Does anyone else find it ironic that when James was on the show, every single time he came upon an opportunity to finally get his family out of the ghetto, Florida found some way to knock it down. She didn't mind him working two or three jobs at a time, not getting any sleep, and still barely having enough to make ends meet. She was so caught up in her Holier than Thou attitude, that she never gave the family a chance to get ahead. Like when she made him turn down that job where he would have been gone for a year to Alaska. The money he made in that one year would have gotten them out of the ghetto, but Florida didn't want him to leave. It's ironic that all of that hard work James did for his family, he never got to see any of the benefits of living the good life.

Does anyone else find it ironic that when James was on the show, every single time he came upon an opportunity to finally get his family out of the ghetto, Florida found some way to knock it down. She didn't mind him working two or three jobs at a time, not getting any sleep, and still barely having enough to make ends meet. She was so caught up in her Holier than Thou attitude, that she never gave the family a chance to get ahead. Like when she made him turn down that job where he would have been gone for a year to Alaska. The money he made in that one year would have gotten them out of the ghetto, but Florida didn't want him to leave. It's ironic that all of that hard work James did for his family, he never got to see any of the benefits of living the good life.
Halleluja!!!!! I have been saying this for a year!!!! Damn Florida. She always some reason for something, which just killed me, and it eventually killed James!:mad:

that really irritated me when florida whined and griped about that alaska job i can see maybe her not wanting jaames to take jobs that might have been somewhat questionable or downright shady but this job in alaska was a great opportunay for the whole family and she still whined if i had been james i would have just told her you can stay here and whine im heading for alaska. knowing james i was always shocked that he didnt do that

Florida didn't like money. I don't know which situation was worse, her not wanting James to go to Alaska, or her not wanting to do a TV commercial that was going to pay her preachy ass $5,000.

Florida didn't make James do anything. James CHOSE NOT to do any of those Jobs. Florida didn't like the fact that James would be gone for a whole year. And when James saw what kinda gig his friends was pulling with the whole church thing, James CHOSE NOT to go along with that scheme.

If you all watch the show you would see that James was still going to go to Alaska until Michael came home all torn up from fighting, And James was going to go ahead with his friend until he saw what kinda jive his friend was pulling witht the whole healing pick schick. So don't blame Florida blame James.

What about when she made him give back all that money he found in the alley because she said it was stealing. How is it stealing if you find some money in an alley? She actually tried to compare it to letting Thelma go prostitute herself on a street corner. And I can see if, in the end, the family ended up making it out by doing things HER WAY (the Christian way) but James ended up dying and the only reason the family made it out was because Thelma married a pro-football player. And for all her Christian values and preaching, she sure didn't mind playing the lottery on that one episode where those girls tried to rob them. Isn't that gambling?

What about when she made him give back all that money he found in the alley because she said it was stealing. How is it stealing if you find some money in an alley? She actually tried to compare it to letting Thelma go prostitute herself on a street corner. And I can see if, in the end, the family ended up making it out by doing things HER WAY (the Christian way) but James ended up dying and the only reason the family made it out was because Thelma married a pro-football player. And for all her Christian values and preaching, she sure didn't mind playing the lottery on that one episode where those girls tried to rob them. Isn't that gambling?


It's stealing when you know who the money belongs to and you don't return it, Even if you don't know who the money belongs to you should still turn it over to the police. Yes he should have returned the money, it wasn't his to keep, no matter who it belonged to or how rich the person or company was.

Does anyone else find it ironic that when James was on the show, every single time he came upon an opportunity to finally get his family out of the ghetto, Florida found some way to knock it down. She didn't mind him working two or three jobs at a time, not getting any sleep, and still barely having enough to make ends meet. She was so caught up in her Holier than Thou attitude, that she never gave the family a chance to get ahead. Like when she made him turn down that job where he would have been gone for a year to Alaska. The money he made in that one year would have gotten them out of the ghetto, but Florida didn't want him to leave. It's ironic that all of that hard work James did for his family, he never got to see any of the benefits of living the good life.

i couldent agree except for the time florida told james not to take the job with that one guy who suppodably healed people on tv but was just a phony. working for an ass like that just aint right:wave:

I always felt bad that James worked hard all his life and mostly in recent years to get his family out of the ghetto. Yet, he's not around to see them get out of it.

