Good Times

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CBS (ended 1979)
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Show Summary

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Good Times first aired in February 1974 as a mid-season replacement and went on for six years. This spinoff of the TV series, Maude, centered on the Evans family. In Maude Esther Rolle had portrayed Florida Evans, the black housekeeper, but in Good Times Florida and her family were struggling to survive in a South Side ghetto in Chicago. Florida was married to James Evans (in Maude his name was Henry) and they had three children, J.J., Thelma and Michael. The Evans family also had a next door neighbor, Willona Woods who was also a main character. At the beginning of 1976-1977 season, John Amos, who portrayed James, left the series. The writers decided to kill him off in a car accident, leaving Florida to run the household by herself. But then a year later, Esther Rolle decided to leave. She was not happy with the direction of the series. Especially the direction the character, J.J. had taken. In the 1977-1978 season, with both John Amos and Esther Rolle gone, stories centered around Willona and J.J. In this season, Willona adopted an abused girl, Penny Gordon. Also, the character of Nathan Bookman became a more prominent member of the cast. Bookman was the building superintendent. In the final season, Esther Rolle returned to the role of Florida. Also that season, Thelma married Keith Anderson and where expecting a child by the final episode. Spinoff of: Maude NOTE: Good Times debuted on February 8, 1974. Some resources mistakenly list it as having debuted on February 1, 1974. CBS seemed to leave 3 episode unaired. CBS Broadcast History February-September 1974----Fridays----8:30 p.m. September 1974-March 1976----Tuesdays----8:00 p.m. March-August 1976----Tuesdays----8:30 p.m. September 1976-January 1978----Wednesdays----8:00 p.m. January-May 1978----Mondays----8:00 p.m. June-September 1978----Mondays----8:30 p.m. September-December 1978----Saturdays----8:30 p.m. December 1978-January 1979----Wednesdays----8:30 p.m. May-August 1979----Wednesdays----8:30 p.m. Nielsen Ratings: (Top 30 or Better) #17 in the 1973-1974 Season #7 in the 1974-1975 Season #24 in the 1975-1976 Season #26 in the 1976-1977 Season First Telecast: February 8, 1974 Last Telecast: August 1, 1979 Episodes: 133 Color Episodes Theme Song: "Good Times" Written by: Alan and Marilyn Bergman and David Grusin Sung by: Jim Gilstrap and Blinky Williams Theme Song: "Good Times" Written by: Alan and Marilyn Bergman and David Grusin Sung by: Jim Gilstrap and Blinky Williams Good Times. Any time you meet a payment. Good Times. Any time you need a friend. Good Times. Any time you're out from under. Not getting hassled, not getting hustled. Keepin' your head above water, making a wave when you can. Temporary lay offs. Good Times. Easy credit rip offs. Good Times. Scratchin' and surviving. Good Times. Hangin in a chow line. Good Times. Ain't we lucky we got 'em. Good Times.moreless
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Episode Guide

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S 6 :  Ep 24 Aired 8/1/79
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S 6 :  Ep 23
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S 6 :  Ep 22
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S 6 :  Ep 21
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S 6 :  Ep 20 Aired 7/18/79
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Fan Reviews (40)

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  • I love this show they were great.

    9.7
    "Superb"
    By GINA710, Aug 24, 2008
    I really love this show I can watch this show all day and every day. It showed that poverty hit their family hard but they were strong as a family. I really loved it when the father was there because he was strong and he was really out there trying too take care of the family and set morals and values for the children. Florida had good ideas but she came off a a goody too shoes sometimes but she was a great mother she was there to support her children physically and mentally. Thelma was a very beautiful young lady that coame across like her mother. Michael the militant midet was funny with racial issues you learned different inflormation every week from michael. JJ was okay he was just silly but he could be serious some of the time. I wished they would come back for a reunion show.moreless

  • Good Times is one of my all time favorites. It's portrayal of the strength of the black family despite of racial prejudice is accurate. While the storylines are simple,they teach lessons of love, longsuffering and endurance. www.2black4u.blogspot.commoreless

    10
    "Perfect"
    By meikaw, Jun 23, 2008
    Good Times is definitely one of my all time favorites. It's portrayal of the strength of the black family despite racial prejudice is accurate. While the storylines are simple, they teach lessons of love, longsuffering and endurance. The Evans family provided imagery of a typical black family in the 1970's. They overcome trials and tribulations of living in the ghetto. While they were poor, they were never poor in spirit. James and Florida Evans were played by two of my favorite actors, John Amos and Esther Rolle. Both of the actors were under rated and they never received the acting roles or awards they deserved. J. J. Evans, played by Jimmie Walker, kept the audience in stitches with his comedic candor. While the black family has come along way from the days of Good Times, we all can learn from the Evans family and why they had Good Times and overcame all odds. www.2black4u.blogspot.commoreless

  • i love this show, it teaches today what family is all about. How best friends stick together and help each other out, and what is really going on in the world, its just worse now a days. Good times was always a favorite and always will bemoreless

    10
    "Perfect"
    By swompthang, May 18, 2008
    Just as i said thank God for reruns. Good times was just that Good Times. I bet on the set it was fun. I just finished watching a good times marathon. The last episode still gets me to this day. I love this sitcom. I wonder if the cast members keep in touch, oh well, this show told it like it was and it was about families. The evans family made it thru thick and thin, but made it together, and i cried and cried at the last episode everyone did great acting, made it seem like a real family. When i was little i would come home and it was a favorite in our home.moreless

  • Best comedy show ever!

    8.6
    "Great"
    By SpaceWay2007, Apr 17, 2007
    Good Times is one of my favorite comedy show. My favorite character is J.J. He's always talking nonsense and acting foolish. J.J is always getting dissed by his family and what I especially like is when he says "Dynomite!" That was hilarious! I never got over that. Another thing funny about him is the way he dresses. His clothes are bright colors which made him look like a clown. Anyway, too bad this show is canceled. Even though I would like for this show to come back on, I doubt it because this show is so old. You have got to watch this show for yourself. This show may be canceled, but you can at least watch the re-runs on a different channel that I forgot.moreless

  • this show was great and showed a way of life some people might not be used to.

    8.5
    "Great"
    By kevinb4444, Apr 03, 2007
    O.K. I'm sorry for this and everyone who reads this is going to want to kick me in the head, but this show really is DY-NO-MITE !! It was funny, and it showed how the Evan's family people made it through life, there was not really an agenda with it suprisingly with Norman Lear. It was a great show, even though the character of Wilona, sometimes laughed at her jokes more than the audience did. It wasn't just comedy either, they had some real serious episodes, with such issues, as child abuse, death, drugs etc, it was kind of like an after school special except it was funny.moreless
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bad parenting, crazy neighborhood, cultural phenomenon, edgy sitcom, feel good comedy

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