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Wikipedia

Good Times

Good Times is an American television sitcom that aired for six seasons on CBS, from February 8, 1974, to August 1, 1979. Created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans and developed by executive producer Norman Lear, it was television's first African American two-parent family sitcom. Good Times is a spin-off of Maude, which itself is a spin-off of All in the Family.

Good Times
GenreSitcom
Created byEric Monte and Mike Evans
Developed byNorman Lear
Directed by
Starring
Theme music composer
Opening theme"Good Times" performed by Jim Gilstrap and Blinky Williams
ComposersDave Grusin
Alan and Marilyn Bergman
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons6
No. of episodes133 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Allan Manings (1974-75)
  • Jack Elinson (1975-76)
  • Norman Paul (1975-76)
  • Austin and Irma Kalish (1976–77)
  • Lloyd Turner (1977-78)
  • Gordon Mitchell (1977-78)
  • Sid Dorfman (1978-79)
Production locationsCBS Television City, Hollywood, California (1974-75)
Metromedia Square, Hollywood, California (1975-79)
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time22–24 minutes
Production companyTandem Productions
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseFebruary 8, 1974 (1974-02-08) –
August 1, 1979 (1979-08-01)
Related

In September 2020, it was announced that the series would receive an animated sitcom revival produced with Norman Lear executive producing alongside Seth MacFarlane and Steph Curry for Netflix.[1]

Synopsis edit

 

Florida and James (renamed from Henry) Evans and their three children live at 721 North Gilbert Avenue, apartment 17C, in a public housing project in a poor, black neighborhood in inner-city Chicago. The project is unnamed on the show but is implicitly the infamous Cabrini–Green Homes, shown in the opening and closing credits.[2][3] Florida and James have three children: James Jr., also known as "J.J.", a budding artist and illustrator who thinks of himself as a "Casanova" type and achieves both success and rejection on his path to monetize his talent into a career; Thelma, a very bright girl who takes education very seriously as she sees it as a way to help her family and is shown attending high school and community college over the course of the series; and Michael, whose passionate activism and support for the Black community and Black issues causes his father to call him "the militant midget."

When the series begins, J.J. is 17 (portrayed by 26-year-old Jimmie Walker, who was just eight years younger than co-star John Amos), Thelma 16 and Michael 11. Their exuberant neighbor and Florida's best friend is Willona Woods, a recent divorcée who works at a boutique. Their building superintendent is Nathan Bookman (seasons 2–6), who James, Willona and later J.J. refer to as "Buffalo Butt" or, even more derisively, "Booger."

 

The characters originated on the sitcom Maude as Florida and Henry Evans, with Florida employed as Maude Findlay's housekeeper in Tuckahoe, New York, and Henry employed as a New York City firefighter. When producers decided to feature the Florida character in her own show, they changed the characters' history to fit a new series that was well into development rather than start from scratch to create a consistent starring vehicle, even though to do so meant changing their Black middle-class family into to a poverty-stricken lower class family. Henry's name became James, he worked various odd jobs if at all, there was no mention of Maude but it was mentioned that Florida was a maid once before in the episode 'The Checkup' and the couple lived in Chicago.[4]

Episodes of Good Times deal with the characters' attempts to overcome poverty, living in high-rise public housing in Chicago. James Evans often works at least two jobs, mostly manual labor such as dishwasher, construction laborer, etc. Though he is often unemployed, he is a proud man who will not accept charity. He sometimes hustles money playing pool, although Florida disapproves of this.

Episodes edit

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
113February 8, 1974 (1974-02-08)May 10, 1974 (1974-05-10)
224September 10, 1974 (1974-09-10)March 18, 1975 (1975-03-18)
324September 9, 1975 (1975-09-09)March 2, 1976 (1976-03-02)
424September 22, 1976 (1976-09-22)March 30, 1977 (1977-03-30)
525September 21, 1977 (1977-09-21)April 3, 1978 (1978-04-03)
623September 16, 1978 (1978-09-16)August 1, 1979 (1979-08-01)

Cast and characters edit

Main edit

Actor Character Seasons
1 2 3 4 5 6
Esther Rolle Florida Evans Main Does not appear Main
John Amos James Evans Main Does not appear
Ja'Net DuBois Willona Woods Main
Ralph Carter Michael Evans Main
Bern Nadette Stanis[a] Thelma Evans Anderson Main
Jimmie Walker James "J.J." Evans Jr. Main
Johnny Brown Nathan Bookman Does not appear Recurring Main
Janet Jackson Millicent "Penny" Gordon Woods Does not appear Main
Ben Powers Keith Anderson Does not appear Main
  1. ^ Bern Nadette Stanis was credited as "Bern Nadette" during early episodes of season one, and later as "Bernnadette Stanis".

Supporting edit

 
Johnny Brown as superintendent
Nathan ("Buffalo Butt") Bookman
  • Ned the Wino (Raymond Allen) is the local drunk who frequents the neighborhood and the apartment building where the Evans family reside. In the season one episode "Black Jesus," J.J. uses Ned the Wino as the model for a portrait of Jesus. Another episode is centered on Michael's plan to "clean up" Ned and get him off the booze by letting him stay at the Evanses' house.
  • Carl Dixon (Moses Gunn) is a shop owner for whom Michael briefly works. Despite their religious differences, Carl and Florida begin dating and become engaged in the final episode of season four. Carl breaks off the engagement after he is diagnosed with lung cancer. After a talk from Bookman, Carl again asks Florida for her hand in marriage. The two marry off-screen and move to Arizona. Florida returns at the beginning of season six, this time without Carl for Thelma's wedding. Carl is referenced briefly in that season's second episode "Florida's Homecoming Part 2," but he is never mentioned again (Florida continues to use the surname Evans instead of Dixon). (Rolle decided to come back to the show on the condition the character of Carl Dixon was written out.) Florida then revealed to Willona he died from his battle of lung cancer.
  • Marion "Sweet Daddy" Williams (Theodore Wilson) is a menacing neighborhood numbers runner and pimp, who has a reputation for wearing flashy clothing and jewelry. He is usually accompanied by bodyguards (one portrayed by Bubba Smith, the other by series painter Ernie Barnes) and comes across as cool and threatening, but has shown a soft heart on occasion, particularly when he decided not to take an antique locket (to settle a debt) that Florida had given to Thelma because it had reminded him of his late mother. (Wilson also plays a club owner named Stanley in the season four episode, "The Comedian and the Loan Sharks").
  • Alderman Fred C. Davis (Albert Reed Jr.) is a local politician with a slightly shady disposition whom the Evans generally despise. Spoofing President Richard M. Nixon, he would state in a speech, "I am not a crook." He frequently relies on the support of the Evans family (his "favorite project family") for reelection or support and resorts to threats of eviction to secure their support. In a running joke, Alderman Davis frequently forgets Willona's name and calls her another similar-sounding name that began with a "W" (such as Wilhemina, Winnifrieda, Winsomnium, Wyomia and even Waldorf-Astoria), thus earning him her everlasting ire as well as the nickname "Baldy." (In the 2019 ABC special, Live in Front of a Studio Audience, Amos portrayed the role of Davis, the only cast member from the original series to appear.)
  • Lenny (Dap 'Sugar' Willie) (also known as "Lootin" Lenny), is a neighborhood hustler and peddler who tries to sell presumably stolen items that are usually attached to the lining of his fur coat. He usually approaches people with a laid-back rap and a rhyme ("my name is Len-nay, if I ain't got it, there ain't an-nay"). He is typically rebuffed by the people he approaches and responds by saying "that's cold" or uses a small brush to "brush off" the negativity.
  • "Grandpa" Henry Evans (Richard Ward) is James's long-lost father. He abandoned the family years before because he was ashamed that he could not do more to provide for them. This deeply hurt James, who disregarded his father's existence, telling everyone that he was dead. Thelma learns about her grandfather while doing some family research. She meets him and invites him to the Evanses' home to surprise James for his birthday, not knowing that James was well aware of his whereabouts but chose to stay out of his life. After Henry arrives at the Evans home and meets the rest of the family, he realizes that James would not welcome him in the home and decides to leave. Florida convinces him to stay and talk to James and explains that there may never be another chance to do so. Henry and James have a heart-to-heart talk, with Henry being remorseful and apologetic. James ultimately forgives his father. After James's death, the Evans family embraces Henry into the family, alongside his common law (and eventually legal) wife Lena (Paulene Myers) in later episodes.
  • Wanda Williams (Helen Martin) is another resident in the apartment building where the Evans reside. Earlier episodes show her at a women's support group, and the tenants rallying around her by giving her a rent party. Later episodes show her appearing and crying at several funerals, whether she knew the person or not, thus earning her the nickname "Weeping Wanda" from J.J. and Willona.
  • Lynnetta Gordon (Chip Fields) is Penny's abusive biological mother whose first appearance is in the four-part fifth season opening episode, "The Evans Get Involved." Penny's father abandoned her mom when Lynnetta became pregnant at 16. As a result, she takes her anger and frustrations out on Penny, including burning her with a hot iron. After the abuse is finally brought to light, she tells the Evans family that she herself was abused as a child. She gets into a fighting match with Willona and Thelma and they plead for her to seek therapy. Just before she disappears, she expresses regret for hurting her child, telling Willona that Penny deserves better than her. This clears the way for Willona to adopt Penny. She reappears more than a year later, in the sixth-season episode, "A Matter of Mothers," having gotten married and reveals that her new husband is from a very wealthy family. She uses her husband's wealth to send Penny anonymous gifts and, in an effort to regain custody of Penny, also attempts to frame Willona as an unfit adoptive mother who throws wild parties with less than wholesome attendees. However, her scheme is exposed by being recorded on tape admitting that the scheme was a set up to get Penny back. After Lynnetta tries to get the tape from Penny and threatens to hurt her again, which is stopped by Willona, Penny tells Lynnetta that no matter what anyone says, she will always consider Willona her real mother. Devastated, Lynnetta decides to drop the charges against Willona and leaves Penny with her, never to be seen again.
  • Cleatus (John Bailey) is a cousin of J.J. Evans, Thelma Evans Anderson and Michael Evans and nephew of Florida Evans and James Evans. He made one appearance in the episode "Cousin Cleatus."
  • Violet Bookman (Marilyn Coleman) is the wife of Bookman (episodes: "Bye, Bye Bookman" and "Willona, the Other Woman" in season 5).

