What if James didn't die? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Mr. Monitor · 08-21-2004, 08:26 PM

Where do you think the show could've gone had James not died?

Lady T · 08-21-2004, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr. Monitor
Where do you think the show could've gone had James not died?

Good Question..Probably better quality written episodes from the 4th, 5th, and 6th seasons...

TVFactFan · 08-22-2004, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr. Monitor
Where do you think the show could've gone had James not died?

It probably wouldn't have been no PENNY.

GeeBee · 08-22-2004, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
It probably wouldn't have been no PENNY.

Of course not. If James had still been on the show, child abuse would have still been fashionable.

TVFactFan · 08-22-2004, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GeeBee
Of course not. If James had still been on the show, child abuse would have still been fashionable.

You keep saying child abuse but James never put his hands on any of his kids. Florida was the one who slapped Michael. So i'm afraid i don't know what you mean.

GeeBee · 08-22-2004, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
You keep saying child abuse but James never put his hands on any of his kids. Florida was the one who slapped Michael. So i'm afraid i don't know what you mean.

I know you think that if you don't actually see it on an episode, it never happened, but there is always an "off-screen life" for the characters and it was implied several times that he beat them with a belt. He beat someone else's child with a belt on an episode and he threatened his children with the belt for the slightest disagreements. Child abuse is also not just about physical actions; many of the things James said to J.J. qualified as emotional abuse.

TVFactFan · 08-22-2004, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GeeBee
I know you think that if you don't actually see it on an episode, it never happened, but there is always an "off-screen life" for the characters and it was implied several times that he beat them with a belt. He beat someone else's child with a belt on an episode and he threatened his children with the belt for the slightest disagreements. Child abuse is also not just about physical actions; many of the things James said to J.J. qualified as emotional abuse.

First of all, that guy that James beat with the belt was 18 in the 7th grade-LOL He definitly wasn't the same age as Michael. And Plus he came into the Evans household and told them what he wasn;t going to do and disrepected the father so that's why he was beaten.

GeeBee · 08-22-2004, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
First of all, that guy that James beat with the belt was 18 in the 7th grade-LOL He definitly wasn't the same age as Michael. And Plus he came into the Evans household and told them what he wasn;t going to do and disrepected the father so that's why he was beaten.

Like I said, abuse.

snl fan · 08-22-2004, 08:03 PM

the show would have lasted alot longer and as ive said before for all my issues with james and his yelling i still think the show was better with john amos now as for james i think he and his family would have gotten out of the projcets sooner or later and he would have eventully swallowed his pride and let florida work at least part time

knl9674 · 08-23-2004, 09:57 AM

my, my, my. how little ye understand about the African-American family and the rearing of our children. we believe in belts where necessary and having a strong hand to keep children in line. abuse is a very strong word and i think, used inappropriately. that is old school parenting that you see on the show. remember that these families were trying to raise children in the ghetto, in the truest form. discipline HAD to be enforced. you are an outsider looking into and judging a culture you obviously do not understand.

Now...to answer the thread.

I believe the show would've had to expand outside of the ghetto. James was already at the breaking point in so many episodes due to the system and the MAN keeping him down. You can't keep kicking a man that already down. Florida did get a PT job (driving a bus) and that seemed to help. And with Thelma and JJ working, things could've definitely improved. But then we wouldn't have gotten the infamous "Damn, Damn, Damn" so I'm torn. I loved James Evans and hated to see him leave the show. Woulda been interesting....

GeeBee · 08-23-2004, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by knl9674
my, my, my. how little ye understand about the African-American family and the rearing of our children. we believe in belts where necessary and having a strong hand to keep children in line. abuse is a very strong word and i think, used inappropriately. that is old school parenting that you see on the show. remember that these families were trying to raise children in the ghetto, in the truest form. discipline HAD to be enforced. you are an outsider looking into and judging a culture you obviously do not understand.

I'm a family preservation social worker who has been working with African American families for three years, so save the lecture, pal. There is no law against spanking children (although it is highly discouraged by many professionals who work with children), but there are laws against leaving marks on children. If marks are left on a child, or if the child even tells me that he or she has marks left from a whipping, I am MANDATED by LAW to report it to child protection services and you can bet your life that I will. Then again, I would report it even if I wasn't mandated. It is considered ABUSE and I wholeheartedly agree. The type of African American family displayed on Good Times was a stereotype and it's ultimately pretty offensive to say that all fathers of a certain ethnic or socio-economic level must be screaming lunatics like James to enforce discipline. I'm not buying it, buddy.

knl9674 · 08-24-2004, 09:28 AM

are your panties in a bunch over a television show and a fictitious family? your supposed credentials on the topic ( a social work, no less) proves my point exactly: an outsider looking in. i have lived the experience on both sides of the coin and my experience doesn't stop at 5'oclock.

bottom line: we don't see eye to eye. i see exactly where you're coming from and understand that you are misguided. which i can respect.

if you want some knowledge outside of a textbook and 3 years of experience, start a new thread and let me teach you. i'm a tad tired of discussing the same thing. ever hear of a brick wall? or what about, beating a dead horse? kiiiinda what i'm feeling here.

this is not even a lively debate. you bring absolutely nothing to the table. no need to reply...i'm over this.

i completely respect your opinion.

