What the heck happened to Carl? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 03-11-2005, 11:43 AM

I always just assumed he died.

TVFactFan · 03-11-2005, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I always just assumed he died.

Honestly Brian, i think that's what viewers were supposed to assume

Lady T · 03-11-2005, 08:11 PM

To my understanding..didnt Florida divorce him?

TVFactFan · 03-11-2005, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady T

To my understanding..didnt Florida divorce him?

I don't think a divorce was ever mentioned

Lady T · 03-11-2005, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVShow Analyzer

I don't think a divorce was ever mentioned

Really! I thought I read somewhere that she left Carl and divorced him..oh well my mistake since I am not familiar with all the latter season episodes of Good Times...

Brian Damage · 03-11-2005, 08:43 PM

They did mention that Carl was sick so he and Florida stayed in the south. That was the last we heard of Carl.

Lady T · 03-12-2005, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

They did mention that Carl was sick so he and Florida stayed in the south. That was the last we heard of Carl.

Okay, that clears everything..thanks Brian

Edster2973 · 03-12-2005, 10:44 AM

I think what essentially happened is that the actor who played Carl (Moses Gunn) was fired from the show before Season 5 started since Esther Rolle opted not to return. They couldn't have had Carl around for Season 5 without Florida unless Florida was said to have been killed off, so they sent both away to the South. Since there was no Florida, there could not be a Carl. If Esther Rolle had stayed with the show for Season 5, I think Moses Gunn (Carl) would have also. I don't recall there being any negative reaction to his being put on the show. He clearly couldn't replace John Amos, but he might have had a place on the show if he had been given ample screen time to develop.

I suspect that Moses Gunn wasn't too pleased with his firing (would any of us blame him???) so he probably opted not to return once Esther Rolle did in Season 6. Rather than kill him off or have Florida divorce him, the producers chose to ignore him altogether since they were trying to get the show back on track. I think the producers thought that too much tragedy or sadness (and not enough COMEDY) was making the show a drag to watch. There was no clean, tidy way to handle Carl so they ignored the character altogether.

I don't know if this is true or not; I'm just piecing things together. It's what makes sense to me...

Anyone know different???

Ed

TVFactFan · 03-12-2005, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edster2973

I think what essentially happened is that the actor who played Carl (Moses Gunn) was fired from the show before Season 5 started since Esther Rolle opted not to return. They couldn't have had Carl around for Season 5 without Florida unless Florida was said to have been killed off, so they sent both away to the South. Since there was no Florida, there could not be a Carl. If Esther Rolle had stayed with the show for Season 5, I think Moses Gunn (Carl) would have also. I don't recall there being any negative reaction to his being put on the show. He clearly couldn't replace John Amos, but he might have had a place on the show if he had been given ample screen time to develop.

I suspect that Moses Gunn wasn't too pleased with his firing (would any of us blame him???) so he probably opted not to return once Esther Rolle did in Season 6. Rather than kill him off or have Florida divorce him, the producers chose to ignore him altogether since they were trying to get the show back on track. I think the producers thought that too much tragedy or sadness (and not enough COMEDY) was making the show a drag to watch. There was no clean, tidy way to handle Carl so they ignored the character altogether.

I don't know if this is true or not; I'm just piecing things together. It's what makes sense to me...

Anyone know different???

Ed

I don't think Moses Gunn character was supposed to replace the John Amos character, he was just added to the show to play the role of Florida's new Boyfriend. I think everyone knew At the time that the James Evans character could not be replace since he was on the show for 3 straight seasons.

Edster2973 · 03-12-2005, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVShow Analyzer

I don't think Moses Gunn character was supposed to replace the John Amos character, he was just added to the show to play the role of Florida's new Boyfriend. I think everyone knew At the time that the James Evans character could not be replace since he was on the show for 3 straight seasons.

He was meant to fill the hole that John Amos left since Esther Rolle wanted to have a male figure. He was to be the new male figure, not the new father. No one can replace a father, or a mother either. John Amos was irreplacable.