Notable guest stars edit

 
Louis Gossett Jr. as Florida's brother, Wilbert
 
J. A. Preston as Walter Ingles, friend of Willona Woods
(Ja'Net DuBois) (1976)
  • Mary Alice as Loretta Simpson in the episode The Baby (season 3, episode 7).
  • Debbie Allen as J.J.'s drug-addicted fiancée, Diana Buchanan in "J.J.'s Fiancee (Parts 1 & 2)" (season 3)[5]
  • Matthew Beard (former Our Gang child actor) in five episodes, including four appearances as James' friend Monty
  • Taurean Blacque as Chopper in the episode “Breaker, Breaker (season 5, episode 8) and as John Dunbar Jr. in the episode “The Boarder” (season 5, episode 18)
  • Sorrell Booke as Mr. Galbraith, J.J.'s boss at the ad agency (season 5, episode 17)
  • Kathleen Bradley as the nurse in the episode “Blood Will Tell”. (season 6, episode 16)
  • Roscoe Lee Browne as a shady televangelist Reverend Sam "the Happiness Man", who befriended James in the military (season 1, episode 4)
  • Tony Burton as Aide in the Episode: "Evans Versus Davis" (Season 4, Episode 6)
  • T. K. Carter as J.J.'s friend "Head" (part of the "Awesome Foursome", later the "Gleesome Threesome", the "Gruesome Twosome" and the "Lonesome Onesome," as stated in the episode "The New Car")
  • Rosalind Cash as Thelma's teacher, Jessica Bishop, who becomes romantically involved with a much younger J.J. (season 4, episode 3)
  • Alvin Childress as Reverend Gordon in the episode “The Windfall. (season 2, episode 12)
  • William Christopher as The Army Doctor in the episode "The Enlistment" (season 2, episode 22)
  • Bill Cobbs as George Gillard in the episode "Evans Versus Davis" (Season 4, episode 6)
  • Judith Cohen as herself in the episode "The Judy Cohen Story" (season 4, episode 12)
  • Gary Coleman as Gary, a sharp-tongued classmate of Penny's in two season five episodes
  • Conchata Ferrell as Miss Johnson, Willona's supervisor at her short-lived second job as security in a department store (season 5, episode 6)
  • Kim Fields (real-life daughter of Chip Fields) as Penny's friend, Kim, who has a tendency to add the suffix "-ness" to emphasize her anxiety such as "hopelessnessness" (2 season 6 episodes)
  • Carl Franklin as Larry, Thelma's fiancé', ultimately breaking up when Larry is offered a job on the West Coast and Thelma is not ready to accompany him (2 episodes)
  • Alice Ghostley as Ms. Dobbs, a social worker who is working on Penny being adopted by Willona (3 episodes)
  • Ron Glass as Michael's elementary school principal (2.4); also made an appearance as a blind encyclopedia salesman who tries to swindle the Evans family (2.8)
  • Louis Gossett Jr., in season two as Thelma's older boyfriend (Florida and James object to their relationship because of the age difference) (2.6); also appears as Uncle Wilbert (Florida's brother), who comes from Detroit to look in on the family while James is away (3.8)
  • Robert Guillaume as Fishbone the wino in the episode "Requiem for a Wino" (season 5, episode 11)
  • Phillip Baker Hall as Motel Owner in the episode "J.J.'s Fiancee (Part 2)" (season 3, episode 18)
  • Lynn Hamilton as Mrs. Edwards, mother of Mad Dog , who shot J.J. (season 2, episode 10)
  • Shirley Hemphill as "Roz", the dimwitted sister of Edna, who was being tutored by Thelma (season 4, episode 10)
  • Gordon Jump as Mr. Rogers, the head of security at Willona's short-lived second job as security in a department store (season 5, episode 6)
  • Paula Kelly as Dr. Kelly in the episode "Where Have All The Doctors Gone" (season 6, episode 17)
  • Richard Lawson as Raymond, J.J.’s friend and co-worker (season 5, episode 17)
  • Jay Leno as "Young Man" in the season three's "J.J. in Trouble", which was one of the first times that the subject of "VD" (STD) was addressed on a primetime series
  • Richard Libertini as Painter #1 in the episode "Love Has A Spot On His Lung: Part 2" (season 4, episode 24).
  • Calvin Lockhart as Florida's cousin Raymond, who earned his riches by betting on horses (season 6, episode 23)
  • Don Marshall as FBI Agent Lloyd in the episode "The Investigation" (season 3, episode 20).
  • Paul Mooney as "The Second Guy" in the episode "J.J. and T.C." (season 6).
  • Debbi Morgan as Samantha, a date of J.J.'s (3.23); and as Ellen (4.18)
  • Nancy Morgan as Cindy Crebbins in the episode "Michael’s Decision" (season 6, episode8)
  • Judy Pace as Gloria Jackson in the episode “The Weekend” (season 3, episode 6)
  • J. A. Preston as Walter Ingles in the episode "Wilona's Dilemma" (season 3, episode 10)
  • Charlotte Rae as a hiring manager for a sales job that Florida stole from James (season 2, episode 14)
  • Sheryl Lee Ralph as Vanessa in the episode "J.J. and The Plumber's Helper" (season 6, episode 9)
  • Thalmus Rasulala as Ernie Harris, in the episode "The Houseguest" (season 2, episode 20)
  • Albert Reed Jr. as Alderman Fred C. Davis also played cousin Oscar in Season 2 episode Sometimes There's No Bottom in the Bottle
  • Percy Rodriguez as Florida’s cousin Edgar.(season 3, episode 5)
  • Timmie Rogers as Donald the Wino in the episode “The Snow Storm”. (season 6, episode 11)
  • Bubba Smith as Claude, a bodyguard/thug working for Marion "Sweet Daddy" Williams (4 season 6 episodes)
  • Richard Stahl as Judge Daniels in the episode “The Gang:Part 2” (season 2, episode 10)
  • Philip Michael Thomas as Eddie, Thelma's college-age boyfriend (season 1, episode 6)
  • Adam Wade as successful businessman Frank Mason, Willona's boyfriend (Season 5, 2 episodes)
  • Vernee Watson-Johnson as Thelma's friend and college mate Valerie, in the episode "Thelma's African Romance (Part 1)" (season 4)
  • Carl Weathers as Calvin Brooks, husband of the 'nude' model for J.J.'s painting (season 2, episode 16)
  • Lee Weaver as the second man in season 4 episode "The Big Move: Part 2".
  • Hal Williams as one of the movers in a season one episode; James' friend, Willie Washington (season 2); and Mr. Mitchell, the father of Earl Mitchell, who is an art student of J.J.'s (season 6)
  • John Witherspoon as Officer Lawson in the episode "A Matter of Mothers" (season 6, episode 20)

