I like to watch a lot of old TV shows just to see what the generation before got their laughs at and to compare it to the crap I was weaned on. Old family sitcoms are the best especially Good Times. I must say though, I saw the two part episode where James died. Florida has a wake at ther home for the deceased James Evans. He went to Mississippi for work and was supposed to send for his family but instead Florida got a telegram that he had been killed in an auto accident. She got the telegram on the day the family held a party to celebrate their relocation.

Anyway I couldn't believe myself. I burst into tears when, after all the funeral guests left, Florida is cleaning the kitchen and she's by herself. She picks up a glass punch bowl and just smashes it on the floor and screams "Damn, damn, damn!" and bursts into tears hiding her face in her hands. Then the kids run out to console her. Terribly sad.

Anybody a fan of Good Times? Why did John Amos leave the show? Why did they have to have his exit be a death? Why couldn't the Evans ever get out of the ghetto? I swear the episodes following the absence of the father figure are so mediocre. Ester Rolle is cool but she just couldn't hold it down without John Amos.

Just saw this episode....great acting. Very sad.

Good Times indeed.

I also will sit through Sanford & Son, The Jeffersons and All In The Family.

This is the funniest moment to me...

The lord is my german shepherd...

John Amos was fired because he wanted more pay and the fact that he protested of the show's direction(Making J.J. and his clown acts to be the centre of the show when the primary idea of the show was the WHOLE family).

As for Wanda, every entrance required a new wig that is one gorgeous sister.

Harlepolis said:

This is the funniest moment to me...

The lord is my german shepherd...

John Amos was fired because he wanted more pay and the fact that he protested of the show's direction(Making J.J. and his clown acts to be the centre of the show when the primary idea of the show was the WHOLE family).

As for Wanda, every entrance required a new wig that is one gorgeous sister.

He was killed off to make a statement. He WAS NOT coming back.

As for the family never getting out of the ghetto...that doesn't always happen. I always thought it made the show a bit more realistic.

Nothinbutjoy said:

Harlepolis said:

This is the funniest moment to me...

The lord is my german shepherd...

John Amos was fired because he wanted more pay and the fact that he protested of the show's direction(Making J.J. and his clown acts to be the centre of the show when the primary idea of the show was the WHOLE family).

As for Wanda, every entrance required a new wig that is one gorgeous sister.

He was killed off to make a statement. He WAS NOT coming back.

As for the family never getting out of the ghetto...that doesn't always happen. I always thought it made the show a bit more realistic.

Thats my main issue with the show, THAT bullshit right there. It clearly showed that the writers went out to lunch on this one.

But then again, both shows(Jeffersons And Good Times) were what Norman Lear thought black America was all about I still watch the shows for nostalgic reasons but the older I get, the more I count the eyebrow moments.

Folks call "The Cosby Show" unrealistic, but I've met MANY Huxtables in my life, I didn't even have to live the middle class life to relate to it.

OMG!! The episode when James dies is a CLASSIC!!!!

It never fails...EVERY time I watch that part when she drops that punch bowl and screams, I LOSE it!! It's SO damn SAD!!!

I absolutely LOVE Good Times. I grew up on it and never tire of the re-runs.

Yeah, I heard that John Amos had some kinda beef with the "powers that be" so he bounced. I guess they coulda just had them like, divorce or somethin instead of killin him off.....but then if they did that then we wouldn't have that classic DAMN, DAMN, DAMN moment!!!

Harlepolis said:

Nothinbutjoy said:

Harlepolis said:

This is the funniest moment to me...

The lord is my german shepherd...

John Amos was fired because he wanted more pay and the fact that he protested of the show's direction(Making J.J. and his clown acts to be the centre of the show when the primary idea of the show was the WHOLE family).

As for Wanda, every entrance required a new wig that is one gorgeous sister.

He was killed off to make a statement. He WAS NOT coming back.

As for the family never getting out of the ghetto...that doesn't always happen. I always thought it made the show a bit more realistic.

Thats my main issue with the show, THAT bullshit right there. It clearly showed that the writers went out to lunch on this one.

But then again, both shows(Jeffersons And Good Times) were what Norman Lear thought black America was all about I still watch the shows for nostalgic reasons but the older I get, the more I count the eyebrow moments.

Folks call "The Cosby Show" unrealistic, but I've met MANY Huxtables in my life, I didn't even have to live the middle class life to relate to it.

