With the thread started about the show actually coming to the big screen, I thought it would be interesting for everyone to weigh in on their picks for the cast. I think most people agree that casting nobodies would be ideal to keep this from turning into a complete flop. But...it's Hollywood and they're going to try to bring out the big names.

So, who would you cast as the following:

James
Florida
JJ
Thelma
Michael
Wologna
Bookman
Penny

Provide rationale as well. Should be interesting. I'll post my thoughts up shortly.

Let's go.........

I think thay should get a whole new cast of newcomers. By the way, that's, "Willona".

As stated above, we agree that newcomers would be best. But this thread were if the cast were celebrities.

Read and then post.......

Here goes, this took a lot of thinking:
Ving Rhames as James
Aretha Franklin as Florida
Angela Basset as Willona
Shawn Wayans as J.J.
Tisha Campbell-Martin as Thelma
Larenz Tate as Michael
Cederick The Entertainer as Bookman

I'm still thinking who can be James
Anne Marie Horsford as Florida
Jenifer Lewis as Willona
Dave Chapelle as JJ
Reagan Gomez Preston as Thelma
Marc John Jefferies as Michael

Originally posted by King Forrester
I'm still thinking who can be James
Anne Marie Horsford as Florida
Jenifer Lewis as Willona
Dave Chapelle as JJ
Reagan Gomez Preston as Thelma
Marc John Jefferies as Michael

All you need to do is add Ving Rhames as James and your casting is complete.

Nice job King Forrester!:wave: :nod: props:

We forgot one important element of the show.

Even though it was a small part, Theodore Wilson was fabulous as "Sweet Daddy." Who would play "Sweets?"

My first thought would be Eddie Griffin.

OK, here's what I'm thinking:

James: Charles S. Dutton OR Ving Rhames
They have such passion when they act. Especially when they get angry. James MUST have some weight on him. Dutton has a tendency to overact but he pulls a crowd in with his intense emotion.

Florida: Oprah Winfrey
She would have to produce it to star in it. When she wants to look broke down, she can. She also can appear very motherly and drive home the emotion. She would have to rely on her voice and dialect from Beloved.

JJ: Comedian from MAD TV OR MARLON WYANS
I can not think of this guy but he looks JUST LIKE Jimmie Walker in the face AND the build. And he has acted like JJ in a few sketches to a tee. Marlon Wayans is the better actor (compared to Shawn Wayans) to me even though he really doesn't have the height or the look. The character would definitely be a senseless baffoon if the Wayans have anything to do with the project. So my vote is for the Mad TV guy. If you know his name, post it up.

Thelma: Beyonce Knowles
I think her acting is a little suspect but the key to Thelma is the body, the body, the body. This person has got to a brick house. They have to have a slightly whiney voice, clipped NY accent, be able to dance and have a killer smile. There isn't anyone out right now that can fill that role for me and do it justice. No one ever said Thelma was watched for her acting. She was about average.

Michael: NEWCOMER - Boy from "Ray"
I think they should play this character within the mold of the first 3-4 seasons when he was very pro-black and conscious. I think they should cast an actual child actor, not some grown man with a baby face. Child's career is HOT right now so this would be ideal.

Willona: Vivica A. Fox
Not a huge fan, but she is a nice mixture of ghetto class. She's quick with the quips, can pull off the fly gear and seems like your mother's cool friend that always gets you good gifts. If offered to her, I can see her gunning for the Thelma role.

Penny: Girl from "One-on One" on UPN
She the voice of Penny Proud on the Proud Family. She's like a teen but she can pull it off. She has a meek and vulnerable voice and the look to make it happen.

Bookman: Cedric the Entertainer
Perfect fit for TRUE comedy relief. He can put on a pompadour or get a man perm, squeeze into that jumpsuit and bring it on. Plus, he does better impressions.

Sweet Daddy Williams: Chris Tucker
Bring him back outta retirement and provide some true comic relief. No one sounds like a pimp like dude. He has the height to pull off the floor length minks and the charm to make him believeable.

Originally posted by Jrnygrl
All you need to do is add Ving Rhames as James and your casting is complete.

Nice job King Forrester!:wave: :nod: props: Thanks!

Vivica Fox? She has to be one of the most overrated actresses out there. From the Patti labelle show to Set it Off. I don't know what people see in her. Except for maybe her breats, :talk: And dating 50 cent.