Production edit

Good Times was created by Eric Monte and actor Mike Evans. The series also features a character named "Michael Evans" after Evans, who portrayed Lionel Jefferson on the Lear-produced series All in the Family and The Jeffersons.[6]

Theme song and opening sequence edit

Good Times theme
  Sample [0:13] via

The gospel-styled theme song was composed by Dave Grusin with lyrics written by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. It was sung by Jim Gilstrap and Motown singer Blinky Williams with a gospel choir providing background vocals. The lyrics to the theme song are notorious for being hard to discern, notably the line "Hangin' in a chow line"/"Hangin' in and jivin'" (depending on the source used). Dave Chappelle used this part of the lyrics as a quiz in his "I Know Black People" skit on Chappelle's Show in which the former was claimed as the answer.[7] The insert for the Season One DVD box set has the lyric as "Hangin' in a chow line." However, the Bergmans, along with Bern Nadette Stanis, confirmed that the lyric is actually "Hangin' in and jivin'."[7] Slightly different lyrics were used for the closing credits, with the song beginning on a verse instead of the chorus.

Casting edit

When Ralph Carter was cast as the youngest Evans child, Michael, he was a cast member in the Broadway musical Raisin and the producers of Raisin were initially reluctant to accept Tandem Productions' buyout offer.[8] While Carter's contract was being negotiated, another young actor, Larry Fishburne (later Laurence) filled the role of Michael during initial rehearsals for Good Times.[8] Early episodes of Good Times contain a notice in the credits: "Ralph Carter appears courtesy of the Broadway musical Raisin."[8]

Cast conflicts edit

 
Co-creator Mike Evans (1975)

Good Times was intended to be a timely show in the All in the Family vein focused on Rolle and Amos. Both expected the show to deal with serious topics in a comedic way while providing positive characters for viewers to identify with. However, it was Walker's character of J.J. that was an immediate hit with audiences and became the breakout character of the series. J.J.'s frequent use of the expression "Dy-no-mite!" (often in the phrase "Kid Dy-no-mite!"), credited to director John Rich, became a popular catchphrase (later included in TV Land's The 100 Greatest TV Quotes and Catch Phrases special).[9]

Rich insisted Walker say it in every episode. Walker and executive producer Norman Lear were skeptical of the idea, but the phrase and the J.J. Evans character caught on with the audience.[10] As a result of the character's popularity, the writers focused more on J.J.'s comedic antics instead of serious issues. Throughout seasons two and three, Rolle and Amos grew increasingly disillusioned with the direction of the show and especially with J.J.'s tomfoolery and stereotypically buffoonish behavior.[11] Rolle was vocal about her hate of his character. In a 1975 interview with Ebony magazine she stated:

He's 18 and he doesn't work. He can't read or write. He doesn't think. The show didn't start out to be that...Little by little—with the help of the artist, I suppose, because they couldn't do that to me—they have made J.J. more stupid and enlarged the role. Negative images have been slipped in on us through the character of the oldest child.[12]

Despite doing so less publicly than Rolle, Amos also was outspoken about his dissatisfaction with the J.J. character, stating:

The writers would prefer to put a chicken hat on J.J. and have him prance around saying "DY-NO-MITE", and that way they could waste a few minutes and not have to write meaningful dialogue.[13]

While Amos was less public with his dissatisfaction than Rolle, he was fired after season three due to disagreements with Lear. Amos' departure was initially attributed to his desire to focus on a film career, but he admitted in a 1976 interview that Lear called him and told him that his contract option with the show was not being renewed. Amos stated, "That's the same thing as being fired."[14] The producers decided not to recast the character of James Evans, instead opting to kill off the character in the two-part season four premiere, "The Big Move," with Florida finding out that James died in an automobile accident while in Mississippi.[15][16]

Final seasons edit

By the end of season four, Rolle had also become dissatisfied with the show's direction and decided to leave the series. In the two-part season finale, "Love Has a Spot On His Lung," Florida gets engaged to Carl Dixon (Moses Gunn), a man she began dating toward the end of season four. In the season five premiere episode, "The Evans Get Involved Part 1," it is revealed that Florida and Carl married off screen and moved to Arizona for the sake of Carl's health.[17] With Amos and Rolle gone, DuBois took over as lead actor, as Willona checked in on the Evans children since they were now living alone.[3][18]

In season five, Janet Jackson joined the cast, playing Penny Gordon, an abused girl, abandoned by her mother, and eventually adopted by Willona.[17] During that season, Johnny Brown's character of Nathan Bookman, the Evans' superintendent, became more prominent. At the beginning of the fifth season, Brown became a series regular and was included in the opening credits. Ratings began to decline. It was clear to the producers as well as viewers that Rolle's absence had left the series without a much-needed unifying center of attention.[17]

Before the taping of season six began, CBS and the show's producers decided that they had to do "something drastic" to increase viewership. According to then-vice president of CBS programming Steve Mills, "We had lost the essence of the show. Without parental guidance, the show slipped. Everything told us that: our mail, our phone calls, our research. We felt we had to go back to basics."[17]

Producers approached Rolle with an offer to appear in a guest role on the series. Rolle was initially hesitant, but when producers agreed to a number of her demands (including an increased salary and higher quality scripts), she agreed to return to the series on a full-time basis. Rolle also wanted producers to make the character of J.J. more responsible, as she felt the character was a poor role model for African-American youths. She also requested that producers write out the character of Carl Dixon; Rolle reportedly disliked the storyline surrounding the Carl Dixon character, as she believed Florida would not have moved on so quickly after James's death or left her children. Rolle also thought the writers had disregarded Florida's devout Christian beliefs by having her fall for and marry Carl, who was an atheist.[17][19]

In the season six premiere episode "Florida's Homecoming: Part 1," Florida returns from Arizona without Carl to attend Thelma's upcoming wedding to professional football player Keith Anderson (Ben Powers, who joined the cast for the final season). In a rare uncut version of "Florida's Homecoming: Part 2," after Florida arrives home from Arizona, Willona briefly pulls her aside and mentions Carl, to which Florida sadly smiles and shakes her head, implying that Carl had died from cancer. Florida later mentions Carl one last time when she tells Michael about a book they'd both bought him.[4]

Despite changes in the series at Rolle's request and her return, plus the addition of Powers to the cast, ratings continued to fall and CBS canceled the series during the 1978–79 season.[20][21] In the series finale episode "The End of the Rainbow," each character finally gets a "happy ending." J.J. gets his big break as a nationally syndicated artist for a comic book company with his newly created character, DynoWoman, which is based on Thelma (much to her surprise and delight) and is moving into an apartment with some lady friends.[21]

Michael attends college and moves into an on-campus dorm. Keith's bad knee heals due to his exercise and own physical therapy, leading to the Chicago Bears offering him a contract to play football. Keith announces that he and Thelma are moving into a luxury apartment in the city's upscale Gold Coast district. Thelma also announces that she is pregnant with the couple's first child.[21]

Keith offers Florida the chance to move in with them so she can help Thelma with the new baby; Florida accepts the offer. Willona becomes the head buyer of the boutique, she walks in and announces that she and Penny are also moving out of the projects. Willona then reveals that her new apartment is in the same apartment building to which Keith, Thelma and Florida are also moving; she and Penny become the Evanses' downstairs neighbors.[21]

Broadcast and syndication edit

Cable network TV One aired reruns of the show since its launch on January 19, 2004. Good Times had also aired at various times on TV Land and on the Canadian specialty cable channel DejaView. Minisodes of the show are available for free on Crackle. Additionally, digital multicast network Antenna TV also aired episodes of the show until January 1, 2018, when GetTV, operated by Sony (which distributes the show), began airing the program. Good Times airs on GetTV with a TV-PG rating.

