Sing the song baby!!!

classic

MickyDolenz said:

Okay Ja'Net voice is so-so, Bern Nadette cant sing but she gets a pass because she's eye candy, but Esther Rolle noooo

It was all in good fun. It was a good episode about the 'Evans family' throwing a rent party.

1sotrue said:

Ja'Net voice is so-so

She's a real singer. She co-wrote and sang Movin On Up, the theme song for The Jeffersons. She also released an album around 1979 or 1980. She wasn't singing for real here.

1sotrue said:

MickyDolenz said:

Okay Ja'Net voice is so-so, Bern Nadette cant sing but she gets a pass because she's eye candy, but Esther Rolle noooo

It was all in good fun. It was a good episode about the 'Evans family' throwing a rent party.

MickyDolenz said:

1sotrue said:

Ja'Net voice is so-so

She's a real singer. She co-wrote and sang Movin On Up, the theme song for The Jeffersons. She also released an album around 1979 or 1980. She wasn't singing for real here.

That is what i was thinking! . She could have blown the whole place away...

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

MickyDolenz said:

She's a real singer. She co-wrote and sang Movin On Up, the theme song for The Jeffersons. She also released an album around 1979 or 1980. She wasn't singing for real here.

That is what i was thinking! . She could have blown the whole place away...

I knew Ja'Net sang the theme song from the "The Jeffersons" but I thought her singing talent was 'downplayed' for this skit. After all she wasnt really singing.

Didnt know she released an album though

1sotrue said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

That is what i was thinking! . She could have blown the whole place away...

I knew Ja'Net sang the theme song from the "The Jeffersons" but I thought her singing talent was 'downplayed' for this skit. After all she wasnt really singing.

Didnt know she released an album though

I bet in the rehearsal she was singing. They may have decided to make her not sing. Actors love every chance they can get to show there other talents. Bern Nadette is an excellent dancer. They let her show that sometimes on the show. I wonder does Debbie Allen regret not getting her role(Thelma). But i doubt it. She ended up becoming more successful without it. It still seems to me that Bern Nadette really can sing to.

A little history on the show. John Amos & Esther Role left the show, because they didnt like Jimmy Walker's buffoonery role. They said it degraded black people. John was very vocal about it behind the scenes to the point of them writing him off the show for good. The show was really suppose to be Esther Role's show. But Jimmy Walker's character became more popular. She was not happy when John was written out. She wanted a strong father on the show and was hoping they would mature Jimmy Walker's role after that. But they didn't so she left(the ratings didn't suffer after she left & Ja' Net took over and her role was extended), Only to return for the last season. Her requirements to return was they gave her say so on the script,let her add her own ideas,mature Jimmy Walker's role,Plus a pay raise. The ratings dipped even further with her return for the last season & was cancelled.

Thelma...........Thelma...........THELMA!

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

1sotrue said:

I knew Ja'Net sang the theme song from the "The Jeffersons" but I thought her singing talent was 'downplayed' for this skit. After all she wasnt really singing.

Didnt know she released an album though

I bet in the rehearsal she was singing. They may have decided to make her not sing. Actors love every chance they can get to show there other talents. Bern Nadette is an excellent dancer. They let her show that sometimes on the show. I wonder does Debbie Allen regret not getting her role(Thelma). But i doubt it. She ended up becoming more successful without it. It still seems to me that Bern Nadette really can sing to.

A little history on the show. John Amos & Esther Role left the show, because they didnt like Jimmy Walker's buffoonery role. They said it degraded black people. John was very vocal about it behind the scenes to the point of them writing him off the show for good. The show was really suppose to be Esther Role's show. But Jimmy Walker's character became more popular. She was not happy when John was written out. She wanted a strong father on the show and was hoping they would mature Jimmy Walker's role after that. But they didn't so she left(the ratings didn't suffer after she left & Ja' Net took over and her role was extended), Only to return for the last season. Her requirements to return was they gave her say so on the script,let her add her own ideas,mature Jimmy Walker's role,Plus a pay raise. The ratings dipped even further with her return for the last season & was cancelled.