And don't forget "Sanford and Son".

Norman Lear had a very narrow-minded view of minorities....

My sister and I had this same conversation last week.

I bawled like that when Edith died on "All in the Family"- actually "Archie's Place"- too.

When a comedy gets all serious like that, it throws you for a loop.

They should have just paid Amos the money he wanted. He was such a central character to the show not just because of his great acting...but to portray a married father living in the ghetto...well that was probably unheard of back then. It was probably expected that women in poverty would be raising a gang of kids on their own.

He (James Evans) was so strong and loving. He threatened to spank but I can't recall an episode where he actually did. He loved his wife Florida and even in their old age you could tell they still had a sex life. He appreciated the beauty of women but there was no indication of infidelity.

WHY JAMES WHY!!!

I set that episode to record when it comes on again. Don't know why I choose to punish myself by watching that. I guess is just mighty good television.

Ester Rolle can play grief like nobody else. I swear I just didn't expect it. Poor Florida.

Michael was mad as hell cuz everybody was laughing and acting happy. That shit made me mad too.

Great show. What a sad episode.

And to think Florida treasured that bowl, so much. Her breaking it really said a lot, to my young mind.

DesireeNevermind said:

... smashes it on the floor and screams "Damn, damn, damn!"

sorry, but

actually, I remember this episode and it upset li'l ndru way back when

chocolate1 said:

I bawled like that when Edith died on "All in the Family"- actually "Archie's Place"- too.

When a comedy gets all serious like that, it throws you for a loop.

I cannot watch those shows. I saw an old interview with Carole O'Connor and he was talking about his son who had died from a drug overdose and boy he was crying and his voice was cracking. It was so hard to watch - never saw a celeb break down like that. Can't look at him the same. I won't even watch that movie he did with Poitier - In The Heat of The Night.

Boriqua1130 said:

Great show. What a sad episode.

And to think Florida treasured that bowl, so much. Her breaking it really said a lot, to my young mind.

That's right! She cherished that bowl and her china too cuz they were the good dishes from when she first served her hubby food or something like that.

Aw damn.

NDRU said:

DesireeNevermind said:

... smashes it on the floor and screams "Damn, damn, damn!"

sorry, but

actually, I remember this episode and it upset li'l ndru way back when

lil ndru. I don't know why but I just can't imagine you being a child.

[Edited 6/1/10 15:57pm]

Boriqua1130 said:

DesireeNevermind said:

Boriqua1130 said:

Great show. What a sad episode.

And to think Florida treasured that bowl, so much. Her breaking it really said a lot, to my young mind.

That's right! She cherished that bowl and her china too cuz they were the good dishes from when she first served her hubby food or something like that.

Aw damn.

I feel ya. Just reading your threads title, took me to that moment.

I don't think the public was aware that James would die.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

I don't know. Maybe some of the other orgers could fill us in.

I don't think this episode was taped in front of a studio audience. Also, in the closing credits....they don't play the theme song. Maybe people didn't know Jame's death was coming.

I bet the show lost a lot of viewership when that happened.

DesireeNevermind said:

Boriqua1130 said:

DesireeNevermind said:

Boriqua1130 said:

Great show. What a sad episode.

And to think Florida treasured that bowl, so much. Her breaking it really said a lot, to my young mind.

That's right! She cherished that bowl and her china too cuz they were the good dishes from when she first served her hubby food or something like that.

Aw damn.

I feel ya. Just reading your threads title, took me to that moment.

I don't think the public was aware that James would die.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

I don't know. Maybe some of the other orgers could fill us in.

I don't think this episode was taped in front of a studio audience. Also, in the closing credits....they don't play the theme song. Maybe people didn't know Jame's death was coming.

I bet the show lost a lot of viewership when that happened.

It did. They discussed that on THS episode. I love this show and this was a really moving episode. I'm in the minority but I think the show was still good after James' death.

DesireeNevermind said:

NDRU said:

DesireeNevermind said:

... smashes it on the floor and screams "Damn, damn, damn!"

sorry, but

actually, I remember this episode and it upset li'l ndru way back when

lil ndru. I don't know why but I just can't imagine you being a child.

well, it's true I was always an old soul!

DAMN....DAMN.....DAAAAAAAAAAAMN!!!!!!!!!!

bboy87 said:

DAMN....DAMN.....DAAAAAAAAAAAMN!!!!!!!!!!

bboy87 said:

DAMN....DAMN.....DAAAAAAAAAAAMN!!!!!!!!!!