Most episodes run on TV One with a TV-G rating, with the lone exception being the season three episode "J.J. in Trouble," in which J.J. fears he may have contracted an STD. That episode airs with a TV-14 rating, as well as the "parental guidance is suggested" slide that preceded the episode when it was originally broadcast on CBS. In the past, it aired on TV Land with a TV-PG rating.

As of March 27, 2023, episodes have been airing nightly on the Catchy Comedy (formerly Decades) digital retro TV network.

Home media edit

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released the entire series on DVD in Region 1 between February 2003 and August 2006, with a complete box set following the separate seasons on October 28, 2008. Season 1 was released on DVD in Region 4 on December 27, 2006. On August 27, 2013, it was announced that Mill Creek Entertainment had acquired the rights to various television series from the Sony Pictures library, including Good Times.[22] They have subsequently re-released the first four seasons on DVD.[23][24] On September 1, 2015, Mill Creek Entertainment re-released Good Times: The Complete Series on DVD in Region 1.[25]

All episodes are available to stream on Peacock Premium.

DVD name Ep # Release date
The Complete First Season 13 February 4, 2003
January 21, 2014 (re-release)
The Complete Second Season 24 February 3, 2004
January 21, 2014 (re-release)
The Complete Third Season 24 August 10, 2004
May 20, 2014 (re-release)
The Complete Fourth Season 24 February 15, 2005
May 20, 2014 (re-release)
The Complete Fifth Season 24 August 23, 2005
The Complete Sixth and Final Season 24 August 1, 2006
The Complete Series 133 October 28, 2008
September 1, 2015 (re-release)

Reception edit

Ratings edit

 

The program premiered in February 1974; high ratings led CBS to renew the program for the 1974–75 season, as it was the seventeenth-highest-rated program that year. During its first full season on the air, the show was the seventh-highest-rated program in the Nielsen ratings, with more than 25% of all American households tuning into an episode each week. Three of the top ten highest-rated programs on American TV that season centered on the lives of African-Americans: Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons and Good Times. The Nielsen ratings for the series declined over time, partly because of its many time slot changes and the departure of John Amos.[26] The ratings went down considerably when the show entered its final two seasons:

Season TV Season No. of Episodes Time slot (ET) Nielsen ratings[27]
Rank Rating
1 1973–1974 13 Friday at 8:30 pm 17 21.4 (Tied with Barnaby Jones)
2 1974–1975 24 Tuesday at 8:00 pm 7 25.8
3 1975–1976 24 24 21.0
4 1976–1977 24 Wednesday at 8:00 pm (Episodes 1-15, 17–24)
Wednesday at 8:30 pm (Episode 16)
26 20.5
5 1977–1978 24 Wednesday at 8:00 pm (Episodes 1, 3-16)
Wednesday at 8:30 pm (Episode 2)
Monday at 8:00 pm (Episodes 17–24)
55 [28] 17.4 [28]
6 1978–1979 22 Saturday at 8:00 pm (Episode 1)
Saturday at 8:30 pm (Episodes 2-10)
Wednesday at 8:30 pm (Episodes 11–22)
91 [29] 13.0 [29]

Awards and nominations edit

Year Association Category Recipient(s) Result
1974 Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actor – Television Jimmie Walker Nominated
1975 Golden Globe Awards Best TV Actress – Musical/Comedy Esther Rolle Nominated
Best Supporting Actor – Television Jimmie Walker Nominated
Humanitas Prize 30 Minute Category John Baskin and Roger Shulman / episode: "The Lunch Money Ripoff" Nominated
30 Minute Category Bob Peete / episode: "My Girl Henrietta" Nominated
2006 TV Land Awards Impact Award John Amos, Ralph Carter, Ja'net DuBois, Esther Rolle (posthumously), BernNadette Stanis, and Jimmie Walker Won

References edit

  1. ^ Porter, Rick (September 14, 2020). "'Good Times' Animated Revival Scores Series Order at Netflix". The Hollywood Reporter.
  2. ^ "Cabrini-Green Set For Demolition". cbslocal.com. December 9, 2010.
  3. ^ a b Simms, Gregory (September 8, 1977). "Ja'Net DuBois Tells Diet And 'Good Times' Secrets During Swing Through Chi". Jet. Vol. 52, no. 25. Johnson Publishing Company. pp. 62–63. ISSN 0021-5996.
  4. ^ a b Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (October 17, 2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present (9 ed.). Ballantine Books. p. 869. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4.
  5. ^ J.J.'s Fiancee with guest star Debbie Allen at IMDb
  6. ^ Lewis, Dan (February 19, 1974). "Good Times Is Maude Spinoff". St. Joseph News-Press. p. 15. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Backstage with... Alan and Marilyn Bergman". Time Out New York. February 1, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2007.
  8. ^ a b c Dalton, John (7 February 2017). Television Academy Interviews: Interview with Jimmie Walker. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  9. ^ The Star Ledger. December 11, 2006
  10. ^ "Jimmie 'J.J.' Walker lights 'Dy-no-mite' on gay marriage, Leno and dating". CNN. July 16, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
  11. ^ Fearn-Banks, Kathleen (August 4, 2009). The A to Z of African-American Television. Vol. 49. Scarecrow Press. p. 169. ISBN 978-0-810-86348-4.
  12. ^ Robinson, Louie (September 1975). "Bad Times On the 'Good Times' Set". Ebony. Vol. 30, no. 11. Johnson Publishing Company. p. 35. ISSN 0012-9011.
  13. ^ Mitchell, John L. (April 14, 2006). "Plotting His Next Big Break". Los Angeles Times. from the original on April 16, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  14. ^ "'I Was Fired,' Reveals Good Times' John Amos". Jet. Vol. 50, no. 10. Johnson Publishing Company. May 27, 1976. p. 57. ISSN 0021-5996.
  15. ^ Dawidziak, Mark (January 17, 1994). "Lear, Amos paired up again". Herald-Journal. p. C3. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  16. ^ 5000 Episodes and No Commercials: The Ultimate Guide to TV Shows On DVD. Random House Digital, Inc. November 9, 2011. p. 125. ISBN 978-0-307-79950-0.
  17. ^ a b c d e Marguiles, Lee (June 10, 1978). "Esther Rolle Returning To 'Good Times'". St. Petersburg Times. p. 11B. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  18. ^ Beck, Marilyn (September 23, 1977). "It's 'good times' for Ja'net Dubois". St. Petersburg Times. p. 14D. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  19. ^ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (October 17, 2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present (9 ed.). Ballantine Books. p. 552. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4.
  20. ^ Newcomb 2004 p.1012
  21. ^ a b c d Bodroghkozy, Aniko (January 1, 2012). Equal Time: Television and the Civil Rights Movement. University of Illinois Press. p. 223. ISBN 978-0-252-09378-4.
  22. ^ . tvshowsondvd.com (Press release). August 27, 2013. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014.
  23. ^ . tvshowsondvd.com. November 8, 2013. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013.
  24. ^ . tvshowsondvd.com. April 15, 2014. Archived from the original on April 16, 2014.
  25. ^ . Archived from the original on 2015-07-10.
  26. ^ "Good Times In Trouble; Jeffersons Holding Own". Jet. Vol. 55, no. 13. Johnson Publishing Company. December 14, 1978. p. 64. ISSN 0021-5996.
  27. ^ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (Ninth ed.). Ballantine Books. pp. 1687–1688. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4.
  28. ^ a b "FCC cites ABC as 'negligent' in handling of boxing tournament" (PDF). Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  29. ^ a b "Rounding up the ratings for 'the season'" (PDF). Retrieved February 5, 2020.

