If you were in charge of CBS, how would you have handled the show? If I was in charge of CBS, I would have told Norman Lear flat out: "Smarten up the dumb brother or else all of your shows will be canceled." That way, the problems with John Amos and Esther Rolle would never have happened.

Never have Florida come back once she left

Never added a child to the cast in season 5

Expanded the roles of J.J 's friends and Thelma in season 5

Decrease the role of Willona since Esther Rolle was gone

When John left the show after the 3rd season I would have offered him a higher salary and I would have asked Lear to cut down on J.J.'s clownery.

But since the networks doesn't really get that involved with sitcoms I doubt that they would have listened to me

When John left the show after the 3rd season I would have offered him a higher salary and I would have asked Lear to cut down on J.J.'s clownery.

But since the networks doesn't really get that involved with sitcoms I doubt that they would have listened to me

Au contraire, if you're in charge of a network, the producers definitely listen to you. They may make the program, but you decide if it makes the schedule and what time it airs. If you don't like the content of what you see, and you tell them that if don't do such and such, you'll reduce the number of episodes shown, chances are the producers will make the necessary changes.

When John left the show after the 3rd season I would have offered him a higher salary and I would have asked Lear to cut down on J.J.'s clownery.

I completely agree. Would've done the same thing.

I would have toned down JJ and got Amos to stay..