John also asked for more money and often threatened the writers and producers. He wasn't dismissed just because of the Jimmy comments. John said in a recent interview that he wasn't the most nice guy back then. As far as the last season goes, I don't know what the Keith character was added for. Keith just came out of nowhere. He didn't seem to have any purpose and didn't have much to do. Was he a replacement for Florida's missing 2nd husband Carl, who had been written out of the show? The ratings of the show slipped partly because they started to move the day it ran a lot, never really a good thing for a show.

It seems Bern Nadette released this record, but I don't see any information about it, other than it's a 12" single with a B-side called Bern Shuffle.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

1sotrue said:

I knew Ja'Net sang the theme song from the "The Jeffersons" but I thought her singing talent was 'downplayed' for this skit. After all she wasnt really singing.

Didnt know she released an album though

I bet in the rehearsal she was singing. They may have decided to make her not sing. Actors love every chance they can get to show there other talents. Bern Nadette is an excellent dancer. They let her show that sometimes on the show. I wonder does Debbie Allen regret not getting her role(Thelma). But i doubt it. She ended up becoming more successful without it. It still seems to me that Bern Nadette really can sing to.

A little history on the show. John Amos & Esther Role left the show, because they didnt like Jimmy Walker's buffoonery role. They said it degraded black people. John was very vocal about it behind the scenes to the point of them writing him off the show for good. The show was really suppose to be Esther Role's show. But Jimmy Walker's character became more popular. She was not happy when John was written out. She wanted a strong father on the show and was hoping they would mature Jimmy Walker's role after that. But they didn't so she left(the ratings didn't suffer after she left & Ja' Net took over and her role was extended), Only to return for the last season. Her requirements to return was they gave her say so on the script,let her add her own ideas,mature Jimmy Walker's role,Plus a pay raise. The ratings dipped even further with her return for the last season & was cancelled.

I thought the show 'jumped the shark' the moment John Amos left the show. When Esther Rolle left for one season I actually thought the show was better her character was too self-righteous for me. They upped JJ character as the breadwinner/father figure for the family. The moment Esther Rolle decided to come back it was downhill for me. The scripts were lame and unbelievable. No way I could conceive two grown men sharing a sofabed and Keith moving in with the family because his football career was over. Only on TV

Debbie Allen was up for the role of Thelma??? I could see it. In retrospect it was better she didnt get it.

Not definite about it, but I think I read Danny Bonaduce's father wrote for the show too

1sotrue said:

When Esther Rolle left for one season I actually thought the show was better her character was too self-righteous for me.

Florida seemed different on Maude. She was more sassy and sarcastic. On there, you can probably see where Michael's "militant midget" came from, which was removed from Florida's character on Good Times and removed from Michael himself as he got older. Then again some people act different around people that are associates or employers than they do around family members.

Trivia: both Ja'Net Dubois and John Amos appeared on Sanford & Son. Stymie Beard from the Little Rascals appeared on both Sandford and Good Times and so did Raymond Allen (Woody Anderson/Ned the wino). Several actors played 2 different characters on Good Times (Louis Gossett Jr., Chip Fields, Debbie Morgan, Albert Reed, Jr., Theodore Wilson, etc). Jay Leno appeared in an episode too.

MickyDolenz said:

1sotrue said:

When Esther Rolle left for one season I actually thought the show was better her character was too self-righteous for me.

Florida seemed different on Maude. She was more sassy and sarcastic. On there, you can probably see where Michael's "militant midget" came from, which was removed from Florida's character on Good Times and removed from Michael himself as he got older. Then again some people act different around people that are associates or employers than they do around family members.

Trivia: both Ja'Net Dubois and John Amos appeared on Sanford & Son. Stymie Beard from the Little Rascals appeared on both Sandford and Good Times and so did Raymond Allen (Woody Anderson/Ned the wino). Several actors played 2 different characters on Good Times (Louis Gossett Jr., Chip Fields, Debbie Morgan, Albert Reed, Jr., Theodore Wilson, etc). Jay Leno appeared in an episode too.

Anyone ever notice that Florida wore something Orange in every single show?

I saw Jimmie Walker the other night on a comedy special and he looked a hot mess. He didn't age too well. Mr. Amos still looks somewhat the same (older of course) and Bern Nadette is still sexy.

