Florida: A bad mother? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 09-25-2005, 03:24 PM

Yes, we all know Florida ran off to Arizona with Carl. She placed Willona as their guardian while she was away. Willona was a wild, single lady when Florida left. Why leave her responsible for her kids. Plus, as we saw, Willona had an opportunity to get married. If she did marry Frank, she would've got herself and Penny out of the ghetto. The Evans' would've been left behind. JJ and Thelma were older, but Michael was only 16 with no parental figure in his life. Plus, Florida left the oddball, slacker JJ to become the main bread winner of the family.

Ireneparalegal · 09-25-2005, 03:36 PM

Bad? Mmmm, maybe not, but she was being two-faced by saying one thing when James was alive and then doing another when he was dead. The children couldn't be left alone in the ghetto, but it was okay when she upped and went to Arizona?

JeffRuss1972 · 09-25-2005, 03:43 PM

Yeah, even Esther Rolle did not like how they handled the situation with her character. According to The Great TV Sitcom Book(1980), Rolle was incensed with the way the split was handled: "A mother just wouldn't do that. It's wrong, terribly wrong." She even had comments on the fact of Willona adopting Penny. Rolle---who seemed to be watching the show's every move--- said she couldn't understand Willona's adopting a child when she was never home. "This is a reflection on Social Service!" Rolle roared.

Brian Damage · 09-25-2005, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Bad? Mmmm, maybe not, but she was being two-faced by saying one thing when James was alive and then doing another when he was dead. The children couldn't be left alone in the ghetto, but it was okay when she upped and went to Arizona?

That to me is being a bad mother. Yes, when she was around, she was loving and taught her kids and James to do the right thing, but abandoning her kids for a man was low.

Brieannas21 · 09-25-2005, 03:50 PM

I don't think she was a bad mother, She told Willona to keep an eye out not stand watch over them.

Plus you have to realize that they were grown, JJ was in his 20's and Thelma was in her 20's when Florida left and Michael was 17/18 probably because when Florida got back he was in college. So they were old enough to take care of themselves.

And just because you're single and dating doesn't mean that your wild and out having sex with every man you go out on a date with.

So no Florida wasn't a "Bad mother." I thought she was a great mother.

Brian Damage · 09-25-2005, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brieannas21

I don't think she was a bad mother, She told Willona to keep an eye out not stand watch over them.

Plus you have to realize that they were grown, JJ was in his 20's and Thelma was in her 20's when Florida left and Michael was 17/18 probably because when Florida got back he was in college. So they were old enough to take care of themselves.

And just because you're single and dating doesn't mean that your wild and out having sex with every man you go out on a date with.

So no Florida wasn't a "Bad mother." I thought she was a great mother.

I see your points, but she didn't exactly leave them in the safe suburbs of Chicago. She left them in a dangerous ghetto to fend for themselves.

Brieannas21 · 09-25-2005, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I see your points, but she didn't exactly leave them in the safe suburbs of Chicago. She left them in a dangerous ghetto to fend for themselves.

Were they lived all their lives, it's not like they were new to the projects. They were adults, you can't baby your kids forever. When your kids are grown you have to start living for yourself.

Michael JJ and Thelma could have moved to AZ but they didn't want too. They wanted to stay in Chicago.

Ireneparalegal · 09-25-2005, 04:06 PM

a bad mother? no. a woman who was maybe being a little selfish. What was the purpose of leaving your kids behind when they all could be a family elsewhere? I can't see myself taking care of the apartment when it was so hard when James was alive. I am sure the rent raised some in the time they had been there. Michael didn't work. Thelma didn't work. JJ could not have made that much, especially since he spent so much on clothes. I don't get it.

GARFIELDKOOL · 09-25-2005, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I see your points, but she didn't exactly leave them in the safe suburbs of Chicago. She left them in a dangerous ghetto to fend for themselves.

The suburbs aren't exactly safe. I know the storyline stupid, but Florida was a good mother, if anything, too overprotective.

GeeBee · 09-25-2005, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffRuss1972

Yeah, even Esther Rolle did not like how they handled the situation with her character. According to The Great TV Sitcom Book(1980), Rolle was incensed with the way the split was handled: "A mother just wouldn't do that. It's wrong, terribly wrong."

I wonder what she expected them to do when she quit the show.

MzDiva70 · 09-25-2005, 04:19 PM

i dont think so.. she came back for Thelma's wedding and stayed.. but what happened to Carl? why didnt come back with her? or did he passed way from Lung Cancer?

Brian Damage · 09-25-2005, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MzDiva70

i dont think so.. she came back for Thelma's wedding and stayed.. but what happened to Carl? why didnt come back with her? or did he passed way from Lung Cancer?

A question that sadly has no answer.

