When the evans needed money and JJ was looking for a job. So why the hell wasn't Florida looking for a job with him since she had no small kids at home and no more husband to support her?

Futhermore why was she not working period since all her children were school aged??? She could have atleast worked part-time to supplement James income but no she stayed home knowing the family needed the extra income and her husband was not making much????


WHY????????? LMAO

As far as not working when she was married to James, more than likely he was way too macho to allow his wife to work. He would have looked at it as him being a failure as a providing husband. As far as her not working later in the series after James was no longer there, she had no marketable skills that would have gotten her a job that would have made any kind of a difference anyway. She would have searched years before anyone would hire her because of her age and her lack of skills.

As far as not working when she was married to James, more than likely he was way too macho to allow his wife to work. He would have looked at it as him being a failure as a providing husband. As far as her not working later in the series after James was no longer there, she had no marketable skills that would have gotten her a job that would have made any kind of a difference anyway. She would have searched years before anyone would hire her because of her age and her lack of skills.


She could have gotten the bus driver job in season 4 lol

She could have gotten the bus driver job in season 4 lol

Well... why didn't Florida try to get a job like the one she had working for Maude?!?

Well... why didn't Florida try to get a job like the one she had working for Maude?!?


Good point, another mystery:lol:

That's the way it was written in the script.

That's the way it was written in the script.


Janice we know that LOL


it's a discussion as in to why in regards to the Good Times reality

When the evans needed money and JJ was looking for a job. So why the hell wasn't Florida looking for a job with him since she had no small kids at home and no more husband to support her?

Futhermore why was she not working period since all her children were school aged??? She could have atleast worked part-time to supplement James income but no she stayed home knowing the family needed the extra income and her husband was not making much????


WHY????????? LMAO

Did you even watch Good Times. In the second season Florida had a job.

Did you even watch Good Times. In the second season Florida had a job.



A job doing what?

A job doing what?

Working at a department store I believe.

Working at a department store I believe.


Really?????????? A place that she worked for ONE DAY??

Good night brieannas:lol: :lol:

Really?????????? A place that she worked for ONE DAY??

Good night brieannas:lol: :lol:

Apparently after she was fired in "Florida's Big Gig" she found another job because in "Florida Goes to School" Thelma tells James that Flo was at work. In Season 3 Florida was still working.

Now I will go to bed, because I do have to go to work in the morning.

Apparently after she was fired in "Florida's Big Gig" she found another job because in "Florida Goes to School" Thelma tells James that Flo was at work. In Season 3 Florida was still working.

Now I will go to bed, because I do have to go to work in the morning.


Well that's another mystery because it was never said what she was doing in season 3 lol

Well that's another mystery because it was never said what she was doing in season 3 lol

The show did talk about her job is season 3, there was a whole episode about it called "Florida the Woman."

As far as not working when she was married to James, more than likely he was way too macho to allow his wife to work. He would have looked at it as him being a failure as a providing husband.

Bingo. During the Good Times era, it was considered traditional for the man to bring home the bacon and for the wife to stay home and cook it, in a manner of speaking.

There was even an episode about this. They both applied for jobs at a Chicago department store and to meet EEOC/affirmative action requirements, they chose Florida for the position over James.

[B][SIZE="3"]As far as her not working later in the series after James was no longer there, she had no marketable skills that would have gotten her a job that would have made any kind of a difference anyway. She would have searched years before anyone would hire her because of her age and her lack of skills.

Yep.

The fact that she was a black woman in an economically depressed part of Chicago in the 1970s certainly didn't help her chances either.

I could be wrong, but I think she got the Bus Driver job (by the last season?) through a Temp Agency...

The show did talk about her job is season 3, there was a whole episode about it called "Florida the Woman."


Oh that's right the job with the what's happening dad.

It was still never stated what her position was

another mystery:lol: :lol:

Bingo. During the Good Times era, it was considered traditional for the man to bring home the bacon and for the wife to stay home and cook it, in a manner of speaking.

There was even an episode about this. They both applied for jobs at a Chicago department store and to meet EEOC/affirmative action requirements, they chose Florida for the position over James.



Yep.

The fact that she was a black woman in an economically depressed part of Chicago in the 1970s certainly didn't help her chances either.

I could be wrong, but I think she got the Bus Driver job (by the last season?) through a Temp Agency...



