GOOD TIMES a spin-off of MAUDE

[Alan Brady's Hair]

Originally Posted by TVLegend

And why would Florida mention working as a maid in an episode when that was never even acknowledged on Good Times before that?

I don't know what disputes were going on when, but they could have inserting information evidencing that the show was based in Maude.

The spinoff question seems to turn on whether Florida is the same character in both shows.

[stevea]

With all the disputes going on over scripts, probably the last thing on anyone's mind was neatening things up. It would have made sense if Lear's staff writers had written a scene for the first episode explaining it all. But that would have required a lot of other re-writing, straightening out the appearance that the Evanses had always been there. It also might have required changes in Eric Monte's third episode, which was credited solely to him, and he might have been unwilling to change it.

Based on the way Good Times was written, how could both Floridas be the same character?

[TVLegend]

Originally Posted by stevea

With all the disputes going on over scripts, probably the last thing on anyone's mind was neatening things up. It would have made sense if Lear's staff writers had written a scene for the first episode explaining it all. But that would have required a lot of other re-writing, straightening out the appearance that the Evanses had always been there. It also might have required changes in Eric Monte's third episode, which was credited solely to him, and he might have been unwilling to change it.

Based on the way Good Times was written, how could both Floridas be the same character?

Both Floridas are the same character because they look the same, talk the same, and both of them worked as a maid.

[GoldenTV]

Originally Posted by TVLegend

Both Floridas are the same character because they look the same, talk the same, and both of them worked as a maid.

But the same thing can not be said about Henry/James. He went from being a Fireman with High school diploma in NY to a dish/car washer with no HS diploma in Chicago.

[TVFactFan]

I already revealed years ago Producer Alan manings said its not really a spinoff because it was ONE CHARACTER and we changed that character

[TVLegend]

Originally Posted by GoldenTV

But the same thing can not be said about Henry/James. He went from being a Fireman with High school diploma in NY to a dish/car washer with no HS diploma in Chicago.

It’s called inconsistency. Henry and James are the same character, Henry was changed to James to fit the Good Times premise. If Henry and James are not the same character, then that means Blanche had two daughters named Rebecca on the TV show The Golden Girls. When Rebecca first appeared, she was an obese woman with blonde hair and blue eyes who was engaged to her emotionally abusive boyfriend. When she returns two seasons later, she is a much smaller woman with brown eyes and hair who wants to have a baby via artificial insemination. And then to top it off, the boyfriend is never mentioned, and neither is her drastic weight loss. Huh? That must mean that the Rebecca from Season 3 is not the same character as Rebecca from Seasons 5-6.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by TVLegend

It’s called inconsistency. Henry and James are the same character, Henry was changed to James to fit the Good Times premise. If Henry and James are not the same character, then that means Blanche had two daughters named Rebecca on the TV show The Golden Girls. When Rebecca first appeared, she was an obese woman with blonde hair and blue eyes who was engaged to her emotionally abusive boyfriend. When she returns two seasons later, she is a much smaller woman with brown eyes and hair who wants to have a baby via artificial insemination. And then to top it off, the boyfriend is never mentioned, and neither is her drastic weight loss. Huh? That must mean that the Rebecca from Season 3 is not the same character as Rebecca from Seasons 5-6.

its called frauctured spinoff lol

[GoldenTV]

Originally Posted by TVLegend

It’s called inconsistency. Henry and James are the same character, Henry was changed to James to fit the Good Times premise. If Henry and James are not the same character, then that means Blanche had two daughters named Rebecca on the TV show The Golden Girls. When Rebecca first appeared, she was an obese woman with blonde hair and blue eyes who was engaged to her emotionally abusive boyfriend. When she returns two seasons later, she is a much smaller woman with brown eyes and hair who wants to have a baby via artificial insemination. And then to top it off, the boyfriend is never mentioned, and neither is her drastic weight loss. Huh? That must mean that the Rebecca from Season 3 is not the same character as Rebecca from Seasons 5-6.

I agree with you that there are alot of "character" inconsistency on TV shows. It even happened on GoodTimes where in one episode Louis Gossett Jr is Thelma's lover and in another episode, he is Thelma's uncle. But inconsistency doesn't stop there for GT spin off. For example, it was established that Evens have lived in Chicago for at least 20 years. That right there would cut off any connections and similarity between Maude and Goodtimes.

[GoldenTV]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

its called frauctured spinoff lol

I think that was the right word Norman Leer was looking for when describing the Goodtimes spin off as he didn't like the term "spin off"

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by GoldenTV

I agree with you that there are alot of "character" inconsistency on TV shows. It even happened on GoodTimes where in one episode Louis Gossett Jr is Thelma's lover and in another episode, he is Thelma's uncle. But inconsistency doesn't stop there for GT spin off. For example, it was established that Evens have lived in Chicago for at least 20 years. That right there would cut off any connections and similarity between Maude and Goodtimes.

