BernNadette Stanis formed Bern Nadette Corp and had other show business dreams according to her attorney at the time, Bill White.


Well Good Times was cancelled anyway so she didn't have to revisit the thought-LOL I mean how long did they think the show was going to last for her to even say she would leave?


Jet Magazine, November 24, 1977

Well some sitcoms lasted a decade or more. I don't think it's unreasonable for her to have planned at that stage, or to have had some expectation that the show would have gone on for longer than it did. Honestly, if it had been handled correctly it could have easily gone ten seasons. The Jeffersons, Alice and One Day At a Time all lasted 9 and above seasons, and I'd say that Good Times was just as good a show as any of them.

Well some sitcoms lasted a decade or more. I don't think it's unreasonable for her to have planned at that stage, or to have had some expectation that the show would have gone on for longer than it did. Honestly, if it had been handled correctly it could have easily gone ten seasons. The Jeffersons, Alice and One Day At a Time all lasted 9 and above seasons, and I'd say that Good Times was just as good a show as any of them.


It was no way for Good tims to last 10 seasons with some type of financial growth

It was no way for Good tims to last 10 seasons with some type of financial growth

Maybe, maybe not. It DID last five seasons, so it would have only had a few more to go.

Anyway, my point was that it wasn't unreasonable for the show to last SOMEWHAT longer, so her move wasn't that odd. The ten year mark was just an example I used.

Maybe, maybe not. It DID last five seasons, so it would have only had a few more to go.

Anyway, my point was that it wasn't unreasonable for the show to last SOMEWHAT longer, so her move wasn't that odd. The ten year mark was just an example I used.


Well her attorney made the comment in Dec of 77 and said she would leave after the 78-79 assuming that Good Times would still be around going into the 80's-lol And cast members have to stay updated on how the show is doing in the ratings so to even think that Good Times would last two more seasons at time without Esther Rolle was foolish.

BernNadette Stanis formed Bern Nadette Corp and had other show business dreams according to her attorney at the time, Bill White.


Well Good Times was cancelled anyway so she didn't have to revisit the thought-LOL I mean how long did they think the show was going to last for her to even say she would leave?


Jet Magazine, November 24, 1977


I don't exactly know how great the ratings were during those years, but I'm sure because the show had a core audience they probably felt they had a few more years on the air. Its interesting to hear after all these years that she was ready to leave the show. I assume she just got tired of just playing the Thelma role and wanting more. I don't blame her for this, but I must say I think the show would've been different had she left. JJ and Thelma throwing silly insults at each other would be no more. I'm sure they probably would've tried to fill her spot by possibly trying to bring in someone to fill her role, like a "cousin" or something, but it wouldn't have been the same. So I guess it was better that the show ended with most of the core characters basically Movin' on Up getting out of the Projects.

Just speaking Bern Nadette Stanis, I periodically will see her pop up from time to time, but "Good Times" still seems to be her biggest role.

I'm glad the show ended before she could leave. I love Bern Nadette and can't imagine GT without her/Thelma!!

Well her attorney made the comment in Dec of 77 and said she would leave after the 78-79 assuming that Good Times would still be around going into the 80's-lol And cast members have to stay updated on how the show is doing in the ratings so to even think that Good Times would last two more seasons at time without Esther Rolle was foolish.


But Esther Rolle had returned, and stayed the remainder of the season. So I was under the impression if the show had continued she'd stay as well.

But Esther Rolle had returned, and stayed the remainder of the season. So I was under the impression if the show had continued she'd stay as well.


But it wasn't confirmed that Esther Rolle was returning until May of 1978. That comment was made in December of 1977 when it was no sign of her ever returning.

Usually when a show's ratings drop, they don't come back up that much. The Jeffersons was the exception and that's because it was moved to a night featuring all hit sitcoms. Good Times had really fallen during the last 2 seasons. I don't think the producers realized how much losing the parents hurt the show until it was too late.

But it wasn't confirmed that Esther Rolle was returning until May of 1978. That comment was made in December of 1977 when it was no sign of her ever returning.


Ahh, okay gotcha! Well, it was a good thing she stayed on for that last year. I think the show really would've taken a different turn had Bern Nadette left before the show ended.

I think most of the cast wanted out after John Amos left. You could tell the show had no core after that. Had they kept John Amos on and something was worked out, I have no doubt Good Times would have last 7 - 9 seasons. It really was a good show with all of the original cast intact.

The biggest blunder Norman Lear & co. EVER did regarding Good Times, without a doubt, was firing John Amos. Thankfully, Mr. Amos went on to build a fantastic body of work in projects like Roots, The West Wing, etc.

I think most of the cast wanted out after John Amos left. You could tell the show had no core after that. Had they kept John Amos on and something was worked out, I have no doubt Good Times would have last 7 - 9 seasons. It really was a good show with all of the original cast intact.


I don't think think the entire cast wanted out after Amos left because they still had a way to pay the rent-lol I had friends who were let go and it was tough but I didn't want to leave because they were fired because still had to pay my bills-lol

One of my favorite exchanges came in the post-James era, I have to admit:

Florida: The Lord moves in mysterious ways.
JJ: And so does James Brown.
Florida: JJ, hush!!

:lol: :lol: :lol: