Here's a good project - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

hch · 09-08-2004, 08:50 AM

How about writing a book about "Good Times"? This book would go through the show in a season by season analysis and have a detailed episode guide, great pictures, good interviews with cast members and producers of the show. It would be dedicated to Esther Rolle's memory and it would give us, the fans, a quite comprehensive look at the show. Sort of what like author Chris Mann did for Three's Company.

jamesanthony · 09-08-2004, 09:55 AM

A good idea that may be about 10 years too late. Those kinds of books aren't selling as well now as they did before. Now I notice that the shows that have companion books that are selling well are current shows like Alias, Friends etc. I'm not sure a book about an old show would be considered profitable by a publishing house.

laneyday · 09-08-2004, 10:34 AM

I think it would particularly because the dvd's are such a success. There are a lot of die-hard Good Times fans out there that would love to buy the book. I, for one.

jamesanthony · 09-08-2004, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by laneyday
I think it would particularly because the dvd's are such a success. There are a lot of die-hard Good Times fans out there that would love to buy the book. I, for one.

I'd buy it too and I don't buy too many of those types of books, but I think that publishers wouldn't consider it to be profitable because it's an old show; I could be wrong though, it could be a windfall project. A better bet would be to create a website about the series. i think there is at least one already, but the stuff that would go into the book could go up on a comprehensive website.

I wonder how many of the actors would want to sit down and be interviwed for this book? Or if Esther Rolle's family would want to be involved and to what extent.

Where does an author start with a project like this? Contacting Norman Lear, Eric Monte and Mike Evans, CBS, whoever owns the rights to the series now?

laneyday · 09-08-2004, 07:46 PM

I think you're right on this one. It would do a lot better on a website. As far as getting those interviews, good luck on finding Mike Evans. I think he's off the face of the earth. He deliberately does not want to be found.

hch · 09-15-2004, 09:53 AM

I think it would be better as a comprehensive website. It would be informative, fun, and yet great for the success of the "Good Times" DVD's. I hope they release all of the seasons! They are almost done releasing "Sanford and Son" already (5th season coming soon and one season to go).

vashti1999 · 09-16-2004, 10:42 AM

Actually, it would probably be best if a book were packaged as a bonus with one of the dvd sets. If most people would be less likely to buy seasons 4-6 on dvd because John Amos is gone, they could boost sales of those seasons if they include some sort of detailed supplemental booklet (not necessarily a 200-page book) on the show's history.

jamesanthony · 09-16-2004, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vashti1999
Actually, it would probably be best if a book were packaged as a bonus with one of the dvd sets. If most people would be less likely to buy seasons 4-6 on dvd because John Amos is gone, they could boost sales of those seasons if they include some sort of detailed supplemental booklet (not necessarily a 200-page book) on the show's history.

It would be good if the people who are going to put out the DVDs logged onto this site to read our good ideas. This is a good strategy.

09-08-2004, 08:50 AM	#1
hch Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 07, 2001 Location: Montross, VA 22520 Posts: 983	Here's a good project How about writing a book about "Good Times"? This book would go through the show in a season by season analysis and have a detailed episode guide, great pictures, good interviews with cast members and producers of the show. It would be dedicated to Esther Rolle's memory and it would give us, the fans, a quite comprehensive look at the show. Sort of what like author Chris Mann did for Three's Company.
	__________________ "You don't own the rights or the patent on scuffling!" Willona from "Good Times"

09-15-2004, 09:53 AM	#6
hch Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 07, 2001 Location: Montross, VA 22520 Posts: 983	that's a good point I think it would be better as a comprehensive website. It would be informative, fun, and yet great for the success of the "Good Times" DVD's. I hope they release all of the seasons! They are almost done releasing "Sanford and Son" already (5th season coming soon and one season to go).

09-16-2004, 10:42 AM	#7
vashti1999 NY METS - #1 Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 14, 2003 Location: The world's greatest city - New York City Posts: 11,404	Actually, it would probably be best if a book were packaged as a bonus with one of the dvd sets. If most people would be less likely to buy seasons 4-6 on dvd because John Amos is gone, they could boost sales of those seasons if they include some sort of detailed supplemental booklet (not necessarily a 200-page book) on the show's history.
	__________________ .

09-08-2004, 09:55 AM	#2
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	A good idea that may be about 10 years too late. Those kinds of books aren't selling as well now as they did before. Now I notice that the shows that have companion books that are selling well are current shows like Alias, Friends etc. I'm not sure a book about an old show would be considered profitable by a publishing house.

09-08-2004, 10:34 AM	#3
laneyday Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 18, 2003 Location: brampton, ontario Posts: 313	I think it would particularly because the dvd's are such a success. There are a lot of die-hard Good Times fans out there that would love to buy the book. I, for one.

09-08-2004, 07:46 PM	#5
laneyday Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 18, 2003 Location: brampton, ontario Posts: 313	I think you're right on this one. It would do a lot better on a website. As far as getting those interviews, good luck on finding Mike Evans. I think he's off the face of the earth. He deliberately does not want to be found.