External links edit

good, times, this, article, about, american, sitcom, other, uses, disambiguation, american, television, sitcom, that, aired, seasons, from, february, 1974, august, 1979, created, eric, monte, mike, evans, developed, executive, producer, norman, lear, televisio. This article is about the American TV sitcom For other uses see Good Times disambiguation Good Times is an American television sitcom that aired for six seasons on CBS from February 8 1974 to August 1 1979 Created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans and developed by executive producer Norman Lear it was television s first African American two parent family sitcom Good Times is a spin off of Maude which itself is a spin off of All in the Family Good TimesGenreSitcomCreated byEric Monte and Mike EvansDeveloped byNorman LearDirected byGerren KeithHerbert KenwithBob LaHendroDonald McKaylePerry RosemondStarringEsther RolleJohn AmosJa Net DuBoisRalph CarterBern Nadette StanisJimmie WalkerJohnny BrownJanet JacksonBen PowersTheme music composerDave GrusinAlan and Marilyn BergmanOpening theme Good Times performed by Jim Gilstrap and Blinky WilliamsComposersDave GrusinAlan and Marilyn BergmanCountry of originUnited StatesOriginal languageEnglishNo of seasons6No of episodes133 list of episodes ProductionExecutive producersNorman Lear 1974 75 Allan Manings 1975 77 Austin and Irma Kalish 1977 78 Norman Paul 1978 79 ProducersAllan Manings 1974 75 Jack Elinson 1975 76 Norman Paul 1975 76 Austin and Irma Kalish 1976 77 Lloyd Turner 1977 78 Gordon Mitchell 1977 78 Sid Dorfman 1978 79 Production locationsCBS Television City Hollywood California 1974 75 Metromedia Square Hollywood California 1975 79 Camera setupMulti cameraRunning time22 24 minutesProduction companyTandem ProductionsOriginal releaseNetworkCBSReleaseFebruary 8 1974 1974 02 08 August 1 1979 1979 08 01 RelatedAll in the FamilyMaudeChecking InThe JeffersonsArchie Bunker s PlaceGloria704 HauserIn September 2020 it was announced that the series would receive an animated sitcom revival produced with Norman Lear executive producing alongside Seth MacFarlane and Steph Curry for Netflix 1 Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Episodes 3 Cast and characters 3 1 Main 3 2 Supporting 3 3 Notable guest stars 4 Production 4 1 Theme song and opening sequence 4 2 Casting 4 3 Cast conflicts 4 4 Final seasons 5 Broadcast and syndication 6 Home media 7 Reception 7 1 Ratings 7 2 Awards and nominations 8 References 9 External linksSynopsis edit nbsp John Amos and Esther Rolle 1974Florida and James renamed from Henry Evans and their three children live at 721 North Gilbert Avenue apartment 17C in a public housing project in a poor black neighborhood in inner city Chicago The project is unnamed on the show but is implicitly the infamous Cabrini Green Homes shown in the opening and closing credits 2 3 Florida and James have three children James Jr also known as J J a budding artist and illustrator who thinks of himself as a Casanova type and achieves both success and rejection on his path to monetize his talent into a career Thelma a very bright girl who takes education very seriously as she sees it as a way to help her family and is shown attending high school and community college over the course of the series and Michael whose passionate activism and support for the Black community and Black issues causes his father to call him the militant midget When the series begins J J is 17 portrayed by 26 year old Jimmie Walker who was just eight years younger than co star John Amos Thelma 16 and Michael 11 Their exuberant neighbor and Florida s best friend is Willona Woods a recent divorcee who works at a boutique Their building superintendent is Nathan Bookman seasons 2 6 who James Willona and later J J refer to as Buffalo Butt or even more derisively Booger nbsp Jimmie Walker and Esther Rolle 1974The characters originated on the sitcom Maude as Florida and Henry Evans with Florida employed as Maude Findlay s housekeeper in Tuckahoe New York and Henry employed as a New York City firefighter When producers decided to feature the Florida character in her own show they changed the characters history to fit a new series that was well into development rather than start from scratch to create a consistent starring vehicle even though to do so meant changing their Black middle class family into to a poverty stricken lower class family Henry s name became James he worked various odd jobs if at all there was no mention of Maude but it was mentioned that Florida was a maid once before in the episode The Checkup and the couple lived in Chicago 4 Episodes of Good Times deal with the characters attempts to overcome poverty living in high rise public housing in Chicago James Evans often works at least two jobs mostly manual labor such as dishwasher construction laborer etc Though he is often unemployed he is a proud man who will not accept charity He sometimes hustles money playing pool although Florida disapproves of this Episodes editMain article List of Good Times episodes SeasonEpisodesOriginally airedFirst airedLast aired113February 8 1974 1974 02 08 May 10 1974 1974 05 10 224September 10 1974 1974 09 10 March 18 1975 1975 03 18 324September 9 1975 1975 09 09 March 2 1976 1976 03 02 424September 22 1976 1976 09 22 March 30 1977 1977 03 30 525September 21 1977 1977 09 21 April 3 1978 1978 04 03 623September 16 1978 1978 09 16 August 1 1979 1979 08 01 Cast and characters editMain edit Actor Character Seasons1 2 3 4 5 6Esther Rolle Florida Evans Main Does not appear MainJohn Amos James Evans Main Does not appearJa Net DuBois Willona Woods MainRalph Carter Michael Evans MainBern Nadette Stanis a Thelma Evans Anderson MainJimmie Walker James J J Evans Jr MainJohnny Brown Nathan Bookman Does not appear Recurring MainJanet Jackson Millicent Penny Gordon Woods Does not appear MainBen Powers Keith Anderson Does not appear Main Bern Nadette Stanis was credited as Bern Nadette during early episodes of season one and later as Bernnadette Stanis Supporting edit nbsp Johnny Brown as superintendentNathan Buffalo Butt BookmanNed the Wino Raymond Allen is the local drunk who frequents the neighborhood and the apartment building where the Evans family reside In the season one episode Black Jesus J J uses Ned the Wino as the model for a portrait of Jesus Another episode is centered on Michael s plan to clean up Ned and get him off the booze by letting him stay at the Evanses house Carl Dixon Moses Gunn is a shop owner for whom Michael briefly works Despite their religious differences Carl and Florida begin dating and become engaged in the final episode of season four Carl breaks off the engagement after he is diagnosed with lung cancer After a talk from Bookman Carl again asks Florida for her hand in marriage The two marry off screen and move to Arizona Florida returns at the beginning of season six this time without Carl for Thelma s wedding Carl is referenced briefly in that season s second episode Florida s Homecoming Part 2 but he is never mentioned again Florida continues to use the surname Evans instead of Dixon Rolle decided to come back to the show on the condition the character of Carl Dixon was written out Florida then revealed to Willona he died from his battle of lung cancer Marion Sweet Daddy Williams Theodore Wilson is a menacing neighborhood numbers runner and pimp who has a reputation for wearing flashy clothing and jewelry He is usually accompanied by bodyguards one portrayed by Bubba Smith the other by series painter Ernie Barnes and comes across as cool and threatening but has shown a soft heart on occasion particularly when he decided not to take an antique locket to settle a debt that Florida had given to Thelma because it had reminded him of his late mother Wilson also plays a club owner named Stanley in the season four episode The Comedian and the Loan Sharks Alderman Fred C Davis Albert Reed Jr is a local politician with a slightly shady disposition whom the Evans generally despise Spoofing President Richard M Nixon he would state in a speech I am not a crook He frequently relies on the support of the Evans family his favorite project family for reelection or support and resorts to threats of eviction to secure their support In a running joke Alderman Davis frequently forgets Willona s name and calls her another similar sounding name that began with a W such as Wilhemina Winnifrieda Winsomnium Wyomia and even Waldorf Astoria thus earning him her everlasting ire as well as the nickname Baldy In