Esther Rolle comments on her Return to Good Times in 1978 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JeffRuss1972 · 10-02-2005, 07:37 PM

The following is what Esther Rolle had to say about returning to Good Times in 1978 after being off the show for the 1977-78 season:

"There were a lot of things that I was dissatisfied with. Well, CBS fixed the things that were troubling me the most. They agreed to my terms. Having gotten all those concessions, how could I turn them down?" Her demands were to have the producers replaced, to give herself a voice in "script consultation," and to put J.J. into the background.
"I must admit," she said, "there was a bit of practicality behind my decision to come back. Having been off regular salary for a year, my funds were getting depleted." She went on. "They are suppose to make J.J. a more meaningful character. They say they'll take some of that junk off him and dress him a little differently. They say they'll try to make him more intelligent. Personally, I don't know how intelligent they can make him. After all, you can't get blood from a turnip. But we're sure gonna try. Basically, we hope to put the show back on the foundation it started on. Instead of using me as a stage prop, the show will revolve around me.
"I just hope," she said, "it isn't too late to make the show work."

Brian Damage · 10-02-2005, 09:07 PM

Wow, she really laid into JJ. If if I were Jimmie Walker, I'd be insulted.

Brieannas21 · 10-02-2005, 09:41 PM

I find it hard to believe that she needed the money since she did two movies during the time she was off of Good Times.

Where did you find this interview? It seems like an odd interview to me.

JeffRuss1972 · 10-02-2005, 11:18 PM

These were quotes from The Great TV Sitcom Book by Rick Mitz(1980). Not sure where the interview came from. Found it interesting, though.

mstewart · 10-03-2005, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Wow, she really laid into JJ. If if I were Jimmie Walker, I'd be insulted.

She was not talking about Jimmie Walker it was the J.J. character. His antics were too out there and it had a 70s version of Amos and Andy. Unfortunately the damage was done when John Amos was fired and Esther leaving the following season. The season she came the show ran its course and it was too late to repair what was broken by making the show a parentless show. Esther was in her perfect right for wanting the show to have a more positive influence on African Americans.

TVFactFan · 10-03-2005, 09:28 AM

She was 100% right, if the J.J character was slightly ******** for 5 years, how can he chnaged into an intelligent man in the sixth year? Like she said, the damage was already done.

ThomasE · 10-05-2005, 11:51 PM

On one the linear notes from the Columbia House release of Good Times, It talks about how Esther Rolle said that the show would more focused on her and not a stage prop. It also said that the producers were replaced as well. I do believe that her funds probably were disappearing as well regardless of the two movies. She probably was not paid yet. Who knows?

I definitely applaude her for coming back because the show was getting tired on my opinion. I would have been a shame if the series and last episode ended without her. Uggh!

GeorgeWBushGOP · 10-06-2005, 02:52 PM

Sorry Esther I thought the show was supposed to be a COMEDY.

The J.J. character made that show a megahit. TV isn't supposed to be realistic. It is fictional.

Lets make JJ serious. and make him dress tame.

And after this season we will be gone for good.

TVFactFan · 10-06-2005, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeorgeWBushGOP

Sorry Esther I thought the show was supposed to be a COMEDY.

The J.J. character made that show a megahit. TV isn't supposed to be realistic. It is fictional.

Lets make JJ serious. and make him dress tame.

And after this season we will be gone for good.

I wouldn;t say Megahit because the show was never in the top 5 and also it was just ******** J.J who was the reason for the early success, it was the cast as a whole

GeorgeWBushGOP · 10-06-2005, 03:37 PM

I love how you use the word "******" so loosely!!

I don't care for Jimmy Walker that much. But when this show was in first run I was a child. and Jimmy was the person who caught my attention. so I imagine it was the same for most people which was actually obvious.

This show without JJ wouldn't have made it 13 episodes. It was a comedy. Period.

TVFactFan · 10-06-2005, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeorgeWBushGOP

I love how you use the word "******" so loosely!!

I don't care for Jimmy Walker that much. But when this show was in first run I was a child. and Jimmy was the person who caught my attention. so I imagine it was the same for most people which was actually obvious.

This show without JJ wouldn't have made it 13 episodes. It was a comedy. Period.

