Wasn't getting killed off a cruel way to go? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

nerrad · 05-10-2004, 10:19 AM

John Amos , that is. They made sure he wasn't coming back.

TVFactFan · 05-10-2004, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by nerrad
John Amos , that is. They made sure he wasn't coming back.

I guess since he was just a major character,the only choice was to kill him off. The only other way they could have gotten rid of his character was to say James left Florida for another woman.

Dr. Jazz · 05-10-2004, 12:36 PM

They could have had him go to work on the Alaskan pipeline just like Lamont LOL

TVFactFan · 05-10-2004, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Jazz
They could have had him go to work on the Alaskan pipeline just like Lamont LOL

Lamont wasn't the head of a family so that idea worked better for that character

marvin g · 05-10-2004, 08:51 PM

He could have fake his death so Florida and the kids could have insurance money, if he had any!

Jrnygrl · 05-10-2004, 11:03 PM

From what I understand the script that was written for this episode, was originally written for "All In The Family". According to TV Land's series "Mogals," there was a dispute with Carroll O'Connor over his contract, and if the dispute had not been resolved, there needed to be a way out for Archie, so Norman Lear and the other writers put together this script, but when the dispute was resolved the writers decided that the script would be put on hold in case they went through a similar situation, and they did and that is when they pulled it off the shelf and it was used for James Evans.

Did anyone else see this??

Lady T · 05-10-2004, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jrnygrl
From what I understand the script that was written for this episode, was originally written for "All In The Family". According to TV Land's series "Mogals," there was a dispute with Carroll O'Connor over his contract, and if the dispute had not been resolved, there needed to be a way out for Archie, so Norman Lear and the other writers put together this script, but when the dispute was resolved the writers decided that the script would be put on hold in case they went through a similar situation, and they did and that is when they pulled it off the shelf and it was used for James Evans.

Did anyone else see this??

No, but thanks for the very interesting information

Mr. Television · 05-11-2004, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jrnygrl
From what I understand the script that was written for this episode, was originally written for "All In The Family". According to TV Land's series "Mogals," there was a dispute with Carroll O'Connor over his contract, and if the dispute had not been resolved, there needed to be a way out for Archie, so Norman Lear and the other writers put together this script, but when the dispute was resolved the writers decided that the script would be put on hold in case they went through a similar situation, and they did and that is when they pulled it off the shelf and it was used for James Evans.

Did anyone else see this??

I didn't know about the connection with Good Times but I heard they had a plan to kill Archie off.of All in the family. If they did that the show was over. Archie was All In The Family and all the other characters reacted to what he did.

GeorgiaboyJeff! · 06-09-2004, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
I guess since he was just a major character,the only choice was to kill him off. The only other way they could have gotten rid of his character was to say James left Florida for another woman.

I wish they would have taken that route just in case he wanted to come back... But I can't ever see how the kids & Florida would ever forgive him for that!

TVFactFan · 06-09-2004, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GeorgiaboyJeff!
I wish they would have taken that route just in case he wanted to come back... But I can't ever see how the kids & Florida would ever forgive him for that!

Exactly, which is why he was killed off.

GeeBee · 06-09-2004, 08:31 PM

Personally, I think the writers should have had James' character committed to a mental institution.

TVFactFan · 06-09-2004, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GeeBee
Personally, I think the writers should have had James' character committed to a mental institution.

James was overworked and underpaid

GeeBee · 06-09-2004, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
James was overworked and underpaid

Which makes the idea of his having a breakdown all the more realistic.

jamesanthony · 06-10-2004, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GeeBee
Which makes the idea of his having a breakdown all the more realistic.

Did they even have health insurance to have him put into an institution?

If he was committed for criminal reasons that would have made for a really bad stereotype of the black male. Having him die in an accident was the best idea they could have come up with I think.

GeeBee · 06-10-2004, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jamesanthony
Did they even have health insurance to have him put into an institution?

If he was committed for criminal reasons that would have made for a really bad stereotype of the black male. Having him die in an accident was the best idea they could have come up with I think.

They could have had health insurance if the writers gave it to them. I don't think involuntary commitment would have necessarily made him a stereotype, depending on how they did it.

In any case, there are always better ways to write out a character than outright death, if you think that he may ever need to come back. He didn't have to leave them and be a first class heel either. One possible way was to have him riding in a plane that crashed or a boat that sank. No body found, but everyone assumes he's dead. To bring him back, he only has to have amnesia or have been in a coma to be absolved from any abandonment charge. Too soap operish? I don't think so; it would have just been a tool to get him out and back in again. Of course, Dallas made new ground by bringing back a dead character by simply making the whole season a dream. I tend to frown on that.

The bottom line is that where there's a will, there's a way. If the writers could only think of having him killed outright or abandoning his family, then it shows a lack of imagination on their part. Yet, I really don't think they wanted him back. Some didn't even want him to be there at all when the show started.

I do have to admit though, I think the Evans household was much more peaceful after James was gone and the family was able to work out their differences in a less violent and extreme manner.

05-10-2004, 10:19 AM	#1
nerrad Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 06, 2003 Location: pfunkytown Posts: 1,253	Wasn't getting killed off a cruel way to go? John Amos , that is. They made sure he wasn't coming back.

05-10-2004, 12:36 PM	#3
Dr. Jazz The Evil Empire. . . . Forum Star Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Posts: 11,091	They could have had him go to work on the Alaskan pipeline just like Lamont LOL

05-10-2004, 08:51 PM	#5
marvin g Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 30, 2003 Location: Chicago,IL Posts: 1,217	He could have fake his death so Florida and the kids could have insurance money, if he had any!

05-10-2004, 11:03 PM	#6
Jrnygrl Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 03, 2003 Location: wheel in the sky Posts: 4,540	From what I understand the script that was written for this episode, was originally written for "All In The Family". According to TV Land's series "Mogals," there was a dispute with Carroll O'Connor over his contract, and if the dispute had not been resolved, there needed to be a way out for Archie, so Norman Lear and the other writers put together this script, but when the dispute was resolved the writers decided that the script would be put on hold in case they went through a similar situation, and they did and that is when they pulled it off the shelf and it was used for James Evans. Did anyone else see this??

06-09-2004, 08:31 PM	#11
GeeBee Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 22, 2003 Posts: 1,578	Personally, I think the writers should have had James' character committed to a mental institution.