All In The Family started with Maude and then the Jeffersons and then Maude brought along Good Times. The Jeffersons brought along Checkin In. All In The Family got new spin-offs that was Archie Bunker's Place and then Gloria and also 704 Hauser Street was a spin-off if any of you remember that.

So why is there rumors on here saying Good Times was not a spin off of Maude?


Good Times spun off the character of Maude's maid Florida Evans into her own series. It was the story of a struggling black family living in the projects.

Florida was married to James Evans. They had three children. J.J. was the oldest. Played by Jimmy Walker he became a cultural icon and his constant shout of "Dynomite!" became a national catch phrase. J.J. had art skills but was constantly getting in with a bad crowd. Second oldest was daughter Thelma, who J.J. always traded insults with. The youngest was son Michael who was extremely smart. Also in the original cast was next door neighbor Willona Woods (all shows need wacky neighbors).

As the show went on, the family lost its father when James was killed off. Then in 1977, actress Esther Rolle who played mother Florida Evans also left the show. Rolle did not like the image J.J.'s character was sending out and thought he was a bad role model for young blacks watching the show. When sufficeint chages were not made, she left.

This left a family show with no parents. Willona stepped up to watch after the kids. She had not until now seemed the parental type and so she was given an adopted daughter, Penny, played by Janet Jackson to help show her as a capable mothering type.

The character of Florida did return for the final season once she was promised J.J.'s character would be improved.

As an aside I love family shows where the parents disappear. Its so awkward trying to having a family show and get around the fact there are no parents.

Originally posted by Benson
All In The Family started with Maude and then the Jeffersons and then Maude brought along Good Times. The Jeffersons brought along Checkin In. All In The Family got new spin-offs that was Archie Bunker's Place and then Gloria and also 704 Hauser Street was a spin-off if any of you remember that.

So why is there rumors on here saying Good Times was not a spin off of Maude?


Good Times spun off the character of Maude's maid Florida Evans into her own series. It was the story of a struggling black family living in the projects.

Florida was married to James Evans. They had three children. J.J. was the oldest. Played by Jimmy Walker he became a cultural icon and his constant shout of "Dynomite!" became a national catch phrase. J.J. had art skills but was constantly getting in with a bad crowd. Second oldest was daughter Thelma, who J.J. always traded insults with. The youngest was son Michael who was extremely smart. Also in the original cast was next door neighbor Willona Woods (all shows need wacky neighbors).

As the show went on, the family lost its father when James was killed off. Then in 1977, actress Esther Rolle who played mother Florida Evans also left the show. Rolle did not like the image J.J.'s character was sending out and thought he was a bad role model for young blacks watching the show. When sufficeint chages were not made, she left.

This left a family show with no parents. Willona stepped up to watch after the kids. She had not until now seemed the parental type and so she was given an adopted daughter, Penny, played by Janet Jackson to help show her as a capable mothering type.

The character of Florida did return for the final season once she was promised J.J.'s character would be improved.

As an aside I love family shows where the parents disappear. Its so awkward trying to having a family show and get around the fact there are no parents.



If you think GT is a spinoff, then give me a intelligent answer as to why CBS sent camera crews to Chicago instead of New York? And why was Henry Evans not Henry Evans on Good Times???????

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
If you think GT is a spinoff, then give me a intelligent answer as to why CBS sent camera crews to Chicago instead of New York? And why was Henry Evans not Henry Evans on Good Times???????


Because that's the way the writers decided to do it. A spin-off is still just a TV show.

Originally posted by GeeBee
Because that's the way the writers decided to do it. A spin-off is still just a TV show.


Do you have a source supporting that????

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
Do you have a source supporting that????

Do you?!? And don't say that article of yours because that article states it was a spinoff.

Originally posted by Brian Damage
Do you?!? And don't say that article of yours because that article states it was a spinoff.


Well it's better than not having nothing.lol

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
Do you have a source supporting that????

No, I don't need a source to know that a spin-off is still just a TV show.

