Been a fan of this show for as long as I can remember. Can even say some episodes word for word (truly sad). So you can imagine how thrilled I was a couple of years ago when he was performing standup at a local comedy club. His standup rountines were supposedly so funny and raunchy before he was asked to join the cast so I had high expectations. The show was good, he had me cracking up. After the show, you had an opportunity to meet and greet and I was of course, THRILLED. I even bought one of his crappy t-shirts he was selling and had him sign it.

When it came time for me to meet him, I started by telling him what a great show he had and that I'm a die hard fan of the show. This dude cuts me off and says, "My condolences". I was like, "What?" Then he basically moved me along in the line of 2 other people that wanted to meet him.

I was so let down. Was being on the show not a good experience for him? I didn't get what that meant. It made him a star. What gives?

I watch him now while he mouths the words while the other actors are saying them. It's very subtle but you can catch it a lot. Watch the one with "Sex and the Evans Family". He does it like 4x when he's talking with James. So he wasn't that great.

Originally posted by knl9674
Been a fan of this show for as long as I can remember. Can even say some episodes word for word (truly sad). So you can imagine how thrilled I was a couple of years ago when he was performing standup at a local comedy club. His standup rountines were supposedly so funny and raunchy before he was asked to join the cast so I had high expectations. The show was good, he had me cracking up. After the show, you had an opportunity to meet and greet and I was of course, THRILLED. I even bought one of his crappy t-shirts he was selling and had him sign it.

When it came time for me to meet him, I started by telling him what a great show he had and that I'm a die hard fan of the show. This dude cuts me off and says, "My condolences". I was like, "What?" Then he basically moved me along in the line of 2 other people that wanted to meet him.

I was so let down. Was being on the show not a good experience for him? I didn't get what that meant. It made him a star. What gives?

I watch him now while he mouths the words while the other actors are saying them. It's very subtle but you can catch it a lot. Watch the one with "Sex and the Evans Family". He does it like 4x when he's talking with James. So he wasn't that great. :eek: God that was terribly rude for Jimmie Walker to do that to a fan; I am truly sorry..and my Condolences for you ever being a fan of his...

My pet peeve is when an actor(or former band member) dis,the role or band that made them famous.You shouldn't bite the hand that fed you!Sometimes life and careers don't turn out like you wanted it to(I speak from personal experience)Just embrace the cards God gave you and play them well...roll with the punches and get over yourself!
Barry Williams and Danny Bonaduce are two good examples of,if you can't beat 'em,join 'em!Embrace your past and let it take yo u to the next place...


Rant over...sorry guys!:D

i totally hear you on that and your examples were right on point. You couldn't pay Barry Williams to stop talking about Gregg Brady and he is cashing on his childhood every second he gets. These celebrities KNOW what made them famous and how they will be remembered...UNLESS, they take some real challenging role that completely flips the persona. JW will always been known as JJ and it was up to him to break out of that mold if he wanted to go on with his career.

Reminds me of when I saw Mrs Garrett from the Facts of Life on the airplane sitting in first class, shades on and too obviously reading a supposed script (HA!). I said, "excuse me?" She says, "Uh, no autographs at this time. I'm trying to relax." Knowing full well who she was, I say in my snootiest tone, "Uh, I just need to get in my seat. I'm by the window."

You could've bought her expression for 2 cents.

Hurry up and get over yourself.

:lol: Good for you!!!:D

Originally posted by knl9674
i totally hear you on that and your examples were right on point. You couldn't pay Barry Williams to stop talking about Gregg Brady and he is cashing on his childhood every second he gets. These celebrities KNOW what made them famous and how they will be remembered...UNLESS, they take some real challenging role that completely flips the persona. JW will always been known as JJ and it was up to him to break out of that mold if he wanted to go on with his career.

Reminds me of when I saw Mrs Garrett from the Facts of Life on the airplane sitting in first class, shades on and too obviously reading a supposed script (HA!). I said, "excuse me?" She says, "Uh, no autographs at this time. I'm trying to relax." Knowing full well who she was, I say in my snootiest tone, "Uh, I just need to get in my seat. I'm by the window."

