The apperance of the Jeffersons on Good Times in 1976 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 06-17-2004, 07:32 PM

LOL-they didn't actually appear but they were seen on the front of the Ebony Magazine that Michael and J.J was reading. Wouldn't it have been cool to see the cast of Good Times appear on the Jeffersons the same way? Louise could have been on the couch reading the September 1975 issue of Ebony with the Good Times cast on the front cover for the viewers to see like the Jeffersons were on Good Times.

Edster2973 · 06-21-2004, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
LOL-they didn't actually appear but they were seen on the front of the Ebony Magazine that Michael and J.J was reading. Wouldn't it have been cool to see the cast of Good Times appear on the Jeffersons the same way? Louise could have been on the couch reading the September 1975 issue of Ebony with the Good Times cast on the front cover for the viewers to see like the Jeffersons were on Good Times.

If they did appear, then it would negate your theory that Good Times is not a spin-off of Maude, since The Jeffersons was part of the All in the Family continuity, as was Maude.

I think the show was intended as a spin-off, but had some minor altercations made (probably insisted upon by the network). Kind of like Empty Nest which was a spin-off of The Golden Girls. In an episode of The Golden Girls, the proposed cast of the spin-off appeared differently than what was eventually settled on. In fact, the episode was titled 'Empty Nests' and one of the cast members was Rita Moreno. The only actor to survive the cast shake up was David Leisure, who first appeared as Oliver in the first pilot and then, in the final spin-off, as Charley.

Both concepts are officially part of The Golden Girls continuity, even though they conflict like hell. Both families were said to live right next door to the girls. Both had dogs, and both had David Leisure who basically played the same character but with different names. Inspite of the retooling, it is still considered a spin-off.

I understand your point about the spin-off thing, but I think it was decided to negate any mention of Maude because, quite simply, it would cut out half of the plot of the show, which was the family struggling to survive. Since the Evans needed money so badly, wouldn't Florida go back to work as Maude's maid? That was too easy a solution and the network wanted to keep that aspect of the show alive (I guess the higher-ups felt that it was more realistic to show a poor black family than a middle class one, stereotypical though that may be). They needed to keep the money struggle conflict alive so they downplayed Florida's former career, but it's clear that the show was intended to stem from Maude, even though the story elements don't line up. In fact, I remember Norman Lear commenting on how proud he was to have all of these shows under his belt and that why it worked is because they all intertwined with each other (although in my opinion, and in yours it seems, the connection wasn't nearly as neat as he thinks).

Ed

TVFactFan · 06-21-2004, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Edster2973
If they did appear, then it would negate your theory that Good Times is not a spin-off of Maude, since The Jeffersons was part of the All in the Family continuity, as was Maude.

I think the show was intended as a spin-off, but had some minor altercations made (probably insisted upon by the network). Kind of like Empty Nest which was a spin-off of The Golden Girls. In an episode of The Golden Girls, the proposed cast of the spin-off appeared differently than what was eventually settled on. In fact, the episode was titled 'Empty Nests' and one of the cast members was Rita Moreno. The only actor to survive the cast shake up was David Leisure, who first appeared as Oliver in the first pilot and then, in the final spin-off, as Charley.

Both concepts are officially part of The Golden Girls continuity, even though they conflict like hell. Both families were said to live right next door to the girls. Both had dogs, and both had David Leisure who basically played the same character but with different names. Inspite of the retooling, it is still considered a spin-off.

I understand your point about the spin-off thing, but I think it was decided to negate any mention of Maude because, quite simply, it would cut out half of the plot of the show, which was the family struggling to survive. Since the Evans needed money so badly, wouldn't Florida go back to work as Maude's maid? That was too easy a solution and the network wanted to keep that aspect of the show alive (I guess the higher-ups felt that it was more realistic to show a poor black family than a middle class one, stereotypical though that may be). They needed to keep the money struggle conflict alive so they downplayed Florida's former career, but it's clear that the show was intended to stem from Maude, even though the story elements don't line up. In fact, I remember Norman Lear commenting on how proud he was to have all of these shows under his belt and that why it worked is because they all intertwined with each other (although in my opinion, and in yours it seems, the connection wasn't nearly as neat as he thinks).

