Because they never figured out how to write the Evans out of the projects. The only reason the Evans finally got out of the projects was because the show was not on the fall schedule of the 1979-80 season. Anyone Agree

The only thing I agree with is they could have found a better way for Florida and Michael to get out rather than living with Thelma and Keith.

Because they never figured out how to write the Evans out of the projects. The only reason the Evans finally got out of the projects was because the show was not on the fall schedule of the 1979-80 season. Anyone Agree

No, I disagree. It makes sense that they didn't get out of the projects until they knew the show was going off the air. What would be the point of the show if they ended up as a middle class family and the show was on the air for a few years? People would complain even more that the show had changed too much from how it started. I don't think that's a good reason to feel the writers were horrible.

I personally think if they writers of Good Times decided for the Evans to leave the projects then the whole concept of the show would be over...

No, I disagree. It makes sense that they didn't get out of the projects until they knew the show was going off the air. What would be the point of the show if they ended up as a middle class family and the show was on the air for a few years? People would complain even more that the show had changed too much from how it started. I don't think that's a good reason to feel the writers were horrible.


I was talking about just getting the Evans out of the projects, NOT THE GHETTO. It just seemed things never got better for the Evans. One Sad story after another-lol The writers could have had the Evans making some type progress toward having a better life.

I honestly think viewers enjoyed their constant fight out of poverty. People related to it. I have no problem with how they handled it. Although I will say, by the finale, everything did seem rushed. Everybody got their dream fulfilled in one episode.

I wonder who kept writing all of the Kool-Aid into the scripts. No wonder Thelma and J.J. were always at each other throats. They were on a sugar high!

i have to agree with everyone else. the whole premise of the show was about fighting to survive, the will to overcome obstacles and remain strong and ethical...this couldn't have happened in some 1 room flat in the ghetto. and what about all the colorful characters of the projects? would they come and visit?

get real. if they would've moved the show outside of the projects..it would have lost its audience. i agree with the person that said they could've gotten more creative about HOW they got out of the projects. what a coincidence that her and Willona - in all of Chicago- would end up next door neighbors again!

The whole point of the Good Times show was to target the viewers that lived in the projects and who could relate to them. It was closer to their reality than a show like The Cosbys. That's also the reason for the ironic title "Good Times". In other words, even though your environment might be depressing, if you have love to hold you together in your family, then you still can make it "Good Times".

If they had taken them out of the projects then it would have cancelled the whole point of the show.

I was watching this morning, and I noticed something. Keep in mind, I don't know anything about the projects outside of this show.

THe Evan's were a family of 5 living in an apartment the same size as Wilona's. Why?

The Evan's place was very...plain. Ugly. Wilona's was kind of nice. She had a nice (expensive) hutch on one wall. Her apartment looked bigger than the Evan's. And it was painted. What did she do for a living that she could afford nice things and why was she in the projects?

JJ worked for an advertising agency. He could have afforded to get out of the projects. Why didn't he?

It would have changed the whole show if they got out of the projects. The only thing I didn't like about the later shows was the Loss of John Amos and Esther Rolle and of course the addition of Keith.

The whole point of the Good Times show was to target the viewers that lived in the projects and who could relate to them. It was closer to their reality than a show like The Cosbys. That's also the reason for the ironic title "Good Times". In other words, even though your environment might be depressing, if you have love to hold you together in your family, then you still can make it "Good Times".

If they had taken them out of the projects then it would have cancelled the whole point of the show.



Then if that's the case, why have J.J work at a advertising agency? If the point of the show was have the Evans struggling financially, then they could have had J.J continue working at the Rib Shack.

What if they had made the finale a one-hour affair? Then it would have touched on the past and make good of the present and teh future like other shows sometimes do.

They should have played out the "Good news" episode during the last few episodes of the season to have some kind of progression of events leading up the final episode instead of having every good thing come to them in ONE LUMP SUM. It would have made the plot more realistic.

Florida should have made special appearances during the 1977-1978 season or Michael should have went to stay with them in Arizona.

OR, (and this is the most craziest idea ever) what if they pull that same stunt that they did on "Dallas" with people coming back and the time period being a weird dream. To me, that's what i felt the 1977-1978 season was- a long dream. But then again, they would have to explain Penny's appearance there, so BAD IDEA!