You could've bought her expression for 2 cents.

Hurry up and get over yourself.


That was totally unkind of the both of them. If you decide to become a celebrity you have to take the full package. If they didn't want to sign autographs or be kindly harrassed by the public, they should have chosen to be a cashier or gas attendant. I never really liked Jimmy Walker from the get-go anyway.:rolleyes:

i agree 100 percent with you on that the 2 i have a problem with are singer tom t hall and alan alda every magazine artcile you read about them they whine and moan about how fans make it tough it is for them and how we would understand more if we were in there shoes to me thats garbage it boils to being polite even divid letterman says you can be polite for 5 miniutes to someone its not that hard

i ment david letterman sorry

Well, it doesn't suprise me then that Jimmie Walker didn't go to Esther Rolle's funeral.

He seems to have some hang-ups about the show, but he has to realize that this is what got him where he is today.

Now that I watch the Good Times episodes on DVD today, J.J. starts to annoy me sometimes.

I never had that opinion of him before until now. I guess because I've gotten older.

Originally posted by knl9674
Been a fan of this show for as long as I can remember. Can even say some episodes word for word (truly sad). So you can imagine how thrilled I was a couple of years ago when he was performing standup at a local comedy club. His standup rountines were supposedly so funny and raunchy before he was asked to join the cast so I had high expectations. The show was good, he had me cracking up. After the show, you had an opportunity to meet and greet and I was of course, THRILLED. I even bought one of his crappy t-shirts he was selling and had him sign it.

When it came time for me to meet him, I started by telling him what a great show he had and that I'm a die hard fan of the show. This dude cuts me off and says, "My condolences". I was like, "What?" Then he basically moved me along in the line of 2 other people that wanted to meet him.

I was so let down. Was being on the show not a good experience for him? I didn't get what that meant. It made him a star. What gives?

I watch him now while he mouths the words while the other actors are saying them. It's very subtle but you can catch it a lot. Watch the one with "Sex and the Evans Family". He does it like 4x when he's talking with James. So he wasn't that great.


knl9674, prior to meeting Jimmie, did you imagine him to be a really nice person. Considering his character JJ he seemed like he would have been a really easy going dude. Those were my thoughts anyway. I mean talk about night and day.:confused:

honestly, i didn't have any preconcieved notions or even expectations. i heard that in the 70s, he was a complete ego-maniac and arrogant as ever. but was soon humbled after the show ended b/c the work was not coming. he had created a character larger than himself and now couldn't break out of it.

Think Kramer from Seinfeld - will he ever work again?

so he started back with the touring standup gigs but that was pretty much it. i thought he would be laid back - no doubt. i mean, he was lucky that the comedy club was 1/2 full so you would think he would be appreciative of someone actually paying his tired butt a compliment. not to mention, paying for a ticket to see him.

i have to say he has great comedic timing and discussed a lot of politics and social issues. it wasn't the bafoonery associated with JJ and i think that put a few people off. they were expecting to see JJ revived in full color. but i knew what his comedy routines were like prior to joining the show...he's always been very socially active and opinionated.

i'm still thankful i got a vintage dynomite shirt signed and another shirt too. just wish he woulda been a bit more pleasant.

you know?

I hear ya.:talk:

I watched an episode of Jenny Jones where she did a show of some of the 70's shows. Good Times, What's Happening and Welcome Back Kotter, there were a couple others shows there too.

They did some Q&A thing and somebody asked Jimmie Walker if he'd say Dy-no-mite! What does he say?

"They don't pay me enough to say that". :rolleyes:

I liked JW up until that remark.

Somebody asked Palillo do to his trademark Horshack laugh and he did it, without an attitude.

Originally posted by Katie
I watched an episode of Jenny Jones where she did a show of some of the 70's shows. Good Times, What's Happening and Welcome Back Kotter, there were a couple others shows there too.

