The Great "Good Times" Spinoff Debate - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Sal · 01-19-2005, 11:58 PM

One of the more interesting running debates that has been going on at this board for some time is the issue of whether "Good Times" is actually a spinoff or not. Our pal Solomon keeps insisting that it isn't, yet he stubbornly and mysteriously refuses to produce any significant concrete evidence to support his claim. Well I cannot wait any longer. Before your eyes, I will now finally prove to all of you that "Good Times" is, in fact, an actual spinoff, and not a bad one at that.

First, we have to define what a spinoff really is. According to what I read in "The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows: 1946-Present" (a fairly reliable source, don't ya think?), a spinoff is when one or more characters from one series are given a series of their own. There are essentially two types of spinoffs. One type involves characters that were regulars in a previous series (ex. "Rhoda", "Lou Grant", "Frasier", "Joey").The other type features characters who made only one or two appearances in a previous series, but were so popular with the viewers that they were given their own series (ex. "Maude", "Laverne & Shirley", "Mork & Mindy"). "Good Times" is of the first type.

Fans of "All In The Family" will fondly remember the episode where Edith's cousin Maude came to visit. A year later, she had her own series, where she employed a black housekeeper named Florida Evans. Florida worked there for one season before she too got her own series, which was, in fact, "Good Times". Sounds like a typical spinoff to me. But don't just take my word for it. In the book I mentioned above, on page 477, in its summary of "Good Times", the evidence is there in the first sentence in plain English:

" 'Good Times' is a spinoff of "Maude", which in turn is a spinoff of 'All In The Family' ". In case the message didn't get through, near the end of the book, in Appendix 7, there is a list of every spinoff ever made which includes---you guessed it---"Good Times".

Not convinced yet? Fine, here's even more evidence:

TV Guide: http://www.tvguide.com/tv/showguide/...ogramid=140891 (Read the part next to 'Premise')

Museum Of TV Archives: http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/G/.../goodtimes.htm

TV Tome: http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet...let/showid-602

I rest my case!

Mr. Television · 01-20-2005, 12:31 AM

I thought this debate was over.

Brian Damage · 01-20-2005, 12:36 AM

It'll never really end

Lady T · 01-20-2005, 12:41 AM

Yes, this will be a heated debate till the end of time (sigh) but honestly I think the whole thing is quite trivial

TVFactFan · 01-22-2005, 06:42 PM

It looks like there will be some S.O. members who will always feel GT is not a spinoff and some that will think GT is a spinoff. So the debate will always be ongoing.-lol

SimpsonsFan · 02-27-2005, 03:40 PM

Good Times clearly is a spin-off, whoever doesn't see that must be pretty stupid.

TVFactFan · 02-27-2005, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimpsonsFan

Good Times clearly is a spin-off, whoever doesn't see that must be pretty stupid.

Sorry you are wrong buddy

gilligan fanatic · 03-02-2005, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimpsonsFan

Good Times clearly is a spin-off, whoever doesn't see that must be pretty stupid.

I think you are right. Florida was on Maude so the character is a spin off.

TVFactFan · 03-02-2005, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gilligan fanatic

I think you are right. Florida was on Maude so the character is a spin off.

Sorry You're wrong

GARFIELDKOOL · 03-02-2005, 08:17 PM

I don't want to argue, TVShow A, but how do you figure Good Times ain't no spinoff from Maude? Yeah, Maude took place in NYC, GT Chicago. John Amos played Henry in Maude and James Sr in GT. The fact of the matter is both shows were produced by Norman Lear, Eric Monte, Mike Evans and Norman Lear got together and created Good Times. They spun Esther Rolle's character off. It's credited as a spinoff in the Hollywood books and by Norman Lear standards. So Good Times is a spinoff of Maude. No more debating.

GARFIELDKOOL · 03-02-2005, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVShow Analyzer

Sorry you are wrong buddy

I don't know why you are telling people they are wrong when the evidence is in front of you. If you don't think it is a spinoff, then explain yourself. Why isn't it a spinoff?

TVFactFan · 03-02-2005, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GARFIELDKOOL

I don't know why you are telling people they are wrong when the evidence is in front of you. If you don't think it is a spinoff, then explain yourself. Why isn't it a spinoff?

It was explained in a 1974 interview that GT was not a spinoff by Executive Producer. Plus GT was already created before there was ever a show called Maude. GT was created in 1971, Maude-1972-THE END

GARFIELDKOOL · 03-02-2005, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVShow Analyzer

It was explained in a 1974 interview that GT was not a spinoff by Executive Producer. Plus GT was already created before there was ever a show called Maude. GT was created in 1971, Maude-1972-THE END

Are you going to believe the 1974 interview? All this stuff is in front of you. it's credited as a spinoff by Hollywood standards. You have to go by hollywood standards. I know Good Times was created in 71. I saw the same E! True Hollywood Story. But, it is a spinoff. Eric Monte and Mike Evans wanted to make a show called the Black Family. But they teamed with Norman Lear and took Esther Rolle's character from Maude and SPUN her caharcter off. So therefore it IS a SPINOFF!

