The first plotline for the 1978 season - JJ loses his jobĪt the ad agency and gets involved with drug dealers to support the If Rolle's return was supposed to improve things for the Evan's family, Somewhere." Nothing was made of the supposed wedding, or of Florida's She didn't want his antics totally eliminated, she toldĪ reporter - "But they can be real. Ratings sliding, Esther Rolle returned to 'Good Times' in the fall ofġ978, with a promise from the network that the JJ character would be Lead actors that ultimately forced the JJ character to grow up. JJ got a job as an artist for an ad agency so he couldįinally support the family. (yes, that Janet Jackson) as a sassy tike named Penny - Willona's newlyĪdopted daughter. Good neighbor Willona looking in on the kids every once in a while.Ī new character was introduced for the 1977-78 season - Janet Jackson The summer - while they were on their honeymoon, the couple decidedĮvan's family went from a two-parent family to a no-parent family, with A new storyline was created that had Florida marrying Carl over The officialĮxplanation was that the actress was ill and unable to return to the To Esther Rolle's abrupt departure from 'Good Times' in 1977. With no strong male character, dramaticĪctor Moses Gunn signed on to be Florida's new love interest, Carl Dixon.īecame even more of a focus for the series, and this (may have) lead Going to work in a garage in Mississippi, but was killed in a car accidentīefore the family could join him. That my option would not be picked up for that season or any other episodes."Īmos can be found on the web at promoting his excellent one man show currently on tour.Ĭharacter of James was written out with the explanation that he was "I was informed by phone that I was considered a disruptive factor and "I did not quit the showīut was in fact fired," the acclaimed stage and screen actor tells TVparty. The fall of 1976, John Amos left the series. So Johnny Brown ('Laugh-In') joined the cast as Bookman, the uselessīuilding superintendent, providing another comic foil to play off of Home a gun for his family's protection even though Florida's dead-setĭipped as the show competed with the monster hit 'Happy Days' on ABC, Plots during the 1975-76 season: the family throws a rent party forĪ neighbor, a hood wants to exhibit JJ's paintings and James brings His character in case he chose not to return. Out until the eleventh hour, and writers were prepared to do away with Both actors were given fat raises to stay, but Amos still held Quit if something wasn't done about the show's shifting focus and negative The 1975-76 season rolled around, both Amos and Rolle threatened to That exposure, is get me where I'm goin' a lot quicker." His part, Jimmie Walker stayed above the fray, concentrating on his Signed to do 'Good Times', Lear didn't dare immediately cast anotherīlack woman as Maude's maid, so the part went to acclaimed British actress To Bea Arthur's 'loveable' liberal, someone of color that could comment
These stereotypes, not create a new generation of them, critics complained.īut Lear was looking for a character that could provide a credible counterpoint Lear cast a black woman in the role of the maid - it was time to bury Rolle was already used to controversy by the time 'Good Times' aired.ĭebuted in 1972, there was an uproar when executive producer Norman Slipped in on us through the character of the oldest child." The artist, I suppose, because they couldn't do that to me - they have CBS wanted a sitcom about a single mom.Įighteen and he doesn't work," Rolle commented to Ebony MagazineĪbout the JJ character in 1975. Reason, it was Rolle's insistence at the beginning that the Evans beĪ two parent family. Role models for young people in similar surroundings. In nature, that the characters on 'Good Times' could provide positive The lead actors were led to believe that the program would be more serious Way they could waste a few minutes and not have to write meaningful and have him pranceĪround saying 'DY-NO-MITE,'" John Amos blasted.
Writers would prefer to put a chicken hat on J.J. Turned to what they believed was offensive comedy. Rolle and John Amos were furious that the direction of their show had
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