When I was introduced to Good Times as child, I think it was a mistake because there were several episodes that scared me. Which is why I think children shouldn't watch this show. Here are the episodes that may not be easy to watch for a child

1.When james snaps outs and throws the chair against the wall.
2.When J.J gets shot by Mad Dog
3.When Debbie Allen is using drugs and ties the band around her arm
4.When Penny is abused by her mother
5.When Cousin Naomi gets drunk and collaspes
6.When the Old man dies at the end of the episode
7.When Florida slams the punch bowl and screams Damm Damm Damm
8.When James grabs Cousin Cleatus away from Michael.
9.When Michael was a junior warlord and was trying to get away.


So as a young child, Good Times was a little too real for me.

Good Times was not a show designed for children, It's up to the parents to use discretion and send the kids out of the room during scenes that were not suitable.

Originally posted by Lil Kelso
Good Times was not a show designed for children, It's up to the parents to use discretion and send the kids out of the room during scenes that were not suitable. Not You. Where were your parents.

Well i had a TV in my room and i turned to the channel Good Times was on at my risk. So most of the time parents cannot control watch you on your TV.

You know Solomon I never realized that children would be afraid of Good Times but, it can happen. Wow..... I know I was scared about Penny's abuse and the Debbie Allen drug thing, Plus alot of what you mentioned. I will use caution if I'm around children when I see the show. :thanks: :stocking:

Originally posted by JennyLee22
You know Solomon I never realized that children would be afraid of Good Times but, it can happen. Wow..... I know I was scared about Penny's abuse and the Debbie Allen drug thing, Plus alot of what you mentioned. I will use caution if I'm around children when I see the show. :thanks: :stocking:

I know i was very shook up-when James slammed that chair against the wall-now i look at it and laugh-Couldn't say that years ago.

I know when I was a child watching Good Times, I was shocked by Penny's child abuse and the drug addiction. As far as children not watching the show, I think it's up to the individual parents. I think it's OK, as long as parents are aware of what their kids are watching and are willing to talk about these issues after the show.

Actually, this is a perfect opportunity for families to discuss important matters in the world today, i.e. poverty, racism, gang violence, drug abuse, child abuse, alcoholism and other problems still present 25 years later.

If parents use these situations to discuss with their children about the ways of the world, maybe these kids will grow up knowing how to make their own decisions about right and wrong...and maybe start on the road to a better tomorrow.

Awfully big task for a sitcom, eh?

Originally posted by SOLOMON
When I was introduced to Good Times as child, I think it was a mistake because there were several episodes that scared me. Which is why I think children shouldn't watch this show. Here are the episodes that may not be easy to watch for a child

1.When james snaps outs and throws the chair against the wall.
2.When J.J gets shot by Mad Dog
3.When Debbie Allen is using drugs and ties the band around her arm
4.When Penny is abused by her mother
5.When Cousin Naomi gets drunk and collaspes
6.When the Old man dies at the end of the episode
7.When Florida slams the punch bowl and screams Damm Damm Damm
8.When James grabs Cousin Cleatus away from Michael.
9.When Michael was a junior warlord and was trying to get away.


So as a young child, Good Times was a little too real for me.

the iron, Debbie Allen shooting up and Naomi's drunkedness are the things that still shake me a little bit till this day.

There is also one in which I related to, when Ray (Willona's ex) made a pass at Thelma.

A couple on your lists affected me in a way.

Florida slamming the bowl- the whole episode was something. The kids are feeling the effects of losing their dad, especially the youngest one. Florida is trying to remain strong in front of everyone then it hits her. "Thelma I said NO"

Old man dying there- no way. I was a youngan back then and didn't really understand death. I went to my uncle's funeral in '75 and it didn't bother me then. I guess because I was only 8. If somebody is talking with me and walking with me one minute, then suddenly sits down and die right in front of you in a matter of seconds is something. And on top of it, the old man saying that he came there to die.

Penny- OK we joked about it on another thread, but when the iron incident first occurred, it scared me. A parent doing that to their child. I used to hear about child abuse, but actually watching an example of it. It also showed that no matter how much Penny was abused , she was always upstairs, looking for JJ particularly. It was also sad because she was hiding the fact the her mother was doing that to her.

