The Norman Lear Book has ended the Spinoff Debate

[RetroGuy2000]

Yeah, it was definitely a spin-off. They changed some things to make it work better, but that's just how producers did things during that era.

[TVLegend]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

All bad examples, Jeffersons had a pilot ep for AITF and Jackee was a 227 episode that was a pilot and featured Pearl as a guest. No where near the GT situation

TVFactFan, my man, I thought you said the debate was “over”.

[TVLegend]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Yeah, it was definitely a spin-off. They changed some things to make it work better, but that's just how producers did things during that era.

It was so it could fit with Eric Monte’s original “Black Family” premise.

[opus]

By the way, the book came out in 2006. If it ended the debate, why, 15 years later, do most people still call it a spin-off?

[opus]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Im on the Good Times Chapter working my way to the Jeffersons. I see that ODAAT is the last chapter

You finish yet? ODAAT is the last big name show covered, but the final chapter deals briefly with some of his other stuff, like Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, and some of his lesser known shows.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

You tend to focus on tiny details that are not relevant to what a spin off is. Its the "what aboutism" that is sweeping the country. When people refuse to accept facts, its always........what about ___________

The bottom line is NO ONE can deny Florida left Maude to be cast in anther show where she was the head of the house. The inspiration from Good Times came from Maude's housekeeper who made Maude a hit.
You think Jimmy is lying when he said he was given the script of Good Times and told it was a spin off of Maude? But what about The Jeffersons pilot appearing in the All in the Family show? You see. You keep playing the What about stuff without acknowledging what happened to Florida on the hit show Maude? She got her own show.
Maude and Good Times are different shows and not very much alike. Point taken but Florida got her own show and was sprung there by Maude.

wrong again, she was WRITTEN off the show not transitioned onto another series through a pilot situation

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by opus

You finish yet? ODAAT is the last big name show covered, but the final chapter deals briefly with some of his other stuff, like Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, and some of his lesser known shows.

Not yet working my way toward the end as it analyzes the 1st season

[BestTVever]

For those of you that dont accept facts about Good Times, please answer this one question. Why did the writers keep the name Florida Evans for Good Times from Maude? Dont reflect or say....what about _________?
Why did the writers keep the name? You deny its the same character? She has the same name. They could have given her any name yet the name and character came from Maude. That fact alone proves it was a spin off and is the definition of a spin off. She was hysterical on Maude and that is why Lear gave her a show. Not sure why this is endlessly debated.

Good Times was not transitioned from Maude the way many spin offs are. But having the most popular character "written off", "transitioned", "transferred", or what ever term you want to use cant take away Florida Evans left Maude and got her own show. She kept her name for a reason yet that seems to always be forgotten.

[BigManMike]

Some of the Good Times DVD covers even stated it was a spin off of Maude.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by thebigcookie

Some of the Good Times DVD covers even stated it was a spin off of Maude.

Good point. Here's the back of the DVD cover for the complete series. "A spin-off of MAUDE, which was itself a spin-off of ALL IN THE FAMILY, GOOD TIMES first aired in February 1974..."

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

Ironically, this is just another what-about example, and doesn't prove anything. One has to START with the definition of a spinoff, then compare the generation of the show to that definition.

No. Not at all. You just made the point though. The definition of a spinoff is not how it was transitioned from another show. You could have a spin off on another network. A character, characters or theme that transitions to another show is what a spin off is.

Again, you prove my point exactly. You chose NOT to answer the question yet deflect again. If you dont believe it was a spin off, please explain why the writers and creators of the show not only kept the same actress but same name Florida Evans. You refusing to answer the question by reflection says it all.

Check out the Jimmy Walker interview on youtube where he talks about being cast for the show. He had no idea what it was and when he asked he was handed a script and read it and told it was a spin off of Maude. So these people were lying about their own show?.......yeah ok

No more questions your honor Case closed. But its a free country, you are free to believe what you want. You are entitled to your opinion but not your own set of facts.

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

Again, the people associated with the show may be authorities with respect to what happened on the show. They are not necessarily authorities as to what the word the "spinoff" means. They're not, the original poster isn't, and you're not. In order to make your case, you have to establish what a spinoff is. THEN you can show that Good Times complies with that definition.

I mean no disrespect to you. Every opinion matters but good grief did you read what you wrote. You say the creators of Good Times cant be trusted to call it a spin off of Maude because they cant be trusted to know what a spin off really is.

You do realize there are shows that end and years later a character from the show that ended gets their own show. They keep their own name and job and its a spin off the original show. You still refuse to answer the question I posed earlier. Not every spin off has its premier in the time slot of the original show in the same season. I have defined what a spin off is yet you attack the premise yet you refuse to define it yourself.

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

Again, the people associated with the show may be authorities with respect to what happened on the show. They are not necessarily authorities as to what the word the "spinoff" means. They're not, the original poster isn't, and you're not. In order to make your case, you have to establish what a spinoff is. THEN you can show that Good Times complies with that definition.

I mean no disrespect to you. Every opinion matters but good grief did you read what you wrote. You say the creators of Good Times cant be trusted to call it a spin off of Maude because they cant be trusted to know what a spin off really is.

You do realize there are shows that end and years later a character from the show that ended gets their own show. They keep their own name and job and its a spin off the original show. You still refuse to answer the question I posed earlier. Not every spin off has its premier in the time slot of the original show in the same season. I have defined what a spin off is yet you attack the premise yet you refuse to define it yourself.

[TVLegend]

Bottom line: With all the proof given, it is a spinoff, damnit! Even the DVDs covers stated it. That should say something.

[TheLittleFaerie]

It could be an INDIRECT spin-off.

Kinda how Mama's Family is an indirect spin-off from the Family Sketches of the Carol Burnett Show... It was inspired, but there are SO MANY differences, it's hardly recognizable as the same family at times