Florida/"Good Times" mystery - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

LPBear · 03-01-2001, 01:14 AM

I saw "Florida's Departure" for the first time since 1974 yesterday (whew!) and watched with great interest. It was stated that Florida was quitting her job because her husband Henry got a big promotion (he's a fireman) and she wouldn't need to work any longer, and could stay home with her children.

So how the you-know-what did Henry the fireman suddenly become James the janitor, and how did the Evans family go from being middle-class New Yorkers to dirt-poor Chicago project-dwellers in a matter of a few days? (Actually, I think "Good Times" debuted BEFORE Florida's last appearance on "Maude".)

I know producers/writers sometimes take great dramatic license, especially when spinning off characters, but I would expect a bit more from Norman Lear.

Pitooey · 03-03-2001, 02:00 PM

I never knew this. That's bad. He should have continued with Florida leaving the Maude show exactly as she did. Then spin off to Good times and continue from there.

ThomasE · 03-06-2001, 12:19 AM

I have noticed this for years. James went from being a fireman to a Janitor. They messed up there. The family could have at least moved to Chicago rather than just saying that they lived there all those years because Florida and Henry(James) lived in NY.

ThomasE · 03-06-2001, 12:29 AM

LP Bear. I checked it out and you are right. Good Times airied 2/1/74 and "Florida's Goodbye aired 2/5/74.

Quote:

Originally posted by LPBear:
I saw "Florida's Departure" for the first time since 1974 yesterday (whew!) and watched with great interest. It was stated that Florida was quitting her job because her husband Henry got a big promotion (he's a fireman) and she wouldn't need to work any longer, and could stay home with her children.

So how the you-know-what did Henry the fireman suddenly become James the janitor, and how did the Evans family go from being middle-class New Yorkers to dirt-poor Chicago project-dwellers in a matter of a few days? (Actually, I think "Good Times" debuted BEFORE Florida's last appearance on "Maude".)

I know producers/writers sometimes take great dramatic license, especially when spinning off characters, but I would expect a bit more from Norman Lear.
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trm37 · 03-07-2001, 06:36 AM

You are so funny.I laughed so hard when I read this post.Well let's remember this is fantasy.Mayby they moved to Chicago because Henry-James lost his job because he could not handle his new promotion to whatever a fireman could be promoted to,and Florida flew back to New York to pick up her dust mop to clean their new ghetto apt in Chicago

------------------

trm37

ThomasE · 03-13-2001, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by trm37:
You are so funny.I laughed so hard when I read this post.Well let's remember this is fantasy.Mayby they moved to Chicago because Henry-James lost his job because he could not handle his new promotion to whatever a fireman could be promoted to,and Florida flew back to New York to pick up her dust mop to clean their new ghetto apt in Chicago

Ha Ha Ha1 OMG. That is so funny. Where did you get that?

Sean Snow · 09-08-2001, 12:41 PM

Maybe he burned out one to many buildings?

And the Henry/James thing I guess could make sense. A lot of people go by two names, Like say, a Dorothy Sue. Some might call her Sue, or Dorothy.

So, it's Henry James?

boechsner · 09-09-2001, 12:00 AM

Nope that statement is wrong. Good Times did not debut until February 8, 1974. Believe me, February 8th is correct. I checked old issues of TV Guide and on February 1, 1974, CBS aired other programs. The week of February 8th, TV Guide ran an ad for it's premiere. Back then TV Guide usually never ran ads for programs.

Numerous sources are wrong about the debut date of Good Times. However, TV Guide and the book Total Television, back me up.

09-20-2001, 09:13 PM

It's a horrid show and the supposedly enlightened Norman Lear should be ashamed of himself for turning the hardships of ghetto life into a comedy with the intention of soothing well-to-do (largely white) tv executives with the notion that the entire country would find this hah-ha funny.

I'm sorry to step on any toes. This issue has perpetually bugged me since I was little b/c one of my friends lived in a public housing project and her life was not oneliners.

TVFactFan · 08-17-2002, 08:33 PM

I agree with the statement of how did florida and james all of a sudden become poor in chicago. I really don't considered good times a spinoff of maude because the transition makes no sense vat all. Plus florida never makes any reference back to maude once good times started. more like a crossover than a spinoff

SOAPDYNASTY · 08-17-2002, 11:33 PM

Here is my take on the Henry(James) names. Well James dads name on good times was Henry. So maybe he was name after his dad. His 1st name was James and his middle name was Henry. So when he was on Maude Florida would call him by his middle name Henry. and then on good times by his 1st name James Henry Evans.

About the job maybe he lost it? or about them in New York city I don't know but all this info don't add up .... Anyways it was nice to have them part of the Maude show.

TVFactFan · 08-17-2002, 11:43 PM

I just feel that florida could have made some reference back to maude when good times started-like saying to james-i sure miss working for maude- feel that would make it a real spinoff instead of a crossover.

SOAPDYNASTY · 08-17-2002, 11:53 PM

It was a mystery but i think Maude should have made a crossover to the Good Times show and see her friend florida. That would have been nice to see.

