Watching this ep this morning for the first time in about 18 years and I know it was probably strange seeing Gordon in other things after this since he played a child molester. Wonder why Gordon Jump would play such a role when he was already known for his WKRP role.

Watching this ep this morning for the first time in about 18 years and I know it was probably strange seeing Gordon in other things after this since he played a child molester. Wonder why Gordon Jump would play such a role when he was already known for his WKRP role.


Work is work

Work is work


Just like I could never look at Kim Fields mother without thinking of the child abuse ep-lol Even when she played on Living Single in the 90's, I would aways think of Good Times

Just like I could never look at Kim Fields mother without thinking of the child abuse ep-lol Even when she played on Living Single in the 90's, I would aways think of Good Times


I definitely agree with you there. She was typecast FOREVER in my mind. lol

I definitely agree with you there. She was typecast FOREVER in my mind. lol



I think it's easier to typecast someone if they play a child abuser, child molester, or a rapist. Now that guy who played the Rapist on ALL in the family, I don't recall seeing him on a lot of things after that

Just like I could never look at Kim Fields mother without thinking of the child abuse ep-lol Even when she played on Living Single in the 90's, I would aways think of Good Times


I didn't associate Chip's character that she played on Good Times with the character she played on Living Single. They had two different personalities.

I think it's easier to typecast someone if they play a child abuser, child molester, or a rapist. Now that guy who played the Rapist on ALL in the family, I don't recall seeing him on a lot of things after that

The actor's name was David Dukes and I read somewhere that after that show aired, wherever he went, he would get looks from people. He kind of laughed it off, but I think he was implying that people didn't see him as an actor, but rather, the guy who tried to rape Edith Bunker.

I didn't associate Chip's character that she played on Good Times with the character she played on Living Single. They had two different personalities.


What I'm saying is just looking at the actress face alaways makes think of-"Penny's Crazy mother-lol I never said her character on Living Single reminded me of her Good Times character. Just her Face

I don't think I've seen this episode since it first aired, so my memory is hazy on this, but somebody please help me out:

Did the Bicycle Shop owner actually molest Arnold or his friend (it was Dudley as I recall)?? I know he lured them in and showed them some videos, but I don't recall Arnold having been violated.

A very bold topic to show on a sitcom in the early '80s.

I don't think I've seen this episode since it first aired, so my memory is hazy on this, but somebody please help me out:

Did the Bicycle Shop owner actually molest Arnold or his friend (it was Dudley as I recall)?? I know he lured them in and showed them some videos, but I don't recall Arnold having been violated.

A very bold topic to show on a sitcom in the early '80s.



I'm about to watch the last half of part 2 and I will let you know

I don't think I've seen this episode since it first aired, so my memory is hazy on this, but somebody please help me out:

Did the Bicycle Shop owner actually molest Arnold or his friend (it was Dudley as I recall)?? I know he lured them in and showed them some videos, but I don't recall Arnold having been violated.

A very bold topic to show on a sitcom in the early '80s.


Yes it was Dudley, Arnold left Dudley there at Mr. Horton's because of the X-rated Cartoons and Dudley was there alone with Mr. Horton.

Right... Arnold left Dudley at the pervert's house. Dudley later says "He tried to... "touch" me". At the conclusion of the episode, they explain that Mr Dudley isn't gay, huh? I call this exploitation tv.

Right... Arnold left Dudley at the pervert's house. Dudley later says "He tried to... "touch" me". At the conclusion of the episode, they explain that Mr Dudley isn't gay, huh? I call this exploitation tv.


You mean they explained that Mr. Horton wasn't gay

I think it's easier to typecast someone if they play a child abuser, child molester, or a rapist. Now that guy who played the Rapist on ALL in the family, I don't recall seeing him on a lot of things after that

He was on Three's Company after that. In Jack's Navy Pal as the blind navy rival.

He was on Three's Company after that. In Jack's Navy Pal as the blind navy rival.


See that's all he could get after that, the role of a BLIND MAN-lol

Right... Arnold left Dudley at the pervert's house. Dudley later says "He tried to... "touch" me". At the conclusion of the episode, they explain that Mr Dudley isn't gay, huh? I call this exploitation tv.

Okay, I'm confused here. Others have said that the guy molested Dudley, but Dudley said "He tried to...'touch' me. I would think an actual child molestation would be pretty heavy stuff for a sitcom in the early '80s.

Could someone clarify this, please?

Okay, I'm confused here. Others have said that the guy molested Dudley, but Dudley said "He tried to...'touch' me. I would think an actual child molestation would be pretty heavy stuff for a sitcom in the early '80s.

Could someone clarify this, please?



It was a OFF SCREEN molestion attempt

A while back, I read a transcript of an interview Gordon Jump gave before he passed on. Child molestation was not nearly as talked about in the early '80s as it is now, and he felt it was important to take on the role to raise awareness. It was quite an interesting story. If I can find the article, I'll post it here.

I would imagine the reason they hired Jump was because he was likable and to show that deviants such as this can appear to be normal, average guys. In fact, that's why some of them are so dangerous.

It's not always the obvious ones that are evil.

You mean they explained that Mr. Horton wasn't gay
Oops, what was I on when I typed that? :crazy: Right, that Mr. Horton isn't gay. Willis says, "I didn't think he was, you know, gay." One of the police/investigators says that what you have to understand is that he isn't, and gives some explanation. I'm not too sure about that.... but then again I'm not paid to study this kind of thing. It really is true that the cast's fictional lives got almost as screwed up as their real lives would become.

Oops, what was I on when I typed that? :crazy: Right, that Mr. Horton isn't gay. Willis says, "I didn't think he was, you know, gay." One of the police/investigators says that what you have to understand is that he isn't, and gives some explanation. I'm not too sure about that.... but then again I'm not paid to study this kind of thing. It really is true that the cast's fictional lives got almost as screwed up as their real lives would become.


