Catlover, more fun facts about Good Times that were found

[TVFactFan]

1. A Black Feminist Group was bothered that the Florida Evans character wasn;t working and that the show was based on a Poor Black Family when Good times first aired in 1974

2. Jimmy Walker admitted that he never had any close relationships with any of the cast members

3.There was lots of crying sessions among the female cast members because they were overwhelmed

4. Janet Dubious wasn't happy about the Willona character always coming and cracking a joke.

5. Tina Andrews, the girl who played Pregnant Henrietta, posed for Beauty of the Week in a 1978 Jet magazine

6.Esther rolle admitted that her problem was always with the character Jimmy walker portrayed, never Jimmy the actor

7. Tv guide, said that the episode Getting up the Rent, was the best episode of season 1 in April of 1974

8. Ralph Carter sung the same song on Soul Train on October 7, 1975 that he sung in the episode-"Rent Party". He didn;t do the dance though


1975 Ebony magazine
1978 Jet Magazine
1974 Tv guide, April 12-18

[Brian Damage]

Good finds.

[Jrnygrl]

Thanks for the post Solomon.

I can understand Janet's problem, I always had a problem with them having her come in and leaving by making jokes. A lot of the problems associated with the show was like Esther said, it wasn't with Jimmie as an actor, but the fact that the writers wanted a Minstral Show, and Jimmie caved in and gave it to them. You had a great core of actors who where given an opportunity to portray the African American family for the first time on television, as hard working decent people, who had a father that hustled and worked three jobs, a mother who stayed at home (like June Clever) and took care of her children and made sure that they had breakfast before they went to school, and had dreams for their life and children just like everyone else. The show was good about telling how hard life is for a family like the Evans, when there is so much bad life in the Ghetto and how the Evans made sure their family didn't let the Ghetto take them down, but survived for a better life ahead, and the writers did a good job with this, sometimes. But the writers also wanted a shucking and jiving show.

Don't get me wrong I love Good Times, but I think the writers took the show down when they gave Jimmie the hook, and that fish took the bait, and he sold the rest of the cast down the river because they were expendable at that point, because as we see they continued with the show around Jimmie after John was kicked out.

If you want to see what actors go through with writers of a sitcom you should check out "The Comeback" on HBO with Lisa Kudrow, it shows just what jerks writers are to actors, they just want you to say the words and get the laugh and compromise your principles.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Jrnygrl

Thanks for the post Solomon.

I can understand Janet's problem, I always had a problem with them having her come in and leaving by making jokes. A lot of the problems associated with the show was like Esther said, it wasn't with Jimmie as an actor, but the fact that the writers wanted a Minstral Show, and Jimmie caved in and gave it to them. You had a great core of actors who where given an opportunity to portray the African American family for the first time on television, as hard working decent people, who had a father that hustled and worked three jobs, a mother who stayed at home (like June Clever) and took care of her children and made sure that they had breakfast before they went to school, and had dreams for their life and children just like everyone else. The show was good about telling how hard life is for a family like the Evans, when there is so much bad life in the Ghetto and how the Evans made sure their family didn't let the Ghetto take them down, but survived for a better life ahead, and the writers did a good job with this, sometimes. But the writers also wanted a shucking and jiving show.

Don't get me wrong I love Good Times, but I think the writers took the show down when they gave Jimmie the hook, and that fish took the bait, and he sold the rest of the cast down the river because they were expendable at that point, because as we see they continued with the show around Jimmie after John was kicked out.

If you want to see what actors go through with writers of a sitcom you should check out "The Comeback" on HBO with Lisa Kudrow, it shows just what jerks writers are to actors, they just want you to say the words and get the laugh and compromise your principles.

Yeah during season 1, Willona always came in telling a joke

[Jinxey]

Originally Posted by RetroTVCollector

3.There was lots of crying sessions among the female cast members because they were overwhelmed

Even Bernadette????
I don't see why she would cry.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Jinxey

Even Bernadette????
I don't see why she would cry.

Yup all the female cast members

[hatwink]

Originally Posted by RetroTVCollector

1. A Black Feminist Group was bothered that the Florida Evans character wasn;t working and that the show was based on a Poor Black Family when Good times first aired in 1974

2. Jimmy Walker admitted that he never had any close relationships with any of the cast members

3.There was lots of crying sessions among the female cast members because they were overwhelmed

4. Janet Dubious wasn't happy about the Willona character always coming and cracking a joke.

5. Tina Andrews, the girl who played Pregnant Henrietta, posed for Beauty of the Week in a 1978 Jet magazine

6.Esther rolle admitted that her problem was always with the character Jimmy walker portrayed, never Jimmy the actor

7. Tv guide, said that the episode Getting up the Rent, was the best episode of season 1 in April of 1974

8. Ralph Carter sung the same song on Soul Train on October 7, 1975 that he sung in the episode-"Rent Party". He didn;t do the dance though


1975 Ebony magazine
1978 Jet Magazine
1974 Tv guide, April 12-18

Is that Tina Andrews pic available anywhere?

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by hatwink

Is that Tina Andrews pic available anywhere?

I have it, it's in my Magazine/TVguide Collection

[Ireneparalegal]

Remembering the 70's and how the women's movement was very strong, I can see why they felt that way. However, in this era, even though there are more women working more now, more so than back in those times, it doesn't seem to be such a negative stereotype anymore. Look at the wife on Everybody Loves Raymond, and other housewife characters. It is understood (not fully) that being a wife and stay at home mother IS WORK!!!! I loved my career, I enjoyed going out and making $$$$$$, being looked up to. When I had no choice but to work out of my home, I realized there is nothing wrong with being a mother and a stay at home mom at that. The work begins when the kids are up and doesn't end until they are asleep and I can lay down. No 9 to 5 job at home. It is hard, but such a wonderful feeling that I can tend to my kids who are 21, 16 and 3 years old respectively.

[TVFactFan]

bump

[catlover79]

Very interesting!

[Ireneparalegal]

That song by Ralph Carter "young and in love" was also released as a single. I hear it a few times on Sirius Satellite on the 70's channel.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

That song by Ralph Carter "young and in love" was also released as a single. I hear it a few times on Sirius Satellite on the 70's channel.

I'm going to see if I can by it tomorrow from FYE-lol

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by TheAnalyzer

I'm going to see if I can by it tomorrow from FYE-lol

WTF???

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

WTF???

If I go in there asking for song they would probably SLAP THE SH*T out of me-LOL-LOL