Edster2973 · 08-24-2004, 09:51 AM

One thing I consider to be an interesting alternative is suppose Esther Rolle had been fired and John Amos wasn't. How would the show have been different? Supposedly she had as much trouble with the producers as John did, but suppose John was more like Ja'net du Bois and just did what he was told? Would the producers have written out Florida? And if so, how would things have turned out? Any guesses?

Ed

TVFactFan · 08-24-2004, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Edster2973
One thing I consider to be an interesting alternative is suppose Esther Rolle had been fired and John Amos wasn't. How would the show have been different? Supposedly she had as much trouble with the producers as John did, but suppose John was more like Ja'net du Bois and just did what he was told? Would the producers have written out Florida? And if so, how would things have turned out? Any guesses?

Ed

We got a little taste of that when Florida was absence in the episode-"THE ENLISTEMENT" I guess it ok.

Edster2973 · 08-24-2004, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
We got a little taste of that when Florida was absence in the episode-"THE ENLISTEMENT" I guess it ok.

Not really. She wasn't killed off, which is a lot different. It's like when James is suddenly away during Season 3 (even though it's established early in Season 3 that he & Florida never spent a day apart from each other, and suddenly he's away more often). His influence is still a major part of the show, whereas when he was killed off, he was mourned and then seemingly almost ignored.

I just wonder how things would have turned out if James had survived and Florida didn't. Would he have dated again? Would he have softened up a bit, a la Archie Bunker in Archie Bunker's Place when Edith died? Would he have gotten more strict? Would he and Willona eventually gotten together? That would have been the ultimate turn around. The strict father falling in love with one he always referred to as the town gossip. It's just like when Archie ended up hiring and caring for his black maid. He even defended women on women's rights towards the end.

I'm not saying I would have preferred Florida dying. Quite the opposite. I just wonder how the characters would have evolved. Truth to tell, if I had my way, John Amos would have stayed for the entirety of the series' run, along with the rest of the cast, but it didn't happen that way alas.

Anymore speculation?

Ed

08-21-2004, 08:26 PM	#1
Mr. Monitor Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 27, 2004 Posts: 402	What if James didn't die? Where do you think the show could've gone had James not died?

08-24-2004, 09:51 AM	#13
Edster2973 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 19, 2003 Location: Somerset, Massachusetts, USA Posts: 951	One thing I consider to be an interesting alternative is suppose Esther Rolle had been fired and John Amos wasn't. How would the show have been different? Supposedly she had as much trouble with the producers as John did, but suppose John was more like Ja'net du Bois and just did what he was told? Would the producers have written out Florida? And if so, how would things have turned out? Any guesses? Ed
	__________________ save water... shower with a friend...

08-22-2004, 08:03 PM	#9
snl fan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 21, 2004 Posts: 119	the show would have lasted alot longer and as ive said before for all my issues with james and his yelling i still think the show was better with john amos now as for james i think he and his family would have gotten out of the projcets sooner or later and he would have eventully swallowed his pride and let florida work at least part time

08-23-2004, 09:57 AM	#10
knl9674 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 18, 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 231	my, my, my. how little ye understand about the African-American family and the rearing of our children. we believe in belts where necessary and having a strong hand to keep children in line. abuse is a very strong word and i think, used inappropriately. that is old school parenting that you see on the show. remember that these families were trying to raise children in the ghetto, in the truest form. discipline HAD to be enforced. you are an outsider looking into and judging a culture you obviously do not understand. Now...to answer the thread. I believe the show would've had to expand outside of the ghetto. James was already at the breaking point in so many episodes due to the system and the MAN keeping him down. You can't keep kicking a man that already down. Florida did get a PT job (driving a bus) and that seemed to help. And with Thelma and JJ working, things could've definitely improved. But then we wouldn't have gotten the infamous "Damn, Damn, Damn" so I'm torn. I loved James Evans and hated to see him leave the show. Woulda been interesting....

08-24-2004, 09:28 AM	#12
knl9674 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 18, 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 231	are your panties in a bunch over a television show and a fictitious family? your supposed credentials on the topic ( a social work, no less) proves my point exactly: an outsider looking in. i have lived the experience on both sides of the coin and my experience doesn't stop at 5'oclock. bottom line: we don't see eye to eye. i see exactly where you're coming from and understand that you are misguided. which i can respect. if you want some knowledge outside of a textbook and 3 years of experience, start a new thread and let me teach you. i'm a tad tired of discussing the same thing. ever hear of a brick wall? or what about, beating a dead horse? kiiiinda what i'm feeling here. this is not even a lively debate. you bring absolutely nothing to the table. no need to reply...i'm over this. i completely respect your opinion.