I think she could have came back as a special guest but to move back in the projects and have J.J go back to being unemployed while she was the only one in the house with a permanent job was stupid to me.


Why couldn't she just move on?-lol The kids were older and I don't think she was needed in season 6 IMO

Season 6 would have sucked like season 5 if Flo hadn't returned. I enjoyed season 6, season 5 was just horrible.

Season 6 would have sucked like season 5 if Flo hadn't returned. I enjoyed season 6, season 5 was just horrible.


Her Time had passed

Her Time had passed


To you it had, to me it got a tad bit better.

To you it had, to me it got a tad bit better.


Brieanna she wasn't needed anymore, Thelma and J.J were over 21, Michael was in College so i can't figured why Norman Lear called her back

Brieanna she wasn't needed anymore, Thelma and J.J were over 21, Michael was in College so i can't figured why Norman Lear called her back


That is your opinion. Mine is different

That is your opinion. Mine is different


So give me a detailed reason why she was still needed

Esther Rolle and John Amos were the best part of Good Times. Florida is the heart and soul of the show. Willona is a great side character, but with just the kids and no parents- something felt empty. They obviously couldn't bring back John Amos' character. The ratings were falling fast without both of them.

Unfortunately, the damage was done and it was too late to save the show by the time they got her back.

Esther Rolle and John Amos were the best part of Good Times. Florida is the heart and soul of the show. Willona is a great side character, but with just the kids and no parents- something felt empty. They obviously couldn't bring back John Amos' character. The ratings were falling fast without both of them.

Unfortunately, the damage was done and it was too late to save the show by the time they got her back.


Right, the damage was already done, Esther and John were good TOGETHER which is why Esther was not needed in season 6.

So give me a detailed reason why she was still needed

It made more sense to have Florida (the mother) living with her children. It was out of character for Florida to get married after only knowing Carl for a few months plus the man was an Atheist. Also it was out of character for Florida to move out of state and leave her children behind because she was so big on keeping the family together. Florida added a family feel, she gave the show more balance.

It made more sense to have Florida (the mother) living with her children. It was out of character for Florida to get married after only knowing Carl for a few months plus the man was an Atheist. Also it was out of character for Florida to move out of state and leave her children behind because she was so big on keeping the family together. Florida added a family feel, she gave the show more balance.

You keep saying children, they were no longer children

You keep saying children, they were no longer children

They were still her children, no matter how old they got they were still her children. Michael was still in High School when she moved away. I believe he did not start College until season 6. Also, it was still her house and there is no way that she would have left them, move and marry some man that she had only known for a few months.

They were still her children, no matter how old they got they were still her children. Michael was still in High School when she moved away. I believe he did not start College until season 6. Also, it was still her house and there is no way that she would have left them, move and marry some man that she had only known for a few months.


It would have if norman lear didn't think she could boost the ratings-lol

It would have if norman lear didn't think she could boost the ratings-lol


WHAT?!?!

WHAT?!?!


I'm saying she would have been the type of women who would leave her kids and move with a man she just met if Norman Lear had no intentions of asking her to come back-lol

I'm saying she would have been the type of women who would leave her kids and move with a man she just met if Norman Lear had no intentions of asking her to come back-lol


But it would have still been out of character

They were still her children, no matter how old they got they were still her children. Michael was still in High School when she moved away. I believe he did not start College until season 6. Also, it was still her house and there is no way that she would have left them, move and marry some man that she had only known for a few months.

On that same note, I don't see her allowing Michael, who was still high school age, to live without a parent. Would the school even allow such? Surely a legal guardian was still needed, unless he was 18 his entire senior year. Another point, he was walking out the door on his way to leave for Arizona when he changed his mind about going. I bet Carl and Florida were not happy with that money being spent on that plane ticket and then it not being used.

yes I think Esther Roll should have Return for good

It was appropriate that she did return, no matter how old the children were. You heard the applause she got from the audience when she returned. She was the star. But, like many others mentioned, the damaged was done when she came back, and the storylines weren't there like they had been in earlier seasons, so no one could have patched up a damaged show.

It was appropriate that she did return, no matter how old the children were. You heard the applause she got from the audience when she returned. She was the star. But, like many others mentioned, the damaged was done when she came back, and the storylines weren't there like they had been in earlier seasons, so no one could have patched up a damaged show.


Her coming back was like Magic coming back to the Lakers in 1996-lol

Not to mention they made no explanation as to what had happened to Carl in season 6 when she came back.

Not to mention they made no explanation as to what had happened to Carl in season 6 when she came back.


I guess we were supposed to assume he passed away since he was diagnosed with cancer in season 4

yes what happen to Carl.

The show suffered greatly without the parents. As for the "the kids were adults and didn't need her" argument, you always need your parents no matter how old, you just need them in different ways.

Also, Gloria Stivic was in her 20s when AITF BEGAN and I don't think anyone would argue that the show would have been better off without Archie or Edith.

The damage had largely been done, I agree, but it was still nice to have her back for the show's final season since as other posters have said, she was the heart and soul of the show (along with James) and the fate of the family was always intertwined with her own fate.

It was appropriate that she did return, no matter how old the children were. You heard the applause she got from the audience when she returned. She was the star. But, like many others mentioned, the damaged was done when she came back, and the storylines weren't there like they had been in earlier seasons, so no one could have patched up a damaged show.
:yeahthat Plus, JJ and Thelma were both over 18 when Flo left, so Michael was still living with two adults. Granted, they weren't his parents, but they were still family. Season 5 was by far the weakest season of the run, but it still had its fair share of bright spots (the couch fire episode, Thelma dating the bigamist, Thelma moving into the apartment with the nightmare roommates, anytime LENAAAAAAAAAAAAAY showed up).

To you it had, to me it got a tad bit better.
Thank You! The show was much better to me when she came back. I like Wilona but the show was not about her and they tried to give the leading storylines to her and the supporting Evans family but it was not enough for me.


Thank God Norman Lear wooed Esther into coming back.

Thank You! The show was much better to me when she came back. I like Wilona but the show was not about her and they tried to give the leading storylines to her and the supporting Evans family but it was not enough for me.


Thank God Norman Lear wooed Esther into coming back.
I know - it was great having her back, but by that time it was too little too late.

I know - it was great having her back, but by that time it was too little too late.

True but better late than never. At least the series was able to conclude with the leading lady back in her "role". No pun inten...well, maybe a little pun intended. :lol:

True but better late than never. At least the series was able to conclude with the leading lady back in her "role". No pun inten...well, maybe a little pun intended. :lol:
:lol: True.