And I was wondering about this- Now I have been looking over the show in regards to continuity. Now in 1976-1977, Michael was 14 and in high school, so obviously, he would have been 15 and still in high school in 1977-1978. So WHAT WAS HE DOING IN COLLEGE in the 1978-1979 season, he would have been 16 at the time and still in high school. Did a year pass in between seasons or something? Hmm, if someone can refute me on this matter, I would greatly appreciate it.

But anyway, that's how I felt the writers should have done.

What if they had made the finale a one-hour affair? Then it would have touched on the past and make good of the present and teh future like other shows sometimes do.

They should have played out the "Good news" episode during the last few episodes of the season to have some kind of progression of events leading up the final episode instead of having every good thing come to them in ONE LUMP SUM. It would have made the plot more realistic.

Florida should have made special appearances during the 1977-1978 season or Michael should have went to stay with them in Arizona.

OR, (and this is the most craziest idea ever) what if they pull that same stunt that they did on "Dallas" with people coming back and the time period being a weird dream. To me, that's what i felt the 1977-1978 season was- a long dream. But then again, they would have to explain Penny's appearance there, so BAD IDEA!

And I was wondering about this- Now I have been looking over the show in regards to continuity. Now in 1976-1977, Michael was 14 and in high school, so obviously, he would have been 15 and still in high school in 1977-1978. So WHAT WAS HE DOING IN COLLEGE in the 1978-1979 season, he would have been 16 at the time and still in high school. Did a year pass in between seasons or something? Hmm, if someone can refute me on this matter, I would greatly appreciate it.

But anyway, that's how I felt the writers should have done.




Another Goof by the writers-lol That is true because he was supposed to be 11 when the show premeired so it's no way he should have been in college in 1978-79

They shouldnt have gotten out of the projects - that was the basis of the show. Too big a change. But the show "jumped the shark" when creator Eric Monte left. I totally disagree with all that dynomite crap - it was funny the first five times. By the way, he left two weeks before Amos was fired.

They shouldnt have gotten out of the projects - that was the basis of the show. Too big a change. But the show "jumped the shark" when creator Eric Monte left. I totally disagree with all that dynomite crap - it was funny the first five times. By the way, he left two weeks before Amos was fired.


Yeah I remember him saying he left because it was too much bickering on the set.

To think about it, Florida didn't have any good luck during the finale episode. Nothing great happened in her life. Thelma was the one who suggested that she come live with her and Keith.

If living with Thelma and Keith is great news.......

To think about it, Florida didn't have any good luck during the finale episode. Nothing great happened in her life. Thelma was the one who suggested that she come live with her and Keith.

If living with Thelma and Keith is great news.......


i guess her good news was getting out of the ghetto. But i see what u mean bcause if Thelma had not suggested she come live with her and Keith, Florida would have had the apt all to herself. Nothing good happened for Michael either.

Another Goof by the writers-lol That is true because he was supposed to be 11 when the show premeired so it's no way he should have been in college in 1978-79

I noticed that too. They also skipped a year in Penny's age because he was 13 in the episode where Willona didn't want to tell her about sex. She already was starting to develop breasts by then so that whole plot is ridiculous. It seems that 2 years of time had passed somewhere between the start of year 5 and when Florida returns at the start of year 6. If you ask me I think the writers knew the show was soon to be gone and advanced things so they could stick Michael in college and marry off Thelma and account for Janet Jackson being in puberty.

I could swallow all of this a lot more than them totally not saying anything about what happened to Carl. That was stupid.

I noticed that too. They also skipped a year in Penny's age because he was 13 in the episode where Willona didn't want to tell her about sex. She already was starting to develop breasts by then so that whole plot is ridiculous. It seems that 2 years of time had passed somewhere between the start of year 5 and when Florida returns at the start of year 6. If you ask me I think the writers knew the show was soon to be gone and advanced things so they could stick Michael in college and marry off Thelma and account for Janet Jackson being in puberty.

I could swallow all of this a lot more than them totally not saying anything about what happened to Carl. That was stupid.


It was also strange for Florida to mention Carl in Season 6 but not say what happened to him.