I've always wondered what everyone's opinion of it was. Believe it or not, I never thought of it until the drunk cousin episode where she called Thelma a "goody two shoes". Right there, I thought, "Yeahhhh", she is one. My reasons:

1. "Oh Ma"- how many times has she said that in episodes? Especially after someone had thrown that dummy in their apartment after James "returned" all that money.

2. Was too mushy about things- well, I'm a guy who has never had a sister, BUTTT.... I can never see a sister being so concerned for everything. Dad didn't get his job. "Oh daddy I'm sorry". Or how about that Vita a brite episode where she was so concerned with how her mother would sound on television. JJ and James cracking jokes and she acted if she was going to cry.:lol:
Didn't she cry after Henrietta left the apartment, where she was pregnant? OR, how about after the cousin passed out from drinking too much?


However, she was a sexy sister. I kinda figured she was a dancer by the way she used to move those legs and hips. She looked like one of those old Soul Train dancers of the 70's (What chall no about that"). And she had nice lips. Lemme stop!!!

Hey Nerrad:

I read an old Ebony magazine back in maybe 1975 called "Bad Times on the Good Times Set" and they interviewed Bernadette. She was concerned about how underdeveloped her character was. She also felt that since she was the first black teen girl on tv on a regular basis she had a certain responsibility to be shown in a certain way. This would explain why her role was so limited in dimension. She looked good, but didn't have much depth of personality at all. A book I just read about Black Tv said she was on the show for one reason: to react to the other player's situations. Basically she was passive.

Originally posted by jamesanthony
Hey Nerrad:

I read an old Ebony magazine back in maybe 1975 called "Bad Times on the Good Times Set" and they interviewed Bernadette. She was concerned about how underdeveloped her character was. She also felt that since she was the first black teen girl on tv on a regular basis she had a certain responsibility to be shown in a certain way. This would explain why her role was so limited in dimension. She looked good, but didn't have much depth of personality at all. A book I just read about Black Tv said she was on the show for one reason: to react to the other player's situations. Basically she was passive.



I know her acting in the VERY FIRST episode was HORRIBLE. The episode getting up the rent. She sounded like she was Rehearsing rather than acting. But i feel her character should have been developed more in season 5 instead of adding penny.

It says something that they didn't develop her character more but instead brought on Janet Jackson and Bookman. Does anyone know if Penny was written for Janet Jackson or if she auditioned for the part? I think the character was not so bad, but I don't like Jackson in the role or as a performer.

Thelma was really inconsequential eye candy.

I think they chose her because she was a Jackson. I can still remember their family variety shows where she would walk on stage imitating Mae West. She did it a couple of times in GT, but I'm glad the writers kept it to a minimum on the show. She was bad enough. Thinking of it, she was even worse in Diff'rent Strokes. She acted even more shy on DS. I couldn't believe that she was that shy in real life. Much like Michael. If you ask me, the whole family acts shy, in a way. Well, maybe except for the dad.:D

Janet doesn't impress me. Her new album is named after an entertainer who used to be on Redd Foxx's variety show. I don't know what the connection is to Janet's music though. Also, she has a child that no one ever talks about.

I rememeber seeing bernadette stanis in one of the last season episodes of The Parent Hood as TK's mother who came to claim him, but couldn't because she was still an alcoholic. I enjoyed that episode. She looked the same as she did 20 years earlier.

I liked Thelma! And if she was a goody too shoes that's o.k so was Florida. And jamesanthony you've heard of Damita Jo???!!! :eek:

Hey Marvin:

I don't know who damita Jo was, but the name sounded familiar so I went to imdb.com and read about her. Don't know who she was really and don't know what the connection is to Janet Jackson's album.

Damita Jo DuBlanc was a singer who did a little jazz and pop in the 1960's. I just thought Janet's middle name was Damita. Maybe her mother like the name?

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
I know her acting in the VERY FIRST episode was HORRIBLE. The episode getting up the rent. She sounded like she was Rehearsing rather than acting. But i feel her character should have been developed more in season 5 instead of adding penny.

Nah, I wouldn't say horrible, but a little over the top. You cuold tell.

Thelma to J.J.: THERE - you are!
Thelma: I NEED HELP cooking this breakfast
Thelma: I THINK I"M GOING TO FAINT! AHHHHH!

Those lines always did stand out to me. BTW SOLOMON, did you get my e-mail from this past sunday?

Originally posted by jamesanthony
Janet doesn't impress me. Her new album is named after an entertainer who used to be on Redd Foxx's variety show. I don't know what the connection is to Janet's music though. Also, she has a child that no one ever talks about.

I rememeber seeing bernadette stanis in one of the last season episodes of The Parent Hood as TK's mother who came to claim him, but couldn't because she was still an alcoholic. I enjoyed that episode. She looked the same as she did 20 years earlier.

Damita Jo is Janet's middle name:wave:

Goody Two Shoes or not, I liked the Thelma Character; she was bright and did well in school and was a positive role model for African-American children during that time period or for children in general..She also respected her parents, and though she fought with her brothers, (Who didnt)..I thought her character was well written and that the actress Bern Nadette Stanis was a fine actress, especially since she was a complete novice in her field....

Originally posted by jamesanthony
Janet doesn't impress me. Her new album is named after an entertainer who used to be on Redd Foxx's variety show. I don't know what the connection is to Janet's music though. Also, she has a child that no one ever talks about.

I rememeber seeing bernadette stanis in one of the last season episodes of The Parent Hood as TK's mother who came to claim him, but couldn't because she was still an alcoholic. I enjoyed that episode. She looked the same as she did 20 years earlier.

Doesn't she, though? I saw her on UPN's "Girlfriends" and she still looked the same. Just like she did in the four part "Homecoming" episode from the last season. Thelma was working that long, curly weave.

Thelma has aged well.;) In the TV Guide cover above she looks so sullen though. I wonder why.

Originally posted by Undercover Angel
Goody Two Shoes or not, I liked the Thelma Character; she was bright and did well in school and was a positive role model for African-American children during that time period or for children in general..She also respected her parents, and though she fought with her brothers, (Who didnt)..I thought her character was well written and that the actress Bern Nadette Stanis was a fine actress, especially since she was a complete novice in her field....

I agree with you. And besides anyone who had the nerve to have a 21 year old boyfriend who writes a thesis on "Sex in the Ghetto," or dates an older man was no goody two shoes. I think as much of her character that they let us see that Thelma was a rather deep person, but the writers decided to focus on JJ.

I think Thelma was a positive role model for ALL young girls, not just black. I'm white and wasn't even born when the show was first on, but watching the reruns and the DVDs I feel a kinship there. Thelma was strong, loyal, loving and smart. Those are qualities everyone should emulate.

Bern Nadette Stanis did a fantastic job in the role of Thelma, and is still being creative. She has published several books and still pops up in acting roles from time to time. I've seen her in several interviews recently, and she seems like such a doll. At least her character was a GOOD role model for girls to look up to - while today's young girls are enundated with Britney, Paris and Lindsay. :eek:

At least her character was a GOOD role model for girls to look up to - while today's young girls are enundated with Britney, Paris and Lindsay. :eek:

And just what is wrong with those three being role models? A little baby head dropping/manstealing/DUI probation breaking/underage alcohol rehabilitation never hurt anybody. :)