I've been trying to find out about Jimmie Walker's syndicated series "Bustin' Loose," but have found almost nothing on tv.com or imdb. I know it was based on the Richard Pryor film and that it ran from 1987-88, but was wondering if anyone had anything to say about it? are there episodes floating around?:confused:

I've been trying to find out about Jimmie Walker's syndicated series "Bustin' Loose," but have found almost nothing on tv.com or imdb. I know it was based on the Richard Pryor film and that it ran from 1987-88, but was wondering if anyone had anything to say about it? are there episodes floating around?:confused:


Here is the Info I have on it


Cast Members

Jimmie Walker-(Sonny Barnes)
Vonetta McGee-(Mimi Shaw)
Larry Williams-(Rudey Butler)
Tyren Perry-(Trish Reagan)
Aoran Lohr-(Nikky Robison)
Marie Lynn Wise-(Sue Anne Tyler)

Sonny Barnes was a small time con man in Philadelphia with a penchat for telling tall tales about his non-existent exploits and relationships with Famous people. When one of his scams landed him in court, the judge sentenced him to five years community service-helping social worker mimi shaw take care of the four orphans who lived with her. Sonny moved into the basement of her home and took her, however reluctantly. most of the work aound the house. He also endeared himself to the orphans, who were fascinated by his bragging. Rudey, the oldest, was a well-meaning klutz who was blind without his glasses: Trish was a popular teen who was he most "adult" of the group. Nikkey was street smart and had the potential to become a junior grade Sonny: and little Sue Anne was just too cuddly and Adorable for words. Based loosely on the 1981 movie of the same name starring Richard Pryor


Total of 26 eps produced

I remember watching this show. It aired on my local station in Tampa WTVT 13(CBS at the time, now FOX) and on WGN on saturdays. I remember seeing Thelma on one episode. I thought that she and J.J. were going into their old roles from Good Times. LOL.

I remember watching this show. It aired on my local station in Tampa WTVT 13(CBS at the time, now FOX) and on WGN on saturdays. I remember seeing Thelma on one episode. I thought that she and J.J. were going into their old roles from Good Times. LOL.



Why didn't you hit the record button-lol

Why didn't you hit the record button-lol

I watched a episodes of that show myself. Wasn't all that great.:confused:

Why didn't you hit the record button-lol


You are so right, man. I was 10 and recording everything else in sight. Heck, this show went to USA the following year in reruns. Why did I not hit the button on my Magnavox. I got a VCR for my tenth birthday. I was taping "Cosby" and "A Different World". I missed out, man. LOL.:(

You are so right, man. I was 10 and recording everything else in sight. Heck, this show went to USA the following year in reruns. Why did I not hit the button on my Magnavox. I got a VCR for my tenth birthday. I was taping "Cosby" and "A Different World". I missed out, man. LOL.:(



Well Hopefully you made up for it by recording NBC eps oif a Different World with the Cosby Show Cast members as Guest Stars

Why didn't you hit the record button-lol

Great question-one I ask myself constantly, usually accompanied by a slap to my forehead!!!:crazy:

Well Hopefully you made up for it by recording NBC eps oif a Different World with the Cosby Show Cast members as Guest Stars


I sure did. I messed up with a few eps. I still have "Rudy and the Snow Queen", The ep when Claire, Vanessa and Kara visit Hillman, the ep when Dwayne discovers that Denise is married. Those are the ones that I am thinking of off the top of my head.

I know that Thelma appeared on Bustin' Loose and Cosby. Jimmie Walker could have appeared on Cosby as love interest for Denise. That would have bee funny. He could have appeared in season four as "Sonny" his character from "Bustin' Loose". LOL. Or Sonny could have been a wise cracking janitor at the hospital.:lol:

Hello, this is my first time posting on Sitcoms Online.

I watched the TV show intro for "Bustin' Loose" uploaded by Gilmore Box on YouTube. I also listened to the intro song on this website here.

Does anyone know who sang the theme song? I'm personally thinking it was Little Richard who sang it. Which would have made sense because he was in some episodes for the show according to IMDB.

BTW, I only stumbled upon the show because it first aired before I was born. What did pique my interest in it was the fact that Aaron Lohr played one of the orphaned children on it. Him, and (of course) Jimmie Walker himself.

Hello, this is my first time posting on Sitcoms Online.

I watched the TV show intro for "Bustin' Loose" uploaded by Gilmore Box on YouTube. I also listened to the intro song on this website here.

Does anyone know who sang the theme song? I'm personally thinking it was Little Richard who sang it. Which would have made sense because he was in some episodes for the show according to IMDB.

BTW, I only stumbled upon the show because it first aired before I was born. What did pique my interest in it was the fact that Aaron Lohr played one of the orphaned children on it. Him, and (of course) Jimmie Walker himself.

It turned out that it was The Four Tops, and not Little Richard, who actually sang the theme song. At first, I could have sworn it was LR. However, the main singer for the song was Levi Stubbs (who I thought had a Little Richard-esque voice)

They actually showed reruns of this show in the early 90s on USA. They tended to show comedies that lasted only a year(‘It’s Your Move’, ‘Double Trouble’). I was only 6 but I did watch it on USA. The show was solid and from what I heard when it was on in 87-88, it had good ratings. The problem was there was an incident where the oldest girl on the show had a shouting match along with her mother against either a tutor or set person. Her name was Tyren Perry and her sister was Jaimee Foxworth who played ‘Judy’ on Family Matters. The mother was the same one who got Jaimee off of ‘Family Matters’. The executives wanted to kick Tyren off ‘Bustin Loose’, the cast and writer’s did not. The executives said ‘Let’s just cancel the show’, they were going to bring it back. Most of the cast were blacklisted, and Jimmie Walker never got another show.