So basically Norman Lear became nervous in May of 1978 and decided to.... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 03-27-2011, 10:47 AM

Send Esther Rolle some flowers and beg her to come back to the show. I'm thinking because at this time,

All in the Family was coming to an end and no longer number 1,

Maude was not going to have another season

The ratings for the Jeffersons were falling

So all he had going for him was One Day at a Time and figured he should try and save Good Times by bringing back Esther Rolle. But as we all know, it was too little and too late-lol

Jet Magazine, May 1978

Brian Damage · 03-27-2011, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Send Esther Rolle some flowers and beg her to come back to the show. I'm thinking because at this time,

All in the Family was coming to an end and no longer number 1,

Maude was not going to have another season

The ratings for the Jeffersons were falling

So all he had going for him was One Day at a Time and figured he should try and save Good Times by bringing back Esther Rolle. But as we all know, it was too little and too late-lol

Jet Magazine, May 1978

Interesting stuff, I think he knew though that once she left, the show really became unrepairable.

TVFactFan · 03-27-2011, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Interesting stuff, I think he knew though that once she left, the show really became unrepairable.

Do you want to take a guess why the season she returned was lower than the previous season she wasn't there?-lol

Brian Damage · 03-27-2011, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Do you want to take a guess why the season she returned was lower than the previous season she wasn't there?-lol

Because people already gave up on 'Good Times' by that time.

TVFactFan · 03-27-2011, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Because people already gave up on 'Good Times' by that time.

Nope because once she returned the show went backwards and continue with the progress the characters had made in season 5. Like J.J was working for an Ad agency and when Florida returns he is no longer employed. Then on top of that Thelma's Boyfriend who had a bright future and was going to move her out of the projects trips over J.J and has to move in with the Evans Family.

So picture yourself sitting in front of the TV in 1978 and thinking THelma is going to have a new life only to have it erased when Keith can play football and now the financial struggles are seen again like it was when the show first started. You would have been like-"I'm done with this depressing show

Brian Damage · 03-27-2011, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Nope because once she returned the show went backwards and continue with the progress the characters had made in season 5. Like J.J was working for an Ad agency and when Florida returns he is no longer employed. Then on top of that Thelma's Boyfriend who had a bright future and was going to move her out of the projects trips over J.J and has to move in with the Evans Family.

So picture yourself sitting in front of the TV in 1978 and thinking THelma is going to have a new life only to have it erased when Keith can play football and now the financial struggles are seen again like it was when the show first started. You would have been like-"I'm done with this depressing show

I guess you do make a point. It was a mistake on the writers part, but I guess they just didn't know how to write the Evans as being a happy, successful family.

TVFactFan · 03-27-2011, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I guess you do make a point. It was a mistake on the writers part, but I guess they just didn't know how to write the Evans as being a happy, successful family.

I think if they wrote the Evans out of the projects into a new home for season 6, it would have lased about 3 more years because it would have been a new situation. People were pobably just sick of seeing them in that same ole ran down apartment with no sight of improvement

Dr. Thong · 03-27-2011, 12:45 PM

I doubt Norman Lear "begged" Rolle to come back. He was a powerful man and Rolle needed him and the show more than he needed her.

Rolle's exit for season five hurt the show and like someone else said, by the time, she came back, it didn't matter as her return didn't help ratings.

TVFactFan · 03-27-2011, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

I doubt Norman Lear "begged" Rolle to come back. He was a powerful man and Rolle needed him and the show more than he needed her.

Rolle's exit for season five hurt the show and like someone else said, by the time, she came back, it didn't matter as her return didn't help ratings.

Sending someone a gift hoping they return is pretty much begging

USATVFAN · 03-27-2011, 02:47 PM

Do you think Good times Ratings would have gone back up if they stuck on Sunday Night after The Jeffersons. Jefferson had better ratings in the 80s then the 70s. But that was because CBS finally figure out it-was Sunday Night.

Dr. Thong · 03-27-2011, 08:06 PM

Did Lear really send Rolle flowers?

TVFactFan · 03-27-2011, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

Did Lear really send Rolle flowers?

Yes it was his way of trying to get her to come back. He should have thought of that before the start of 5th season-lol

Yong Fang · 03-29-2011, 08:37 AM

Someone opinionated that One Day at a Time was Good Times with white people.

TVFactFan · 03-29-2011, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

Someone opinionated that One Day at a Time was Good Times with white people.

LOL, never thought of but YUP!!!!

The ghetto section of Indianapolis-lol

ThomasE · 05-01-2011, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

LOL, never thought of but YUP!!!!

The ghetto section of Indianapolis-lol

Wait! I thought season five had lower rating than the sixth? What are the numbers? Although there was a fallback in the last season, it was better than the fifth season. I am so grateful for Esther Rolle coming back into the "role". LOL.

03-27-2011, 10:47 AM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,067	So basically Norman Lear became nervous in May of 1978 and decided to.... Send Esther Rolle some flowers and beg her to come back to the show. I'm thinking because at this time, All in the Family was coming to an end and no longer number 1, Maude was not going to have another season The ratings for the Jeffersons were falling So all he had going for him was One Day at a Time and figured he should try and save Good Times by bringing back Esther Rolle. But as we all know, it was too little and too late-lol Jet Magazine, May 1978

03-27-2011, 12:45 PM	#8
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	I doubt Norman Lear "begged" Rolle to come back. He was a powerful man and Rolle needed him and the show more than he needed her. Rolle's exit for season five hurt the show and like someone else said, by the time, she came back, it didn't matter as her return didn't help ratings.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

03-27-2011, 02:47 PM	#10
USATVFAN Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 31, 2007 Location: Kalispell, USA Posts: 1,742	Do you think Good times Ratings would have gone back up if they stuck on Sunday Night after The Jeffersons. Jefferson had better ratings in the 80s then the 70s. But that was because CBS finally figure out it-was Sunday Night.
	__________________ Love watching 1960's-1990's TV Classics! 1970-2004: The best Years of Televsion

03-27-2011, 08:06 PM	#11
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Did Lear really send Rolle flowers?

03-29-2011, 08:37 AM	#13
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	Someone opinionated that One Day at a Time was Good Times with white people.