lasted as long as the Jeffersons? I could see this show lasting to 83-84 if both Amos and Rolle had stayed on the show. Plus there would not have been no existence of PENNY

I think Amos wouldn't have lasted in this. He was always battling with the writers and the producers. There are shows as early as year 2 with him absent because he and the producers were disagreeing.

Plus, even if he had stayed, i think the quality would have gone south. On the Jeffersons most of the main people stayed and it got a bit stale and long in the tooth. I rather the six years than for it to have dragged on and on. And if it did run 10 years and James lived they would have had to have gotten them out of that project apartment and that would have completely changed the tone of the whole show.

Plus, I suspect Penny would have shown up anyway, to give Willona something to do with herself.

There being "no existence of PENNY" isn't necessarily true. There are characters that come and go on long running shows. The Jeffersons is a rare case where the cast pretty much stayed intact throughout he run of the series. It's not as if Amos & Rolle had never left that there wouldn't be other circumstances to cause the show to end after six seasons.

I wonder what James would've thought of Penny. "Uh oh. Here comes Willona's little Rona Barrett of the projects".

Originally posted by nerrad
I wonder what James would've thought of Penny. "Uh oh. Here comes Willona's little Rona Barrett of the projects".


i can't even picture those two in the same room

You can never really be sure, imo, but I think had Amos (not having had any behind the scenes stuff happening) and Rolle stuck with it, it could have lasted maybe two or three seasons more, but not 10 years, no way, the tone of the show (much like Roseanne) would of had to change and it wouldn't have worked. I think even if Rolle was around the season she was MIA, the show could have lasted maybe a season or two more. But we'll never know. I'd rather a show end on top than end being crappy.

Originally posted by nerrad
I wonder what James would've thought of Penny. "Uh oh. Here comes Willona's little Rona Barrett of the projects".

LOL. That is funny! I like that ! However, I think that she would win James over.

I could here James saying that! :lol: I think if the quality of the writing had been more true to the characters and consistant, it could have stayed on a little longer. But somewhere along the line somone would have had to get out of the projects because the kids were growing up and starting to do well as adults.

Honestly, I agree with vasti1999 about the staying power of The Jeffersons, compared to it's very, long run on television because the main characters stayed on; but I do not think Good Times would last, even if Eshter Rolle and John Amos stayed; for several reasons, first, The Jeffersons was a better, written show, while Good Times had some moments of very inferior television writing that was just plain dull and pointless..Also, I think the over-kill of Jimmie Walker's popularity during the first few seasons, made people become tired of seeing him...I personally liked The Penny character, and thought she did add some new life to Good Times, but I think, the show, in general, even if Amos and Rolle stayed, would not last more than 6 seasons...