Originally posted by GeeBee
No, I don't need a source to know that a spin-off is still just a TV show.


We if you believe it back it up.

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
We if you believe it back it up.

Trust me, Good Times and Maude were just TV shows. :lol:

Originally posted by GeeBee
Trust me, Good Times and Maude were just TV shows. :lol:


You know i mean your belief of GT being a spinoff, i know it's just a TV show

"Saved By the Bell"- began in Indianapolis, then re-routed to the Palisades with the same characters from the Indianapolis cast.

Yeah. Well, I think "Good Times" and "Maude" did the same thing 20 years before. Same characters- different show and most likely, UNIVERSE.

Originally posted by hch
"Saved By the Bell"- began in Indianapolis, then re-routed to the Palisades with the same characters from the Indianapolis cast.

Yeah. Well, I think "Good Times" and "Maude" did the same thing 20 years before. Same characters- different show and most likely, UNIVERSE.



It was a

Different Universe
Different Character
Different Show

NO Spinoff

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
It was a

Different Universe
Different Character
Different Show

NO Spinoff


Same actors.
Same last name.
Same first name for Florida.
Same number of children.
Same producer.


Definitely a spin-off.


You take TV shows too seriously if you try to find internal consistency to prove a spin-off. Just lighten up and enjoy it.

after all this time

i can't believe that this is still a hot topic

Maude spinned off Goodtimes

there have been many spin offs that have not been an
exact match from where they originate.

But back then they did stuff like that

it even says so on the Third season of Goodtimes on the back of the DVD Box.

With out the show Maude (which happens to be my Middle Name)
there would not have been the maid Florida,there for no Goodtimes.

Originally posted by Trishalla
after all this time

i can't believe that this is still a hot topic

Maude spinned off Goodtimes

there have been many spin offs that have not been an
exact match from where they originate.

But back then they did stuff like that

it even says so on the Third season of Goodtimes on the back of the DVD Box.

With out the show Maude (which happens to be my Middle Name)
there would not have been the maid Florida,there for no Goodtimes.



Well explain why the original last name of the characters on Good Times was BLACK? It was Florida Black, Thelma Black, James Black, Michael Black, and J.J Black. And the Original title of the show was called "The Black Family" So explain that.

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
Well explain why the original last name of the characters on Good Times was BLACK? It was Florida Black, Thelma Black, James Black, Michael Black, and J.J Black. And the Original title of the show was called "The Black Family" it sounds kind of like seeing that the family was black. So explain that. That was probably a working title it sounds kind of like seeing that the family was black CBS was in need of a mid-season replacement at the time and this "The Black Family" script seemed good, but it need a boost and since Florida was so popular on Maude they decided to give it a head start by giving Florida the lead. had Maude not been made Good Times would have never come on. different names and cities just indicate the producers made huge continuity errors by not changing parts of the script to reflect it being a Maude spin-off. Good Times is a spinoff of Maude, it just was written a separate show. the producers just did not make it clear.

Originally posted by King Forrester
That was probably a working title it sounds kind of like seeing that the family was black CBS was in need of a mid-season replacement at the time and this "The Black Family" script seemed good, but it need a boost and since Florida was so popular on Maude they decided to give it a head start by giving Florida the lead. had Maude not been made Good Times would have never come on. different names and cities just indicate the producers made huge continuity errors by not changing parts of the script to reflect it being a Maude spin-off. Good Times is a spinoff of Maude, it just was written a separate show. the producers just did not make it clear.



OK, the show was based on Eric Monte's life growing up in Chicago. So how can that be connected to a white middle age woman living in suburban NY? Also i have a 1975 article that explains why GT is not a spinoff. Let me know if you are interested.

As I said, the show was written as a separate show, but it was tied to Maude to give it a head start. Florida was Maude's maid and I guess they decide to make Florida the mother in Eric Monte's script. I'd like to hear about this article you spoke of. not all spinoffs are tied closely to the show, Family Ties spinoff Day by Day hardly mentioned it was one.