They did some Q&A thing and somebody asked Jimmie Walker if he'd say Dy-no-mite! What does he say?

"They don't pay me enough to say that". :rolleyes:

I liked JW up until that remark.

Somebody asked Palillo do to his trademark Horshack laugh and he did it, without an attitude.


I liked both of 'em until you told me they went on 'Jenny Jones'!
:angryfire

Jimmie Walker always struck me as someone who would be "difficult" when it comes to fans. That's too bad, because if it wasn't for the fans, these people wouldn't be who they are. If fans are polite, why do these stars have to cop an attitude?? :mad: Bern Nadette Stanis, on the other hand, seems like such a sweetheart. I've seen her in several interviews, and I am always hearing about her signing autographs. She just seems like a doll.

Jimmie Walker always struck me as someone who would be "difficult" when it comes to fans. That's too bad, because if it wasn't for the fans, these people wouldn't be who they are. If fans are polite, why do these stars have to cop an attitude?? :mad: Bern Nadette Stanis, on the other hand, seems like such a sweetheart. I've seen her in several interviews, and I am always hearing about her signing autographs. She just seems like a doll.
I agree. Isn't it funny that two black men, Jimmie Walker and Gary Coleman, who don't have much success after their initial shows, seem to be ungrateful rather than thanking their lucky stars.

That was totally unkind of the both of them. If you decide to become a celebrity you have to take the full package. If they didn't want to sign autographs or be kindly harrassed by the public, they should have chosen to be a cashier or gas attendant. I never really liked Jimmy Walker from the get-go anyway.:rolleyes:

Me neither. I thought his acting sucked and think he's funny like a migraine. IMO, he dragged the show down. Everyone else on the show was fine esp. Ester Rolle and Ja'net Du Bois. Willona rocked!! Loved her!

Jimmie Walker always struck me as someone who would be "difficult" when it comes to fans. That's too bad, because if it wasn't for the fans, these people wouldn't be who they are. If fans are polite, why do these stars have to cop an attitude?? :mad: Bern Nadette Stanis, on the other hand, seems like such a sweetheart. I've seen her in several interviews, and I am always hearing about her signing autographs. She just seems like a doll.
I dont know about Jimmie Walker,but Bernadette is really nice! I spoke to her online for a little while and I got an autographed copy of her book and a regular autographed picture.She is so nice and very gracious!:)

I dont know about Jimmie Walker,but Bernadette is really nice! I spoke to her online for a little while and I got an autographed copy of her book and a regular autographed picture.She is so nice and very gracious!:)


Glad you had a nice experience. I've been lucky too when I've met celebs.

Maybe he has people issues.

Maybe he has people issues.

Sure sounds that way

I don't blame you - what a jerk! And yeah, I always noticed him mouthing the other actors' lines when they spoke them. He really wasn't that good - he just got very lucky with that "D-Y-N-O-M-I-T-E" thing (which I've heard he won't do anymore like Gary Coleman with "Whatchyou talkin' about Willis?")

A childhood friend of mine, who's father was a skycap at the airport had the same sort of thing happen to him with Pearl Bailey. He was a huge fan of hers. He picked up her luggage and happily said, "Why Pearl, I just love you!". I'm not kidding, she came back with "It's MISS BAILEY to you N*GG**!"

I couldn't believe it! I can't stand her ever since.

I don't blame you - what a jerk! And yeah, I always noticed him mouthing the other actors' lines when they spoke them. He really wasn't that good - he just got very lucky with that "D-Y-N-O-M-I-T-E" thing (which I've heard he won't do anymore like Gary Coleman with "Whatchyou talkin' about Willis?")

A childhood friend of mine, who's father was a skycap at the airport had the same sort of thing happen to him with Pearl Bailey. He was a huge fan of hers. He picked up her luggage and happily said, "Why Pearl, I just love you!". I'm not kidding, she came back with "It's MISS BAILEY to you N*GG**!"

I couldn't believe it! I can't stand her ever since.