I think just appealed to KIDS. I'm sure if Good times premeired at the age you are now u would hate watching J.J

GeorgeWBushGOP · 10-06-2005, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroTVCollector

I think just appealed to KIDS. I'm sure if Good times premeired at the age you are now u would hate watching J.J

I think he gave adults an URKEL like amusement. When JJ got serious the show went down the tubes.

bansogirl · 10-07-2005, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeorgeWBushGOP

I think he gave adults an URKEL like amusement. When JJ got serious the show went down the tubes.

Speaking of that, I wonder what it would have been like if they had a show like "Family Matters" back then. I am sure that ppl would have complained about Urkel as much as they complained about JJ

TVFactFan · 10-07-2005, 07:15 PM

I don;t think there were any Black Nerds in the 70's

Rocknoggin · 10-08-2005, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeorgeWBushGOP

I love how you use the word "******" so loosely!!

And I love how you embrace political correctness when it serves your needs to belittle someone that you know meant no harm.

10-02-2005, 07:37 PM	#1
JeffRuss1972 70s Sitcoms Rule!!! Eternal Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 11, 2005 Location: Villa Rica, GA Posts: 1,257	Esther Rolle comments on her Return to Good Times in 1978 The following is what Esther Rolle had to say about returning to Good Times in 1978 after being off the show for the 1977-78 season: "There were a lot of things that I was dissatisfied with. Well, CBS fixed the things that were troubling me the most. They agreed to my terms. Having gotten all those concessions, how could I turn them down?" Her demands were to have the producers replaced, to give herself a voice in "script consultation," and to put J.J. into the background. "I must admit," she said, "there was a bit of practicality behind my decision to come back. Having been off regular salary for a year, my funds were getting depleted." She went on. "They are suppose to make J.J. a more meaningful character. They say they'll take some of that junk off him and dress him a little differently. They say they'll try to make him more intelligent. Personally, I don't know how intelligent they can make him. After all, you can't get blood from a turnip. But we're sure gonna try. Basically, we hope to put the show back on the foundation it started on. Instead of using me as a stage prop, the show will revolve around me. "I just hope," she said, "it isn't too late to make the show work."
	__________________ Previously JalanRuss for a SHORT time, but got my OLD Username Back! Hello Again

10-02-2005, 09:07 PM	#2
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	Wow, she really laid into JJ. If if I were Jimmie Walker, I'd be insulted.
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

10-05-2005, 11:51 PM	#7
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	I believe that there is truth to that article. On one the linear notes from the Columbia House release of Good Times, It talks about how Esther Rolle said that the show would more focused on her and not a stage prop. It also said that the producers were replaced as well. I do believe that her funds probably were disappearing as well regardless of the two movies. She probably was not paid yet. Who knows? I definitely applaude her for coming back because the show was getting tired on my opinion. I would have been a shame if the series and last episode ended without her. Uggh!

10-02-2005, 09:41 PM	#3
Brieannas21 Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 05, 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 9,792	I find it hard to believe that she needed the money since she did two movies during the time she was off of Good Times. Where did you find this interview? It seems like an odd interview to me.

10-02-2005, 11:18 PM	#4
JeffRuss1972 70s Sitcoms Rule!!! Eternal Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 11, 2005 Location: Villa Rica, GA Posts: 1,257	These were quotes from The Great TV Sitcom Book by Rick Mitz(1980). Not sure where the interview came from. Found it interesting, though.

10-03-2005, 09:28 AM	#6
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,059	She was 100% right, if the J.J character was slightly ******** for 5 years, how can he chnaged into an intelligent man in the sixth year? Like she said, the damage was already done.

10-06-2005, 02:52 PM	#8
GeorgeWBushGOP Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 04, 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 802	Sorry Esther I thought the show was supposed to be a COMEDY. The J.J. character made that show a megahit. TV isn't supposed to be realistic. It is fictional. Lets make JJ serious. and make him dress tame. And after this season we will be gone for good.

10-06-2005, 03:37 PM	#10
GeorgeWBushGOP Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 04, 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 802	I love how you use the word "******" so loosely!! I don't care for Jimmy Walker that much. But when this show was in first run I was a child. and Jimmy was the person who caught my attention. so I imagine it was the same for most people which was actually obvious. This show without JJ wouldn't have made it 13 episodes. It was a comedy. Period.

10-07-2005, 07:15 PM	#14
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,059	I don;t think there were any Black Nerds in the 70's