Carl was funnier than any new character after 1975. I liked him better than Bookman, Penny, and Keith. It was something about his voice and facial expressions that made him entertaining. Who else likes CarL?

Can't agree with you on this. Like Ben Powers I thought he brought nothing to the show.

:nonono: ohno: :explode:

I didn't care for Carl either. The only one worst was Keith.

I liked him better than Keith.

Didn't care too much for him. JJ even tried to beat him up. That tells you something right there. The funny part was the look on the bartenders face as Carl was explaining his "problem" to JJ.:D

I liked Carl, and thought the audience should have given him a chance.

Carl was the Man. I just watched in the episode when J.J wanted to take Michael to the Father Son Dinner. Carl was Wild through out the entire episode.

but the character Carl was not necessary to me. I liked Keith better. Much better.

The problem with Carl was that the writers seemed to have absolutely no idea what they were doing with him. On his first appearance, he was an atheist. That was never mentioned again. Then he's suddenly Florida's love interest, he's dying, off-screen wedding (I wonder if they got married by a Reverend or a judge) and then, suddenly Florida returns with absolutely no mention of Carl. I don't know what the writers were thinking with Carl's character.

Originally posted by GeeBee
The problem with Carl was that the writers seemed to have absolutely no idea what they were doing with him. On his first appearance, he was an atheist. That was never mentioned again. Then he's suddenly Florida's love interest, he's dying, off-screen wedding (I wonder if they got married by a Reverend or a judge) and then, suddenly Florida returns with absolutely no mention of Carl. I don't know what the writers were thinking with Carl's character.


I guess since he had such a POWERFUL performance in his first apperance, the writers figured out a way to make his appearance permanent. The plan was for Moses Gunn to be a NEW character for season five but since Esther Rolle left the show his character was no longer needed. I guess the writers felt it was no point in mentioning Carl in Season 6 because it was so long ago at that point of the show it didn't matter.

Oh oh Solomon, you mean to tell me there is an inconsistency on Good Times?!? Perish the thought.

Originally posted by Brian Damage
Oh oh Solomon, you mean to tell me there is an inconsistency on Good Times?!? Perish the thought.


I just wish Moses Gunn would have stayed on the show. I both Rolle and Gunn returned the following season-77-78 i think the show would have lasted untl 81/82

I disagree, the show's writing was diminishing too much for it to have lasted that long.

Originally posted by Brian Damage
I disagree, the show's writing was diminishing too much for it to have lasted that long.

Well i know the writing defintely STUNK in season 5. But look at the characters they had to write for, Penny, Willona, Bookman,-LOL

Originally posted by Brian Damage
I disagree, the show's writing was diminishing too much for it to have lasted that long.

Tell me about it and SOLOMON is right about the writing being bad during season five. IMO I prefer 6 over 5. Esther was back. They were trying to piece it back together but it was too late. Norman Lear was not thinking when he asked the production crew if they "can do the show without a mother?" No chance.

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
I guess since he had such a POWERFUL performance in his first apperance, the writers figured out a way to make his appearance permanent. The plan was for Moses Gunn to be a NEW character for season five but since Esther Rolle left the show his character was no longer needed. I guess the writers felt it was no point in mentioning Carl in Season 6 because it was so long ago at that point of the show it didn't matter.


I'm somewhat surprised that you'd be such a big fan of Carl Dixon since you liked James Evans so much. The only reason Carl was there was because the James Evans character was killed off, which many believe to have been a mistake.

In any case though, the writing for Carl was horrid and nothing about him was ever followed up on. Carl was introduced as an atheist (did that make him a meathead too?) and Florida was a strong Christian. It was difficulty enough for her to even allow Michael to work for an atheist. Shouldn't they have shown just a LITTLE discussion about their religious differences when they decided to get married? The wedding itself would be a difficult hurdle to overcome since I can't see Carl settling for a religious ceremony nor Florida settling for a civil ceremony. Not to say that there's no way to work something like that out, but to simply gloss over it with absolutely no mention? Ridiculous. And having no explanation for the disappearance of a character, especially when it's a family member, is VERY sloppy writing. It didn't make any sense with Chuck on Happy Days and it made no sense with Carl on Good Times. Perhaps we were supposed to assume that Carl died since the last thing the writers decided to do was give him cancer. But, for Florida to be widowed twice would be very devastating. No mention of it at all and no memories of her second husband? After Florida returned, she looked up and spoke to James for guidance during a family crisis involving Thelma, Keith, and J.J. But, no mention of Carl; it was like he never existed. Then again, if Carl had died as an atheist, according to Florida's religious beliefs, she might have had to look down to talk to him. :lol:

You would think the way they got rid of Carl without explanation they could have worked things out with Amos and did one of those Dallas dream things where James death is all a dream.

WHAT HAPPENED TO CARL ANYWAY???????

Originally posted by JREwingBlackmail
You would think the way they got rid of Carl without explanation they could have worked things out with Amos and did one of those Dallas dream things where James death is all a dream.

WHAT HAPPENED TO CARL ANYWAY???????


It was explained that Carl was in Arizona with Florida in season 5 for health reasons and then in season 6 well you know the rest.

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
It was explained that Carl was in Arizona with Florida in season 5 for health reasons and then in season 6 well you know the rest.

She ate him?

In real life wouldn't the family move out there and get out of the ghetto??

TV for you.

Originally posted by JREwingBlackmail
She ate him?

In real life wouldn't the family move out there and get out of the ghetto??

TV for you.


Well they didn't leave the Ghetto because J.J said he had a good job at the advertising agency, Thelma said she didn't want to change to a new college and Michael said he didn't want to go to arizona alone.

I liked Carl, Bookman, Penny and Keith.

I love that this thread is over 20 years old and still going!!!

The show was not good when Carl was added. I hated how the show used Carl to create controversy. I hated the episode about his atheism and him getting cancer. Both were lame attempts at a juicy script. They tried to develop his character with shock value which irked me.

I love that this thread is over 20 years old and still going!!!

The show was not good when Carl was added. I hated how the show used Carl to create controversy. I hated the episode about his atheism and him getting cancer. Both were lame attempts at a juicy script. They tried to develop his character with shock value which irked me.

Only because the stupid poster Fallon97 responded to it and added nothing. If I was the admin I would ban their ass

Anyway, I liked the voice and the overall personality of the character. He was unique in the way they he spoke and acted. Like when he was at the bank with JJ and teasing willona

Only because the stupid poster Fallon97 responded to it and added nothing. If I was the admin I would ban their ass

Anyway, I liked the voice and the overall personality of the character. He was unique in the way they he spoke and acted. Like when he was at the bank with JJ and teasing willona
But it's your thread from 20 years ago. You should be happy.
I hope you are being sarcastic with your anger.

But it's your thread from 20 years ago. You should be happy.
I hope you are being sarcastic with your anger.

But if someone is going to bump up a old thread atleast add something to it like you. The poster who responded to it added nothing lol

I think they attempted to make Carl the "new James" but it just didn't work. And I'm assuming he and Florida split up because they weren't compatible, if I remember right they did bicker quite a bit. I remember Carl was mentioned in passing in the episode when Florida got back from Arizona, I think Florida gave Michael a gift and said it was from Carl, but nothing else was said