Ed

Good Times was about the life of Eric Monte which is why CBS camera crews were sent to Chicago instead of Harlem. So GT was never intended to be a spinoff of Maude.

Edster2973 · 06-21-2004, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
Good Times was about the life of Eric Monte which is why CBS camera crews were sent to Chicago instead of Harlem. So GT was never intended to be a spinoff of Maude.

Firstly, forgive my ignorance, but I do not know who Eric Monte is. Care to fill me in?

Also, why does this prove that the show was not meant to tie in with All in the Family continuity?

The show was obviously retooled to make the family poorer, which was part of the show's premise. To maintain the connection with Maude would've undone some of that story, since Florida working consistently as a maid would've stabilized the Evans' finances, so they chose to ignore it. This has been stated before (I think Norman Lear commented on it at some point, but I could be wrong). But my question is, whoever this Eric Monte is, why is the show being based on his life have anything to do with it belonging or not belonging to the other shows?

Forgive my dense brain but I'm confused...

Ed

TVFactFan · 06-21-2004, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Edster2973
Firstly, forgive my ignorance, but I do not know who Eric Monte is. Care to fill me in?

Also, why does this prove that the show was not meant to tie in with All in the Family continuity?

The show was obviously retooled to make the family poorer, which was part of the show's premise. To maintain the connection with Maude would've undone some of that story, since Florida working consistently as a maid would've stabilized the Evans' finances, so they chose to ignore it. This has been stated before (I think Norman Lear commented on it at some point, but I could be wrong). But my question is, whoever this Eric Monte is, why is the show being based on his life have anything to do with it belonging or not belonging to the other shows?

Forgive my dense brain but I'm confused...

Ed

Eric Monte was the creator of Good Times and he was raised in Chicago which is why the show is based on his experiences in Chicago. He presented the show idea to Lear and Lear liked it. So he asked Esther Rolle did she was to star in a "new type of show", not did she want to have her own spinoff. The word spinoff never came out of Lear's mouth. So If it was a spinoff, CBS would have been showing the projects in Harlem and Henry Evans named would have been the same.

Edster2973 · 06-21-2004, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
Eric Monte was the creator of Good Times and he was raised in Chicago which is why the show is based on his experiences in Chicago. He presented the show idea to Lear and Lear liked it. So he asked Esther Rolle did she was to star in a "new type of show", not did she want to have her own spinoff. The word spinoff never came out of Lear's mouth. So If it was a spinoff, CBS would have been showing the projects in Harlem and Henry Evans named would have been the same.

Duh... I knew I had seen that name before. Eric Monte shows up in the credits. Boy, do I feel like an airhead!

As to the show being a spin-off/not a spin-off, it honestly makes no difference to me. I'm not saying you're wrong in your arguement. I was just relaying how I saw it and was trying to recall what was actually said about the show, but, as with Eric Monte above, my memory is not the most reliable...

It just made sense to me that they would purposely try to sever any ties to the other shows, since they were of a higher class financially than the Evans. Sometimes shows don't flesh things out until the last minute, even when there are episodes in the can that contradict the final product. It happens alot, so I thought that was the case with the show. I can concede that I'm wrong, but one thing's for sure: you are going to have a hell of a time convincing the rest of the public since even the DVD sets tout the show as a spin-off of Maude.

Either way, we clearly love the show and that's what counts. Me, I can't wait for Season 3 to arrive...

Ed

Dr. Thong · 06-11-2005, 02:07 PM

Not trying to inflame things here, but the fact that the Florida character appeared on Maude makes this show a spinoff. It may not have been intended that way, but it is tied to the other show - even if it's a thin thread that keeps it tethered.

It's hard to really know because we're going by what people have said in interviews and everyone has their side of the story. Factor in the fact that memories get clouded over time (this happens to all of us regardless of how old we are) and it's truly hard to say whether this show was a "spinoff" or not.

The fact of the matter is that it was a good show and that's all that matters, really.