I don't know if Florida killed James because of what she did, but I was certainly annoyed with her when she'd get in one of her moods. lol

Why couldn't they become a two-income family? Did Florida ever try to get a job (while James was alive)? I know J.J. eventually got a job at that Chicken restaurant but what about Florida?

I hated that they killed James off, but it would be out of character for him to just leave the family.

I always felt bad that James worked hard all his life and mostly in recent years to get his family out of the ghetto. Yet, he's not around to see them get out of it.

I don't know if Florida killed James because of what she did, but I was certainly annoyed with her when she'd get in one of her moods. lol

Why couldn't they become a two-income family? Did Florida ever try to get a job (while James was alive)? I know J.J. eventually got a job at that Chicken restaurant but what about Florida?

I hated that they killed James off, but it would be out of character for him to just leave the family.


Yes Florida finally got a job at a clothing store, I believe it was a clothing store, I can't remember if they ever stated what kinda place she worked at.

I wouldn't say that, ultimately James made the decisions on his own but Florida did have some bearing on him. She didn't always think pratically about things.

First Florida was saying it was too far away. Then Willona ruined it more by mentioning the entertainment. Florida mentioned this to James, but she stated that she trusted James, however she turns and shows him a letter he wrote when he left town looking for a job and it was a ten page letter. He was only gone for less than two days. She told him, what's he going to do when he is gone for a year??? So, she had several things going on in her head as to why he should not leave to Alaska. Within a couple of months, he could have gotten the family out of the projects and into a nice apartment or a very small house to rent and the family could have lived there rather than the DANGEROUS PROJECTS, as was mentioned so many damn times. Sure Michael got into a scuffle with some bad kids, but still, it happened, and it happened with JAMES AROUND. So, you can't stop everything bad that may happen. James blew it. Florida would have thought of a few more reasons to keep him home.

First Florida was saying it was too far away. Then Willona ruined it more by mentioning the entertainment. Florida mentioned this to James, but she stated that she trusted James, however she turns and shows him a letter he wrote when he left town looking for a job and it was a ten page letter. He was only gone for less than two days. She told him, what's he going to do when he is gone for a year??? So, she had several things going on in her head as to why he should not leave to Alaska. Within a couple of months, he could have gotten the family out of the projects and into a nice apartment or a very small house to rent and the family could have lived there rather than the DANGEROUS PROJECTS, as was mentioned so many damn times. Sure Michael got into a scuffle with some bad kids, but still, it happened, and it happened with JAMES AROUND. So, you can't stop everything bad that may happen. James blew it. Florida would have thought of a few more reasons to keep him home.


Ya'll are trying to make it out to be Florida's fault for James not taking the job in Alaska, it wasn't her fault at all it was James' fault. What spouse would want their other spouse to go away for a year when they haven't been apart for 20 something odd years, and the time that they were apart was only for 2 days. James chose not to go to Alaska, he could have gone if he really wanted to. Florida didn't have a choke chain around his neck. You don't always agree with your spouse on things. James could have gone to Alaska but he didn't go, at the end it was all up to him and he chose to stay home with his family. PLUS it would have been dumb to have James go to Alaska if he was still on the show.

Halleluja!!!!! I have been saying this for a year!!!! Damn Florida. She always some reason for something, which just killed me, and it eventually killed James!:mad:
:lol: You crack me up, Irene.

:lol: Simmer off, simmer off; Irene. :)
:lol: :wave:

Had it been me and James, I would have helped James pack his bags!!!

