TV Guide's Review of Good Times, April 12, 1974 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 04-30-2006, 01:11 AM

These days seriers aren't created-they're fathered, or as the case may be, mothered. All in the Family fathered Maude, for example, and now Maude has up and mothered this show. Just as Maude was a first character in one episode of All in the Family and then had her own show, so no has Florida(Esther Rolle), who was just a maid in Maude. Since the great white father of it all is Norman Lear, what you probably expected him to come up with this time was a Black All in the Family. You don't quite get it-It's not just satire. But neither is it just another situation comedy. We'd call it a remarkable combination o both-part sitcom, part satcom.

One thing is certain. Good Times is the best of the new second-season shows, and it has a first-rate cast. Miss Rolle plays the mother not only as if she knows what one is, but as if she enjoys it. As a result, we do too. "What a Day!" she says in one scene. "James Jr. hassling me to go out and do something illegal. James Sr. is out hussling pool, which is immoral. You're trying to drag me off to welfare , which is embarassing. And do you know what my horoscope said this morning? "Let a smile be your umbrella." John Amos is no slouch as her husband. He is Forceful and forth-right, and Florida describes him best: "Don't all magazines say that our woman are head of the house?" she askes her friend. "They sure do," her friend says. "Well says Florida, "somebody better tell James." After all these years of nambys for mothers and pambys for fathers, this couple is something else.

The children too are formidable. The scene stealer is perhaps the youngest, Michael, who is played by Ralph Carter, but don't overlook the eldest, "J.J." (Jimmie Walker). He's at his best when he's tormenting his sister, Thelma, ("Look who got back from her honeymoon with the bathroom mirror"). But Thelma (played by Bernadette) can return the compliment. "If you was born in Detroit," she tells him, "you'd have been recalled for being dangerously ugly." Finally, there's their divorced neighbor, Willona, who is excellently played by Janet Dubios. "Don't you ever come in without making a joke?" Florida asked her. "No," she replies, "but last night I went out wth one."

All the performers are fine, and they often do whole vignettes with one another-little shows within the main virtue here is the fine dialouge. They're a bit strong on the toilet jokes, but satire is not neglected. The white establishment gets its lumps-from Mayor Daley ("what did you do James," Willona asked in one show, when he's got a fistful of money, "go partners with the Chicago Police?") all the way to television. At the end of one episode, Michael declares he would like, for a change, to see an all-black show. "Where you gonna find one?" asks James. "Here's one," replies Michael, "The Los Angeles Lakers against the Milwaukee Bucks." We've got a feeling he'd like watching this show to. He should.

Cleveland Amory, April 1974, TV Guide Critic

Ireneparalegal · 04-30-2006, 01:14 AM

WAIT WAIT WAIT...MAUDE HAS MOTHERED THIS SHOW... spinoff...

*Irene has this image of Solomon sitting by a box of old TV Guides in front of his t.v. reading all day long...dusting off the magazines...turning the pages*

solomon, is your house filled to the rafters with nothing but TV guide magazines??? I mean, how many times can you read an old TV guide? Or you reading one at a time each week??? tell me, I need to know, seriously.

TVFactFan · 04-30-2006, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

WAIT WAIT WAIT...MAUDE HAS MOTHERED THIS SHOW... spinoff...

*Irene has this image of Solomon sitting by a box of old TV Guides in front of his t.v. reading all day long...dusting off the magazines...turning the pages*

solomon, is your house filled to the rafters with nothing but TV guide magazines??? I mean, how many times can you read an old TV guide? Or you reading one at a time each week??? tell me, I need to know, seriously.

What can I say, I'm a researcher-LOL-LOL

Ireneparalegal · 04-30-2006, 01:17 AM

All in the Family has fathered MAUDE...Maude mothered GOOD TIMES...SPIN-OFF SPIN-OFF...

TVFactFan · 04-30-2006, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

All in the Family has fathered MAUDE...Maude mothered GOOD TIMES...SPIN-OFF SPIN-OFF...

Not to me it isn't.-lol

Ireneparalegal · 04-30-2006, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

Not to me it isn't.-lol

it doesn't matter what you think...it's WHAT IS...you can scream the sky is purple...but the truth is, it's blue....

Whoo hoo hoo hoo hoo

Ireneparalegal · 04-30-2006, 01:26 AM

Brieannas21 · 04-30-2006, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

WAIT WAIT WAIT...MAUDE HAS MOTHERED THIS SHOW... spinoff...

*Irene has this image of Solomon sitting by a box of old TV Guides in front of his t.v. reading all day long...dusting off the magazines...turning the pages*

solomon, is your house filled to the rafters with nothing but TV guide magazines??? I mean, how many times can you read an old TV guide? Or you reading one at a time each week??? tell me, I need to know, seriously.