My dad knows Mr. Amos (from way back when) and I remember he told me that he ran into him in Newark NJ. This had to be around 76-77. He told my dad then that he was unhappy on the show

and was probably going to quit. But everything MickyDolenz said was pretty much right on the $.

Back in the early 90's Bern Nadette said that there was going to be a reunion show with the cast

members and it was going to be a retrospect. That would have been cool to see.

There was also talk of a big screen comedy version of "Good Times" (in the vein of "The Brady Bunch") and talks of Hype Williams or Ice Cube to direct but that never happened either.

Despite the controversy, "Good Times" (for a while) was good entertainment and it was something

that everyone gathered around the TV to watch.

TRIVIA: Rosiland Cash (the late beautiful actress) who played the older woman that J.J was involved with, in real life was dating John Amos.

SPYZFAN1 said:

I saw Jimmie Walker the other night on a comedy special and he looked a hot mess. He didn't age too well. Mr. Amos still looks somewhat the same (older of course) and Bern Nadette is still sexy.

My dad knows Mr. Amos (from way back when) and I remember he told me that he ran into him in Newark NJ. This had to be around 76-77. He told my dad then that he was unhappy on the show

and was probably going to quit. But everything MickyDolenz said was pretty much right on the $.

Back in the early 90's Bern Nadette said that there was going to be a reunion show with the cast

members and it was going to be a retrospect. That would have been cool to see.

There was also talk of a big screen comedy version of "Good Times" (in the vein of "The Brady Bunch") and talks of Hype Williams or Ice Cube to direct but that never happened either.

Despite the controversy, "Good Times" (for a while) was good entertainment and it was something

that everyone gathered around the TV to watch.

TRIVIA: Rosiland Cash (the late beautiful actress) who played the older woman that J.J was involved with, in real life was dating John Amos.

I'll bet that was interesting on the set. Weren't all 3 in that Bill Cosby movie 2gether?

I think so.. And Mr. Amos said that Bill and Sidney would not speak with him. He said they were really on a high horse and didn't want to mingle with "TV folks".

SPYZFAN1 said:

I think so.. And Mr. Amos said that Bill and Sidney would not speak with him. He said they were really on a high horse and didn't want to mingle with "TV folks".

I'll bet..........

MickyDolenz said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

I bet in the rehearsal she was singing. They may have decided to make her not sing. Actors love every chance they can get to show there other talents. Bern Nadette is an excellent dancer. They let her show that sometimes on the show. I wonder does Debbie Allen regret not getting her role(Thelma). But i doubt it. She ended up becoming more successful without it. It still seems to me that Bern Nadette really can sing to.

A little history on the show. John Amos & Esther Role left the show, because they didnt like Jimmy Walker's buffoonery role. They said it degraded black people. John was very vocal about it behind the scenes to the point of them writing him off the show for good. The show was really suppose to be Esther Role's show. But Jimmy Walker's character became more popular. She was not happy when John was written out. She wanted a strong father on the show and was hoping they would mature Jimmy Walker's role after that. But they didn't so she left(the ratings didn't suffer after she left & Ja' Net took over and her role was extended), Only to return for the last season. Her requirements to return was they gave her say so on the script,let her add her own ideas,mature Jimmy Walker's role,Plus a pay raise. The ratings dipped even further with her return for the last season & was cancelled.

John also asked for more money and often threatened the writers and producers. He wasn't dismissed just because of the Jimmy comments. John said in a recent interview that he wasn't the most nice guy back then. As far as the last season goes, I don't know what the Keith character was added for. Keith just came out of nowhere. He didn't seem to have any purpose and didn't have much to do. Was he a replacement for Florida's missing 2nd husband Carl, who had been written out of the show? The ratings of the show slipped partly because they started to move the day it ran a lot, never really a good thing for a show.

One the of the requirements for Esther to accept the offer back was that the character Carl be totally disregarded like he never existed and never mentioned again. She hated that the character Florida got married so soon after James death. She said Florida was very spiritually connected and would have never married an atheist. I didn't know black actors had that much power back then. Seem like she would have been happy just to have a leading role in a hit TV series..Since there very few available. But way more than now.