It may have been tradition but James wasn't bringing home sh*T:lol: :lol:

Well that's another mystery because it was never said what she was doing in season 3 lol

*Shaking My Head* I know how you feel. I hate to see my OWN thread die when a person who knows MORE about the subject I started points out something that makes my ENTIRE THREAD Moot.

*Shaking My Head* I know how you feel. I hate to see my OWN thread die when a person who knows MORE about the subject I started points out something that makes my ENTIRE THREAD Moot.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Oh that's right the job with the what's happening dad.

It was still never stated what her position was

another mystery:lol: :lol:
The only job I ever remember Florida having on Good Times was the bus driver job, and that was long after James died.

As far as not working when she was married to James, more than likely he was way too macho to allow his wife to work. He would have looked at it as him being a failure as a providing husband. As far as her not working later in the series after James was no longer there, she had no marketable skills that would have gotten her a job that would have made any kind of a difference anyway. She would have searched years before anyone would hire her because of her age and her lack of skills.

Again, Florida was portrayed as a superb housekeeper/cook, even a mother figure of sorts to Carol. A very marketable skill, and as for her age, maid work for a rich Chicago family would have been far less strenuous than... driving a freaking bus!

Surely her old friend and former employee Maude Findley out in New York would give her sterling references as to her skills.

Just sayin'...

Again, Florida was portrayed as a superb housekeeper/cook, even a mother figure of sorts to Carol. A very marketable skill, and as for her age, maid work for a rich Chicago family would have been far less strenuous than... driving a freaking bus!

Surely her old friend and former employee Maude Findley out in New York would give her sterling references as to her skills.

Just sayin'...


Maude Findley only knew the Florida evans in New York

Maude Findley only knew the Florida evans in New York

Was that Florida Evans ever mentioned or remembered by maude or any of the others after that final episode?

Maude Findley only knew the Florida evans in New York

Here's Maude meeting Florida, with a lot of background on Florida's character, such as how she was named:

http://youtu.be/C2UBVAhMRSQ

Personally, I'd like to be able to keep all this in the Good Times canon, unless, who knows (?) if all this wasn't overwritten later in Good Times, just like the changed location and other background details?

Was that Florida Evans ever mentioned or remembered by maude or any of the others after that final episode?


Yes she was on Maude

Was that Florida Evans ever mentioned or remembered by maude or any of the others after that final episode?


There was no mention of her in chicago though

LOL. Hi guys. Tee hee....

There was no mention of her in chicago though

I take it Florida wasn't mentioned at all after that final episode?

I take it Florida wasn't mentioned at all after that final episode?


Nope

Nope

Looks like Good Times could be called a melding of elements, Florida and James aka Henry from Maude, then adding Ralph Carter as Michael from the musical Raisin, itself based on Raisin In The Sun... very likely it seems to me where the setting moved to Chicago:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raisin_(musical)

The story concerns an African-American family in Chicago in 1951. The musical was nominated for nine Tony Awards, winning two, including Best Musical, and the Broadway production ran for 847 performances.

Since Ralph Carter was apparently the hottest actor in the cast at the time, it makes sense that Good Times would carry a lot of the style of his hit musical with it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Carter

Ralph Carter (born May 30, 1961) is an American actor, and singer[1]

Carter is best known for his work as a child and teenager, both in the Broadway musical Raisin (based on the Lorraine Hansberry drama A Raisin in the Sun) and as the character Michael Evans, the youngest member of the Evans family, on the 1970s sitcom Good Times. For his work in Raisin, Carter was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Musical).

And /then/ there's the added concept that Good Times seems to be autobiography of sorts for the real life Michael Evans

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Evans_(actor)

Though I'm not seeing anything about that at present.

Interesting combinations of influences and obviously more there than just Florida's life after Maude.

Looks like Good Times could be called a melding of elements, Florida and James aka Henry from Maude, then adding Ralph Carter as Michael from the musical Raisin, itself based on Raisin In The Sun... very likely it seems to me where the setting moved to Chicago:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raisin_(musical)

The story concerns an African-American family in Chicago in 1951. The musical was nominated for nine Tony Awards, winning two, including Best Musical, and the Broadway production ran for 847 performances.

