Question: Who Thinks Esther Rolle and John Amos were Jealous of Jimmie Walker? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 05-09-2006, 10:03 PM

Or do you think that they complained of the J.J character because he was too foolish and he wasn't showing any sings of maturity and intelligence? John and Esther just wanted their characters to have a older son who was mature and not Foolish for no reason at all. Who agrees?

Brian Damage · 05-09-2006, 10:50 PM

I doubt they were jealous of him. They just didn't like his comedy.

Janice · 05-09-2006, 11:09 PM

I think it was a combination. John and Esther thought they were going to be the main stars, then Walker's star rose into the stratosphere...causing them to just about watch from the sidelines. I think it's only natural for them to get jealous. Actors have huge egos.

The direction of JJ's character bothered them too, no doubt. I think that was secondary though.

Mr. Television · 05-09-2006, 11:24 PM

I think they were jealous. The show was created as a vehicle for Esther and John and then a secondary character came out of nowhere and became a sensation. I'm pretty sure it bothered them. They probably wanted JJ's character toned down because it wasn't what they had signed up for but once JJ became so big their was no way that was going to happen.

This happened on a few other shows such as Happy Days and Family Matters where a secondary character became so big that it changed the focus of the show but their weren't any problems on those sets.

TVFactFan · 05-10-2006, 12:26 AM

I think they just wanted the show to be about a family living in the ghetto and getting through hard times. Not centered around a character who was a bufoon with no intelligence and would yell dynomite and sleep in that dirty Blue Hat-lol

comedyfreak · 05-10-2006, 12:36 AM

I think it was a combination of both factors.

Brieannas21 · 05-10-2006, 01:00 AM

I highly doubt that they were jealous. I think that they were getting sick of Jimmie's character acting like a 5 yr old.

TVFactFan · 05-10-2006, 01:02 AM

He was 17, looked 15 and acted 12-LOL

Florida's Statement in "My Son The Lover"

Mr. Television · 05-10-2006, 01:11 AM

I'm shocked they took their feud and made it public because their was no way they were going to win a fight with Jimmie Walker with the audience of Good Times at that time. He was the bread and butter of that show.

TVFactFan · 05-10-2006, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I Walk The Line

I'm shocked they took their feud and made it public because their was no way they were going to win a fight with Jimmie Walker with the audience of Good Times at that time. He was the bread and butter of that show.

And he only was the bread and butter because the writers/producers was saying things like-"how can we make the J.J character more stupid and silly looking"-lol

retrochick9 · 05-10-2006, 10:14 AM

I also think it was a combination. Who wouldn't be jealous being on a show and then suddenly one person is getting all of the attention? But I also think they were really upset with his character's actions as well. JJ wasn't always silly though, there were several times when he was serious in serious situations. He was just trying to keep up everyone's spirits in bad living conditions, one could say he was really the "smart" one if you think about it. Instead of getting all upset and bitter, like the rest of them DID, he was trying to look on the bright side of things and cheer people up. If I was living in those crappy conditions, I'd rather have someone happy and jolly around rather than someone who's miserable and bitter, let's think about that.

GSU2004 · 05-10-2006, 10:15 AM

I see both sides of the argument but I do think that jealousy played a big roll in the drama. Rolle and Amos characters spun-off from other series and JJ was created on the new series. But here are some problems I had with the show, if they were really that poor how could Florida afford to stay at home and be a housewife. She worked on Maude but on Good Times, she attempted to get a job during the Amos years and became a bus driver on the last season. Also, what was up with Thelma? She seemed like she was boy struck all the time. Nothing was really done with her character. I see Rolle's and Amos' arguements but these are some other things that were never addressed.

Janice · 05-10-2006, 10:34 AM

Solomon, is this the new Good Times debate question?

Janice · 05-10-2006, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retrochick9

JJ wasn't always silly though, there were several times when he was serious in serious situations. He was just trying to keep up everyone's spirits in bad living conditions, one could say he was really the "smart" one if you think about it. Instead of getting all upset and bitter, like the rest of them DID, he was trying to look on the bright side of things and cheer people up. If I was living in those crappy conditions, I'd rather have someone happy and jolly around rather than someone who's miserable and bitter, let's think about that.