Oh lord Ima start tearin' up again.

You know what? I'd never seen Florida that sad and suffering before. She's been hurt and dissappointed on other episodes but this was the worst of it all. You have James expressing his anger time and again with Florida being the voice of reason and soothing his temper and comforting him but on this particular episode...she was truly all alone and holding it all in and still she hid her face and tears even from the viewing public which was some really good direction if you ask me. Lord I did not see the punch bowl coming. I think a lot of sistahs go through that - a breaking point. You never really know how sad they are because they hold it all in to be strong for everyone else. Don't get me wrong...women of other ethnicities are like this too but I think sistahs are holding it down in greater numbers which leads to more stress and more moments of:

Damn, DAMN, DAAAAMMMNNN!!!!!

I love Good Times, and currently going through the full season by season show, currently on the last. What I thought was really effed up was how the audience laughed at the most innapropriate times. Like when Thelma's husband Keith got drunk and snapped at her and the slapped her. The audience did the typical, "wooh", then a bunch of them started cracking up!!! I wish I was video-editing saavy, cause I'd compile something for YouTube. It's happened so many times, I wonder about the "clientele" that would go to these live tapings. Then of course, my favorite, who I like to call the "Right On Lady" Everytime someone, mainly Florida would say something really profound and truthful, right before the applause, you would her some black woman yell, "Right--ON!!!" And yeah, John Amos got written out of the show because he was REAL, and bumped horns with the writers and producers about the content, and development of JJ, and other issues. Ironically he pops up on 2 1/2 men as a gay partner of Charlie's fiancee's dad, played by Stacy Keach. Hilarious.

I would have to say that I have a particular fondness for the reoccurring characters. Wanda. Loved her "kick" at the end of the Rent Party episode. And Sweet Daddy's main woman, Savannah Jones, who gave more than a thumbs down to JJ's painting of her: "That ain't HARDLY me!!" Some will recognize her as later playing the hardworking stressed mother of that kid who Florida discovers is hard of hearing. And of course she played the great Myra from the tv show Martin. See also Which Way Is Up (1977) for more of her spectacular antics. The show did get silly at times after James left. He was awesome. I loved when Sweet Daddy said something smart-assed to James, and James said, "Nigga I'll.." and the audience busted up. I could go on, but it's obvious I love the show. I dig 70s and early 80s sitcoms. It was a special time for tv, and not that politically correct. Why actually, on the Jeffersons, "ni&&a" was thrown around like a tennis ball. I recall when George revealed to Wheezie that he bought a $300.00 watch..

Wheezie: "$300.00 for a watch??!! Nigga please"

Not joking. I got the mp3 somewhere around here.

Anyway, good thread.

Nothinbutjoy said:

Harlepolis said:

This is the funniest moment to me...

The lord is my german shepherd...

John Amos was fired because he wanted more pay and the fact that he protested of the show's direction(Making J.J. and his clown acts to be the centre of the show when the primary idea of the show was the WHOLE family).

As for Wanda, every entrance required a new wig that is one gorgeous sister.

He was killed off to make a statement. He WAS NOT coming back.

As for the family never getting out of the ghetto...that doesn't always happen. I always thought it made the show a bit more realistic.

Actually, they did finally get out of the ghetto, when the series ended.

Thelma's husband Keith got resigned to the Chicago Bears and got a nice apartment on Lake Shore Dr. Thelma found out she was pregnant and Florida went to live with them to help her with the new baby.

Wilona got a promotion and she and Penny got an apartment in the same building or across the street.

JJ got his dream job and was moving also. I think he was moving out of town though.

Michael moved into the dorm at his college.

DesireeNevermind said:

I like to watch a lot of old TV shows just to see what the generation before got their laughs at and to compare it to the crap I was weaned on. Old family sitcoms are the best especially Good Times. I must say though, I saw the two part episode where James died. Florida has a wake at ther home for the deceased James Evans. He went to Mississippi for work and was supposed to send for his family but instead Florida got a telegram that he had been killed in an auto accident. She got the telegram on the day the family held a party to celebrate their relocation.

Anyway I couldn't believe myself. I burst into tears when, after all the funeral guests left, Florida is cleaning the kitchen and she's by herself. She picks up a glass punch bowl and just smashes it on the floor and screams "Damn, damn, damn!" and bursts into tears hiding her face in her hands. Then the kids run out to console her. Terribly sad.

