I was watching Jimmie walker interview on YouTube and he was talking about Michael character on the show (at 29:00 minute mark).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqzgt0V2mcw

Jimmie said that Michael faded on us. He said that show was written for him to do more. But as mike character grow, he faded and work wise he faded and stop working.

I like Mike’s character as he grow more mature and funnier, but his character was less seen or less involve in episode’s story line as show progressed.

I was wondering what was the cause of him to fade away and not wanting to do more on the show. One episode that showed how funny he is fifth season episode “Where There Is Smoke..”.

It was mentioned that Michael was a pint sized Black Panther in like 1974-1976, but by 1977 Black Panthers had kind of fallen out of fashion and Michael who was like 16 in 1977 would look weird still doing the militant Midget thing that he was doing at 11. 11 being a MM cute. A 16 year old still doing it, kind of creepy.

It was mentioned that Michael was a pint sized Black Panther in like 1974-1976, but by 1977 Black Panthers had kind of fallen out of fashion and Michael who was like 16 in 1977 would look weird still doing the militant Midget thing that he was doing at 11. 11 being a MM cute. A 16 year old still doing it, kind of creepy.

Michael's character might be a good case of "lost in translation" scenario, from being militant midget to more of supporting role that did not evolve to anything.

I think JJ overshadowing all other characters on the show might have something to Michael taking the back seat in involvement of the show. But I think Michael and JJ had good chemistry together on the show and writers could have picked on that.

Ralph Carter imo was a better actor as a kid then as a young adult. You see he like Bernadette Stanis(who seemed to get worse in the later seasons too) didn't have many acting roles during or after Good Times.

All the characters who overshadowed Michael after James left

JJ Friends
Penny
Bookman
Carl

You see he like Bernadette Stanis(who seemed to get worse in the later seasons too) didn't have many acting roles during or after Good Times.

That seem to be a curse that fall on most child/teen actors. Even JJ disappeared after couple of stints on TV and game shows.

That seem to be a curse that fall on most child/teen actors. Even JJ disappeared after couple of stints on TV and game shows.

I think Thelma made a guest appearance on the Cosby Show after Good Times. Ralph Carter never appeared on anything after Good Times

Read somewhere he was on an episode of All My Children, but could be wrong. Possibly stereotyped for playing Michael unfortunately.

Read somewhere he was on an episode of All My Children, but could be wrong. Possibly stereotyped for playing Michael unfortunately.

He may have, a lot of people appears on AMC and didn’t credited on IMDB. Wesley Snipes was on the show for at least two months in 1984 and was not credited by the IMDB until about two years ago!