Other than the fact James was Florida's husband, I couldnt find any similarity Between James charactor in Goodtimes and Maude.

For example in Maude, James (Henry) was a NewYork firefighter which mean he had to have a high school diploma to be qualified for that job. But in GT, James was a high school drop out with no HS diploma. So no relation there.

Also in one episode of GT, Alderman Davis mentioned that he knew Evans since the kids were born. So James was in Chigaco for at least 18 years and nowhere close to NY.

So really don't see any similarity between James charactor in either Sitcoms.

James in Maude:
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/all-in-the-family-tv-show/images/a/a2/Maude_1x18_-_John_Amos_as_Henry_Evans.png/revision/latest?cb=20190302034446

James in Goodtimes:
https://simkl.net/episodes/26/26266543483e8aea9_w.jpg

Florida was the notorious "twigamist," who was married to twin brothers and maintained families in New York and Chicago simultaneously.

Florida was the notorious "twigamist," who was married to twin brothers and maintained families in New York and Chicago simultaneously.

I think that pretty much explain it all :D

Other than the fact James was Florida's husband, I couldnt find any similarity Between James charactor in Goodtimes and Maude.

For example in Maude, James (Henry) was a NewYork firefighter which mean he had to have a high school diploma to be qualified for that job. But in GT, James was a high school drop out with no HS diploma. So no relation there.

Also in one episode of GT, Alderman Davis mentioned that he knew Evans since the kids were born. So James was in Chigaco for at least 18 years and nowhere close to NY.

So really don't see any similarity between James charactor in either Sitcoms.

James in Maude:
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/all-in-the-family-tv-show/images/a/a2/Maude_1x18_-_John_Amos_as_Henry_Evans.png/revision/latest?cb=20190302034446

James in Goodtimes:
https://simkl.net/episodes/26/26266543483e8aea9_w.jpg



Because the shows are not connected. Good Times is about Eric's Monte experiences growing up in the chicago projects during the 60's

Other than the fact James was Florida's husband, I couldnt find any similarity Between James charactor in Goodtimes and Maude.

For example in Maude, James (Henry) was a NewYork firefighter which mean he had to have a high school diploma to be qualified for that job. But in GT, James was a high school drop out with no HS diploma. So no relation there.

Also in one episode of GT, Alderman Davis mentioned that he knew Evans since the kids were born. So James was in Chigaco for at least 18 years and nowhere close to NY.

So really don't see any similarity between James charactor in either Sitcoms.
That's because you're talking about two different people.

That's because you're talking about two different people.

And two different shows:lol:

And two different shows:lol:After looking at this thread and OP's first post, it amazes me how anyone can continue to claim that Good Times is a Maude spin off. :crazy::confused:

Two different people (James & Henry) and two different shows. ;)

It's a spin off because Norman Lear says it is. If he says the earth is flat, then it's flat.

It's a spin off because Norman Lear says it is. If he says the earth is flat, then it's flat.

I found the video where Norman Lear talk about Goodtimes. Starting at 1:20 minute mark talking about Goodtimeas as a spinoff, he said he didn't like the term spinoff and view it as pejorative. Also at 2:40 mark, he called Goodtimes hesitantly (with a laughter) as a spinoff. So he himself wasn't too comfortable calling GT a spinoff of Maude.

https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/norman-lear?clip=19156#interview-clips

Good to hear. I've taken a dim view of his alleged comment about GT being a spin off; here, he sort of takes a dim view of the term. They were testing and grooming other actors with the idea of placing Esther Rolle into another show, since they viewed her as a prime time player, taking her beyond her supporting role in Maude.

So they placed her in the starring role in the previously-created Good Times.

Lear: "a pilot...now called a spinoff."

After looking at this thread and OP's first post, it amazes me how anyone can continue to claim that Good Times is a Maude spin off. :crazy::confused:

Two different people (James & Henry) and two different shows. ;)
Sorry, Wawwie, but I’m still holding on to my belief that it’s a spinoff. Good Times has Esther Rolle and John Amos from Maude playing husband and wife (Esther was still playing Florida), and they changed Henry’s name to James. They also changed locations, which is nothing big to me, because changes happen a lot in shows.

I guess Petticoat Junction isn’t related to The Beverly Hillbillies because Bea Benaderet played an entirely different character in Petticoat Junction (she played Cousin Pearl in The Beverly Hillbillies and Kate Bradley in Petticoat Junction).

The Evanses were well-entrenched in Chicago, nowhere near Tuckahoe, New York.

Sorry, Wawwie, but I’m still holding on to my belief that it’s a spinoff. Good Times has Esther Rolle and John Amos from Maude playing husband and wife (Esther was still playing Florida), and they changed Henry’s name to James. They also changed locations, which is nothing big to me, because changes happen a lot in shows.

I guess Petticoat Junction isn’t related to The Beverly Hillbillies because Bea Benaderet played an entirely different character in Petticoat Junction (she played Cousin Pearl in The Beverly Hillbillies and Kate Bradley in Petticoat Junction).