the 2019 ABC special Live in Front of a Studio Audience Amos portrayed the role of Davis the only cast member from the original series to appear Lenny Dap Sugar Willie also known as Lootin Lenny is a neighborhood hustler and peddler who tries to sell presumably stolen items that are usually attached to the lining of his fur coat He usually approaches people with a laid back rap and a rhyme my name is Len nay if I ain t got it there ain t an nay He is typically rebuffed by the people he approaches and responds by saying that s cold or uses a small brush to brush off the negativity Grandpa Henry Evans Richard Ward is James s long lost father He abandoned the family years before because he was ashamed that he could not do more to provide for them This deeply hurt James who disregarded his father s existence telling everyone that he was dead Thelma learns about her grandfather while doing some family research She meets him and invites him to the Evanses home to surprise James for his birthday not knowing that James was well aware of his whereabouts but chose to stay out of his life After Henry arrives at the Evans home and meets the rest of the family he realizes that James would not welcome him in the home and decides to leave Florida convinces him to stay and talk to James and explains that there may never be another chance to do so Henry and James have a heart to heart talk with Henry being remorseful and apologetic James ultimately forgives his father After James s death the Evans family embraces Henry into the family alongside his common law and eventually legal wife Lena Paulene Myers in later episodes Wanda Williams Helen Martin is another resident in the apartment building where the Evans reside Earlier episodes show her at a women s support group and the tenants rallying around her by giving her a rent party Later episodes show her appearing and crying at several funerals whether she knew the person or not thus earning her the nickname Weeping Wanda from J J and Willona Lynnetta Gordon Chip Fields is Penny s abusive biological mother whose first appearance is in the four part fifth season opening episode The Evans Get Involved Penny s father abandoned her mom when Lynnetta became pregnant at 16 As a result she takes her anger and frustrations out on Penny including burning her with a hot iron After the abuse is finally brought to light she tells the Evans family that she herself was abused as a child She gets into a fighting match with Willona and Thelma and they plead for her to seek therapy Just before she disappears she expresses regret for hurting her child telling Willona that Penny deserves better than her This clears the way for Willona to adopt Penny She reappears more than a year later in the sixth season episode A Matter of Mothers having gotten married and reveals that her new husband is from a very wealthy family She uses her husband s wealth to send Penny anonymous gifts and in an effort to regain custody of Penny also attempts to frame Willona as an unfit adoptive mother who throws wild parties with less than wholesome attendees However her scheme is exposed by being recorded on tape admitting that the scheme was a set up to get Penny back After Lynnetta tries to get the tape from Penny and threatens to hurt her again which is stopped by Willona Penny tells Lynnetta that no matter what anyone says she will always consider Willona her real mother Devastated Lynnetta decides to drop the charges against Willona and leaves Penny with her never to be seen again Cleatus John Bailey is a cousin of J J Evans Thelma Evans Anderson and Michael Evans and nephew of Florida Evans and James Evans He made one appearance in the episode Cousin Cleatus Violet Bookman Marilyn Coleman is the wife of Bookman episodes Bye Bye Bookman and Willona the Other Woman in season 5 Notable guest stars edit nbsp Louis Gossett Jr as Florida s brother Wilbert nbsp J A Preston as Walter Ingles friend of Willona Woods Ja Net DuBois 1976 Mary Alice as Loretta Simpson in the episode The Baby season 3 episode 7 Debbie Allen as J J s drug addicted fiancee Diana Buchanan in J J s Fiancee Parts 1 amp 2 season 3 5 Matthew Beard former Our Gang child actor in five episodes including four appearances as James friend Monty Taurean Blacque as Chopper in the episode Breaker Breaker season 5 episode 8 and as John Dunbar Jr in the episode The Boarder season 5 episode 18 Sorrell Booke as Mr Galbraith J J s boss at the ad agency season 5 episode 17 Kathleen Bradley as the nurse in the episode Blood Will Tell season 6 episode 16 Roscoe Lee Browne as a shady televangelist Reverend Sam the Happiness Man who befriended James in the military season 1 episode 4 Tony Burton as Aide in the Episode Evans Versus Davis Season 4 Episode 6 T K Carter as J J s friend Head part of the Awesome Foursome later the Gleesome Threesome the Gruesome Twosome and the Lonesome Onesome as stated in the episode The New Car Rosalind Cash as Thelma s teacher Jessica Bishop who becomes romantically involved with a much younger J J season 4 episode 3 Alvin Childress as Reverend Gordon in the episode The Windfall season 2 episode 12 William Christopher as The Army Doctor in the episode The Enlistment season 2 episode 22 Bill Cobbs as George Gillard in the episode Evans Versus Davis Season 4 episode 6 Judith Cohen as herself in the episode The Judy Cohen Story season 4 episode 12 Gary Coleman as Gary a sharp tongued classmate of Penny s in two season five episodes Conchata Ferrell as Miss Johnson Willona s supervisor at her short lived second job as security in a department store season 5 episode 6 Kim Fields real life daughter of Chip Fields as Penny s friend Kim who has a tendency to add the suffix ness to emphasize her anxiety such as hopelessnessness 2 season 6 episodes Carl Franklin as Larry Thelma s fiance ultimately breaking up when Larry is offered a job on the West Coast and Thelma is not ready to accompany him 2 episodes Alice Ghostley as Ms Dobbs a social worker who is working on Penny being adopted by Willona 3 episodes Ron Glass as Michael s elementary school principal 2 4 also made an appearance as a blind encyclopedia salesman who tries to swindle the Evans family 2 8 Louis Gossett Jr in season two as Thelma s older boyfriend Florida and James object to their relationship because of the age difference 2 6 also appears as Uncle Wilbert Florida s brother who comes from Detroit to look in on the family while James is away 3 8 Robert Guillaume as Fishbone the wino in the episode Requiem for a Wino season 5 episode 11 Phillip Baker Hall as Motel Owner in the episode J J s Fiancee Part 2 season 3 episode 18 Lynn Hamilton as Mrs Edwards mother of Mad Dog who shot J J season 2 episode 10 Shirley Hemphill as Roz the dimwitted sister of Edna who was being tutored by Thelma season 4 episode 10 Gordon Jump as Mr Rogers the head of security at Willona s short lived second job as security in a department store season 5 episode 6 Paula Kelly as Dr Kelly in the episode Where Have All The Doctors Gone season 6 episode 17 Richard Lawson as Raymond J J s friend and co worker season 5 episode 17 Jay Leno as Young Man in the season three s J J in Trouble which was one of the first times that the subject of VD STD was addressed on a primetime series Richard Libertini as Painter 1 in the episode Love Has A Spot On His Lung Part 2 season 4 episode 24 Calvin Lockhart as Florida s cousin Raymond who earned his riches by betting on horses season 6 episode 23 Don Marshall as FBI Agent Lloyd in the episode The Investigation season 3 episode 20 Paul Mooney as The Second Guy in the episode J J and T C season 6 Debbi Morgan as Samantha a date of J J s 3 23 and as Ellen 4 18 Nancy Morgan as Cindy Crebbins in the episode Michael s Decision season 6 episode8 Judy Pace as Gloria Jackson in the episode The Weekend season 3 episode 6 J A Preston as Walter Ingles in the episode Wilona s Dilemma season 3 episode 10 Charlotte Rae as a hiring manager for a sales job that Florida stole from James season 2 episode 14 Sheryl Lee Ralph as Vanessa in the episode J J and The Plumber s Helper season 6 episode 9 Thalmus Rasulala as Ernie Harris in the episode The Houseguest season 2 episode 20 Albert Reed Jr as Alderman Fred C Davis also played cousin Oscar in Season 2 episode Sometimes There s No Bottom in the Bottle Percy Rodriguez as Florida s cousin Edgar season 3 episode 5 Timmie Rogers as Donald the Wino in the episode The Snow Storm season 6 episode 11 Bubba Smith as Claude a bodyguard thug working for Marion