Since Ralph Carter was apparently the hottest actor in the cast at the time, it makes sense that Good Times would carry a lot of the style of his hit musical with it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Carter

Ralph Carter (born May 30, 1961) is an American actor, and singer[1]

Carter is best known for his work as a child and teenager, both in the Broadway musical Raisin (based on the Lorraine Hansberry drama A Raisin in the Sun) and as the character Michael Evans, the youngest member of the Evans family, on the 1970s sitcom Good Times. For his work in Raisin, Carter was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Musical).

And /then/ there's the added concept that Good Times seems to be autobiography of sorts for the real life Michael Evans

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Evans_(actor)

Though I'm not seeing anything about that at present.

Interesting combinations of influences and obviously more there than just Florida's life after Maude.



There was no James Evans on maude

There was no James Evans on maude
That's right. His character's name was Henry on Maude.

There was no James Evans on maude

That why I wrote "James aka Henry" but maybe it should have been "Henry aka James".

She could have gotten the bus driver job in season 4 lol
I can't believe he cared more about his pride then trying to support his family. So what did Florida do all day? There were no small kids to care for. An apartment that small doesn't take much time to clean or laundry eaither.

That why I wrote "James aka Henry" but maybe it should have been "Henry aka James".


There is no AKA nothing because his middle name was never revealed on Maude

I can't believe he cared more about his pride then trying to support his family. So what did Florida do all day? There were no small kids to care for. An apartment that small doesn't take much time to clean or laundry eaither.


That's what made it weird because they were all in school all day so it made no sense that she was home

That's what made it weird because they were all in school all day so it made no sense that she was home

The only season Flo didn't work was in season 1. All the other seasons she worked. I thought you were the TV Guru? you're losing it my friend :lol:

That why I wrote "James aka Henry" but maybe it should have been "Henry aka James".


No kidding! That's how I always referred to him. Cool. That's how he is to me as well.

The only season Flo didn't work was in season 1. All the other seasons she worked. I thought you were the TV Guru? you're losing it my friend :lol:


she worked for 1 day in season 2 and not all that much in season 3. Didn't work no where in season 4.

So tell me what you mean LOL

she worked for 1 day in season 2 and not all that much in season 3. Didn't work no where in season 4.

So tell me what you mean LOL


Florida didn't work at all during season four? I wondered about that. How did they make it financially that season? Did James (Henry ;) ) have an insurance policy? :confused:

No kidding! That's how I always referred to him. Cool. That's how he is to me as well.


His middle name was never confirmed:lol:

Florida didn't work at all during season four? I wondered about that. How did they make it financially that season? Did James (Henry ;) ) have an insurance policy? :confused:


Remember the entire family was depending on JJ to find a job at the beginning of season 4? And then he got that job at the rib place. michael was working at Carl's job and thelma and florida was home doing nothing:lol: :lol:

His middle name was never confirmed:lol:
I know that... but his name changed that is what I use James Henry Evans.

I know that... but his name changed that is what I use James Henry Evans.


They did make a poor attempt at trying to connect this show to maude when they named his father henry :lol: :lol:

They did make a poor attempt at trying to connect this show to maude when they named his father henry :lol: :lol:


Solomon, its over. The fat lady sang, did three encores, went to Ruth Chris' Steak house and had an Atkins shake for her diet plan then went home. I was wondering if you'd fall for that bait with the James (Henry) comment.:lol:

Florida didn't work at all during season four? I wondered about that. How did they make it financially that season? Did James (Henry ;) ) have an insurance policy? :confused:


Excuse me she did have a job in season 4. In The Hustle the kids were trying to earn money to send Flo on Vacation because she needed one. In that episode Flo told the kids that when she got back from work she wanted her house clean.

You can't count season 5 because she wasn't in any of those episodes.

You are truly slipping my friend. :lol:

Excuse me she did have a job in season 4. In The Hustle the kids were trying to earn money to send Flo on Vacation because she needed one. In that episode Flo told the kids that when she got back from work she wanted her house clean.

You can't count season 5 because she wasn't in any of those episodes.

You are truly slipping my friend. :lol:


she went to church not work:lol:

You right, she did have a job in season 4

A mystery ob because they never mentioned what it was:lol:

You right, she did have a job in season 4

A mystery ob because they never mentioned what it was:lol:


I would think the same department store she was working at in Season 3.

