» Ain't we lucky we got 'em? Good Times! Options

[iron chef]

Bumping up for LeeLeeDiva, since she had something to say. :)

[Qwho]

I always got a laugh from that recurring Alderman character. They always called him "Balderman" or some such, and he was always calling Wilona something like "Petronia or Balonia".

Buffalo Butt Bookman was a disappointment. Were they trying to create a black Schneider?

I do, however, look back fondly on the show. As a white kid growing up in suburbia in the 70's I was terribly naive and the show helped me see other points of view.

[watchin girl]

And Penny's mom? Scurrrred me

Wasn't she played by Kim Fields?

Yes, the first episode I ever saw of "Good Times" was when JJ hung up his painting of the Black Jesus in the apt, and of course their Reverend came over and they were trying to hide it from him, or something like that

JJ used Ned the Wino as his model. And the painting was lucky, didn't somebody hit the number that day?

And who can forget Weeping Wanda? And Carl's impotence? Good times, indeed.

[lovemesomevos]

And Penny's mom? Scurrrred me


Wasn't she played by Kim Fields?

Close. Penny's mother was played by Kim Fields' mother, Chip Fields.

[watchin girl]

Yeah, that's who I meant.

[txhorns79]

A Good Times thread! Woo hoo!

I have to say my favorite episode is the one that takes place right after James' funeral. It's been a number of years since I saw the episode in reruns, but who can forget Esther Rolle and her overdramatic "Damn! Damn! Damn!" after her kids have the nerve to bitch at her that she isn't properly mourning her husband, and she realizes he is really gone. I realize the episode is fairly serious and I think Esther Rolle is a good actress, but the scene is just way too ripe for parody.

I always thought of this show as a case of at least the adult actors (Esther Rolle, John Amos and Janet DuBois) being a lot better than the material they were given. The earlier plotlines were more controversial and daring for the time, but then the show became all about JJ and it all fell apart.

[mightymos]

ET: Because someone beat me to it.


But here's my question:
Was anyone else scared of James? His temper used to frighten me as a child. I think it was because my father was so calm and never raised his voice. James was always pissed off at something. "I don't like it, Florida! I Just dont' like it!"

I felt like he beat them when the show ended.

This post has been edited by mightymos: Feb 1, 2004 @ 11:01 pm.

[MisterMcGee]

but then the show became all about JJ and it all fell apart.

...which is why Esther Rolle left the show at the end of the 3rd or 4th season. She reportedly thoguht the show had lost the strong family point of view it once had with James in charge. I agree. But I still love watching this show. There are just so many good episodes and memories. The whole beginning of Penny's saga, the 4-part abuse storyline, was really dramatic and serious. And "damn, damn, damn"? Classic.

[whosknockingit]

Esther Rolle Florida left the show for a while, but came back for some episodes in the final season.

Anybody remember how the show explained her exit and return?

[txhorns79]

Anybody remember how the show explained her exit and return?

If I remember right, she married a man named Carl and they moved south for his health. She just basically returned in the last season, Carl did not come with her and it was not explained where he was.

[MisterMcGee]

Carl announced he had cancer and they married and the left for Arizona at the end of the season. (At the beginning of the next season the mom was gone, Willona had the lead spot in the credits and the show introduced Penny). Carl then died offscreen and Esther Rolle returned for the last season of the show. She was prompted in the plot to return for Thelma's wedding.

[SkippyDevereaux]

I always thought that JJ was one of the most effeminate characters ever!! How many men would answer a phone like he did? Remember? He always walked to the phone limp-wristed!! Egads, how gay!!
I always thought that if this were real life, JJ would have been beaten to death in one of those hallways in the housing project. Or thrown out of one of the high rise windows!! He never would have made it in real life.
When they fired John Amos, the show lost its heart. Mr. Amos was the glue (in my opinion) that held this show together.

[Pepsi Princess]

Was anyone else scared of James? His temper used to frighten me as a child. I think it was because my father was so calm and never raised his voice. James was always pissed off at something. "I don't like it, Florida! I Just dont' like it!"

I felt like he beat them when the show ended.

Yes! James Evans scared me shitless! My father also did not raise his voice, as my mother was the disciplinarian in the family. She could be nearly as scary as James when provoked, but not for no reason. This man got pissed off when the wind blew.

[luvsupreme2k1]

Penny's introduction to the Evans clan and Janet Jackson dropping an album the same week-- coincidence? I think not, but entertaining just the same. However, watching with the young kids that were so devastated by Penny's plights ("Mama No!") and sniggering everytime Penny blamed her "pussycat" for her troubles (Penny, sweetie, it ain't your pussy cat that'll be problem, watch out for puberty and your plastic surgeon), I think I reserved my spot in hell.

[Jazper]

I like how this show was a spin-off of a spin-off--and still successful. That's what I call keeping the ball rolling. Nice.

Was anyone else scared of James? His temper used to frighten me as a child. 

Yeah, totally. Whenever any of these people got dramatic or serious in any way, it got always got to me somehow. When I was a kid, that is.