TVFactFan · 03-02-2005, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GARFIELDKOOL

Are you going to believe the 1974 interview? All this stuff is in front of you. it's credited as a spinoff by Hollywood standards. You have to go by hollywood standards. I know Good Times was created in 71. I saw the same E! True Hollywood Story. But, it is a spinoff. Eric Monte and Mike Evans wanted to make a show called the Black Family. But they teamed with Norman Lear and took Esther Rolle's character from Maude and SPUN her caharcter off. So therefore it IS a SPINOFF!

If you can give me a detailed answer as to why Florida was living in Chicago after working for Maude in NYC, I will call it a spinoff. Remember, your answer has to make sense.

Brian Damage · 03-02-2005, 09:07 PM

It's not about Chicago or NY it's about Florida Evans.

01-19-2005, 11:58 PM	#1
Sal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 20, 2001 Location: Oakville, Ont. Canada Posts: 6,150	The Great "Good Times" Spinoff Debate One of the more interesting running debates that has been going on at this board for some time is the issue of whether "Good Times" is actually a spinoff or not. Our pal Solomon keeps insisting that it isn't, yet he stubbornly and mysteriously refuses to produce any significant concrete evidence to support his claim. Well I cannot wait any longer. Before your eyes, I will now finally prove to all of you that "Good Times" is, in fact, an actual spinoff, and not a bad one at that. First, we have to define what a spinoff really is. According to what I read in "The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows: 1946-Present" (a fairly reliable source, don't ya think?), a spinoff is when one or more characters from one series are given a series of their own. There are essentially two types of spinoffs. One type involves characters that were regulars in a previous series (ex. "Rhoda", "Lou Grant", "Frasier", "Joey").The other type features characters who made only one or two appearances in a previous series, but were so popular with the viewers that they were given their own series (ex. "Maude", "Laverne & Shirley", "Mork & Mindy"). "Good Times" is of the first type. Fans of "All In The Family" will fondly remember the episode where Edith's cousin Maude came to visit. A year later, she had her own series, where she employed a black housekeeper named Florida Evans. Florida worked there for one season before she too got her own series, which was, in fact, "Good Times". Sounds like a typical spinoff to me. But don't just take my word for it. In the book I mentioned above, on page 477, in its summary of "Good Times", the evidence is there in the first sentence in plain English: " 'Good Times' is a spinoff of "Maude", which in turn is a spinoff of 'All In The Family' ". In case the message didn't get through, near the end of the book, in Appendix 7, there is a list of every spinoff ever made which includes---you guessed it---"Good Times". Not convinced yet? Fine, here's even more evidence: TV Guide: http://www.tvguide.com/tv/showguide/...ogramid=140891 (Read the part next to 'Premise') Museum Of TV Archives: http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/G/.../goodtimes.htm TV Tome: http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet...let/showid-602 I rest my case!
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01-20-2005, 12:31 AM	#2
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	I thought this debate was over.
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02-27-2005, 03:40 PM	#6
SimpsonsFan Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 22, 2004 Location: Buford, GA Posts: 838	Good Times clearly is a spin-off, whoever doesn't see that must be pretty stupid.
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01-20-2005, 12:36 AM	#3
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: 63,108	It'll never really end

01-20-2005, 12:41 AM	#4
Lady T Member Forum Star Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Posts: 17,360	Yes, this will be a heated debate till the end of time (sigh) but honestly I think the whole thing is quite trivial

01-22-2005, 06:42 PM	#5
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,950	It looks like there will be some S.O. members who will always feel GT is not a spinoff and some that will think GT is a spinoff. So the debate will always be ongoing.-lol

03-02-2005, 08:17 PM	#10
GARFIELDKOOL Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 02, 2004 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 7,204	I don't want to argue, TVShow A, but how do you figure Good Times ain't no spinoff from Maude? Yeah, Maude took place in NYC, GT Chicago. John Amos played Henry in Maude and James Sr in GT. The fact of the matter is both shows were produced by Norman Lear, Eric Monte, Mike Evans and Norman Lear got together and created Good Times. They spun Esther Rolle's character off. It's credited as a spinoff in the Hollywood books and by Norman Lear standards. So Good Times is a spinoff of Maude. No more debating.

03-02-2005, 09:07 PM	#15
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: 63,108	It's not about Chicago or NY it's about Florida Evans.