JeffRuss1972 · 09-25-2005, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeeBee

I wonder what she expected them to do when she quit the show.

Good point. I guess she should be glad they didn't kill her off. At least she could still come back.

Brieannas21 · 09-25-2005, 05:53 PM

Her children were grown adults, why is it such a bad thing that she went off to do something that made her happy.

If you all remember Florida wanted her kids to go down to AZ but they decided to stay in chicago.

You have to let go sometimes, you can't watch over and take care of your grown children, they have to learn to do somethings on their own.

mstewart · 09-25-2005, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffRuss1972

Yeah, even Esther Rolle did not like how they handled the situation with her character. According to The Great TV Sitcom Book(1980), Rolle was incensed with the way the split was handled: "A mother just wouldn't do that. It's wrong, terribly wrong." She even had comments on the fact of Willona adopting Penny. Rolle---who seemed to be watching the show's every move--- said she couldn't understand Willona's adopting a child when she was never home. "This is a reflection on Social Service!" Rolle roared.

I read the same thing from that book as well. Esther was unhappy on the show and when she came back to me her acting on the show was not quite the same. The whole shift on J.J. and the negative images he put out was bad and to kill the father off was bad instead of trying to work things out with John Amos. He admitted himself that he did not handle the battles he had with Norman Lear and the producers very well. The nail in the coffin was the way the show handled Florida's departure. The Florida Evans we all came to know would not had up and left her family like that. Yes, J.J. and Thelma were legal adults and Michael was the only one who was still a minor. Good Times was never the same after John Amos left. Florida was an outstanding mom and brought realism to that role. Even the writers stated that after the show ended they felt as though they did something wrong.

09-25-2005, 03:24 PM	#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	Florida: A bad mother? Yes, we all know Florida ran off to Arizona with Carl. She placed Willona as their guardian while she was away. Willona was a wild, single lady when Florida left. Why leave her responsible for her kids. Plus, as we saw, Willona had an opportunity to get married. If she did marry Frank, she would've got herself and Penny out of the ghetto. The Evans' would've been left behind. JJ and Thelma were older, but Michael was only 16 with no parental figure in his life. Plus, Florida left the oddball, slacker JJ to become the main bread winner of the family.
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

09-25-2005, 03:36 PM	#2
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Bad? Mmmm, maybe not, but she was being two-faced by saying one thing when James was alive and then doing another when he was dead. The children couldn't be left alone in the ghetto, but it was okay when she upped and went to Arizona?
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

09-25-2005, 03:43 PM	#3
JeffRuss1972 70s Sitcoms Rule!!! Eternal Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 11, 2005 Location: Villa Rica, GA Posts: 1,257	Yeah, even Esther Rolle did not like how they handled the situation with her character. According to The Great TV Sitcom Book(1980), Rolle was incensed with the way the split was handled: "A mother just wouldn't do that. It's wrong, terribly wrong." She even had comments on the fact of Willona adopting Penny. Rolle---who seemed to be watching the show's every move--- said she couldn't understand Willona's adopting a child when she was never home. "This is a reflection on Social Service!" Rolle roared.
	__________________ Previously JalanRuss for a SHORT time, but got my OLD Username Back! Hello Again

09-25-2005, 03:50 PM	#5
Brieannas21 Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 05, 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 9,792	I don't think she was a bad mother, She told Willona to keep an eye out not stand watch over them. Plus you have to realize that they were grown, JJ was in his 20's and Thelma was in her 20's when Florida left and Michael was 17/18 probably because when Florida got back he was in college. So they were old enough to take care of themselves. And just because you're single and dating doesn't mean that your wild and out having sex with every man you go out on a date with. So no Florida wasn't a "Bad mother." I thought she was a great mother.

09-25-2005, 04:06 PM	#8
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	a bad mother? no. a woman who was maybe being a little selfish. What was the purpose of leaving your kids behind when they all could be a family elsewhere? I can't see myself taking care of the apartment when it was so hard when James was alive. I am sure the rent raised some in the time they had been there. Michael didn't work. Thelma didn't work. JJ could not have made that much, especially since he spent so much on clothes. I don't get it.

09-25-2005, 04:19 PM	#11
MzDiva70 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 23, 2001 Location: New Brtiain, Connecticut Posts: 7	i dont think so.. she came back for Thelma's wedding and stayed.. but what happened to Carl? why didnt come back with her? or did he passed way from Lung Cancer?

09-25-2005, 05:53 PM	#14
Brieannas21 Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 05, 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 9,792	Her children were grown adults, why is it such a bad thing that she went off to do something that made her happy. If you all remember Florida wanted her kids to go down to AZ but they decided to stay in chicago. You have to let go sometimes, you can't watch over and take care of your grown children, they have to learn to do somethings on their own.