Irene your justing painting him in all kinds of corners

Put him in his place

Brian Damage · 04-30-2006, 12:03 PM

First 704 Hauser Street, now Good Times, we are winning the war finally!

TVFactFan · 04-30-2006, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

First 704 Hauser Street, now Good Times, we are winning the war finally!

Brian I thought you were on my side?-lol

Brieannas21 · 04-30-2006, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

Brian I thought you were on my side?-lol

I think you stand alone.

TVFactFan · 04-30-2006, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brieannas21

I think you stand alone.

Like I said if I'm still waiting for someone to telll me why GT is a spinoff-lol A Strong REASON

ThomasE · 04-30-2006, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

Like I said if I'm still waiting for someone to telll me why GT is a spinoff-lol A Strong REASON

Then you give me a good reason as to why "Top Ramen" is a spinoff from "Oddles of Noodles".

TVFactFan · 04-30-2006, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThomasE

Then you give me a good reason as to why "Top Ramen" is a spinoff from "Oddles of Noodles".

I'm not touching that debate-lol

ThomasE · 04-30-2006, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

I'm not touching that debate-lol

LOL. LOL. What a day!

04-30-2006, 01:11 AM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,097	TV Guide's Review of Good Times, April 12, 1974 These days seriers aren't created-they're fathered, or as the case may be, mothered. All in the Family fathered Maude, for example, and now Maude has up and mothered this show. Just as Maude was a first character in one episode of All in the Family and then had her own show, so no has Florida(Esther Rolle), who was just a maid in Maude. Since the great white father of it all is Norman Lear, what you probably expected him to come up with this time was a Black All in the Family. You don't quite get it-It's not just satire. But neither is it just another situation comedy. We'd call it a remarkable combination o both-part sitcom, part satcom. One thing is certain. Good Times is the best of the new second-season shows, and it has a first-rate cast. Miss Rolle plays the mother not only as if she knows what one is, but as if she enjoys it. As a result, we do too. "What a Day!" she says in one scene. "James Jr. hassling me to go out and do something illegal. James Sr. is out hussling pool, which is immoral. You're trying to drag me off to welfare , which is embarassing. And do you know what my horoscope said this morning? "Let a smile be your umbrella." John Amos is no slouch as her husband. He is Forceful and forth-right, and Florida describes him best: "Don't all magazines say that our woman are head of the house?" she askes her friend. "They sure do," her friend says. "Well says Florida, "somebody better tell James." After all these years of nambys for mothers and pambys for fathers, this couple is something else. The children too are formidable. The scene stealer is perhaps the youngest, Michael, who is played by Ralph Carter, but don't overlook the eldest, "J.J." (Jimmie Walker). He's at his best when he's tormenting his sister, Thelma, ("Look who got back from her honeymoon with the bathroom mirror"). But Thelma (played by Bernadette) can return the compliment. "If you was born in Detroit," she tells him, "you'd have been recalled for being dangerously ugly." Finally, there's their divorced neighbor, Willona, who is excellently played by Janet Dubios. "Don't you ever come in without making a joke?" Florida asked her. "No," she replies, "but last night I went out wth one." All the performers are fine, and they often do whole vignettes with one another-little shows within the main virtue here is the fine dialouge. They're a bit strong on the toilet jokes, but satire is not neglected. The white establishment gets its lumps-from Mayor Daley ("what did you do James," Willona asked in one show, when he's got a fistful of money, "go partners with the Chicago Police?") all the way to television. At the end of one episode, Michael declares he would like, for a change, to see an all-black show. "Where you gonna find one?" asks James. "Here's one," replies Michael, "The Los Angeles Lakers against the Milwaukee Bucks." We've got a feeling he'd like watching this show to. He should. Cleveland Amory, April 1974, TV Guide Critic

04-30-2006, 01:14 AM	#2
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	WAIT WAIT WAIT...MAUDE HAS MOTHERED THIS SHOW... spinoff... Irene has this image of Solomon sitting by a box of old TV Guides in front of his t.v. reading all day long...dusting off the magazines...turning the pages solomon, is your house filled to the rafters with nothing but TV guide magazines??? I mean, how many times can you read an old TV guide? Or you reading one at a time each week??? tell me, I need to know, seriously.
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

04-30-2006, 01:26 AM	#7
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Attached Images

04-30-2006, 12:03 PM	#9
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	First 704 Hauser Street, now Good Times, we are winning the war finally!
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

04-30-2006, 01:17 AM	#4
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	All in the Family has fathered MAUDE...Maude mothered GOOD TIMES...SPIN-OFF SPIN-OFF...