Sweet Daddy Williams 4 season 6 episodes Richard Stahl as Judge Daniels in the episode The Gang Part 2 season 2 episode 10 Philip Michael Thomas as Eddie Thelma s college age boyfriend season 1 episode 6 Adam Wade as successful businessman Frank Mason Willona s boyfriend Season 5 2 episodes Vernee Watson Johnson as Thelma s friend and college mate Valerie in the episode Thelma s African Romance Part 1 season 4 Carl Weathers as Calvin Brooks husband of the nude model for J J s painting season 2 episode 16 Lee Weaver as the second man in season 4 episode The Big Move Part 2 Hal Williams as one of the movers in a season one episode James friend Willie Washington season 2 and Mr Mitchell the father of Earl Mitchell who is an art student of J J s season 6 John Witherspoon as Officer Lawson in the episode A Matter of Mothers season 6 episode 20 Production editGood Times was created by Eric Monte and actor Mike Evans The series also features a character named Michael Evans after Evans who portrayed Lionel Jefferson on the Lear produced series All in the Family and The Jeffersons 6 Theme song and opening sequence edit Good Times theme nbsp Sample 0 13 viaThe gospel styled theme song was composed by Dave Grusin with lyrics written by Alan and Marilyn Bergman It was sung by Jim Gilstrap and Motown singer Blinky Williams with a gospel choir providing background vocals The lyrics to the theme song are notorious for being hard to discern notably the line Hangin in a chow line Hangin in and jivin depending on the source used Dave Chappelle used this part of the lyrics as a quiz in his I Know Black People skit on Chappelle s Show in which the former was claimed as the answer 7 The insert for the Season One DVD box set has the lyric as Hangin in a chow line However the Bergmans along with Bern Nadette Stanis confirmed that the lyric is actually Hangin in and jivin 7 Slightly different lyrics were used for the closing credits with the song beginning on a verse instead of the chorus Casting edit When Ralph Carter was cast as the youngest Evans child Michael he was a cast member in the Broadway musical Raisin and the producers of Raisin were initially reluctant to accept Tandem Productions buyout offer 8 While Carter s contract was being negotiated another young actor Larry Fishburne later Laurence filled the role of Michael during initial rehearsals for Good Times 8 Early episodes of Good Times contain a notice in the credits Ralph Carter appears courtesy of the Broadway musical Raisin 8 Cast conflicts edit nbsp Co creator Mike Evans 1975 Good Times was intended to be a timely show in the All in the Family vein focused on Rolle and Amos Both expected the show to deal with serious topics in a comedic way while providing positive characters for viewers to identify with However it was Walker s character of J J that was an immediate hit with audiences and became the breakout character of the series J J s frequent use of the expression Dy no mite often in the phrase Kid Dy no mite credited to director John Rich became a popular catchphrase later included in TV Land s The 100 Greatest TV Quotes and Catch Phrases special 9 Rich insisted Walker say it in every episode Walker and executive producer Norman Lear were skeptical of the idea but the phrase and the J J Evans character caught on with the audience 10 As a result of the character s popularity the writers focused more on J J s comedic antics instead of serious issues Throughout seasons two and three Rolle and Amos grew increasingly disillusioned with the direction of the show and especially with J J s tomfoolery and stereotypically buffoonish behavior 11 Rolle was vocal about her hate of his character In a 1975 interview with Ebony magazine she stated He s 18 and he doesn t work He can t read or write He doesn t think The show didn t start out to be that Little by little with the help of the artist I suppose because they couldn t do that to me they have made J J more stupid and enlarged the role Negative images have been slipped in on us through the character of the oldest child 12 Despite doing so less publicly than Rolle Amos also was outspoken about his dissatisfaction with the J J character stating The writers would prefer to put a chicken hat on J J and have him prance around saying DY NO MITE and that way they could waste a few minutes and not have to write meaningful dialogue 13 While Amos was less public with his dissatisfaction than Rolle he was fired after season three due to disagreements with Lear Amos departure was initially attributed to his desire to focus on a film career but he admitted in a 1976 interview that Lear called him and told him that his contract option with the show was not being renewed Amos stated That s the same thing as being fired 14 The producers decided not to recast the character of James Evans instead opting to kill off the character in the two part season four premiere The Big Move with Florida finding out that James died in an automobile accident while in Mississippi 15 16 Final seasons edit By the end of season four Rolle had also become dissatisfied with the show s direction and decided to leave the series In the two part season finale Love Has a Spot On His Lung Florida gets engaged to Carl Dixon Moses Gunn a man she began dating toward the end of season four In the season five premiere episode The Evans Get Involved Part 1 it is revealed that Florida and Carl married off screen and moved to Arizona for the sake of Carl s health 17 With Amos and Rolle gone DuBois took over as lead actor as Willona checked in on the Evans children since they were now living alone 3 18 In season five Janet Jackson joined the cast playing Penny Gordon an abused girl abandoned by her mother and eventually adopted by Willona 17 During that season Johnny Brown s character of Nathan Bookman the Evans superintendent became more prominent At the beginning of the fifth season Brown became a series regular and was included in the opening credits Ratings began to decline It was clear to the producers as well as viewers that Rolle s absence had left the series without a much needed unifying center of attention 17 Before the taping of season six began CBS and the show s producers decided that they had to do something drastic to increase viewership According to then vice president of CBS programming Steve Mills We had lost the essence of the show Without parental guidance the show slipped Everything told us that our mail our phone calls our research We felt we had to go back to basics 17 Producers approached Rolle with an offer to appear in a guest role on the series Rolle was initially hesitant but when producers agreed to a number of her demands including an increased salary and higher quality scripts she agreed to return to the series on a full time basis Rolle also wanted producers to make the character of J J more responsible as she felt the character was a poor role model for African American youths She also requested that producers write out the character of Carl Dixon Rolle reportedly disliked the storyline surrounding the Carl Dixon character as she believed Florida would not have moved on so quickly after James s death or left her children Rolle also thought the writers had disregarded Florida s devout Christian beliefs by having her fall for and marry Carl who was an atheist 17 19 In the season six premiere episode Florida s Homecoming Part 1 Florida returns from Arizona without Carl to attend Thelma s upcoming wedding to professional football player Keith Anderson Ben Powers who joined the cast for the final season In a rare uncut version of Florida s Homecoming Part 2 after Florida arrives home from Arizona Willona briefly pulls her aside and mentions Carl to which Florida sadly smiles and shakes her head implying that Carl had died from cancer Florida later mentions Carl one last time when she tells Michael about a book they d both bought him 4 Despite changes in the series at Rolle s request and her return plus the addition of Powers to the cast ratings continued to fall and CBS canceled the series during the 1978 79 season 20 21 In the series finale episode The End of the Rainbow each character finally gets a happy ending J J gets his big break as a nationally syndicated artist for a comic book company with his newly created character DynoWoman which is based on Thelma much to her surprise and delight and is moving into an apartment with some lady friends 21 Michael attends college and moves into an on campus dorm Keith s bad knee heals due to his exercise and own