Excuse me she did have a job in season 4. In The Hustle the kids were trying to earn money to send Flo on Vacation because she needed one. In that episode Flo told the kids that when she got back from work she wanted her house clean.

You can't count season 5 because she wasn't in any of those episodes.

You are truly slipping my friend. :lol:

I was actually asking if she indeed did or didn't have a job. I am confused. I know she went to church in the ep while the kids were starting "The Hustle".

I would think the same department store she was working at in Season 3.


you guessing now lol

I was actually asking if she indeed did or didn't have a job. I am confused. I know she went to church in the ep while the kids were starting "The Hustle".


No she stated she was going to work in that episode but never said what type of work or where

No she stated she was going to work in that episode but never said what type of work or where


Sol, the kids were rushing her off to church and told her that the Rev wanted Florida to do a solo. Now, if she said she was also going to work, then that means she did have a job in season four meaning that you and Brie actually agree about something. :D

Sol, the kids were rushing her off to church and told her that the Rev wanted Florida to do a solo. Now, if she said she was also going to work, then that means she did have a job in season four meaning that you and Brie actually agree about something. :D


yeah she had a mystery job in season 4 LOL

yeah she had a mystery job in season 4 LOL


A job is a job. Whether we have the details or not have them. Why do I have the feeling that you are going to contact the writers from season four and get proof? :lol:

There is no AKA nothing because his middle name was never revealed on Maude

AKA is "also known as" and the two characters are really the same, just different names, both are Florida's husband played by the same actor.

AKA is "also known as" and the two characters are really the same, just different names, both are Florida's husband played by the same actor.


Thank you! My point exactly! Exactly! Will D, you need to post more. ;)

Thank you! My point exactly! Exactly! Will D, you need to post more. ;)

Hello Thomas... once I get here I find it difficult to leave!

Hello Thomas... once I get here I find it difficult to leave!


Use the boards like the Lays potato chip... ;)

Well... why didn't Florida try to get a job like the one she had working for Maude?!?


Because it wasn't the same character

Because it wasn't the same character


Same character. Altered history.

Same character. Altered history.


Maude......Florida Evans

Good Times.......Flo Evans


:lol:

Maude......Florida Evans

Good Times.......Flo Evans


:lol:

That is your argument? For real? Besides, it was Wilona that called her Flo (short for Florida) and you've already admitted to her name being Florida Evans. Proof? Look at your own posts. Nah. I think that's just your sense of humor coming out Because the Solomon I know would come out stronger than that. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Same character. Altered history.

And in development (which Norman Leer is credited with), other elements along with the Florida Evans were added, such as co-creator Michael Evans very probably introducing a bit of autobiographical material in, since there's even a character named Michael Evans, and the "Raisin" influence, also brought in with the Michael character, via young Ralph Carter.

And then, "Raisin In The Sun" goes back to Langston Hughes and his poem "Harlem":

“What happens to a dream deferred?/ Does it dry up/ like a raisin in the sun?” The poem ends with a foreboding thought: “Maybe it just sags/ like a heavy load./ Or does it explode?’’

Read more at:
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/175884

Use the boards like the Lays potato chip... ;)

Thomas, I just found this via a Google search on this subject:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/archive/index.php/t-47709.html

Incredible, y'all have been debating this for over a decade?!?

One bit from 2002:


W.J. Griffin

10-27-2002, 01:30 AM

I'll be honest with you, folks, it was cofusing to me when "Good Times" first preimiered in 1974 that, all of a sudden, the family lived in Chicago instead of New York City. Some of the reasons this is so was recounted on the "E! True Hollywood Story" show a few months back...other reasons I can only speculate on...

What I know for sure: When Eric Monte (he would later go on to write "Cooley High", which was adapted for television as "What's Happening?") and Micheal Evans (he had originated the role of Lionel Jefferson on "All In The Family" and ITS spin-off, "The Jeffersons") first presented Norman Lear with the idea for "Good Times", it was a whole different concept from what eventually got on the air. It was Lear's idea to take one of the most popular performers on "Maude", Esther Rolle's "Florida Evans" and build the show around her. So, yes, technically, "Good Times" is indeed a spin-off of "Maude".