As far as the Keith character. Thelma's character had several boyfriends. So many that they did a whole marathon of shows with them one weekend.

SPYZFAN1 said:

I think so.. And Mr. Amos said that Bill and Sidney would not speak with him. He said they were really on a high horse and didn't want to mingle with "TV folks".

Wasn't Bill "TV folks"? He was on the Electric Company, Captain Kangaroo, Fat Albert and he was sometimes a substitute host for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show.

Slightly off topic, but I read that Curtis Mayfield didn't want to work with the actresses in Sparkle and wanted them to lip sync Aretha Franklin's vocals. I think it was his idea to use Aretha in the first place.

Very true..but you know what Hollywood can do to some folks.

As great as Moses Gunn was, I really didn't like Florida getting married off either. I kind of felt it was too soon also. James was irreplacable as far as I was concerned.

I guess Keith was brought in because the writing was on the wall. Maybe they knew the show was running on fumes. Ben Powers was a talented dude. I read he didn't do to well after the series ended.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

One the of the requirements for Esther to accept the offer back was that the character Carl be totally disregarded like he never existed and never mentioned again. She hated that the character Florida got married so soon after James death. She said Florida was very spiritually connected and would have never married an atheist. I didn't know black actors had that much power back then. Seem like she would have been happy just to have a leading role in a hit TV series..Since there very few available. But way more than now.

James didn't seem that religious though and sometimes made jokes about church and God. Thelma was engaged all the time (and JJ was 2 or 3 times ), but she just married this guy that was never seen before. She left the African guy because of polygamy, but she marries a football player?

MickyDolenz said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

One the of the requirements for Esther to accept the offer back was that the character Carl be totally disregarded like he never existed and never mentioned again. She hated that the character Florida got married so soon after James death. She said Florida was very spiritually connected and would have never married an atheist. I didn't know black actors had that much power back then. Seem like she would have been happy just to have a leading role in a hit TV series..Since there very few available. But way more than now.

James didn't seem that religious though and sometimes made jokes about church and God. Thelma was engaged all the time (and JJ was 2 or 3 times ), but she just married this guy that was never seen before. She left the African guy because of polygamy, but she marries a football player?

Those are there characters. If they had problems that was for them to discuss with the writers and producers. Esther was more concern for the character she was playing. If Bern Nadete didn't have a problem with her character being a slut that is her problem.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

MickyDolenz said:

James didn't seem that religious though and sometimes made jokes about church and God. Thelma was engaged all the time (and JJ was 2 or 3 times ), but she just married this guy that was never seen before. She left the African guy because of polygamy, but she marries a football player?

Those are there characters. If they had problems that was for them to discuss with the writers and producers. Esther was more concern for the character she was playing. If Bern Nadete didn't have a problem with her character being a slut that is her problem.

Why does Esther have a problem with Carl and not with James? I don't know why Florida married Carl either, but James did not appear to be a much of a churchgoer, and seemed indifferent. He was even going to work for Magic Sam the televangelist to make money, which Florida did not approve of.

MickyDolenz said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Those are there characters. If they had problems that was for them to discuss with the writers and producers. Esther was more concern for the character she was playing. If Bern Nadete didn't have a problem with her character being a slut that is her problem.

Why does Esther have a problem with Carl and not with James? I don't know why Florida married Carl either, but James did not appear to be a much of a churchgoer, and seemed indifferent. He was even going to work for Magic Sam the televangelist to make money, which Florida did not approve of.

Well being an atheist is different than not being a churchgoer.

SPYZFAN1 said:

I saw Jimmie Walker the other night on a comedy special and he looked a hot mess. He didn't age too well. Mr. Amos still looks somewhat the same (older of course) and Bern Nadette is still sexy.

Michael aka Ralph Carter didnt aged that well in im opinion then again there was always rumours surrounding his health.

I loved this particular episode....I did'nt have to get so deep inside it to say who sang what well. I enjoyed their take on the song. Love me some Good Times......Classic Iconic show for its time and its so beloved today. I have nieces 11 & 9 that love the show.

[Edited 9/16/11 8:18am]