:lol: :wave:

Had it been me and James, I would have helped James pack his bags!!!
Just because of those tan pants? ;)

Just because of those TAN pants. ;)
I would keep one pair at home for those times when I need a good memory of my man so far away!:D ;)

I agree with you Brieanna, James didn't go to Alaska because he saw how dangerous the ghetto was without a father figure around.

I can't believe that Florida is being crucified for having strong Christian morals.

I agree with you Brieanna, James didn't go to Alaska because he saw how dangerous the ghetto was without a father figure around.

I can't believe that Florida is being crucified for having strong Christian morals.
Only one person posted here who was crucifying her for her religious morals. No one else did.

The thing that gets me though, is that JAMES WAS EVENTUALLY KILLED OFF, so the family was LEFT ALONE IN THE DANGEROUS GHETTO ANYWAYS...

Only one person posted here who was crucifying her for her religious morals. No one else did.

The thing that gets me though, is that JAMES WAS EVENTUALLY KILLED OFF, so the family was LEFT ALONE IN THE DANGEROUS GHETTO ANYWAYS...


A person being kill and a person moving away are two different things. You have no choice if your killed, but you have a choice when it comes to moving away from your family.

At least when James "moved" to Mississippi for the garage job, the family was going to move down there with him. With the Alaska job he was going to be gone for a whole year. Missing time with your family for a whole year and then coming back thinking that things will be the same as they were before you left? That would have been a very hard adjustment for James.

I personally couldn't move away from my kids and husband for a whole year just for a job. I would rather work 2 jobs to make ends meat than being gone for a year.

A person being kill and a person moving away are two different things. You have no choice if your killed, but you have a choice when it comes to moving away from your family.

At least when James "moved" to Mississippi for the garage job, the family was going to move down there with him. With the Alaska job he was going to be gone for a whole year. Missing time with your family for a whole year and then coming back thinking that things will be the same as they were before you left? That would have been a very hard adjustment for James.

I personally couldn't move away from my kids and husband for a whole year just for a job. I would rather work 2 jobs to make ends meat than being gone for a year.
James did work two or three jobs, and still it got him nowhere. James had pride, and being a man, he wanted to get his family to a better place, with extra money to do stuff with, like going out, going to the movies, etc. It gets tiring and pitiful just barely making ends meet (sometimes) and not having nothing else. James wanted to save for the kids college, buy them the stuff they wanted, rather than stuff they NEEDED. James had pride, and for once, he could have been on the other side of the tracks. He could have gone for a while and if he couldn't deal with the distance, he could have left. People leave jobs all the time.

James did work two or three jobs, and still it got him nowhere. James had pride, and being a man, he wanted to get his family to a better place, with extra money to do stuff with, like going out, going to the movies, etc. It gets tiring and pitiful just barely making ends meet (sometimes) and not having nothing else. James wanted to save for the kids college, buy them the stuff they wanted, rather than stuff they NEEDED. James had pride, and for once, he could have been on the other side of the tracks. He could have gone for a while and if he couldn't deal with the distance, he could have left. People leave jobs all the time.

If he could come back, what would be the sense of leaving in the first place? All he was going to get was a bunch of "I told you so's." I understand that James wanted to go to give his family better things, but picking up and leaving your family behind is not the way to go.

I'm just glad Thelma didn't follow her Mom's nagging ways. "Oh Keith, I dont' want you to play professional football, you're gonna be around cheerleaders and gone away from home alot. Boo hoo, I want you to stay here with me and drive cabs for the rest of your life, that way I get to see you every day."
Sometimes I wished James would tell Florida to shut the hell up. And that time she didn't want to take that acting job because she said the script called for her to say she used the product when she didn't. Because that's lying. I wished somebody on the show had said to her, Florida it's called acting you idiot now get off your high horse.

