip, family humor, and unforgettable characters, this show seemed to have it all. Today, viewers can revisit every laugh, side-eye, and front stoop conversation with all five seasons streaming on Hulu.
Adapted from Christine Houston’s stage play Two Twenty Seven, the series was set as a starring vehicle for Marla Gibbs, fresh off her scene-stealing run as Florence on The Jeffersons. Here, she plays a loving wife, devoted mother, and unapologetic neighborhood gossip, Mary Jenkins. Alongside her husband Lester (Hal Williams) and teenage daughter Brenda (Regina King in her first television role), Mary navigates family life while keeping tabs on her neighbors.
The ensemble cast was a strong element of the show’s charm. Alaina Reed Hall’s calm and wise Rose Holloway served as Mary’s best friend, while Helen Martin’s Pearl Shay delivered sly one-liners from her front window. Then there was Jackée Harry’s Sandra Clark. The flashy, confident, and man-hungry Blanche Devereaux-esq neighbor played perfectly off of Marla’s deadpan expressions. Harry’s performance was so magnetic it earned her a 1987 Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, making her the first Black woman to win in that category (a distinction she held until Sheryl Lee Ralph’s win for Abbott Elementary in 2022)
Why 227 Still Resonates
227 stood out for showing a the warmth of a tight-knit Black community at a time when network television offered few depictions like it. The front stoop served as the show’s unofficial stage. There, characters debated love, money, and neighborhood drama. Everyone’s quick wit and a sense of belonging proved there was no place like home.
The series also gave early career visibility to Regina King, whose turn as the smart but boy-crazy Brenda hinted at the acclaimed acting career to come. Storylines balanced lighthearted humor with relatable life issues. It all served to make the show both a time capsule of the ’80s and a comfort watch today. Combine that with a theme song that is literally stuck in my head as I type this and you have an enduring memory for decades.
From Emmy wins to enduring syndication runs, 227 proved that you don’t need big settings or high-concept plots to make a sitcom stick. You just need great characters and sharp writing (and an incredible cast like this doesn’t hurt either).
Whether you grew up with Mary Jenkins’ sass or are watching for the first time, 227 is ready to welcome you home.
Stream 227 on Hulu here
Stream 227 on DIRECTV here
Stream 227 on Pluto here
