or PENNY? J.J friends Poppo, Head, and Cool Breeze Generated Lots of laughs. Penny should have not been added.

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
or PENNY? J.J friends Poppo, Head, and Cool Breeze Generated Lots of laughs. Penny should have not been added. Solomon you are going to kill me; but I loved the Penny character..Janet Jackson was such an adorable child that I thought that she added a touch of new depth to the show in it's latter seasons..and it showed another side of Willona, that she was a very well rounded woman able to provide to a child in such a loving way....

Originally posted by Undercover Angel
Solomon you are going to kill me; but I loved the Penny character..Janet Jackson was such an adorable child that I thought that she added a touch of new depth to the show in it's latter seasons..and it showed another side of Willona, that she was a very well rounded woman able to provide to a child in such a loving way....


What about Poppo, Cool Breeze, and Head?-LOL You didn't enjoy those eps?

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
What about Poppo, Cool Breeze, and Head?-LOL You didn't enjoy those eps? Plain and Simple; they were LAME:lol:

Originally posted by Undercover Angel
Plain and Simple; they were LAME:lol:


WHAT??????-LOL Tara I'm truly Shocked. You never laughed when the short guy was always hitting on Thelma? Remember his line? THELMA THELMA THELMA-LOL

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
WHAT??????-LOL Tara I'm truly Shocked. You never laughed when the short guy was always hitting on Thelma? Remember his line? THELMA THELMA THELMA-LOL ...No, I thought they were boring and very not very funny

(Sorry):)

Originally posted by Undercover Angel
...No, I thought they were boring and very not very funny

(Sorry):)

I'll co-sign. Penny was fine, and Willona got to shine.

Originally posted by Undercover Angel
...No, I thought they were boring and very not very funny

(Sorry):)


"WERE THE AWESOME FOURSOME UNTIL WE ARE DEAD"-LOL

Originally posted by vashti1999
I'll co-sign. Penny was fine, and Willona got to shine. I agree..I think the addiction of Penny to the cast brought a lot of deeper depth to the Willona character and really brought actress Jan'et Du Bois acting ability...

Originally posted by vashti1999
I'll co-sign. Penny was fine, and Willona got to shine.


Penny was also responsible for the PLUNGE of the ratings

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
Penny was also responsible for the PLUNGE of the ratings I disagree..I think the plunge in the ratings was due that the show was passed it prime and also the departure of James Amos...But, I do agree that Good Times was at it's finest during the first three seasons...

Originally posted by Undercover Angel
I disagree..I think the plunge in the ratings was due that the show was passed it prime and also the departure of James Amos...But, I do agree that Good Times was at it's finest during the first three seasons...


Actually Penny was the reason because the show still finished in the top 30 after the 76-77 season which was the season James was killed off. After the 77-78 season, GT was no where near the top 30. Plus people probably was turned off when Penny said DYNOMITE. Why the hell did the writers give Penny that phrase?-LOL

I'm no Janet Jackson fan, but the character of Penny did bring out dimensions in Willona that had never been seen before. I think the ratings dropped because Esther Rolle wasn't around, not because of Janet jackson. When Esther came back, the show was past its prime and viewers had moved on to something else. There is a book that lists all the fall schedules so I would have to go back and see what the competition was on the other networks.

Originally posted by jamesanthony
I'm no Janet Jackson fan, but the character of Penny did bring out dimensions in Willona that had never been seen before. I think the ratings dropped because Esther Rolle wasn't around, not because of Janet jackson. When Esther came back, the show was past its prime and viewers had moved on to something else. There is a book that lists all the fall schedules so I would have to go back and see what the competition was on the other networks.


The other competition during the 77-78 season in the GT time slot was Eight is Enough on ABC and Grizzly Adams on NBC at 8pm.

I remember that Eight is Enough was a hit show. Grizzly Adams wasn't. I guess EIE took away some of the family audience that Good Times had. I remember EIE came on on Wednesdays so I guess Good Times did too.

Sometimes though competition isn't the main reaon why shows slide off in the ratings. Looking at that old book with the ratings I noticed that in some cases two of the most popular shows were on right against each other.

Originally posted by jamesanthony
I remember that Eight is Enough was a hit show. Grizzly Adams wasn't. I guess EIE took away some of the family audience that Good Times had. I remember EIE came on on Wednesdays so I guess Good Times did too.