If he could come back, what would be the sense of leaving in the first place? All he was going to get was a bunch of "I told you so's." I understand that James wanted to go to give his family better things, but picking up and leaving your family behind is not the way to go.
No one would have told him, I told you so. Family knows that if you make a mistake or change your mind that I TOLD YOU SO, is the last thing you tell them. At least James had the option of leaving that job. He can't leave the grave! If a man needs to leave out of town for a job (and a million men and women do it everyday) to provide better for his family, then what is wrong with that? James could have sent them the $$$ and also saved some of it to get a better place for the family to move while he was in Alaska. The whole family could have moved to a better apartment in Chicago or move closer to family. There was no way Florida and James would know what lay ahead if they didn't TRY.

There are other ways to try and get out of the ghetto. James eventually went back to trade school and improved his education. I have no doubt, that if they didn't kill him off, they would've showed the Evans status improve.

There are other ways to try and get out of the ghetto. James eventually went back to trade school and improved his education. I have no doubt, that if they didn't kill him off, they would've showed the Evans status improve.
Oh yeah, that trade school education...:lol: James ended up with the classifieds and a map of the city. It was because of this trade school that JAMES WAS OFFERED THE ALASKA JOB.

My point is, there would be other offers. He didn't have to jump at the first job that came his way.

My point is, there would be other offers. He didn't have to jump at the first job that came his way.
But that was his reason for going to trade school, to get a better job in Chicago. He looked and looked and there was nothing. So, in the meantime, he goes back to his job at Bradys...ho hum.

But that was his reason for going to trade school, to get a better job in Chicago. He looked and looked and there was nothing. So, in the meantime, he goes back to his job at Bradys...ho hum.


At least he would be around to be a father to his kids and a husband to his wife.

At least he would be around to be a father to his kids and a husband to his wife.
Men that are in the service and gone for several months at a time are STILL husbands and fathers, whether they are home or whether they are away. They don't stop being husbands and/or fathers because they must do something that benefits their family.

Men that are in the service and gone for several months at a time are STILL husbands and fathers, whether they are home or whether they are away. They don't stop being husbands and/or fathers because they must do something that benefits their family.


And about 95% of the men and women in the service hate the fact that they missed out on family things and time with their children. What would have happened when the Alaska job was over with?? James would have gone back to struggling and trying to pay a higher rent at their new apartment and trying to put food on the table. That Alaska job laying pipe wasn't going to last forever, that's short term not long term. If John would have stayed on the show I think that at the end he would have found a good paying that was going to last so that he could support his family the way he saw fit.

James chose to stay home with his family, no one made him stay. If he really wanted to leave he would have.

I don't know any mother or father THEN/NOW who would leave their kids for a whole year. When the only thing you'll have to look forward too during that year is a letter or phone call.

I am sure a man after working the pipeline would have a better (much better) chance at getting great job offers. It would have given him something better to put on a job application; also, since he got this job from the trade school training, he would have been directed to something else after Alaska. Like I said before, if he couldn't hack it or didn't like it, he could leave the job, and still have that money in his pocket to show for it.

I am sure a man after working the pipeline would have a better (much better) chance at getting great job offers. It would have given him something better to put on a job application; also, since he got this job from the trade school training, he would have been directed to something else after Alaska. Like I said before, if he couldn't hack it or didn't like it, he could leave the job, and still have that money in his pocket to show for it.

IF all the jobs that James had couldn't have gotten him a better job, I doubt that having experience in laying pipe would have make his applications look any better. And that job wasn't a long term job. James could have stayed home to find a great long term job that would have gotten him someplace so that he could support his family in the long run. Sometimes you have to look at the big picture, like my mom says, Fast money isn't always good money.

And about 95% of the men and women in the service hate the fact that they missed out on family things and time with their children. What would have happened when the Alaska job was over with?? James would have gone back to struggling and trying to pay a higher rent at their new apartment and trying to put food on the table. That Alaska job laying pipe wasn't going to last forever, that's short term not long term. If John would have stayed on the show I think that at the end he would have found a good paying that was going to last so that he could support his family the way he saw fit.

James chose to stay home with his family, no one made him stay. If he really wanted to leave he would have.