True but in all sitcoms there are huge inconsistencies within their own series. The Golden Girls and Threes Company threads are full of posts showing inconsistencies within the series. That happens in every sitcom and probably more so in a spin off. There are a few consistencies though. John Amos played Florida's tough husband on Maude and he played her husband on Good Times (although he was a different name). I think the debate is a bit misguided because of people's opinion and perception of what a spin off is. There are some spin offs that are inserted into a sitcom only for the spin off "effect." For example, Empty Nest was going to be attempted a spin off from the Golden Girls. The characters showed up in one episode, we had no idea who they were, and never spoke about again. It was an attempted to have a spin off from GG. It did not work and the show was revamped yet they lived in the same neighborhood as GG and crossed over in a few episodes. Good Times is a classic spin off where the character was so popular that they got their own show. There are inconsistencies in location for sure. But its the same actress, same character that left a popular sitcom to have their own show. Maude is never mentioned again. However there is a Good Times episode where Florida does mention old days of housekeeping. If Esther left Maude because of a contract dispute and was hired on another sitcom and her name was Bertha then it would not be a spin off. But we all seem to have our own definitions of what a spin off is. But I yield to the creators of the show. When Walker was given the script, he asked the writers and producers what it was and he was told it was a spin off of Maude. That interview along with Bea Arthur's interview are also on youtube talking about the spin off. If the creators of the show called a spin off then I cant imagine anyone saying otherwise.

[stevea]

You're thinking of Lear as the creator of GT, again. He's not. It was created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans in 1971 and Lear stole it.

Also, try listening to some of the interviews of Eric Monte. The man is justifiably angry in his later years.

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by stevea

You're thinking of Lear as the creator of GT, again. He's not. It was created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans in 1971 and Lear stole it.

Also, try listening to some of the interviews of Eric Monte. The man is justifiably angry in his later years.

True. But the point is Lear may have stole or bought the idea but he made it a spin off of Maude. When someone had a new idea for a show, it was common to spin off a character or make the new characters appear in the successful show and spin them off.
Indirectly you brought up a really good point. Its very possible Good Times could have been brought to TV not as a spin off from Maude. However Lear was too smart. He saw he had the perfect star for that show on a hit show already. Part of the success of Maude in its first season was the banter between Florida and Maude. It was similar to Archie and Mike. Florida many times but Maude in her place which few people could do. I think this is why there is a debate on this. Its true Good Times could have come to TV not as a spin off. But Lear was so successful in spinning off shows from All In The Family he saw the perfect opportunity to make Good Times work. What if we take the housekeeper from Maude and put Florida in the lead role.
IMHO Maude was never the same without Florida. The show was still good for about 2 more seasons but the first season with Florida was the best. Her limelight carried Good Times into a successful show. Esther/Florida was perfect for that role. She was smart and no nonsense and stood up to her boss and her husband on Maude. She was the perfect mom for such a role on Good Times.

[Alan Brady's Hair]

When someone had a new idea for a show, it was common to spin off a character or make the new characters appear in the successful show and spin them off.

What are the other spinoffs where there was a preexisting show and they just dropped a popular character into it? Not the Jeffersons, Maude, Rhoda, Phyllis, Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, or Frasier.

[stevea]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

True. But the point is Lear may have stole or bought the idea but he made it a spin off of Maude. When someone had a new idea for a show, it was common to spin off a character or make the new characters appear in the successful show and spin them off.
Indirectly you brought up a really good point. Its very possible Good Times could have been brought to TV not as a spin off from Maude. However Lear was too smart. He saw he had the perfect star for that show on a hit show already. Part of the success of Maude in its first season was the banter between Florida and Maude. It was similar to Archie and Mike. Florida many times but Maude in her place which few people could do. I think this is why there is a debate on this. Its true Good Times could have come to TV not as a spin off. But Lear was so successful in spinning off shows from All In The Family he saw the perfect opportunity to make Good Times work. What if we take the housekeeper from Maude and put Florida in the lead role.
IMHO Maude was never the same without Florida. The show was still good for about 2 more seasons but the first season with Florida was the best. Her limelight carried Good Times into a successful show. Esther/Florida was perfect for that role. She was smart and no nonsense and stood up to her boss and her husband on Maude. She was the perfect mom for such a role on Good Times.

So, since Good Times places the Evanses in Chicago for years, as written, what is the association between Good Times and Maude?

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by stevea

So, since Good Times places the Evanses in Chicago for years, as written, what is the association between Good Times and Maude?

The central character only. Spin offs can go in a different direction than the host show