Sometimes though competition isn't the main reaon why shows slide off in the ratings. Looking at that old book with the ratings I noticed that in some cases two of the most popular shows were on right against each other.


But adding a Preteen to the GT didn't help it's battle with EIE at all-LOL I bet a lot of viewers were confused when the first saw Penny

I have only a vague memory of year 5. I didn't watch this show much in its original run (though I do remember seeing the epsiode when James died in its original airing- I think I knew from news reports that John Amos had quit), i think because we really didn't watch Tv on school nights. Also back then you didn't have things like Entertainment Tonight and the internet reporting on changes in shows.

Originally posted by jamesanthony
I have only a vague memory of year 5. I didn't watch this show much in its original run (though I do remember seeing the epsiode when James died in its original airing- I think I knew from news reports that John Amos had quit), i think because we really didn't watch Tv on school nights. Also back then you didn't have things like Entertainment Tonight and the internet reporting on changes in shows.


How did you react when you watched James character get killed off in it's original run?

It was mentioned in the 1976 Fall Preview of TV Guide that James left the show.

I can't really remember my reaction to James' death. I vividly remember the DAMN DAMN DAMN thing at the end of part 2 and the Brass Construction record Movin that was playing in the background when they read the telegram at the party. That song was very popular at the time.

jamesanthony, you right. Brass Construction was popular back then, especially Movin. I think someone asked this, but why did they receive a telegram announcing James' death. A phone call would've been more real. And check this out: How long did they have the telegram? It took them all day to find out that their loved one was dead. The E program said no writer from the show has gotten a decent job since. I can see why.:eek:

Originally posted by nerrad
jamesanthony, you right. Brass Construction was popular back then, especially Movin. I think someone asked this, but why did they receive a telegram announcing James' death. A phone call would've been more real. And check this out: How long did they have the telegram? It took them all day to find out that their loved one was dead. The E program said no writer from the show has gotten a decent job since. I can see why.:eek:



I don;t think the writers of GT deserved another writing opportunity. One example was writing UGLY jokes about Thelma?-LOL What sense did that make? We all know she wasn't UGLY

Did this show get written by a permanent staff of writers? Years ago shows would contract freelance writers to write one episode here and there based upon their schedules and the needs of the show. This would explain continuity gaps between episodes. Did anyone well known write for this show?

all the arguing between JJ and Thelma. And why they make JJ to be such a blabbermouth. He just had to reveal the secret about James' father.

Originally posted by nerrad
all the arguing between JJ and Thelma. And why they make JJ to be such a blabbermouth. He just had to reveal the secret about James' father.


Why didn't you like the arguing between J.J and Thelma?

....for a while, but it started to wear thin. Usually it's the same way: JJ would say something about his looks and body, which is always the perfect setup for insults. Sometimes they would just start unnecessary arguments. JJ and his "You got some nerve" blabber was getting cold. I think someone asked this, but why did he call her ugly, when she wasn't? Max from Living Single was ugly:p She would make a good Thelma if you're talking looks. But that's another show.

Max was ugly because of her mannish behavior. I saw that same actress Erika Alexander in a movie called 30 to Life with TE Russell, Kadeem Hardison, Tracy Morgan, Paula Jai Parker and Melissa DeSousa and she was very pretty in that one. She must be a really good actress because she was totally different and very attractive in that film.

Originally posted by nerrad
....for a while, but it started to wear thin. Usually it's the same way: JJ would say something about his looks and body, which is always the perfect setup for insults. Sometimes they would just start unnecessary arguments. JJ and his "You got some nerve" blabber was getting cold. I think someone asked this, but why did he call her ugly, when she wasn't? Max from Living Single was ugly:p She would make a good Thelma if you're talking looks. But that's another show.


Yes it didn't make sense for J.J to call Thelma Ugly. Which once again brings us BACK to the AWFUL writing-LOL Why write Ugly jokes for Thelma?

Write 'em for Florida.:D

I never thought of Florida in terms of her looks one way or the other. To me she was just Florida. She did have a nice smile. JJ looked like a mule in clothes though.

Originally posted by jamesanthony
I never thought of Florida in terms of her looks one way or the other. To me she was just Florida. She did have a nice smile. JJ looked like a mule in clothes though.



Did you read my post about TV GUIDE's description of Jimmie Walker?-LOL I will bump up