But why does he need to say-"dynomite" now at the age of 60? That's in the past, if someone wanted to see him do that they can just watch the DVD-lol

IA childhood friend of mine, who's father was a skycap at the airport had the same sort of thing happen to him with Pearl Bailey. He was a huge fan of hers. He picked up her luggage and happily said, "Why Pearl, I just love you!". I'm not kidding, she came back with "It's MISS BAILEY to you N*GG**!" I couldn't believe it! I can't stand her ever since.
:faint: :mad: :crazy:

What on earth!? That is so pathetic to read! Didn't she die already?

That post of yours could be made into a thread: GOOD/BAD moments you had when meeting a celebrity. ;)

I don't blame you - what a jerk! And yeah, I always noticed him mouthing the other actors' lines when they spoke them. He really wasn't that good - he just got very lucky with that "D-Y-N-O-M-I-T-E" thing (which I've heard he won't do anymore like Gary Coleman with "Whatchyou talkin' about Willis?")

A childhood friend of mine, who's father was a skycap at the airport had the same sort of thing happen to him with Pearl Bailey. He was a huge fan of hers. He picked up her luggage and happily said, "Why Pearl, I just love you!". I'm not kidding, she came back with "It's MISS BAILEY to you N*GG**!"

I couldn't believe it! I can't stand her ever since.
:eek2: That's terrible!!

But why does he need to say-"dynomite" now at the age of 60? That's in the past, if someone wanted to see him do that they can just watch the DVD-lol

Solomon, now you know that nothing beats having the person there live and in person saying a quote or expression like that. Get it from the horses' mouth if you can.

In regards to the Pearl Bailey situation, I was hoping the comment would have been a postive one as I was reading but I was totally shocked. I cannot believe that Pearl Bailey was that caught up in herself. :eek:

Jimmie Walker always struck me as someone who would be "difficult" when it comes to fans. That's too bad, because if it wasn't for the fans, these people wouldn't be who they are. If fans are polite, why do these stars have to cop an attitude?? :mad: Bern Nadette Stanis, on the other hand, seems like such a sweetheart. I've seen her in several interviews, and I am always hearing about her signing autographs. She just seems like a doll.


Jimmie needs to be nicer, or he won't have any fans left. He seemed to
have many fans while doing the show-the audience would break into
applause at his first appearance on each episode.

Solomon, now you know that nothing beats having the person there live and in person saying a quote or expression like that. Get it from the horses' mouth if you can.

In regards to the Pearl Bailey situation, I was hoping the comment would have been a postive one as I was reading but I was totally shocked. I cannot believe that Pearl Bailey was that caught up in herself. :eek:



I'm pretty sure if has no interest in being a clown at the age of 60-lol

I thought JJ was great, Good Times wouldn't been successful without him. And meeting stars in person, their just like regular people, they have good days and bad. They can't even go out in public to a nice restaurant or shopping somewhere without people bothering them for autographs. I know if i were a star, that would bug the hell out of me too. When i see a star on the streets, i never ask for an autograph, i don't wanna bothering them. And they appreciate it.

Watching Jimmie Walker on reruns of "Match Game" was a clue as to how arrogant and unfunny he can be.

Watching Jimmie Walker on reruns of "Match Game" was a clue as to how arrogant and unfunny he can be.

Totally! I truly can't stand him!!

After reading some of those posts about Mr. Walker and I can't believe just how arrogant he really is?! :eek:

I always thought of Mr. Walker as a very outgoing, social person.

And like a few other posters said about his appearances on MG, he really was unfunny! Even Esther Rolle, who also appeared on MG was such a nice person on there.

I also used to have a GSN recording of Classic HS w/ Jimmy Walker on there and even on that show he was full of himself, too.

You have to remember that John Amos was written out of the show for complaining about the J.J. character. Esther Rolle was reportedly livid over the attention that Jimmie Walker got because she thought she was the star. Walker believed the show fell apart when Amos & Rolle left and he was right. I met Walker back in 1993 and had a chance to speak with him about Good Times. For him, it was not at all "good times" behind the scenes. There was constant personality clashes, the writing fell apart, CBS moved the series around, etc.