As to why the big changes from "Maude's" Tuckahoe, NY, to "Good Time's" Chicago, IL, I can only speculate: evidentaly, the original treatment that Monte and Evans presented was set in Chicago, and the producers probably assumed that no one would notice little details like Henry Evans' name change or the entire Evans family being relocated sone 1500 miles (?) away...and, for the most part, they were correct...after all, those particular details didn't damage the show in any discernable degree, and "Good Times" was actually in tv's top 10 in its first couple of seasons.

A couple of other things you might find of interest about "Good Times" that I've noticed:

1.) The Evans family's name was obviously inspired by series creator Micheal (Indeed, Ralph Carter's character is his namesake), so I suspect that the show may have been somewhat autobiographical;

2.) You will notice in the closing credits for the first few seasons the line about Ralph Carter being "borrowed" from the stage musical "Raisin", which is, of course, the musical adaption of Lorrainne Hansbury's award-winning play "A Raisin In The Sun"...which shares a number of stuctural similarities with "Good Times" itself. Those of you who've seen the movie version with Sidney Potier and Ruby Dee will know what I mean;

3.) This show also exists in a strange turnaround in procedure from what Norman Lear's company usually did in accquiring its shows, i.e. adapting existing Britcoms for American consumption (All In The Family is adapted from "Til Death Us Do Part"; Sanford and Son is adapted from "Steptoe and Son", etc.) With "Good Times" the reverse is true: It was adapted by the BBC as "The Fosters", about an immmigrant Jamaican family living in London.

As I said at the top, a lot of this stuff is just speculation...if anyone has any concrete information to the contrary, I'll gladly retract my statements.;)

I miss WJ Griffin, he had some great posts

Thomas, I just found this via a Google search on this subject:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/archive/index.php/t-47709.html

Incredible, y'all have been debating this for over a decade?!?

One bit from 2002:


W.J. Griffin

10-27-2002, 01:30 AM

I'll be honest with you, folks, it was cofusing to me when "Good Times" first preimiered in 1974 that, all of a sudden, the family lived in Chicago instead of New York City. Some of the reasons this is so was recounted on the "E! True Hollywood Story" show a few months back...other reasons I can only speculate on...

What I know for sure: When Eric Monte (he would later go on to write "Cooley High", which was adapted for television as "What's Happening?") and Micheal Evans (he had originated the role of Lionel Jefferson on "All In The Family" and ITS spin-off, "The Jeffersons") first presented Norman Lear with the idea for "Good Times", it was a whole different concept from what eventually got on the air. It was Lear's idea to take one of the most popular performers on "Maude", Esther Rolle's "Florida Evans" and build the show around her. So, yes, technically, "Good Times" is indeed a spin-off of "Maude".

As to why the big changes from "Maude's" Tuckahoe, NY, to "Good Time's" Chicago, IL, I can only speculate: evidentaly, the original treatment that Monte and Evans presented was set in Chicago, and the producers probably assumed that no one would notice little details like Henry Evans' name change or the entire Evans family being relocated sone 1500 miles (?) away...and, for the most part, they were correct...after all, those particular details didn't damage the show in any discernable degree, and "Good Times" was actually in tv's top 10 in its first couple of seasons.

A couple of other things you might find of interest about "Good Times" that I've noticed:

1.) The Evans family's name was obviously inspired by series creator Micheal (Indeed, Ralph Carter's character is his namesake), so I suspect that the show may have been somewhat autobiographical;

2.) You will notice in the closing credits for the first few seasons the line about Ralph Carter being "borrowed" from the stage musical "Raisin", which is, of course, the musical adaption of Lorrainne Hansbury's award-winning play "A Raisin In The Sun"...which shares a number of stuctural similarities with "Good Times" itself. Those of you who've seen the movie version with Sidney Potier and Ruby Dee will know what I mean;

3.) This show also exists in a strange turnaround in procedure from what Norman Lear's company usually did in accquiring its shows, i.e. adapting existing Britcoms for American consumption (All In The Family is adapted from "Til Death Us Do Part"; Sanford and Son is adapted from "Steptoe and Son", etc.) With "Good Times" the reverse is true: It was adapted by the BBC as "The Fosters", about an immmigrant Jamaican family living in London.

As I said at the top, a lot of this stuff is just speculation...if anyone has any concrete information to the contrary, I'll gladly retract my statements.;)


It's a shame W Griffin wasn't around to see that 1975 Article that confirmed it wasn't a spinoff

There are so many traces of proof that its a spinoff, its not even funny. LOL