Man that arnold had been in a pedi's trap, was kidnapped bound and gagged, Was a hostage in a bank holdup, Was extorted for his lunch money, was trapped on the top floor of a burning building, faced the worst racism when going to a new school, loses his parents at a very young age, and almost got killed on the set of Night Rider.

One can only imagine how Arnold Jackson would be as an adult.

I didn't associate Chip's character that she played on Good Times with the character she played on Living Single. They had two different personalities.


I agree. I did not think of her as the abusive mom on "Living Single". Now do we retro type cast Kim Fields as "Kim" on "Good Times" and expect the nine year old girl to say "smooches" and to fan her cleavage in hopes that Michael is looking?:lol:

I was able to differentiate between the two.

I agree. I did not think of her as the abusive mom on "Living Single". Now do we retro type cast Kim Fields as "Kim" on "Good Times" and expect the nine year old girl to say "smooches" and to fan her cleavage in hopes that Michael is looking?:lol:

I was able to differentiate between the two.



You can't tell me when ever you see that woman's face you don't think about the Penny getting abused episode?-lol

You can't tell me when ever you see that woman's face you don't think about the Penny getting abused episode?-lol

No. I thought about it but it did not stick out in my mind to the point that I thought that she was gonna burn Max with the iron for eating her chicken pot pie.:lol:

No. I thought about it but it did not stick out in my mind to the point that I thought that she was gonna burn Max with the iron for eating her chicken pot pie.:lol:


Come on Tom, you know what I mean, Seeing her face will always make you think of Ms. Gordon

well the guy who did play mr. horton, gordon jump, did have a large re-occuring role in growing pains as maggies father throughout the whole series, so i dont think that him playing the molestor shot his career way down. Although, after having seen him in so many different series as guest stars it was weird to see him in this episode. But i also do recall reading an article about it and him explaining that there was just so much awareness that needed to be spread about the subject and he was glad to have done the episode.... but, i'm surprised that they didnt do somethign at the end of the episdoe where the actors are out of character (kind of like conrad did at the beginning) to ensure to kids that this was acted out, cuz i know when i was younger, i thought that tv was real, so what if some kid sees gordon walking around and then freaks out? yikes!

I think it's easier to typecast someone if they play a child abuser, child molester, or a rapist. Now that guy who played the Rapist on ALL in the family, I don't recall seeing him on a lot of things after that
THE GUY WHO PLAYED THE RAPIST ON ALL IN THE FAMILY WAS DAVID DUKE OF THE KKK.

THE GUY WHO PLAYED THE RAPIST ON ALL IN THE FAMILY WAS DAVID DUKE OF THE KKK.

I hope you're kidding. Seriously, it's not the same guy. And the actors name is David Dukes. I kind of feel sorry for the actor because 1) He recieved a lot of hate for playing a role (dude who tried to rape Edith) and 2) He has a very similar name to a notorious Ku Klux Klown leader.

Didn't David Dukes also play the guy who tried to get George Jefferson to advertise himself as the great great great grandson of Thomas Jefferson?

I hope you're kidding. Seriously, it's not the same guy. And the actors name is David Dukes. I kind of feel sorry for the actor because 1) He recieved a lot of hate for playing a role (dude who tried to rape Edith) and 2) He has a very similar name to a notorious Ku Klux Klown leader.

Didn't David Dukes also play the guy who tried to get George Jefferson to advertise himself as the great great great grandson of Thomas Jefferson?


It may have been, now that you mention it

Watching this ep this morning for the first time in about 18 years and I know it was probably strange seeing Gordon in other things after this since he played a child molester. Wonder why Gordon Jump would play such a role when he was already known for his WKRP role.
I was wondering what season was that episode. I just saw it on TBS and tried to find out but I couldn't on some of the websites. Thanks

it was from season 5:wave:

it was from season 5:wave:
Thanks DSforever Is it been released out on DVD yet? If not I can't wait to add it to my DVD collection. :-D

I'm surprised no one has brought up on this thread that Gordon Jump was also the Maytag Man. He was everywhere - TV and print ads, and even appeared at Maytag store openings. So it was a very high profile gig - and began well after his appearance on Diff'rent Strokes.

When you ask was Gordon Jump ever looked at the same again, do you mean by us, the viewers or people in the industry? I am sure there are some people who thought "OMG that man from WKRP is playing a molester" but overall, people won't hold that image in their head very long.

As for the industry, like Brian said, work is work and no one is looked upon a certain way for the roles they choose. That's why they call it acting.

The guy who played David on One Day At A Time played a child molester. Richard Masur was eery and creepy in that tv movie FALLEN ANGEL. A movie that was highly rated, did well in the ratings and was very controversial. But the fact that he came off as this creepy and despicable child molester proves his acting ability. He has had plenty of work including playing an attorney in the movie THE BURNING BED with Farrah Fawcett.

Here is Richard's credits: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0557956/

Gordon continued to work even after that episode. I saw him on television a lot since that controversial episode. I for one do not believe that he was typecasted as a child molester. Not in a million years!

Right... Arnold left Dudley at the pervert's house. Dudley later says "He tried to... "touch" me". At the conclusion of the episode, they explain that Mr Dudley isn't gay, huh? I call this exploitation tv.
to call this explotation tv is one of the reasons so many kids are unaware of things that adults can try with them.. things like this should be addressed way more often.. as it probably not only opened alot of peoples eyes.. it also showed parents how easy it is to sit down and explain thigs to their children.. plus it showed the children it is never their fault and to tell someone asap.. to call this exploitation tv shows me you could be narrow minded and not understand that education is the key to keeping our kids safe!