James was hell bent on Florida not working, wasn't he? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

nerrad · 05-12-2004, 03:15 PM

Did he have that much pride? The man had a 6th grade education, so he needed help. I can see if he was making Huxtab...(well in GT case, Alderman Davis) money. Damn, they were poor. I was always rattled by that. I was watching that Hypertension episode where Florida wanted to apply for a maid's job. James: "What the hell you doing applying for a job"?

Do I feel a inconsistency coming on? In the episode where Florida went to lunch with her boss, wasn't she working? Whatever happened to that job? I know she was drunk and talking about tin whistles

How did she ever get that job in the first place?

jamesanthony · 05-12-2004, 03:33 PM

A lot of men of earlier eras didn't want their wives to work. I don't know where Florida was working in that episode where she got drunk.

In hindsight James had a lot of flaws, and he was very funny. I didn't think he was funny watching him in the original series run in the 70s when I was a grade school kid. I found him intimidating. But he was very humorous and very realistic.

TVFactFan · 05-12-2004, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jamesanthony
A lot of men of earlier eras didn't want their wives to work. I don't know where Florida was working in that episode where she got drunk.

In hindsight James had a lot of flaws, and he was very funny. I didn't think he was funny watching him in the original series run in the 70s when I was a grade school kid. I found him intimidating. But he was very humorous and very realistic.

Why were you intimidated by James when watching GT in it's original run?

marvin g · 05-12-2004, 07:52 PM

I guess this is just another one of those inconsistancies! I never really heard of a black man not letting his wife work unless he was making big big dollars. Also he didn't seem to have a problem with Florida working for Maude! OOPS! Sorry! TVShow Anaylzer!

TVFactFan · 05-12-2004, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by marvin g
I guess this is just another one of those inconsistancies! I never really heard of a black man not letting his wife work unless he was making big big dollars. Also he didn't seem to have a problem with Florida working for Maude! OOPS! Sorry! TVShow Anaylzer!

That was Henry Evans who didn't have a problem with his wife working as a maid. JAMES evans was the guy who did. Two different people-lol

jamesanthony · 05-12-2004, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
Why were you intimidated by James when watching GT in it's original run?

James had a temper on him!!

TVFactFan · 05-12-2004, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jamesanthony
James had a temper on him!!

Yeah I thought that throwing the chair against the wall was a bit much for a sitcom.

Lady T · 05-12-2004, 10:13 PM

I think the fact that James only had a 6th grade education caused him to be somewhat narrow minded on his views on certain things, including his wife working; I basically think James was threatened of the thought of Florida joining the work forces and making more money than he, and I do not think his fragile pride could handle that...

jamesanthony · 05-12-2004, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Undercover Angel
I think the fact that James only had a 6th grade education caused him to be somewhat narrow minded on his views on certain things, including his wife working; I basically think James was threatened of the thought of Florida joining the work forces and making more money than he, and I do not think his fragile pride could handle that...

You hit the nail on the head with that one.

Did they ever say why James never went further in school? Or how he and Florida met. I don't remember.

Lady T · 05-12-2004, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jamesanthony
You hit the nail on the head with that one.

Did they ever say why James never went further in school? Or how he and Florida met. I don't remember.

Good Question...I would like to know that information myself

jamesanthony · 05-12-2004, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Undercover Angel
Good Question...I would like to know that information myself

One of the most dramatic episode showcasing James is the one when they find his father. I guess since his father wasn't around he had to work at a very young age. I don't know why Florida never finished her schooling though. There is a lot to speculate about.

Lady T · 05-12-2004, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jamesanthony
One of the most dramatic episode showcasing James is the one when they find his father. I guess since his father wasn't around he had to work at a very young age. I don't know why Florida never finished her schooling though. There is a lot to speculate about.

I am assuming for women, both African-American and Caucasian, that grew up in low in-come families from Florida's generation did not finish school....

jamesanthony · 05-12-2004, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Undercover Angel
I am assuming for women, both African-American and Caucasian, that grew up in low in-come families from Florida's generation did not finish school....

That type of thing happened commonly if the girl had to take care of younger siblings or got pregnant early but Florida didn't seem to have younger siblings (she had a brother, but Lou Gossett seemed to be close to her in age, maybe not who knows? ). Also, judging by the ages of the 3 kids it seemed JJ would have come along when Florida was already an adult.

Just fun speculation though. It would have been fun for the writers to have put some of this "backstory" into the scripts.

Lady T · 05-12-2004, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jamesanthony
That type of thing happened commonly if the girl had to take care of younger siblings or got pregnant early but Florida didn't seem to have younger siblings (she had a brother, but Lou Gossett seemed to be close to her in age, maybe not who knows? ). Also, judging by the ages of the 3 kids it seemed JJ would have come along when Florida was already an adult.

Just fun speculation though. It would have been fun for the writers to have put some of this "backstory" into the scripts.

I am guessing that maybe Florida did not finish her education due to the fact that she did need to take care of her family; for her starting her family, I believe that Florida was in her 20's, when she gave birth to both JJ and Thelma, because I believe they are only less than two years a part...

nerrad · 05-13-2004, 07:26 AM

I remember them mentioning having JJ before they'd gotten married. I think it was the episode where they threw the party for James, but he was too old for the job.

05-12-2004, 03:15 PM	#1
nerrad Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 06, 2003 Location: pfunkytown Posts: 1,253	James was hell bent on Florida not working, wasn't he? Did he have that much pride? The man had a 6th grade education, so he needed help. I can see if he was making Huxtab...(well in GT case, Alderman Davis) money. Damn, they were poor. I was always rattled by that. I was watching that Hypertension episode where Florida wanted to apply for a maid's job. James: "What the hell you doing applying for a job"? Do I feel a inconsistency coming on? In the episode where Florida went to lunch with her boss, wasn't she working? Whatever happened to that job? I know she was drunk and talking about tin whistles How did she ever get that job in the first place?

05-12-2004, 03:33 PM	#2
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	A lot of men of earlier eras didn't want their wives to work. I don't know where Florida was working in that episode where she got drunk. In hindsight James had a lot of flaws, and he was very funny. I didn't think he was funny watching him in the original series run in the 70s when I was a grade school kid. I found him intimidating. But he was very humorous and very realistic.

05-12-2004, 07:52 PM	#4
marvin g Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 30, 2003 Location: Chicago,IL Posts: 1,217	I guess this is just another one of those inconsistancies! I never really heard of a black man not letting his wife work unless he was making big big dollars. Also he didn't seem to have a problem with Florida working for Maude! OOPS! Sorry! TVShow Anaylzer!

05-12-2004, 10:13 PM	#8
Lady T Member Forum Star Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Posts: 17,361	I think the fact that James only had a 6th grade education caused him to be somewhat narrow minded on his views on certain things, including his wife working; I basically think James was threatened of the thought of Florida joining the work forces and making more money than he, and I do not think his fragile pride could handle that...

05-13-2004, 07:26 AM	#15
nerrad Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 06, 2003 Location: pfunkytown Posts: 1,253	I remember them mentioning having JJ before they'd gotten married. I think it was the episode where they threw the party for James, but he was too old for the job.