Like I said, I'm not necessarily a huge fan but there aren't too many black actresses that fit the bill combining a raw sexuality with ghetto sassiness.

Where is your cast listing?

:confused:

Time to go now. I will post tomorrow. I should play JJ. :D I'm not ugly like him, but the features, tall and slim.

If there were a "Good Times" movie, the cast would be ;like this:

James Evans: someone was right on when they said Ving Rhames or Charles S. Dutton.

Florida Evans: Definitely Oprah, or how about Loretta Devine, or Alfre Woodard

Willona Woods: Vivica A. Fox or Jenifer Lewis (definitely), or maybe Robin Givens or Paula Jai Parker

J.J.- Kel Mitchell or Dave Chapelle (my money is on Kel Mitchell)

Thelma: Again someone was right on when they said Reagan Gomez-Preston or how about Maya Goodwin (the teenage Rene from the "Any Day Now" show), or maybe even Solange Knowles

Michael: Definitely Marc John Jeffries! Or maybe that boy from "Soul Food" (Brandon Hammond or the kid from the Showtime TV version), or Maybe Dee Jay Daniels from "The Hughleys"

Penny Gordon: That girl who played Sanaa Lathan as a kid in "Brown Sugar", or Gabby Soleil, the little girl from "Johnson Family Vacation", or Camille Winbush

Nathan Bookman: Cedric the Entertainer definitely or Anthony Anderson

Keith Anderson: Omar Epps or Mekhi Phifer

What do you all think?

Who is Marc John Jeffries? I can't figure out who dude is.

Originally posted by knl9674
Who is Marc John Jeffries? I can't figure out who dude is. He played on the Tracey Morgan show and was the in the movie Losing Isaiah

oooooooooooook. he would be okay, i liked him on both pieces you mentioned. but for some reason i think the character should be a lighter skinned AA, to stay true to form. That's like selecting a character for Florida that has Halle Berry's skintone.

i'm not color struck in any way, shape or form. but i believe in characterizing as close to the original as possible.

just my thoughts.

Lenny - played by Sean 'P Diddy' Combs ;)

:lol: Better Yet Ol' Dirty Bastard for Lenny :lol:

p.diddy as lenny!

HILARIOUS AND PERFECT.

or better yet, SNOOP DOGG. :lol:

but sweet daddy williams has GOT to be chris tucker. GOT TO BE!

Originally posted by bronxgirl
:lol: Better Yet Ol' Dirty Bastard for Lenny :lol:
Well, he's definitely out, considering that he died last night. Besides, I hated Lenny, a 2 bit hustler, trying to sell his junk.

Yeah I posted B/F his unexpected death R.I.P Ol Dirt Dog :(

Most of the cast thought of was cool, but I know who would be the perfect thelma. Bernie Mac's wife on his show. She is kinda shaped like her and the way she act, I could see her acting like her. She can act a fool when she want to.

All of us have good ideas for a hit movie but here is my ideas for the cast of Good Times:

Wilona Wood- Vivica A Fox
Florida Evans- Monique
James Evans- Ving Rhames
Micheal Evans- Bow Wow or the friend from Roll Bounce that used to bag on Jurnee Smollett and at the end of the movie he kissed her and they started hanging together.
Thelma Evans- Meaghan Goode or Jurnee Smollett
JJ Evans- Dave Chapelle
Bookman- Anthony Anderson
Penny- Keke Palmer or Kyla Pratt
SweetDaddy- Chris Tucker or Charlie Murphy
Lenny- Katt Williams

JAmes Evans- Ving Rhames or Andre Braugher or Avery Brooks
Florida Evans- CCH Pounder
JJ- Marlon Wayans
Thelma- Jada Pinkett
Michael- Not sure
Willona-Jenifer Lewis
Bookman- Bernie Mac
Sweet Daddy- Clifton Powell or Antonio Fargus
Lenny-Snoop Dogg
Alderman Davis- Reynaldo Rey
Keith- Terrance Howard or The Rock

I like the suggestion of Omar Epps as Keith!! :lol:

How about Jackee Harry as Willona? :lol:

James Earl Jones as Henry Evans (James' dad).

Anna Maria Horsford as Florida is an interesting choice...and about a foot taller than Esther Rolle was! I could see Roz Ryan (also from Amen) as Wanda the crier. :lol: Cedric as Bookman? Brilliant!

Interesting choices, everyone! :thumbsup: Keep them coming!!