WOW! Norman Lear Wanted A 'Good Times' Spinoff Starring Shirley Hemphill!!! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 09-16-2010, 10:50 PM

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...nterview&hl=en

The interview above was conducted on February 26th 1980. In in, Shirley Hemphill reveals her first speaking role was on Good Times as Rozzie. Norman Lear was so impressed with her performance, he wanted to spinoff the character on to her own show. Shirley turned it down to co star on What's Happening! Interesting info, I never knew that.

Marvo301 · 09-16-2010, 11:48 PM

I wonder how different her career would have been if she'd choosen to work with Norman Lear instead?

Brian Damage · 09-17-2010, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

I wonder how different her career would have been if she'd choosen to work with Norman Lear instead?

I do find it odd that she chose playing second banana on What's Happening! over her own series where she would be the star!?

Mr. Television · 09-17-2010, 07:22 PM

and she chose a series that was produced by Norman Lear's ex-partner Bud Yorkin. lol

McGillicuddy · 09-17-2010, 07:29 PM

Well, she did eventually have her own series with the What's Happening spin-off One In a Million. This turned out to be a short-lived series. She may have had fore sight that she would be better off as part of an essemble cast.

glickmam · 09-17-2010, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I do find it odd that she chose playing second banana on What's Happening! over her own series where she would be the star!?

Well, it's not that unique, you know. When The Ropers was in development, it took Norman Fell a long time to be convinced into leaving Three's Company in order to star in the spin-off.

Mr. Television · 09-17-2010, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glickmam

Well, it's not that unique, you know. When The Ropers was in development, it took Norman Fell a long time to be convinced into leaving Three's Company in order to star in the spin-off.

Yea but the difference was that he was in a hit show already. Nobody knew who Shirley Hemphill was at that time.

Jude The Obscure · 09-17-2010, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markway895

Well, she did eventually have her own series with the What's Happening spin-off One In a Million. This turned out to be a short-lived series. She may have had fore sight that she would be better off as part of an essemble cast.

This was not a spinoff.

and I think she made the right decision.....Rozzie was kinda ignorant....how would that play as a series lead?

TVFactFan · 09-18-2010, 04:35 PM

A spinoff of another character living in the projects??????????????

Brian Damage · 09-18-2010, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

A spinoff of another character living in the projects??????????????

Sure, why not?!?

cleverfun3000 · 09-18-2010, 07:16 PM

A Dimwitted Black woman living in the Projects with inclinations to stealing and robbing other people in the projects wouldn't really play too well to middle America. No?

ThomasE · 12-23-2010, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cleverfun3000

A Dimwitted Black woman living in the Projects with inclinations to stealing and robbing other people in the projects wouldn't really play too well to middle America. No?

That about sums it up. Can you imagine Maude trying to turn her and her sister around? Maude would look at the sister and say "I feel like I've met you before". Did you hop on my coffee table and start dancing like a monkey on Valentine's Day 1974? LOL.

Yong Fang · 01-12-2011, 08:00 AM

I am a fan of "Reno 911!" which is a live action comedy similar to COPS but with dimwitted sheriff deputies.

One of the funniest moments of the entire series was when Raineesha Williams (played by Niecy Nash), an African American woman is called to a guy selling fireworks in the back of a car. The perp (played by regular Carlos Azarraqui who plays Officer Garcia) opines that Raineesha "looks like Shirley Hemphill from 'What's Happening!'" Raineesha sprays him with mace and while the guy is writhing in pain, she makes some remark about being insulted and ended with....

"Hey, hey Hey!"

Classic.

09-16-2010, 10:50 PM	#1
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! Norman Lear Wanted A 'Good Times' Spinoff Starring Shirley Hemphill!!! http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...nterview&hl=en The interview above was conducted on February 26th 1980. In in, Shirley Hemphill reveals her first speaking role was on Good Times as Rozzie. Norman Lear was so impressed with her performance, he wanted to spinoff the character on to her own show. Shirley turned it down to co star on What's Happening! Interesting info, I never knew that. Attached Images
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09-16-2010, 11:48 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	I wonder how different her career would have been if she'd choosen to work with Norman Lear instead?
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09-17-2010, 07:22 PM	#4
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	and she chose a series that was produced by Norman Lear's ex-partner Bud Yorkin. lol
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01-12-2011, 08:00 AM	#13
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	Hey, hey hey. I am a fan of "Reno 911!" which is a live action comedy similar to COPS but with dimwitted sheriff deputies. One of the funniest moments of the entire series was when Raineesha Williams (played by Niecy Nash), an African American woman is called to a guy selling fireworks in the back of a car. The perp (played by regular Carlos Azarraqui who plays Officer Garcia) opines that Raineesha "looks like Shirley Hemphill from 'What's Happening!'" Raineesha sprays him with mace and while the guy is writhing in pain, she makes some remark about being insulted and ended with.... "Hey, hey Hey!" Classic.

09-17-2010, 07:29 PM	#5
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	Well, she did eventually have her own series with the What's Happening spin-off One In a Million. This turned out to be a short-lived series. She may have had fore sight that she would be better off as part of an essemble cast.

09-18-2010, 04:35 PM	#9
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,065	A spinoff of another character living in the projects??????????????

09-18-2010, 07:16 PM	#11
cleverfun3000 Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 18, 2008 Location: Manhattan Posts: 1,685	A Dimwitted Black woman living in the Projects with inclinations to stealing and robbing other people in the projects wouldn't really play too well to middle America. No?