From what I read over the years:
...Basically, James Amos had been in regular disputes with the producers of the show since the first season. He wanted to portray a strong black family with a strong black father, and was disappointed by the buffoonery of the JJ character. It's not that he (or Esther Roles) didn't like Jimmie Walker, but the audience (and producers) seem to enjoy JJ's over the top foolishness, that JJ began to overshadow what was set up to be a very strong ensemble cast. Not only that, but Amos and Roles were strong actors from theater, and this tomfoolery that the show leaned toward was simply unacceptable.
So after repeated conflicts, Amos left. They wrote him off with his death, and as you can see, the show became the JJ show. The 'comedy' factor revved up, the 'issues' factor toned down, and the show dipped. Realizing that the balance was shifted and that the show lost something in Amos' departure, the writers and producers attempted to better balance issues with the comedy - which is why the tone is so scatter shot as the seasons progressed.
In my opinion, the absolute best season was season two. Good Times was a terribly UNDERRATED show amongst black people once The Cosby Show aired some 20 years later. History shows, though, that Good Times is actually one of the strongest family dramas that has EVER been on television.
It's inimitable....
I LOVE this show.
Damn, Damn, DAMN!
This is true. And the one of the guys who created the show Eric Monte (he also created and wrote Cooley High and What's Happenin') was until a couple years ago, he was a crackhead and homeless in LA, living on the streets and in a shelter.
In the 80's, he sued Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin' and won a $1 million settlement, then hollywood frozed him out. He have since moved back to Chicago, got him a place to live, where he is laying low. He gets about $300 a month in residual checks for Good Times. His real name is Kenneth Williams, and grew up in the Cabrini-Green projects where Good Times and Cooley High was based.
More Good Times Facts:
Esther Rolle was unhappy with JJ's character as well, and left the show in the fifth season to move away after marrying Carl. She returned in the six season (the last) and there was no explanation of what happened to Carl, or why she came back.
John Amos was only on the show for the first three years, the DAMN, DAMN, DAMN, James episode was a two parter in at the beginning of the fourth season. called "The Big Move".
Mike Evans (The original Lionel on The Jeffersons) created Good Times with Eric Monte.
Mike Evans gave Eric his first break writing for All In The Family, Eric returned the favor by naming the family, and the youngest character after Mike.
Good Times is a spin-off of Maude, which was a spin-off of All In The Family. All In The Family has the most spin-offs in TV history. They were all Norman Lear shows
Florida was a maid on Maude, when Good Times started, there was no mention of Maude nor any of the characters on Good Times.
Penny mom on the show (Chip Fields) was the real life mom of Kim Fields (Tootie from Facts of Life). Kim Fields showed up in two episodes in the last season.
Both David Letterman and Jay Leno appeared on Good Times, both were writing jokes for Jimmy Walker's stand up comedy routine at the time for $25 a joke.
Gary Coleman guest starred in two episodes.
James Evans Sr and Bookman only appeared in two episodes together.
Only Thelma and JJ were in every episode of Good Times
After James left, Michael became less Militant.
Almost all the writers on Good Times were white, the exception being Eric Monte and Mike Evans.
ok, I cant think of nothing else.....but
Here is the BIG question. Can you make a show today....about a black family living in the ghetto, father can't keep a job, son is a baffoon, the other is a militant.....talking about aint we lucky we got them, Good Times?
What are the faves and critical episodes for people who followed the show?