I don't know any mother or father THEN/NOW who would leave their kids for a whole year. When the only thing you'll have to look forward too during that year is a letter or phone call.
Statistics show that 95% of all statistics are made up on the spot, because 96% of people believe that if they attach a statistic to their arguement, it makes it more believable, which only works about 20% of the time.

IF all the jobs that James had couldn't have gotten him a better job, I doubt that having experience in laying pipe would have make his applications look any better. And that job wasn't a long term job. James could have stayed home to find a great long term job that would have gotten him someplace so that he could support his family in the long run. Sometimes you have to look at the big picture, like my mom says, Fast money isn't always good money.


I guess it depends on what line of work you are trying to get into. Like if a person lives in Chicago or Philly and wants to break into broadcasting, they may have to go work somewhere far to make their resume look a lot better when applying for TV jobs.

I guess it depends on what line of work you are trying to get into. Like if a person lives in Chicago or Philly and wants to break into broadcasting, they may have to go work somewhere far to make their resume look a lot better when applying for TV jobs.
I agree. I think James spent so many years looking for that "big break" and at his age, he wasn't getting any younger. Like James said, kids outta college are getting the better jobs...this was a fact, not just a comment by a tv character. His laying the pipeline would have led him to better jobs, maybe not in Chicago but elsewhere. His family being together anywhere, as long as he made a better living was all James wanted. He was tired of making ends meet. Even that job that he applied for when that man told him he was TOO OLD, got to James.

I guess it depends on what line of work you are trying to get into. Like if a person lives in Chicago or Philly and wants to break into broadcasting, they may have to go work somewhere far to make their resume look a lot better when applying for TV jobs.


James could have gotten a job at a Garage, or drive a Taxi full time there. He could have worked construction. There are a lot of Jobs that James could have done that he was qualified for. The writers just wanted to keep James down. Since the whole point of the show was about a family struggling in the Chicago projects.

James could have gotten a job at a Garage, or drive a Taxi full time there. He could have worked construction. There are a lot of Jobs that James could have done that he was qualified for. The writers just wanted to keep James down. Since the whole point of the show was about a family struggling in the Chicago projects.
When James graduated from that trade school, CONSTRUCTION is what he was hoping to get into...instead, he was given a map of Chicago and the want ads.:crazy:

When James graduated from that trade school, CONSTRUCTION is what he was hoping to get into...instead, he was given a map of Chicago and the want ads.:crazy:


Yeah that was very unrealistic, Any body who can build something can get a job in construction. And it pays VERY well, the only bad thing about it is most of the time it's only seasonal.

Yeah that was very unrealistic, Any body who can build something can get a job in construction. And it pays VERY well, the only bad thing about it is most of the time it's only seasonal.
You know, that was very annoying to see happen to James, imagine the message that a lot of young men (or even older men) got from that episode??? They probably thought, "Why bother???"

Another lesson to be learned from this episode is That TRADE SCHOOLS are RIP OFFS-lol

Another lesson to be learned from this episode is That TRADE SCHOOLS are RIP OFFS-lol


Not all of them, Where do you think Plumbers and electricians come from.

Another lesson to be learned from this episode is That TRADE SCHOOLS are RIP OFFS-lol
:lol:

Does anyone else find it ironic that when James was on the show, every single time he came upon an opportunity to finally get his family out of the ghetto, Florida found some way to knock it down. She didn't mind him working two or three jobs at a time, not getting any sleep, and still barely having enough to make ends meet. She was so caught up in her Holier than Thou attitude, that she never gave the family a chance to get ahead. Like when she made him turn down that job where he would have been gone for a year to Alaska. The money he made in that one year would have gotten them out of the ghetto, but Florida didn't want him to leave. It's ironic that all of that hard work James did for his family, he never got to see any of the benefits of living the good life.

^5. My father has been saying this for years, even after the show went offthe air. All he wanted to do was provide for his family but Flordia's holier than thou attitude stopped all that.

James and the kids schould packed up and left her or throw florida out of the house and get divorce they be much better off