Why Good Times was MORE than a sitcom...

[Ireneparalegal]

Good Times, although a sitcom and a form of entertainment, it didn't keep our minds off of the real world because Good Times showed us the best it could in 30 minutes what the real world was like for a struggling family. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the laughs GT's gave me, I also enjoyed the insight of seeing this family make it through their struggles. Yes it was a SITCOM, but it was delivering a message with each episode.

From a website, here is a description of what Norman Lear had achieved with this sitcom:

"Good Times earned its place in television history for a number of reasons. The program is significant for its decidedly different view, not only of Black family life, but American family life in general. Unlike the innocuous images served up in early televisions shows such as Father Knows Best and Julia, Good Times interjected relevancy and realism into prime-time television by dealing with the pressing issues of the day.

Good Times was also noteworthy in its portrayal of an African-American family attempting to negotiate the vicissitudes of life in a high-rise tenement apartment in an urban slum--the first show to tackle such a scenario with any measure of realism. The program exploited, with comic relief, such volatile subject matter as inflation, unemployment and racial bigotry. Along with The Jeffersons, Good Times was one of first television sitcoms featuring a mostly Black cast to appear since the controversial Amos 'n' Andy show had been canceled some twenty years prior.

Good Times was initially successful in that it offered solace for both blacks and whites, who could identify with the difficulties the Evans family faced. During the program's appearance on prime-time television, the concurrent period of history had included the Watergate scandal, the atrocities of the Vietnam War, staggeringly high interest rates, and growing unemployment. The James Evans character made clear his dissatisfaction with current government policies, hence, the show became a champion for the plight of the underclass."


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One reason why I expected, and others as well, for Good Times, Norman Lear and the writers, to have been very accurate when portraying certain happenings on the show. If laughs and entertainment were all that Norman wanted to achieve, he would NOT have brought forth episodes such as the plight of social security benefits and not being able to afford food; the realism of working two jobs but bringing home ONE income, a struggling family not being able to afford decent healthcare, lung cancer, hypertension, adoption, alcohol abuse, etc.

[catlover79]

Well said. While this show had its share of flaws, Norman Lear was really a visionary. His shows are so brutally frank and so un-PC that no network would air them now. But the frankness and un-PCness (I think I just coined a term there, ) is what made the shows SO FUNNY!! Too bad no one has the guts and/or talent to make a show like this today.

[Mikado]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Good Times, although a sitcom and a form of entertainment, it didn't keep our minds off of the real world because Good Times showed us the best it could in 30 minutes what the real world was like for a struggling family. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the laughs GT's gave me, I also enjoyed the insight of seeing this family make it through their struggles. Yes it was a SITCOM, but it was delivering a message with each episode. .

Ok Solomon, take off that Irene suit right NOW...and it was TOO a spin-off!!!

[ThomasE]

I love it!

Originally Posted by Mikado

Ok Solomon, take off that Irene suit right NOW...and it was TOO a spin-off!!!

[Janice Johnson]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Good Times, although a sitcom and a form of entertainment, it didn't keep our minds off of the real world because Good Times showed us the best it could in 30 minutes what the real world was like for a struggling family. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the laughs GT's gave me, I also enjoyed the insight of seeing this family make it through their struggles. Yes it was a SITCOM, but it was delivering a message with each episode.

From a website, here is a description of what Norman Lear had achieved with this sitcom:

"Good Times earned its place in television history for a number of reasons. The program is significant for its decidedly different view, not only of Black family life, but American family life in general. Unlike the innocuous images served up in early televisions shows such as Father Knows Best and Julia, Good Times interjected relevancy and realism into prime-time television by dealing with the pressing issues of the day.

Good Times was also noteworthy in its portrayal of an African-American family attempting to negotiate the vicissitudes of life in a high-rise tenement apartment in an urban slum--the first show to tackle such a scenario with any measure of realism. The program exploited, with comic relief, such volatile subject matter as inflation, unemployment and racial bigotry. Along with The Jeffersons, Good Times was one of first television sitcoms featuring a mostly Black cast to appear since the controversial Amos 'n' Andy show had been canceled some twenty years prior.

Good Times was initially successful in that it offered solace for both blacks and whites, who could identify with the difficulties the Evans family faced. During the program's appearance on prime-time television, the concurrent period of history had included the Watergate scandal, the atrocities of the Vietnam War, staggeringly high interest rates, and growing unemployment. The James Evans character made clear his dissatisfaction with current government policies, hence, the show became a champion for the plight of the underclass."


__________________________________________

One reason why I expected, and others as well, for Good Times, Norman Lear and the writers, to have been very accurate when portraying certain happenings on the show. If laughs and entertainment were all that Norman wanted to achieve, he would NOT have brought forth episodes such as the plight of social security benefits and not being able to afford food; the realism of working two jobs but bringing home ONE income, a struggling family not being able to afford decent healthcare, lung cancer, hypertension, adoption, alcohol abuse, etc.

