View Full Version : Was It A Mistake For John Amos to Leave the Mary Tyler Moore Show?


Brian Damage
06-27-2010, 02:08 AM
Sure, Amos went on to the hit show Maude and then to its spin-off Good Times, but let's look at the facts...

On Maude he was nothing more than a background character. He really didn't shine.

On Good Times, he had a hit show as a star, but "quit" or was "fired" depending on who you talk to.

John Amos has since gone on to cameo on several tv series and movies, but never again matched the stardom that MTM originally gave him as Gordy the weatherman. Thoughts???

scotsguy
06-27-2010, 09:22 AM
I disagreee with you there,John Amos went on in 1977 to play the grown up

Kunta Kinte in the world wide smash hit "Roots".

I also have season1 of "Good Times",he does some really dramatic turns there.

I read too,he was killed off on the show as he didn't like the way,the show was going.

The part of Gordy wasn't a regular part so I think he did the right thing,particularly with "Good Times" and "Roots",the character of Henry in "Maude" and "James" in "Good Times",was a lot older than his years too.

Mr. Television
06-27-2010, 09:36 AM
I disagreee with you there,John Amos went on in 1977 to play the grown up

Kunta Kinte in the world wide smash hit "Roots".

I also have season1 of "Good Times",he does some really dramatic turns there.

I read too,he was killed off on the show as he didn't like the way,the show was going.

The part of Gordy wasn't a regular part so I think he did the right thing,particularly with "Good Times" and "Roots",the character of Henry in "Maude" and "James" in "Good Times",was a lot older than his years too.
Yea I remember when Roots came out. It was a national event. He was bigger on that one mini-series than he ever was on Good Times. Good Times made him a household name though and he was never going to be any more than a semi-regular on MTM. There were too many scene stealers on that show.Since then he's been one of the few GT cast members that has had a long career. He's appeared on television many times since then.

catlover79
06-27-2010, 03:47 PM
No, I don't think it was a mistake for him to leave TMTMS. Gordy was such a minor character anyway, and he was being offered one of the lead roles on GT. Plus, like Sonny said, John Amos was one of the few cast members from Good Times to have a long lasting, steady acting career.

Brian Damage
06-27-2010, 06:41 PM
Interesting takes....thanks guys! :)

catlover79
06-28-2010, 12:09 AM
Interesting takes....thanks guys! :)
Always happy to help. :D

McGillicuddy
06-28-2010, 10:45 PM
I don't know that he made a mistake, but I heard at least once that if he stuck around, his role would likely have been expanded.

catlover79
06-28-2010, 11:24 PM
I don't know that he made a mistake, but I heard at least once that if he stuck around, his role would likely have been expanded.
Alas, I guess we'll never know for sure!!