Changing locations would be Harlem with the same name. Not another state with different names

The Evanses were well-entrenched in Chicago, nowhere near Tuckahoe, New York.

Like they been there their whole life. And then stupid reference to her being a maid in season 2 made no sense

Because the shows are not connected. Good Times is about Eric's Monte experiences growing up in the chicago projects during the 60's
How is it not connected when Jimmie Walker literally said Norman Lear described Good Times as a spinoff of Maude to everyone? Norman took Eric Monte’s experiences and it played a part in the premise of Good Times. And Eric said Norman stole his ideas so I suppose that’s why The Evans Family weren’t in New York.

How is it not connected when Jimmie Walker literally said Norman Lear described Good Times as a spinoff of Maude to everyone? Norman took Eric Monte’s experiences and it played a part in the premise of Good Times. And Eric said Norman stole his ideas so I suppose that’s why The Evans Family weren’t in New York.

Im answering the OP's question as to why the father is so different:lol:

Sorry, Wawwie, but I’m still holding on to my belief that it’s a spinoff. Good Times has Esther Rolle and John Amos from Maude playing husband and wife (Esther was still playing Florida), and they changed Henry’s name to James. They also changed locations, which is nothing big to me, because changes happen a lot in shows.

What about the fact that Henry was a fireman who graduated high school while James was a high school drop out? And what about the fact that Alderman Davis knew the Evans family since the kids were infants? It just doesn't add up.

Changing locations would be Harlem with the same name. Not another state with different names
James was the only one with a different name. And they changed locations for Good Times because, like I said, Norman STOLE Eric’s idea for his own show about his own experiences, and put it on Good Times. That’s what Eric has said.

What about the fact that Henry was a fireman who graduated high school while James was a high school drop out? And what about the fact that Alderman Davis knew the Evans family since the kids were infants? It just doesn't add up.
Well, let me put it another way: Florida working for Maude in New York became retconned out of existence once she got her own show. The reason Henry and James were different was because Norman stole Eric Monte’s ideas for Good Times and James was based off of Eric’s own stepfather, who was illiterate and didn’t finish high school.

Good Times was well into development when (I suppose it was) Lear decided to use Esther Rolle as the lead star. Probably, "We'll call her Florida in this show since the viewers know her by that name." And for unknown reasons they changed Henry's name. In GT Florida is not an existing character who they spun off by developing another show for her.

Eric Monte and Mike Evans are credited as the creators in the opening, so I don't know how Lear stole it, unless they got cheated on the money it made.

Good Times was well into development when (I suppose it was) Lear decided to use Esther Rolle as the lead star. Probably, "We'll call her Florida in this show since the viewers know her by that name." And for unknown reasons they changed Henry's name. In GT Florida is not an existing character who they spun off by developing another show for her.

Eric Monte and Mike Evans are credited as the creators in the opening, so I don't know how Lear stole it, unless they got cheated on the money it made.

Yup that is clear in the 1st episode

Good Times was well into development when (I suppose it was) Lear decided to use Esther Rolle as the lead star. Probably, "We'll call her Florida in this show since the viewers know her by that name." And for unknown reasons they changed Henry's name. In GT Florida is not an existing character who they spun off by developing another show for her.

Eric Monte and Mike Evans are credited as the creators in the opening, so I don't know how Lear stole it, unless they got cheated on the money it made.
Lots of shows are came up with long before they air. And yes, Eric Monte specifically said Lear stole his idea, which was originally The Black Family, not Good Times.

Apart from the spin off debate, I did check out Eric's Monte's story--he sued them all, but at least with GT he was credited as the creator and wrote for the first season, which was evidently full of battles for him with the other writers. His real issues, it seems to me, were lack of credit for The Jeffersons and What's Happening. Also Lear had other ideas for what became Sanford and Son, but adopted Eric's ideas, uncredited. Also, The Jeffersons did not work out at all as Mike Evans had envisioned when he approached Eric Monte.

Apart from the spin off debate, I did check out Eric's Monte's story--he sued them all, but at least with GT he was credited as the creator and wrote for the first season, which was evidently full of battles for him with the other writers. His real issues, it seems to me, were lack of credit for The Jeffersons and What's Happening. Also Lear had other ideas for what became Sanford and Son, but adopted Eric's ideas, uncredited. Also, The Jeffersons did not work out at all as Mike Evans had envisioned when he approached Eric Monte.
The funny part is there is no debate if it was a spin off. The creators of the show Lear and the stars of the show Bea Arthur and the stars of Good Times Jimmy Walker all say it was a spin off. How does anyone discard the creators and actors on a show? There are only a few people on this board that believe its not a spin off because of lame reasons. There is no debate in the real world.

The creators of the show Lear and the stars of the show Bea Arthur and the stars of Good Times Jimmy Walker all say it was a spin off. How does anyone discard the creators and actors on a show?

It's essentially a language question, and the people who make a show don't own the language. Whether Good Times is a spinoff or not depends on how the word is used in the industry and in general. Owners don't get to designate a show a spinoff, and everyone has to follow that just because they said so.