I was not effected by the incindents that occured on Good Times, even though I was a child when the show was aired on CBS; first, there was a lot of violence on the local and national news during these time period...

Originally posted by nerrad
A couple on your lists affected me in a way.

Florida slamming the bowl- the whole episode was something. The kids are feeling the effects of losing their dad, especially the youngest one. Florida is trying to remain strong in front of everyone then it hits her. "Thelma I said NO"

Old man dying there- no way. I was a youngan back then and didn't really understand death. I went to my uncle's funeral in '75 and it didn't bother me then. I guess because I was only 8. If somebody is talking with me and walking with me one minute, then suddenly sits down and die right in front of you in a matter of seconds is something. And on top of it, the old man saying that he came there to die.

Penny- OK we joked about it on another thread, but when the iron incident first occurred, it scared me. A parent doing that to their child. I used to hear about child abuse, but actually watching an example of it. It also showed that no matter how much Penny was abused , she was always upstairs, looking for JJ particularly. It was also sad because she was hiding the fact the her mother was doing that to her.


Not that it's my favorite episode, but since i'm an adult now i was looking forward to seeing that Old Man dying in the apt episode again because the last time i saw it in was a child. But For some reason TV ONE skips it. Maybe the network felt it was too depressing to air.

JJ getting shot was the incident that scared me the most, I saw it as a little kid and had a hard time because I wasn't used to seeing stuff like that on tv. Debbie Allen tying the hose around her arm also had an affect, though I really didn't know anything about methods of taking drugs like that. By the time Penny's abuse storyline came along, I was older so it didn't affect me as much but it was an incident I remembered years after seeing it. Those are all reasons why GT is one of my favorite shows, all the serious issues made it more real to life for me, and memorable.

Originally posted by vashti1999
JJ getting shot was the incident that scared me the most, I saw it as a little kid and had a hard time because I wasn't used to seeing stuff like that on tv. Debbie Allen tying the hose around her arm also had an affect, though I really didn't know anything about methods of taking drugs like that. By the time Penny's abuse storyline came along, I was older so it didn't affect me as much but it was an incident I remembered years after seeing it. Those are all reasons why GT is one of my favorite shows, all the serious issues made it more real to life for me, and memorable.


Would believe Studio members were laughing during the debbie allen scene and when J.J got shot.

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
Would believe Studio members were laughing during the debbie allen scene and when J.J got shot.

What's the matter with them. Those were not funny scenes.

Originally posted by Katie
What's the matter with them. Those were not funny scenes.


I think the some of the studio members were laughing at Debbie Allen because she was SHAKING like a real junkie. I guess she did a good job of playing the junkie role. Idon't know why thy laugh during the J.J getting short scene.

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
Idon't know why thy laugh during the J.J getting short scene.

Me neither. I thought that was pretty scary.

i watched the first-run episodes when I was a kid.I watched it with my parents.I thought they were good and powerful,but I can't say they scared me.I don't know if its because of the neighborhood I grew up in(south side of Chicago) but all the kids on the block watched and we even re-enacted some episodes.I,also,think its the kind of thing thats good to watch with your kids and explain to them things that happen in real life.

Originally posted by CCRYDER1968
i watched the first-run episodes when I was a kid.I watched it with my parents.I thought they were good and powerful,but I can't say they scared me.I don't know if its because of the neighborhood I grew up in(south side of Chicago) but all the kids on the block watched and we even re-enacted some episodes.I,also,think its the kind of thing thats good to watch with your kids and explain to them things that happen in real life.



Are those Project Buildings still there?

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
Are those Project Buildings still there? Yeah,they're still standing,but if I understand correctly,all the hi-rise projects will be torn down and they are opting for smaller buildings,maybe even townhomes,more spread out through the community ,but still paid for by section 8.Hopefully,it will help break up the concentration of crime areas.A lot of the projects are vacant now though...

are there any pictures of what they look like today? I could've sworn I saw something like that on a site I can't remember.

I'll look around and let u know if I find any.:)

Here's a link to a pichttp://chicagouncommon.com/photography/gallery/1511/ There might be more on that site but I didn't really check it out.

I'm surprised no one mentioned the episode with Keith getting drunk and slapping Thelma. Even now, that episode gives me chills. Bern Nadette Stanis and Ben Powers gave excellent performances in that episode. I definitely would not let a young kid watch that episode.