Good point. JJ did try to keep their spirits up.

They had a couple of serious kids. Who needs an older serious Michael or another whining Thelma? They gave them different personalities.

Brian Damage · 05-10-2006, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

Good point. JJ did try to keep their spirits up.

They had a couple of serious kids. Who needs an older serious Michael or another whining Thelma? They gave them different personalities.

agreed, JJ needed to be more silly because the two other kids just weren't funny.

05-09-2006, 10:03 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,091	Question: Who Thinks Esther Rolle and John Amos were Jealous of Jimmie Walker? Or do you think that they complained of the J.J character because he was too foolish and he wasn't showing any sings of maturity and intelligence? John and Esther just wanted their characters to have a older son who was mature and not Foolish for no reason at all. Who agrees?

05-09-2006, 10:50 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	I doubt they were jealous of him. They just didn't like his comedy.
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05-09-2006, 11:24 PM	#4
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	I think they were jealous. The show was created as a vehicle for Esther and John and then a secondary character came out of nowhere and became a sensation. I'm pretty sure it bothered them. They probably wanted JJ's character toned down because it wasn't what they had signed up for but once JJ became so big their was no way that was going to happen. This happened on a few other shows such as Happy Days and Family Matters where a secondary character became so big that it changed the focus of the show but their weren't any problems on those sets.
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05-10-2006, 12:36 AM	#6
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	I think it was a combination of both factors.
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05-09-2006, 11:09 PM	#3
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	I think it was a combination. John and Esther thought they were going to be the main stars, then Walker's star rose into the stratosphere...causing them to just about watch from the sidelines. I think it's only natural for them to get jealous. Actors have huge egos. The direction of JJ's character bothered them too, no doubt. I think that was secondary though.

05-10-2006, 12:26 AM	#5
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,091	I think they just wanted the show to be about a family living in the ghetto and getting through hard times. Not centered around a character who was a bufoon with no intelligence and would yell dynomite and sleep in that dirty Blue Hat-lol

05-10-2006, 01:00 AM	#7
Brieannas21 Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 05, 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 9,792	I highly doubt that they were jealous. I think that they were getting sick of Jimmie's character acting like a 5 yr old.

05-10-2006, 01:02 AM	#8
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,091	He was 17, looked 15 and acted 12-LOL Florida's Statement in "My Son The Lover"

05-10-2006, 01:11 AM	#9
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	I'm shocked they took their feud and made it public because their was no way they were going to win a fight with Jimmie Walker with the audience of Good Times at that time. He was the bread and butter of that show.

05-10-2006, 10:14 AM	#11
retrochick9 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 07, 2006 Location: On the couch, in my jammies, watching TV! Posts: 620	I also think it was a combination. Who wouldn't be jealous being on a show and then suddenly one person is getting all of the attention? But I also think they were really upset with his character's actions as well. JJ wasn't always silly though, there were several times when he was serious in serious situations. He was just trying to keep up everyone's spirits in bad living conditions, one could say he was really the "smart" one if you think about it. Instead of getting all upset and bitter, like the rest of them DID, he was trying to look on the bright side of things and cheer people up. If I was living in those crappy conditions, I'd rather have someone happy and jolly around rather than someone who's miserable and bitter, let's think about that.

05-10-2006, 10:15 AM	#12
GSU2004 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 28, 2005 Posts: 764	I see both sides of the argument but I do think that jealousy played a big roll in the drama. Rolle and Amos characters spun-off from other series and JJ was created on the new series. But here are some problems I had with the show, if they were really that poor how could Florida afford to stay at home and be a housewife. She worked on Maude but on Good Times, she attempted to get a job during the Amos years and became a bus driver on the last season. Also, what was up with Thelma? She seemed like she was boy struck all the time. Nothing was really done with her character. I see Rolle's and Amos' arguements but these are some other things that were never addressed.

05-10-2006, 10:34 AM	#13
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Solomon, is this the new Good Times debate question?