physical therapy leading to the Chicago Bears offering him a contract to play football Keith announces that he and Thelma are moving into a luxury apartment in the city s upscale Gold Coast district Thelma also announces that she is pregnant with the couple s first child 21 Keith offers Florida the chance to move in with them so she can help Thelma with the new baby Florida accepts the offer Willona becomes the head buyer of the boutique she walks in and announces that she and Penny are also moving out of the projects Willona then reveals that her new apartment is in the same apartment building to which Keith Thelma and Florida are also moving she and Penny become the Evanses downstairs neighbors 21 Broadcast and syndication editCable network TV One aired reruns of the show since its launch on January 19 2004 Good Times had also aired at various times on TV Land and on the Canadian specialty cable channel DejaView Minisodes of the show are available for free on Crackle Additionally digital multicast network Antenna TV also aired episodes of the show until January 1 2018 when GetTV operated by Sony which distributes the show began airing the program Good Times airs on GetTV with a TV PG rating Most episodes run on TV One with a TV G rating with the lone exception being the season three episode J J in Trouble in which J J fears he may have contracted an STD That episode airs with a TV 14 rating as well as the parental guidance is suggested slide that preceded the episode when it was originally broadcast on CBS In the past it aired on TV Land with a TV PG rating As of March 27 2023 episodes have been airing nightly on the Catchy Comedy formerly Decades digital retro TV network Home media editSony Pictures Home Entertainment released the entire series on DVD in Region 1 between February 2003 and August 2006 with a complete box set following the separate seasons on October 28 2008 Season 1 was released on DVD in Region 4 on December 27 2006 On August 27 2013 it was announced that Mill Creek Entertainment had acquired the rights to various television series from the Sony Pictures library including Good Times 22 They have subsequently re released the first four seasons on DVD 23 24 On September 1 2015 Mill Creek Entertainment re released Good Times The Complete Series on DVD in Region 1 25 All episodes are available to stream on Peacock Premium DVD name Ep Release dateThe Complete First Season 13 February 4 2003January 21 2014 re release The Complete Second Season 24 February 3 2004January 21 2014 re release The Complete Third Season 24 August 10 2004May 20 2014 re release The Complete Fourth Season 24 February 15 2005May 20 2014 re release The Complete Fifth Season 24 August 23 2005The Complete Sixth and Final Season 24 August 1 2006The Complete Series 133 October 28 2008September 1 2015 re release Reception editRatings edit nbsp L R Ralph Carter Bern Nadette Stanis Jimmie Walker Esther Rolle and John AmosThe program premiered in February 1974 high ratings led CBS to renew the program for the 1974 75 season as it was the seventeenth highest rated program that year During its first full season on the air the show was the seventh highest rated program in the Nielsen ratings with more than 25 of all American households tuning into an episode each week Three of the top ten highest rated programs on American TV that season centered on the lives of African Americans Sanford and Son The Jeffersons and Good Times The Nielsen ratings for the series declined over time partly because of its many time slot changes and the departure of John Amos 26 The ratings went down considerably when the show entered its final two seasons Season TV Season No of Episodes Time slot ET Nielsen ratings 27 Rank Rating1 1973 1974 13 Friday at 8 30 pm 17 21 4 Tied with Barnaby Jones 2 1974 1975 24 Tuesday at 8 00 pm 7 25 83 1975 1976 24 24 21 04 1976 1977 24 Wednesday at 8 00 pm Episodes 1 15 17 24 Wednesday at 8 30 pm Episode 16 26 20 55 1977 1978 24 Wednesday at 8 00 pm Episodes 1 3 16 Wednesday at 8 30 pm Episode 2 Monday at 8 00 pm Episodes 17 24 55 28 17 4 28 6 1978 1979 22 Saturday at 8 00 pm Episode 1 Saturday at 8 30 pm Episodes 2 10 Wednesday at 8 30 pm Episodes 11 22 91 29 13 0 29 Awards and nominations edit Year Association Category Recipient s Result1974 Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actor Television Jimmie Walker Nominated1975 Golden Globe Awards Best TV Actress Musical Comedy Esther Rolle NominatedBest Supporting Actor Television Jimmie Walker NominatedHumanitas Prize 30 Minute Category John Baskin and Roger Shulman episode The Lunch Money Ripoff Nominated30 Minute Category Bob Peete episode My Girl Henrietta Nominated2006 TV Land Awards Impact Award John Amos Ralph Carter Ja net DuBois Esther Rolle posthumously BernNadette Stanis and Jimmie Walker WonReferences edit Porter Rick September 14 2020 Good Times Animated Revival Scores Series Order at Netflix The Hollywood Reporter Cabrini Green Set For Demolition cbslocal com December 9 2010 a b Simms Gregory September 8 1977 Ja Net DuBois Tells Diet And Good Times Secrets During Swing Through Chi Jet Vol 52 no 25 Johnson Publishing Company pp 62 63 ISSN 0021 5996 a b Brooks Tim Marsh Earle F October 17 2007 The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946 Present 9 ed Ballantine Books p 869 ISBN 978 0 345 49773 4 J J s Fiancee with guest star Debbie Allen at IMDb Lewis Dan February 19 1974 Good Times Is Maude Spinoff St Joseph News Press p 15 Retrieved February 24 2013 a b Backstage with Alan and Marilyn Bergman Time Out New York February 1 2007 Retrieved July 31 2007 a b c Dalton John 7 February 2017 Television Academy Interviews Interview with Jimmie Walker Retrieved 30 September 2019 The Star Ledger December 11 2006 Jimmie J J Walker lights Dy no mite on gay marriage Leno and dating CNN July 16 2012 Retrieved February 12 2012 Fearn Banks Kathleen August 4 2009 The A to Z of African American Television Vol 49 Scarecrow Press p 169 ISBN 978 0 810 86348 4 Robinson Louie September 1975 Bad Times On the Good Times Set Ebony Vol 30 no 11 Johnson Publishing Company p 35 ISSN 0012 9011 Mitchell John L April 14 2006 Plotting His Next Big Break Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on April 16 2016 Retrieved November 3 2017 I Was Fired Reveals Good Times John Amos Jet Vol 50 no 10 Johnson Publishing Company May 27 1976 p 57 ISSN 0021 5996 Dawidziak Mark January 17 1994 Lear Amos paired up again Herald Journal p C3 Retrieved February 24 2013 5000 Episodes and No Commercials The Ultimate Guide to TV Shows On DVD Random House Digital Inc November 9 2011 p 125 ISBN 978 0 307 79950 0 a b c d e Marguiles Lee June 10 1978 Esther Rolle Returning To Good Times St Petersburg Times p 11B Retrieved February 24 2013 Beck Marilyn September 23 1977 It s good times for Ja net Dubois St Petersburg Times p 14D Retrieved February 24 2013 Brooks Tim Marsh Earle F October 17 2007 The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946 Present 9 ed Ballantine Books p 552 ISBN 978 0 345 49773 4 Newcomb 2004 p 1012 a b c d Bodroghkozy Aniko January 1 2012 Equal Time Television and the Civil Rights Movement University of Illinois Press p 223 ISBN 978 0 252 09378 4 Mill Creek Entertainment Signs Deals With Sony Pictures Home Entertainment To Expand Their Distribution Partnership tvshowsondvd com Press release August 27 2013 Archived from the original on October 6 2014 Dyn O Mite Mill Creek Brings the First Two Seasons Back to DVD Soon tvshowsondvd com November 8 2013 Archived from the original on November 9 2013 Good Times We ve Got Mill Creek s Box Art Now for Their 3rd and 4th Season Re Releases tvshowsondvd com April 15 2014 Archived from the original on April 16 2014 Good Times DVD news Announcement for Good Times The Complete Series TVShowsOnDVD com Archived from the original on 2015 07 10 Good Times In Trouble Jeffersons Holding Own Jet Vol 55 no 13 Johnson Publishing Company December 14 1978 p 64 ISSN 0021 5996 Brooks Tim Marsh Earle 2007 The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946 Present Ninth ed Ballantine Books pp 1687 1688 ISBN 978 0 345 49773 4 a b FCC cites ABC as negligent in handling of boxing tournament PDF Retrieved February 5 2020 a b Rounding up the ratings for the season PDF Retrieved February 5 2020 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Good Times Good Times at IMDb Good Times at TVLand com Good Times at The Interviews An Oral History of Television Retrieved from https en 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