TVJunkie101 · 08-25-2002, 12:29 AM

It would've been nice to see a crossover of sorts, too bad Maude couldn't have showed up for James' funeral. I don't know the dates off hand, but was "Maude" still on when the funeral episodes aired?

TVFactFan · 08-25-2002, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TVJunkie101
It would've been nice to see a crossover of sorts, too bad Maude couldn't have showed up for James' funeral. I don't know the dates off hand, but was "Maude" still on when the funeral episodes aired?

Yeah Maude was still on James died in 76, Maude ended in April of 78. Yeah but it would ave been nice to see some type of crossover bewteen the shows

03-01-2001, 01:14 AM	#1
LPBear Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 27, 2000 Posts: 6	Florida/"Good Times" mystery I saw "Florida's Departure" for the first time since 1974 yesterday (whew!) and watched with great interest. It was stated that Florida was quitting her job because her husband Henry got a big promotion (he's a fireman) and she wouldn't need to work any longer, and could stay home with her children. So how the you-know-what did Henry the fireman suddenly become James the janitor, and how did the Evans family go from being middle-class New Yorkers to dirt-poor Chicago project-dwellers in a matter of a few days? (Actually, I think "Good Times" debuted BEFORE Florida's last appearance on "Maude".) I know producers/writers sometimes take great dramatic license, especially when spinning off characters, but I would expect a bit more from Norman Lear.

09-20-2001, 09:13 PM	#9
Pioneer Grrrl Guest Posts: n/a	It's a horrid show and the supposedly enlightened Norman Lear should be ashamed of himself for turning the hardships of ghetto life into a comedy with the intention of soothing well-to-do (largely white) tv executives with the notion that the entire country would find this hah-ha funny. I'm sorry to step on any toes. This issue has perpetually bugged me since I was little b/c one of my friends lived in a public housing project and her life was not oneliners.
Pioneer Grrrl Guest Posts: n/a

08-17-2002, 08:33 PM	#10
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,950	Poor Transition to Good Times I agree with the statement of how did florida and james all of a sudden become poor in chicago. I really don't considered good times a spinoff of maude because the transition makes no sense vat all. Plus florida never makes any reference back to maude once good times started. more like a crossover than a spinoff

08-17-2002, 11:33 PM	#11
SOAPDYNASTY GIMME A BREAK Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 17, 2002 Location: RI Posts: 285	Here is my take on the Henry(James) names. Well James dads name on good times was Henry. So maybe he was name after his dad. His 1st name was James and his middle name was Henry. So when he was on Maude Florida would call him by his middle name Henry. and then on good times by his 1st name James Henry Evans. About the job maybe he lost it? or about them in New York city I don't know but all this info don't add up .... Anyways it was nice to have them part of the Maude show. Attached Images

08-25-2002, 12:29 AM	#14
TVJunkie101 Member...you 'member? Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 2,838	It would've been nice to see a crossover of sorts, too bad Maude couldn't have showed up for James' funeral. I don't know the dates off hand, but was "Maude" still on when the funeral episodes aired?
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03-03-2001, 02:00 PM	#2
Pitooey Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 15, 2001 Location: Rocking in Transylvania. Posts: 15,042	I never knew this. That's bad. He should have continued with Florida leaving the Maude show exactly as she did. Then spin off to Good times and continue from there.

03-06-2001, 12:19 AM	#3
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	I have noticed this for years. James went from being a fireman to a Janitor. They messed up there. The family could have at least moved to Chicago rather than just saying that they lived there all those years because Florida and Henry(James) lived in NY.

03-07-2001, 06:36 AM	#5
trm37 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 06, 2001 Location: Indianapolis Indiana usa Posts: 16	You are so funny.I laughed so hard when I read this post.Well let's remember this is fantasy.Mayby they moved to Chicago because Henry-James lost his job because he could not handle his new promotion to whatever a fireman could be promoted to,and Florida flew back to New York to pick up her dust mop to clean their new ghetto apt in Chicago ------------------ trm37

09-08-2001, 12:41 PM	#7
Sean Snow moo Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,407	Maybe he burned out one to many buildings? And the Henry/James thing I guess could make sense. A lot of people go by two names, Like say, a Dorothy Sue. Some might call her Sue, or Dorothy. So, it's Henry James?

09-09-2001, 12:00 AM	#8
boechsner Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 2,212	Nope that statement is wrong. Good Times did not debut until February 8, 1974. Believe me, February 8th is correct. I checked old issues of TV Guide and on February 1, 1974, CBS aired other programs. The week of February 8th, TV Guide ran an ad for it's premiere. Back then TV Guide usually never ran ads for programs. Numerous sources are wrong about the debut date of Good Times. However, TV Guide and the book Total Television, back me up.

08-17-2002, 11:43 PM	#12
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,950	I just feel that florida could have made some reference back to maude when good times started-like saying to james-i sure miss working for maude- feel that would make it a real spinoff instead of a crossover.

08-17-2002, 11:53 PM	#13
SOAPDYNASTY GIMME A BREAK Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 17, 2002 Location: RI Posts: 285	It was a mystery but i think Maude should have made a crossover to the Good Times show and see her friend florida. That would have been nice to see.