Penny and Keith has something in common. They both were introduced to the show with 4 part episodes, and after that, they brought nothing to the show.

They might have had 1 or 2 episodes where they were the focus, but that's it to me. They weren't funny, you couldn't make jokes about them, like you could Bookman, and Penny wasn't in quite a few episodes in the 6th season.

Keith and Thelma would just sit there and kiss or go to the movies or bowling. I don't think of the Evans going out for entertainment like that since they were struggling just to make it.

I do like both 4 part episodes, but after that, they both were kinda stale to me.
Just my thoughts.

:lol: I laughed at your comment, "they brought nothing to the show"...:lol: That is true. At the time that I watched GT on CBS, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Penny and Keith equally.

As time has gone by, I realized that Penny was annoying and brought nothing to the show. It was a waste of space and airtime. She was dull, lackluster. Keith on the other hand, gave Thelma something to do. :lol: Thelma was supposed to be in school, getting an education, but instead ended up a wife. It is boring to see those two do nothing but kiss and banter with each other without any real focus on their lives. It was now Keith's turn to be the one to complain abt the job market, the government and all the other things that the James character used to do. Keith went from well off to broke brother. :crazy: I found Keith (the actor) to be a great talent as far as imitating famous people were concerned, I loved that. I got irritated with his dislike for Bookman, someone whom he never knew, yet, treated him like everyone else, like crap. I felt the opportunity to do more with the Keith character was lost by the writers. That was a waste.

Penny and Keith has something in common. They both were introduced to the show with 4 part episodes, and after that, they brought nothing to the show.

They might have had 1 or 2 episodes where they were the focus, but that's it to me. They weren't funny, you couldn't make jokes about them, like you could Bookman, and Penny wasn't in quite a few episodes in the 6th season.

Keith and Thelma would just sit there and kiss or go to the movies or bowling. I don't think of the Evans going out for entertainment like that since they were struggling just to make it.

I do like both 4 part episodes, but after that, they both were kinda stale to me.
Just my thoughts.



Keith and Penny were on different entertainment Levels

Penny and Keith has something in common. They both were introduced to the show with 4 part episodes, and after that, they brought nothing to the show.

They might have had 1 or 2 episodes where they were the focus, but that's it to me. They weren't funny, you couldn't make jokes about them, like you could Bookman, and Penny wasn't in quite a few episodes in the 6th season.

Keith and Thelma would just sit there and kiss or go to the movies or bowling. I don't think of the Evans going out for entertainment like that since they were struggling just to make it.

I do like both 4 part episodes, but after that, they both were kinda stale to me.
Just my thoughts.

Penny was the typical "lets add a child to a dying series and give the child plenty of face time". I think Penny could have made a great reoccuring character as a neice of Wilonna or a cousin of the Evans. With Keith, I do agree it was a bunch of wasted opportunity with him. I would have loved to see him chase Thelma from the middle of the fifth season with the two of them living in an apartment for the last season. The storyline of Keith being injured could have landed him a job coaching for the high school or something.

It is pretty obvious that Keith and Penny were both brought into the series as it was in a tail spin. It is really hard to enjoy either character when the show was so far from the first 3 seasons. James Amos' departure made the show have a different direction. If you ever have seen The E! True Hollywood Story of GOOD TIMES, Esther Rolle and others discuss how different the show was after Amos left. It does make it hard to enjoy the other characters that came on afterward.

It is pretty obvious that Keith and Penny were both brought into the series as it was in a tail spin. It is really hard to enjoy either character when the show was so far from the first 3 seasons. James Amos' departure made the show have a different direction. If you ever have seen The E! True Hollywood Story of GOOD TIMES, Esther Rolle and others discuss how different the show was after Amos left. It does make it hard to enjoy the other characters that came on afterward.

I wonder if the E True Hollywood Story of Good Times is online like the Married with Children one is. What all do you remember from the THS?

Neither character bothered me. I liked Keith and thought he was a hottie. :eyes: :lol: Both Keith and Penny added plots which the show obviously needed.

That said, Keith was involved in one of the dumbest plots in GT history - tripping over JJ, falling and breaking his leg. :confused: That looked so fake!! If Keith had tripped over JJ and fallen down a flight of stairs, THEN I can understand him breaking his leg. But I digress. :lol:

I wonder if the E True Hollywood Story of Good Times is online like the Married with Children one is. What all do you remember from the THS?


I seem to remember that it aired in the fall of 2000. Ralph Carter was very vocal in that the direction of the show changed quite a bit once Amos left the show. There were taped interviews with Esther Rolle were she expressed a displeaure of losing the family unit once Amos was out of the show. Ja'net Dubois seemed to have major issues with a change in the writers of Good Times. I have this on tape somewhere but haven't watched it in several years.

I have it on DVD somewhere and been trying to get rid of it for the longest

whatever happened to Ben Powers? I remember after GT, he went on to Mike Hammer as a recurring character, then somehow he got in trouble and went missing. I never heard what became of him.

whatever happened to Ben Powers? I remember after GT, he went on to Mike Hammer as a recurring character, then somehow he got in trouble and went missing. I never heard what became of him.
I thought Ben Powers was hot. :lol: I too wonder whatever happened to him.

I thought Ben Powers was hot. :lol: I too wonder whatever happened to him.


In one of the dumbest plots, they had Keith became this raging drunk and then renounce his drinking, all in a half-hour episode! Sorry, it doesn't work like that..... (and The Bradys in 1990 would recycle this stupid plot with Marcia!)

I wonder if Keith was a fan of "VitaBrite"

I never had a problem with Penny. She came in at a time when it was time to bandage up the series. Penny was more likable than Keith, though.