John Amos talks about being fired from Good Times - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

vashti1999 · 09-04-2004, 06:18 PM

Don't know if anybody's mentioned it yet, but on page 84 of the current VIBE magazine with Mase on the cover, there's a brief article on John Amos and he talks about being fired from Good Times. I'll post the quote in a minute.

vashti1999 · 09-04-2004, 07:40 PM

"I think people responded to James Evans so strongly because he transcended ethnicity. I fashioned him after my own father, John Amos Sr. My dad loved his family, he was a very warm man, and whenever I saw my dad, we would hug and kiss regardless of where we were. But my dad also had a sense of "do as I say, not as I do." And I tried to carry that and all of his warmth into the character.

There's a big misconception that I left the show, but actually I was fired. Good Times creator Norman Lear told me, "The show has been picked up for another season, but you won't be with us." He said the production staff regarded me as a disruptive factor. And that came from me fighting for script quality. The writers got tired of their lives being threatened and me threatening to bend parts of them that don't bend. So they killed the character off. Well, I wasn't working for them, I was working for the head director--[GOD]--so I didn't think me getting another acting job was gonna be a problem. Sure enough, soon after that, He dictated that I get cast as the adult Kunta Kinte in Roots. And I haven't looked back since."

TVFactFan · 09-04-2004, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vashti1999
"I think people responded to James Evans so strongly because he transcended ethnicity. I fashioned him after my own father, John Amos Sr. My dad loved his family, he was a very warm man, and whenever I saw my dad, we would hug and kiss regardless of where we were. But my dad also had a sense of "do as I say, not as I do." And I tried to carry that and all of his warmth into the character.

There's a big misconception that I left the show, but actually I was fired. Good Times creator Norman Lear told me, "The show has been picked up for another season, but you won't be with us." He said the production staff regarded me as a disruptive factor. And that came from me fighting for script quality. The writers got tired of their lives being threatened and me threatening to bend parts of them that don't bend. So they killed the character off. Well, I wasn't working for them, I was working for the head director--[GOD]--so I didn't think me getting another acting job was gonna be a problem. Sure enough, soon after that, He dictated that I get cast as the adult Kunta Kinte in Roots. And I haven't looked back since."

I wonder did the public know that back in the 70's or it is now just coming out that he was actually fired.

James"Thunder"Early · 09-04-2004, 08:14 PM

Thanks for posting that. I always thought he left on his own. He wanted too much control and he probably wanted to make the storylines revolve around him too much. when you are disruptive like that your bound to get fired.

TVFactFan · 09-04-2004, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by King Forrester
Thanks for posting that. I always thought he left on his own. He wanted too much control and he probably wanted to make the storylines revolve around him too much. when you are disruptive like that your bound to get fired.

Even in the 1976 Fall Preview Edition of TV Guide, it says John Amos has left the series. So maybe a lot of people didn't know he was fired in the 70's.

GeorgeWBushGOP · 09-05-2004, 11:41 AM

I was very young when the show was on but I remember it being explained to me that he left the show to go on to do other things. So the impression was he quit.

I remember my father explaining to me that the character died and not the actor. So I truly learned that TV was fake at that point even though I believed there was some Cookie Monster running around and that the tooth fairy was going to leave a lincoln under my pillow.

Being a kid J.J. was my favorite character but I did find myself not watching it anymore a few months after Amos left. I did see the rest of the series in syndication and the show really was not the same.

Even if Amos stayed if you do a show focusing on kids. The fun stops when the kids grow up. And those kids grew up fast!!

TVFactFan · 09-05-2004, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GeorgeWBushGOP
I was very young when the show was on but I remember it being explained to me that he left the show to go on to do other things. So the impression was he quit.

I remember my father explaining to me that the character died and not the actor. So I truly learned that TV was fake at that point even though I believed there was some Cookie Monster running around and that the tooth fairy was going to leave a lincoln under my pillow.

Being a kid J.J. was my favorite character but I did find myself not watching it anymore a few months after Amos left. I did see the rest of the series in syndication and the show really was not the same.

Even if Amos stayed if you do a show focusing on kids. The fun stops when the kids grow up. And those kids grew up fast!!

I see How J.J would appeal more to kids. But i was 13 when i first saw this show and it was syndication and the Father was the one who always stood out to me.

snl75 · 09-05-2004, 06:13 PM

it didnt matter if you liked him or disliked him james was a standout charether you certanlly never forgot him

Jrnygrl · 09-06-2004, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by snl75
it didnt matter if you liked him or disliked him james was a standout charether you certanlly never forgot him

I agree with you.

