Granted, some of the writers were white.... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

nerrad · 05-04-2004, 03:31 PM

...but some were black too. As Willona stated, "how would white writers know about black living". there was one sister on the E program. I forgot her name, but she said that it was extremely hard to find work since the series ended. Not sure if she worked anywhere since.

jamesanthony · 05-04-2004, 10:56 PM

Maybe it was because she couldn't write well.

Seriously though, there was a drought in black comedy between this show ending in 1979 and Cosby Show in 1984. What was there really in the early 80s? The Jeffersons got too politically correct, Diff'rent Strokes , Benson, Webster and Gimme A Break all had black leads and basically no other blacks in sight. Those were famine years for black writers.

ThomasE · 05-05-2004, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nerrad
...but some were black too. As Willona stated, "how would white writers know about black living". there was one sister on the E program. I forgot her name, but she said that it was extremely hard to find work since the series ended. Not sure if she worked anywhere since.

I believe the woman's name was "Tracy" from the True Hollywood Story. IMO I don't think that there was a problem with her writing. There are some how have trouble finding work on other shows in general.

Dr. Thong · 05-11-2004, 03:14 PM

If I were a white writer on a black show, I would consult with the black writers and cast members about how to write proper dialogue for black characters.

I think there was a tendency to overuse slang terms and catchphrases like "honky" and "jive turkey" on some shows.

Overall, Good Times was a well-done show - for the first three seasons, anyway. Once John Amos was fired and James joined M*A*S*H's Henry Blake in TV Heaven, the show began its decline.

jamesanthony · 05-11-2004, 04:22 PM

I'm starting to believe that what we see onscreen is both a result of chemistry between the performers and chemistry between the people who write the shows. I think you can be as white as a piece of chalk and yet if you have a genuinely good working relationship with black people and you are writing dialogue for black characters the sensitivity will come through in the writing.

On the other hand, just becaue you're black and have a writing degree doesn't mean you can write sensitively for every black character.

laneyday · 06-07-2004, 06:41 PM

You got that right.

05-04-2004, 03:31 PM	#1
nerrad Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 06, 2003 Location: pfunkytown Posts: 1,253	Granted, some of the writers were white.... ...but some were black too. As Willona stated, "how would white writers know about black living". there was one sister on the E program. I forgot her name, but she said that it was extremely hard to find work since the series ended. Not sure if she worked anywhere since.

05-11-2004, 03:14 PM	#4
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	If I were a white writer on a black show, I would consult with the black writers and cast members about how to write proper dialogue for black characters. I think there was a tendency to overuse slang terms and catchphrases like "honky" and "jive turkey" on some shows. Overall, Good Times was a well-done show - for the first three seasons, anyway. Once John Amos was fired and James joined MASH*'s Henry Blake in TV Heaven, the show began its decline.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

05-04-2004, 10:56 PM	#2
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	Maybe it was because she couldn't write well. Seriously though, there was a drought in black comedy between this show ending in 1979 and Cosby Show in 1984. What was there really in the early 80s? The Jeffersons got too politically correct, Diff'rent Strokes , Benson, Webster and Gimme A Break all had black leads and basically no other blacks in sight. Those were famine years for black writers.

05-11-2004, 04:22 PM	#5
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	I'm starting to believe that what we see onscreen is both a result of chemistry between the performers and chemistry between the people who write the shows. I think you can be as white as a piece of chalk and yet if you have a genuinely good working relationship with black people and you are writing dialogue for black characters the sensitivity will come through in the writing. On the other hand, just becaue you're black and have a writing degree doesn't mean you can write sensitively for every black character.

06-07-2004, 06:41 PM	#6
laneyday Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 18, 2003 Location: brampton, ontario Posts: 313	You got that right.