Brian Damage · 06-11-2005, 02:42 PM

It was a spinoff. The End

Trishalla · 06-11-2005, 03:20 PM

I think the only thing that the man was saying is wouldn't it be cool to see a cast member in the jefferson's reading a ebony magazine with the good times cast on it

wow you guys can take the most simplest thing and get out of control

TVFactFan · 06-11-2005, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trishalla

I think the only thing that the man was saying is wouldn't it be cool to see a cast member in the jefferson's reading a ebony magazine with the good times cast on it

wow you guys can take the most simplest thing and get out of control

LOL-I know Trishalla that was the point of this Thread. Why no one thought of having a Jeffersons Cast Member reading the 1975 Ebony with the Cast of Good Times on the Front Cover. Louise was reading a Magazine with the Cast of a Certain show on the Front, it was CHico and The Man. Never Good Times

alienkattuk · 07-01-2005, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroTVCollector

LOL-they didn't actually appear but they were seen on the front of the Ebony Magazine that Michael and J.J was reading. Wouldn't it have been cool to see the cast of Good Times appear on the Jeffersons the same way? Louise could have been on the couch reading the September 1975 issue of Ebony with the Good Times cast on the front cover for the viewers to see like the Jeffersons were on Good Times.

I just the episode few days ago on DVD. All this time, I didn't know about it!

I was suprised! It gave me a big smile

TVFactFan · 07-01-2005, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alienkattuk

I just the episode few days ago on DVD. All this time, I didn't know about it!

I was suprised! It gave me a big smile

I think Michael was holding the Magazine the Wrong Way-lol

Dr. Thong · 07-01-2005, 09:32 PM

The Jeffersons being on the magazine cover was probably an inside joke. Just something they threw in there to see if anyone would notice.

TVFactFan · 07-01-2005, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

The Jeffersons being on the magazine cover was probably an inside joke. Just something they threw in there to see if anyone would notice.

I think it's only possible to notice something like that in syndication.

nlearfan · 07-05-2005, 06:57 PM

Mike Evans and Lear began developing the "Good Times" idea way back in 1971. Monte was a pot-smoker and a poet at the time, until Evans told Monte to go to Hollywood. The three went through 30 drafts and 3 yrs before getting it on the air. Also they went thru lots of arguments. Lear hates it when people call the show a spinoff.

06-17-2004, 07:32 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,062	The apperance of the Jeffersons on Good Times in 1976 LOL-they didn't actually appear but they were seen on the front of the Ebony Magazine that Michael and J.J was reading. Wouldn't it have been cool to see the cast of Good Times appear on the Jeffersons the same way? Louise could have been on the couch reading the September 1975 issue of Ebony with the Good Times cast on the front cover for the viewers to see like the Jeffersons were on Good Times.

06-11-2005, 02:07 PM	#7
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Not trying to inflame things here, but the fact that the Florida character appeared on Maude makes this show a spinoff. It may not have been intended that way, but it is tied to the other show - even if it's a thin thread that keeps it tethered. It's hard to really know because we're going by what people have said in interviews and everyone has their side of the story. Factor in the fact that memories get clouded over time (this happens to all of us regardless of how old we are) and it's truly hard to say whether this show was a "spinoff" or not. The fact of the matter is that it was a good show and that's all that matters, really.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

06-11-2005, 03:20 PM	#9
Trishalla Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 06, 2004 Posts: 185	I think the only thing that the man was saying is wouldn't it be cool to see a cast member in the jefferson's reading a ebony magazine with the good times cast on it wow you guys can take the most simplest thing and get out of control
	__________________ "WATCH IT SUCKA" The Jeffersons Goodtimes, Sanford and Son Welcome Back Kotter, Little House,Xenia,All in the Family, whats happening,227, thats my mama, amen Fresh price of bel air, Baby I'm Back, Alice, He's the Mayor, The White Shadow,

06-11-2005, 02:42 PM	#8
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	It was a spinoff. The End

07-01-2005, 09:32 PM	#13
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	The Jeffersons being on the magazine cover was probably an inside joke. Just something they threw in there to see if anyone would notice.

07-05-2005, 06:57 PM	#15
nlearfan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 01, 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 230	Mike Evans and Lear began developing the "Good Times" idea way back in 1971. Monte was a pot-smoker and a poet at the time, until Evans told Monte to go to Hollywood. The three went through 30 drafts and 3 yrs before getting it on the air. Also they went thru lots of arguments. Lear hates it when people call the show a spinoff.