Why Do Some People Refer to This Show as a MAUDE Spin-Off?

[LittleRickyII]

The Florida Evans on Maude lived in New York and was married to a firefighter named Henry.

The Florida Evans on Good Times lived in Chicago and was married to a factory worker named James and had three children.

[Zoneboy]

I think you just gained a friend in Solomon.

[*ROGER*]

I never considered Good Times to be a spin-off of Maude. Florida and Henry from Maude (New York) were completely different characters compared to Florida and James Evans from the Chicago projects.

[gilligan fanatic]

And the great debate lives again!

[robyrob]

i think its a spinoff; after Henry died, Florida went back to her first husband James in Chicago and lived happily ever after.

(until she got tired of J.J. and left again)

[LittleRickyII]

Originally Posted by *ROGER*

I never considered Good Times to be a spin-off of Maude. Florida and Henry from Maude (New York) were completely different characters compared to Florida and James Evans from the Chicago projects.

Florida for sure. The Florida who worked for Maude was sassy and who main purpose, it seems, was to deliver funny, sarcastic lines and put Maude in her place. The Florida on Good Times was a pretty serious character who played straight to everybody else.

Originally Posted by robyrob

i think its a spinoff; after Henry died, Florida went back to her first husband James in Chicago and lived happily ever after.

(until she got tired of J.J. and left again)

That could have been an explanation except that I don't think Florida Evans in Chicago ever mentioned having lived in New York or worked as a maid. And I don't remember any mention on Maude of her maid moving to Chicago. Besides, her husband was a firefighter, and firefighters make fairly decent money. I can't imagine he would have come home one day and announced to the family that he was leaving his job so they could move to Chicago to live in the projects. Also, they were already living there and seemed pretty well established from the very first episode of Good Times.

[cleverfun3000]

Allow me to settle this once and for all. It's a spin-off because had there been no Maude, then she would never had a maid named Florida; therefore no Good Times.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by LittleRickyII

The Florida Evans on Maude lived in New York and was married to a firefighter named Henry.

The Florida Evans on Good Times lived in Chicago and was married to a factory worker named James and had three children.

Yes the show was never a spinoff of Maude because like you said there is no connection at all.

1. Different Cities

2. Different Occupations

3. Different names

4. Different Income Level


And it was already mentioned by the Executive Producer, Alan Manings, stated in a 1975 issue of Ebony Magazine that the show is not really a spinoff

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by cleverfun3000

Allow me to settle this once and for all. It's a spin-off because had there been no Maude, then she would never had a maid named Florida; therefore no Good Times.

Good Times was created before Maude. It was created in 1971 and Maude was created in 1972

End of Debate

[LittleRickyII]

Originally Posted by cleverfun3000

Allow me to settle this once and for all. It's a spin-off because had there been no Maude, then she would never had a maid named Florida; therefore no Good Times.

I don't know how that comment settles anything. I'm not even sure what it means. What if they called her Georgia instead of Florida, would it still be a spin-off?

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

And it was already mentioned by the Executive Producer, Alan Manings, stated in a 1975 issue of Ebony Magazine that the show is not really a spinoff

It seems like he would know!

[DJM77]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Good Times was created before Maude. It was created in 1971

What? You mean it was created 3 years before it premiered?

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by DJM77

What? You mean it was created 3 years before it premiered?

Yes it was by Eric Monte. He sat on it for 3 years and then finally pitched it to someone. The show was originally called the "Black Family"

[LittleRickyII]

Last Maude episode featuring Florida: "Florida's Goodbye"
Broadcast Date: February 5, 1974
Synopsis: Florida's husband Henry receives a job promotion and Florida has decided to stay at home to be a housewife. Maude takes the news very hard, turning down every possible applicant for the position, and eventually has to come to terms with Florida's departure.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66gvoMvn29k

First episode of Good Times: "Too Old Blues"
Broadcast Date: February 8, 1974
Synopsis: James is all excited because he's sure he's going to get a high paying job. However, at the interview, he learns that he's too old to join the company's union. Meanwhile, Florida and the kids get ahead of themselves and throw a celebration party for James unaware that he was rejected.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH9FYr7rgRg

Those two episodes don't sound like that had anything to do with one another. The Evans family on Good Times was based on the family of actor Michael Evans, who helped create the show. The character of Florida Evans on Maude had nothing to do with his family.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by LittleRickyII

Last Maude episode featuring Florida: "Florida's Goodbye"
Broadcast Date: February 5, 1974
Synopsis: Florida's husband Henry receives a job promotion and Florida has decided to stay at home to be a housewife. Maude takes the news very hard, turning down every possible applicant for the position, and eventually has to come to terms with Florida's departure.

First episode of Good Times: "Too Old Blues"
Broadcast Date: February 8, 1974
Synopsis: James is all excited because he's sure he's going to get a high paying job. However, at the interview, he learns that he's too old to join the company's union. Meanwhile, Florida and the kids get ahead of themselves and throw a celebration party for James unaware that he was rejected.

Those two episodes don't sound like that had anything to do with one another. The Evans family on Good Times was based on the family of actor Michael Evans, who helped create the show. The character of Florida Evans on Maude had nothing to do with his family.

You mean Good Times was based on the life of Eric Monte but the point you made was still a good one.

[LittleRickyII]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

You mean Good Times was based on the life of Eric Monte but the point you made was still a good one.

Yes, you are correct!