I have realized that this is one of the only shows that make you feel that you are in the room with the characters, instead of watching a show. Especially JJ and The Gang, Part 2. Throughout the courtroom scene to the end, I felt that I was in that courtroom and the outside......... I felt as if James were in front of me talking. I felt as if I had seen Mad Dog and his mom in real life.............. I don't get that feeling while watching The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. In that show, it is really obvious I am watching a TV show. Not so with Good Times.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Good Times, although a sitcom and a form of entertainment, it didn't keep our minds off of the real world because Good Times showed us the best it could in 30 minutes what the real world was like for a struggling family. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the laughs GT's gave me, I also enjoyed the insight of seeing this family make it through their struggles. Yes it was a SITCOM, but it was delivering a message with each episode.

From a website, here is a description of what Norman Lear had achieved with this sitcom:

"Good Times earned its place in television history for a number of reasons. The program is significant for its decidedly different view, not only of Black family life, but American family life in general. Unlike the innocuous images served up in early televisions shows such as Father Knows Best and Julia, Good Times interjected relevancy and realism into prime-time television by dealing with the pressing issues of the day.

Good Times was also noteworthy in its portrayal of an African-American family attempting to negotiate the vicissitudes of life in a high-rise tenement apartment in an urban slum--the first show to tackle such a scenario with any measure of realism. The program exploited, with comic relief, such volatile subject matter as inflation, unemployment and racial bigotry. Along with The Jeffersons, Good Times was one of first television sitcoms featuring a mostly Black cast to appear since the controversial Amos 'n' Andy show had been canceled some twenty years prior.

Good Times was initially successful in that it offered solace for both blacks and whites, who could identify with the difficulties the Evans family faced. During the program's appearance on prime-time television, the concurrent period of history had included the Watergate scandal, the atrocities of the Vietnam War, staggeringly high interest rates, and growing unemployment. The James Evans character made clear his dissatisfaction with current government policies, hence, the show became a champion for the plight of the underclass."


__________________________________________

One reason why I expected, and others as well, for Good Times, Norman Lear and the writers, to have been very accurate when portraying certain happenings on the show. If laughs and entertainment were all that Norman wanted to achieve, he would NOT have brought forth episodes such as the plight of social security benefits and not being able to afford food; the realism of working two jobs but bringing home ONE income, a struggling family not being able to afford decent healthcare, lung cancer, hypertension, adoption, alcohol abuse, etc.

I do remember hearing on TS of Good Times that 80% of the episode ideas for season 3 came out of the Newspaper. Whatever was going on the world they put in the script

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by TheAnalyzer

I do remember hearing on TS of Good Times that 80% of the episode ideas for season 3 came out of the Newspaper. Whatever was going on the world they put in the script

Obviously that is the case since they mentioned things that were going on at the time. We heard references of high meat costs, gas prices, Nixon, gun control, etc. Which is why I am so suprised that a show produced/created by Norman Lear, allowed certain goofs to take place in many episodes when there shouldn't have been since research was obviously being done by the writers/producers.

I learned a lot from watching GT during its first run. Living here in southern California is a far cry from a poor family living in Chicago. That show made me feel like I should never visit Chicago. That was then though, this is now.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Obviously that is the case since they mentioned things that were going on at the time. We heard references of high meat costs, gas prices, Nixon, gun control, etc. Which is why I am so suprised that a show produced/created by Norman Lear, allowed certain goofs to take place in many episodes when there shouldn't have been since research was obviously being done by the writers/producers.

I learned a lot from watching GT during its first run. Living here in southern California is a far cry from a poor family living in Chicago. That show made me feel like I should never visit Chicago. That was then though, this is now.

But that was just life in the Ghetto, not life in the overall city.

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by catlover79

Well said. While this show had its share of flaws, Norman Lear was really a visionary. His shows are so brutally frank and so un-PC that no network would air them now. But the frankness and un-PCness (I think I just coined a term there, ) is what made the shows SO FUNNY!! Too bad no one has the guts and/or talent to make a show like this today.

Exactly what I would have said...had I thought of it before you!

One of the scenes that stayed with me over the years is from the second part of the episodes where J.J. elopes with his girlfriend, unaware that she's secretly a junkie. The look on his face when he goes inside the bathroom (I think it was a bathroom) to confront her, only to realize she's run away to cop drugs, is priceless.

I remember Florida, in her motherly, understanding way, saying "J.J., come home."

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by TheAnalyzer

But that was just life in the Ghetto, not life in the overall city.

That's why I said, "That was then..." I was only 11.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

That's why I said, "That was then..." I was only 11.

Ok I see now-lol

[Mikado]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

That's why I said, "That was then..." I was only 11.

Man, youre making me feel old there, Irene

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

Exactly what I would have said...had I thought of it before you!

One of the scenes that stayed with me over the years is from the second part of the episodes where J.J. elopes with his girlfriend, unaware that she's secretly a junkie. The look on his face when he goes inside the bathroom (I think it was a bathroom) to confront her, only to realize she's run away to cop drugs, is priceless.

I remember Florida, in her motherly, understanding way, saying "J.J., come home."

Just goes to show great minds think alike, my friend!!