Why Did Esther Rolle leave the show... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

mimi75042 · 07-11-2010, 09:54 AM

What caused her to leave the show also?

TVFactFan · 07-11-2010, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mimi75042

What caused her to leave the show also?

The role of J.J not improving

Retro4Life · 07-11-2010, 12:56 PM

Yeah I read that she was frustrated by J.J.'s increasingly unethical schemes to make money and the increased focus upon his character.

TVFactFan · 07-11-2010, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

Yeah I read that she was frustrated by J.J.'s increasingly unethical schemes to make money and the increased focus upon his character.

I wouldn't have cared who was the star as along as I still had a job and able to maintain my lifestyle and pay my bills.

Retro4Life · 07-11-2010, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

I wouldn't have cared who was the star as along as I still had a job and able to maintain my lifestyle and pay my bills.

Well, my feeling is that Rolle's objection was on a moral basis. Some people feel that no amount of money or comfort is worth compromising their principles, and apparently Rolle felt by staying on she was implicitly endorsing J.J.s shadiness, so she left.

Dr. Thong · 07-11-2010, 03:13 PM

I believe that John Amos shared similar sentiments about J.J.'s character as well.

Retro4Life · 07-11-2010, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

I believe that John Amos shared similar sentiments about J.J.'s character as well.

Yeah, that's what I heard, too.

Dr. Thong · 07-11-2010, 05:06 PM

The difference between Rolle and Amos, however, is that Amos was fired and Rolle left. Although, back in the seventies, it was said that Amos had left.

Retro4Life · 07-11-2010, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

The difference between Rolle and Amos, however, is that Amos was fired and Rolle left. Although, back in the seventies, it was said that Amos had left.

Hmm. Wikipedia says he quit, but I know that's not always a reliable source.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Amos

Dr. Thong · 07-11-2010, 05:20 PM

I believe it was on E! or one of those shows, where it was disclosed that Amos was fired because of the remarks he made in the press. But the show's producers told the press that it was Amos's decision to leave to put a better public face on it.

glickmam · 07-11-2010, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

I believe it was on E! or one of those shows, where it was disclosed that Amos was fired because of the remarks he made in the press. But the show's producers told the press that it was Amos's decision to leave to put a better public face on it.

Of course, if I was in William S. Paley's shoes at the time, I would have ordered the producers to bring him back and I would have fired and blacklisted them as well.

glickmam · 07-12-2010, 10:39 PM

In addition, if I had been either an audience or crew member at that time, I would have gotten into a brawl with Austin and Irma Kalish and Allen Manings (the producers responsible for John Amos' removal).

Dr. Thong · 07-13-2010, 06:21 PM

Let's not forget, however, that Norman Lear probably had the final say. Lear may not have been as involved on the production end, but Good Times was produced by his company and I imagine that the producers would have to have consulted with him before making such a move.

glickmam · 07-13-2010, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

Let's not forget, however, that Norman Lear probably had the final say. Lear may not have been as involved on the production end, but Good Times was produced by his company and I imagine that the producers would have to have consulted with him before making such a move.

Well then, if that's the case I'll get in a fight with him instead.

Dr. Thong · 07-14-2010, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glickmam

Well then, if that's the case I'll get in a fight with him instead.

So you want to beat up an 87 year old man over something that happened on a TV show over 30 years ago??

Riiiight.

07-11-2010, 09:54 AM	#1
mimi75042 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 13, 2003 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 109	Why Did Esther Rolle leave the show... What caused her to leave the show also?

07-11-2010, 12:56 PM	#3
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Yeah I read that she was frustrated by J.J.'s increasingly unethical schemes to make money and the increased focus upon his character.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

07-11-2010, 03:13 PM	#6
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	I believe that John Amos shared similar sentiments about J.J.'s character as well.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

07-11-2010, 05:06 PM	#8
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	The difference between Rolle and Amos, however, is that Amos was fired and Rolle left. Although, back in the seventies, it was said that Amos had left.

07-11-2010, 05:20 PM	#10
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	I believe it was on E! or one of those shows, where it was disclosed that Amos was fired because of the remarks he made in the press. But the show's producers told the press that it was Amos's decision to leave to put a better public face on it.

07-12-2010, 10:39 PM	#12
glickmam Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 03, 2007 Posts: 661	In addition, if I had been either an audience or crew member at that time, I would have gotten into a brawl with Austin and Irma Kalish and Allen Manings (the producers responsible for John Amos' removal).

07-13-2010, 06:21 PM	#13
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Let's not forget, however, that Norman Lear probably had the final say. Lear may not have been as involved on the production end, but Good Times was produced by his company and I imagine that the producers would have to have consulted with him before making such a move.