"Good Times" (1974)TV series 1974-1979

Creators:

Mike Evans
Eric Monte

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

8 February 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A poor Afro-American family make the best of things in the Chicago housing projects.

Plot Keywords:

Insult | Sentimental | Housing Project | Inner City | Poor Family

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. July 7	11:00 AM	TVLAND	The Family Business	#2.17
Mon. July 7	11:30 AM	TVLAND	The Debutante Ball	#2.18

Cast

BernNadette Stanis	...	Thelma Evans Anderson / ... (97 episodes, 1974-1979)
Jimmie Walker	...	James 'J.J.' Evans, Jr. / ... (97 episodes, 1974-1979)
Ralph Carter	...	Michael Evans (95 episodes, 1974-1979)
Ja'net DuBois	...	Willona Woods (85 episodes, 1974-1979)
Esther Rolle	...	Florida Evans (83 episodes, 1974-1979)
John Amos	...	James Evans, Sr. / ... (53 episodes, 1974-1976)

Runtime:

USA:30 min (including commercials) (133 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Singapore:PG | USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

CBS Television City - 7800 Beverly Blvd., Fairfax, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Bud Yorkin Productions

Trivia:

The name of the school that Keith attended was never mentioned.

Goofs:

Continuity: At various points through the entire series, especially the first three seasons, references are made to the Evans family's early days in their apartment raising JJ and Thelma and giving birth to Michael. If this is true, Florida must have been commuting from Chicago to Tuckahoe, NY to work for Maude Findlay.

Quotes:

Michael: Daddy high blood pressure can cause kidney malfunction!
JJ: In this house a person can get kidney malfunction waiting for Thelma to get outta the bathroom!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Family Guy: If I'm Dyin' I'm Lyin' (#2.9)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

Good Times

Good Times Early On, But Faded In the End

This was a good show for the first three seasons. If you got past all the stereotypes, you would notice that many of the episodes discussed issues that are just as relevant today as they were back then. Issues such as gun control, teen pregnancy, v.d., gangs and teen suicide. However, once John Amos left, the show was not the same and suffered as a result. It really suffered the year that Esther Rolle was off. You know a show is going downhill when they have to resort to bringing on a cute kid character.

Also, if Esther Rolle was so displeased with the show, then how come she took the part in the first place?