Anybody a fan of Good Times? Why did John Amos leave the show? Why did they have to have his exit be a death? Why couldn't the Evans ever get out of the ghetto? I swear the episodes following the absence of the father figure are so mediocre. Ester Rolle is cool but she just couldn't hold it down without John Amos.

I think E! did a behind the scenes of Good Times. From what I remember John Amos and Ester Rolle were not happy because Jimmy Walker emerged as the star of the show, thus John Amos left the series. Ester Rolle left the series for a year (came back later). Well the show was about a family living in the projects so the last episode was them leaving the projects.

DesireeNevermind said:

Boriqua1130 said:

DesireeNevermind said:

Boriqua1130 said:

Great show. What a sad episode.

And to think Florida treasured that bowl, so much. Her breaking it really said a lot, to my young mind.

That's right! She cherished that bowl and her china too cuz they were the good dishes from when she first served her hubby food or something like that.

Aw damn.

I feel ya. Just reading your threads title, took me to that moment.

I don't think the public was aware that James would die.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

I don't know. Maybe some of the other orgers could fill us in.

I don't think this episode was taped in front of a studio audience. Also, in the closing credits....they don't play the theme song. Maybe people didn't know Jame's death was coming.

I bet the show lost a lot of viewership when that happened.

If I'm not mistaken, I've read that "people" -- including the cast and crew -- didn't know that James' character would be killed off until the taping of this episode. He was very well liked onset, and so the shocked and grieving reaction you see by the actors, then, is in some ways genuine.

And while John Amos did have beef because Jimmy Walker was being showcased as the breakout star, his protests weren't stemmed by mere jealousy of the younger actor, I understand, but pointedly by the buffoonery the writers and producers were exploiting in Walker's character. Similar problems with the sociopolitical direction of the show would be raised later by other cast and crew members.

Good Times was a staple in my house growing up. There were a few sad episodes. Remember Penny (Janet Jackson) was an abused child?

Good times, Sanford and Son, and Jeffersons (until the show jumped the shark.) All funny shows.

love watching "good times", my husband never watched this show before until he came to the united states, it's one of his faves.

MotorBootyAffair said:

I love Good Times, and currently going through the full season by season show, currently on the last. What I thought was really effed up was how the audience laughed at the most innapropriate times. Like when Thelma's husband Keith got drunk and snapped at her and the slapped her. The audience did the typical, "wooh", then a bunch of them started cracking up!!! I wish I was video-editing saavy, cause I'd compile something for YouTube. It's happened so many times, I wonder about the "clientele" that would go to these live tapings. Then of course, my favorite, who I like to call the "Right On Lady" Everytime someone, mainly Florida would say something really profound and truthful, right before the applause, you would her some black woman yell, "Right--ON!!!" And yeah, John Amos got written out of the show because he was REAL, and bumped horns with the writers and producers about the content, and development of JJ, and other issues. Ironically he pops up on 2 1/2 men as a gay partner of Charlie's fiancee's dad, played by Stacy Keach. Hilarious.

I would have to say that I have a particular fondness for the reoccurring characters. Wanda. Loved her "kick" at the end of the Rent Party episode. And Sweet Daddy's main woman, Savannah Jones, who gave more than a thumbs down to JJ's painting of her: "That ain't HARDLY me!!" Some will recognize her as later playing the hardworking stressed mother of that kid who Florida discovers is hard of hearing. And of course she played the great Myra from the tv show Martin. See also Which Way Is Up (1977) for more of her spectacular antics. The show did get silly at times after James left. He was awesome. I loved when Sweet Daddy said something smart-assed to James, and James said, "Nigga I'll.." and the audience busted up. I could go on, but it's obvious I love the show. I dig 70s and early 80s sitcoms. It was a special time for tv, and not that politically correct. Why actually, on the Jeffersons, "ni&&a" was thrown around like a tennis ball. I recall when George revealed to Wheezie that he bought a $300.00 watch..

Wheezie: "$300.00 for a watch??!! Nigga please"

Not joking. I got the mp3 somewhere around here.

Anyway, good thread.

I gotta hear that!

I've never been into The Jeffersons. I just got the opportunity to watch "That's My Mama" and now I'm interested in Which Way Is Up