And what made him unforgettable is his character was needed in the show. I stopped watching after James left the show. I think Mr. Amos did the right thing. Good Times was a show that started out with a good premise, that being a family that had values and wanting more for their children, and the writers wanted a ghettofied (a new made up word) show with stereotypes, and because Mr. Amos wanted to fight for a better script he was fired.

He was right though, one door closed and another one opened, besides he is still working and Jimmie Walker will always be J.J.

Vashti1999 thanks for the post.

JeffRuss1972 · 07-12-2005, 01:28 AM

*bump*

isiahthomas · 07-23-2005, 02:08 PM

I didn't know John was fired from the show. Thanks for posting that Vashti1999.

Brian Damage · 07-23-2005, 02:39 PM

I always assumed he got fired.

TVFactFan · 07-23-2005, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isiahthomas

I didn't know John was fired from the show. Thanks for posting that Vashti1999.

yeah it was a 1976 Ebony Magazine Article that pissed Norman Lear off and caused him to fire him because of what John was saying in the article. A Ebony Article I'm still searching for.

Southern Hellraiser · 07-23-2005, 06:23 PM

[QUOTE]

Quote:

Originally Posted by isiahthomas

I didn't know John was fired from the show.QUOTE]

I didn't know that either. since that marathon came on, I've done fallen in love with the show.

TVFactFan · 07-23-2005, 09:24 PM

[QUOTE=mr. knowitall]

Quote:

I didn't know that either. since that marathon came on, I've done fallen in love with the show.

I'm glad because we can always use Good times fans on the Good Times Board

09-04-2004, 06:18 PM	#1
vashti1999 NY METS - #1 Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 14, 2003 Location: The world's greatest city - New York City Posts: 11,404	John Amos talks about being fired from Good Times Don't know if anybody's mentioned it yet, but on page 84 of the current VIBE magazine with Mase on the cover, there's a brief article on John Amos and he talks about being fired from Good Times. I'll post the quote in a minute.
	__________________ .

09-04-2004, 07:40 PM	#2
vashti1999 NY METS - #1 Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 14, 2003 Location: The world's greatest city - New York City Posts: 11,404	full John Amos quote from current VIBE magazine "I think people responded to James Evans so strongly because he transcended ethnicity. I fashioned him after my own father, John Amos Sr. My dad loved his family, he was a very warm man, and whenever I saw my dad, we would hug and kiss regardless of where we were. But my dad also had a sense of "do as I say, not as I do." And I tried to carry that and all of his warmth into the character. There's a big misconception that I left the show, but actually I was fired. Good Times creator Norman Lear told me, "The show has been picked up for another season, but you won't be with us." He said the production staff regarded me as a disruptive factor. And that came from me fighting for script quality. The writers got tired of their lives being threatened and me threatening to bend parts of them that don't bend. So they killed the character off. Well, I wasn't working for them, I was working for the head director--[GOD]--so I didn't think me getting another acting job was gonna be a problem. Sure enough, soon after that, He dictated that I get cast as the adult Kunta Kinte in Roots. And I haven't looked back since."

09-04-2004, 08:14 PM	#4
James"Thunder"Early Whoever's In New England Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 23, 2004 Location: The Apollo Posts: 7,088	Thanks for posting that. I always thought he left on his own. He wanted too much control and he probably wanted to make the storylines revolve around him too much. when you are disruptive like that your bound to get fired.

09-05-2004, 11:41 AM	#6
GeorgeWBushGOP Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 04, 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 802	I was very young when the show was on but I remember it being explained to me that he left the show to go on to do other things. So the impression was he quit. I remember my father explaining to me that the character died and not the actor. So I truly learned that TV was fake at that point even though I believed there was some Cookie Monster running around and that the tooth fairy was going to leave a lincoln under my pillow. Being a kid J.J. was my favorite character but I did find myself not watching it anymore a few months after Amos left. I did see the rest of the series in syndication and the show really was not the same. Even if Amos stayed if you do a show focusing on kids. The fun stops when the kids grow up. And those kids grew up fast!!

09-05-2004, 06:13 PM	#8
snl75 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2004 Location: in the formen basement watching snl Posts: 1,377	it didnt matter if you liked him or disliked him james was a standout charether you certanlly never forgot him

07-12-2005, 01:28 AM	#10
JeffRuss1972 70s Sitcoms Rule!!! Eternal Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 11, 2005 Location: Villa Rica, GA Posts: 1,257	bump

07-23-2005, 02:08 PM	#11
isiahthomas Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 20, 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 10,704	I didn't know John was fired from the show. Thanks for posting that Vashti1999.

07-23-2005, 02:39 PM	#12
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	I always assumed he got fired.