John Amos was written out of the show for complaining about what he was being paid. There were many complaints from Esther Rolle regarding the attention that Jimmy Walker was getting when he wasn't really an established actor but a comic who was cast to play this role. Esther Rolle was unhappy that the direction of the show was making it more of the Jimmy Walker show and not based on the family unit as she wanted it to be so badly. If you ever have the chance to watch the "E! True Hollywood Story" of Good Times it does bring this out. Jimmy Walker obviously could not act and his comedy was very dated.

John Amos was written out of the show for complaining about what he was being paid. There were many complaints from Esther Rolle regarding the attention that Jimmy Walker was getting when he wasn't really an established actor but a comic who was cast to play this role. Esther Rolle was unhappy that the direction of the show was making it more of the Jimmy Walker show and not based on the family unit as she wanted it to be so badly. If you ever have the chance to watch the "E! True Hollywood Story" of Good Times it does bring this out. Jimmy Walker obviously could not act and his comedy was very dated.

Thanks for your great post. It just shows what an astute person Esther Rolle was. And the idea of her being a second banana to the (highly) untalented Jimmy Walker is just outrageous. There were many things wrong with the show but Jimmy Walker heads the list. The show just narrowly escapes my worst TV show ever list. But Jimmy makes my most untalented list hands down!

Actually, Amos criticized the "J.J." character in Ebony magazine and the show's producers were upset. It wasn't about salary, although that was the reason that was given in order to make Amos look bad. His salary wasn't the issue. He thought the "J.J." character was a negative stereotype and his public comments about it put him in hot water.

There was a great deal of controversy about everything that was happening with the show at that particular time. Everything began to fall apart during the last season with John Amos as a part of the cast of Good Times. The direction of the show was a major issue and the constant pushing of Jimmy Walker was not what Amos, Rolle or Du'bois wanted. Amos was asking for a salary increase to what other leading males were receiving. His salary along with comments that he made got him out of favor with the so called creative heads of Good Times . In my opinion without Amos it made the show a block of 30 minutes that wasn't entertaining or relevant.

And it is a shame that Amos was pushed out of the show. Too bad Esther Rolle didn't put up a fight then as if to say "if John is gone, so am I". ok, maybe she couldn't, but I sure don't think Good Times at that point could have gone on--both the mom and dad gone at the same time? (yea, it happened a season later, but that was why it did survive, it WAS a season later).

And it is a shame that Amos was pushed out of the show. Too bad Esther Rolle didn't put up a fight then as if to say "if John is gone, so am I". ok, maybe she couldn't, but I sure don't think Good Times at that point could have gone on--both the mom and dad gone at the same time? (yea, it happened a season later, but that was why it did survive, it WAS a season later).


well norman lear asked the writers-"do you think can you do a show without a mother and father"


and since the writers probably had a house and car and bills to pay, they said-"OH HELL YEAH-lol

I don't think CBS would have gone for it at the time.

Of course, we would have missed out on one of TV most classic lines:
"DAMN, DAMN, DAMN!!" :D

:eek: God that was terribly rude for Jimmie Walker to do that to a fan; I am truly sorry..and my Condolences for you ever being a fan of his...
I think it was rude of him to do that if it really was him. Sometimes the managers tell them to do that for whatever reason.

You have to remember that John Amos was written out of the show for complaining about the J.J. character. Esther Rolle was reportedly livid over the attention that Jimmie Walker got because she thought she was the star. Walker believed the show fell apart when Amos & Rolle left and he was right. I met Walker back in 1993 and had a chance to speak with him about Good Times. For him, it was not at all "good times" behind the scenes. There was constant personality clashes, the writing fell apart, CBS moved the series around, etc.

From what I understand they gave Amos a raise and he continued to gripe so they let him go (which was an admittedly was an impulsive decision on Norman Lear's part). They should’ve reached some compromise to keep Amos on the show.

John Amos wasn't a take crap type of person, so, at that time, compromise wasn't possible.