But does my theory about his departure make sense at all? I'm surprised what you commented on was on how he wasn't there to replace John Amos. What about the other stuff?

Ed

TVFactFan · 03-12-2005, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edster2973

He was meant to fill the hole that John Amos left since Esther Rolle wanted to have a male figure. He was to be the new male figure, not the new father. No one can replace a father, or a mother either. John Amos was irreplacable.

But does my theory about his departure make sense at all? I'm surprised what you commented on was on how he wasn't there to replace John Amos. What about the other stuff?

Ed

Yeah the other things you said made sense about the Carl character. There was no way he could exist without Florida being on the show.

Brian Damage · 03-12-2005, 12:20 PM

Solomon, how could you say Carl wasn't created to replace James? Of course he was.

TVFactFan · 03-12-2005, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Solomon, how could you say Carl wasn't created to replace James? Of course he was.

I disagree, there was no way the James Evans character was going to be replaced. He was on the show too long. CArl was just an addition to the show not a replacement.

Edster2973 · 03-12-2005, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVShow Analyzer

I disagree, there was no way the James Evans character was going to be replaced. He was on the show too long. CArl was just an addition to the show not a replacement.

Come on Solomon. Let's not let this evolve into another squabble like whether Good Times is a spin-off or not. The truth of the matter is, if John Amos had never been fired and James Evans was never killed off, the Carl character would never have surfaced. Since James' death left a hole in that family's nucleus, Carl was brought on to try to fill it. Doesn't that qualify as a replacement of sorts? You can't really say he was James Evans # 2, since a father is irreplacable, but clearly, there was a void left with the character's death, and Carl was created in an attempt to fill it.

Ed

TVFactFan · 03-12-2005, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edster2973

Come on Solomon. Let's not let this evolve into another squabble like whether Good Times is a spin-off or not. The truth of the matter is, if John Amos had never been fired and James Evans was never killed off, the Carl character would never have surfaced. Since James' death left a hole in that family's nucleus, Carl was brought on to try to fill it. Doesn't that qualify as a replacement of sorts? You can't really say he was James Evans # 2, since a father is irreplacable, but clearly, there was a void left with the character's death, and Carl was created in an attempt to fill it.

Ed

I'm not turning this into A DEBATE, i'm just saying I never thought Carl was added to fill the Hole in the show left by John Amos.

03-11-2005, 11:43 AM	#1
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	What the heck happened to Carl? I always just assumed he died.
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

03-12-2005, 10:44 AM	#8
Edster2973 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 19, 2003 Location: Somerset, Massachusetts, USA Posts: 951	I think what essentially happened is that the actor who played Carl (Moses Gunn) was fired from the show before Season 5 started since Esther Rolle opted not to return. They couldn't have had Carl around for Season 5 without Florida unless Florida was said to have been killed off, so they sent both away to the South. Since there was no Florida, there could not be a Carl. If Esther Rolle had stayed with the show for Season 5, I think Moses Gunn (Carl) would have also. I don't recall there being any negative reaction to his being put on the show. He clearly couldn't replace John Amos, but he might have had a place on the show if he had been given ample screen time to develop. I suspect that Moses Gunn wasn't too pleased with his firing (would any of us blame him???) so he probably opted not to return once Esther Rolle did in Season 6. Rather than kill him off or have Florida divorce him, the producers chose to ignore him altogether since they were trying to get the show back on track. I think the producers thought that too much tragedy or sadness (and not enough COMEDY) was making the show a drag to watch. There was no clean, tidy way to handle Carl so they ignored the character altogether. I don't know if this is true or not; I'm just piecing things together. It's what makes sense to me... Anyone know different??? Ed
	__________________ save water... shower with a friend...

03-11-2005, 08:11 PM	#3
Lady T Member Forum Star Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Posts: 17,361	To my understanding..didnt Florida divorce him?

03-11-2005, 08:43 PM	#6
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	They did mention that Carl was sick so he and Florida stayed in the south. That was the last we heard of Carl.

03-12-2005, 12:20 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	Solomon, how could you say Carl wasn't created to replace James? Of course he was.