Hey Sol...you've GOT to read Jimmie Walker's book!! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

catlover79 · 11-17-2012, 08:01 PM

Sol, you have got to read Jimmie's book, which was just released a few months ago.

He reveals:

At the annual Lear-Yorkin Tandem Productions Christmas party in 1974, Mike Evans was already so unhappy about how small the role of Lionel on The Jeffersons (which wouldn't premiere until the next month!) had become that he demanded to Lear to be let out of his contract. Lear called his bluff and terminated Evans' contract then and there - at the Christmas party!!! Thus came the "official" reason that Mike had left his role of Lionel to concentrate on writing GT...which actually never happened.

Jimmie was close friends with both Jay Leno and Dave Letterman (and is still tight with Dave) and shares his unique experiences on the Late Night Wars in the early 90s...and how his friendship with Jay ended.

While not overly close to many people in the cast, Jimmie thought Ralph Carter was a cool kid but because the latter was still a minor and had to go to school on the set, they didn't see much of each other off the set. Bern Nadette became Jimmie's best friend of the GT cast and would sometimes go to the comedy clubs with him to hang out. When Johnny "Bookman" Brown joined the cast, they became close because Johnny was also a stand-up comic. Bern Nadette tried to be the buffer between Jimmie and Esther Rolle/John Amos, saying, "can't we just all get along?"

Many years later at a stand-up date in Vegas, Jimmie was making fun of Michael Jackson in his act when a heckler started swearing and yelling at him. The heckler was none other than the Jackson father, Joe!!!

There are plenty more interesting stories, but I won't give them away. Let me know if you read the book!!!

TVFactFan · 11-17-2012, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Sol, you have got to read Jimmie's book, which was just released a few months ago.

He reveals:

At the annual Lear-Yorkin Tandem Productions Christmas party in 1974, Mike Evans was already so unhappy about how small the role of Lionel on The Jeffersons (which wouldn't premiere until the next month!) had become that he demanded to Lear to be let out of his contract. Lear called his bluff and terminated Evans' contract then and there - at the Christmas party!!! Thus came the "official" reason that Mike had left his role of Lionel to concentrate on writing GT...which actually never happened.

Jimmie was close friends with both Jay Leno and Dave Letterman (and is still tight with Dave) and shares his unique experiences on the Late Night Wars in the early 90s...and how his friendship with Jay ended.

While not overly close to many people in the cast, Jimmie thought Ralph Carter was a cool kid but because the latter was still a minor and had to go to school on the set, they didn't see much of each other off the set. Bern Nadette became Jimmie's best friend of the GT cast and would sometimes go to the comedy clubs with him to hang out. When Johnny "Bookman" Brown joined the cast, they became close because Johnny was also a stand-up comic. Bern Nadette tried to be the buffer between Jimmie and Esther Rolle/John Amos, saying, "can't we just all get along?"

Many years later at a stand-up date in Vegas, Jimmie was making fun of Michael Jackson in his act when a heckler started swearing and yelling at him. The heckler was none other than the Jackson father, Joe!!!

There are plenty more interesting stories, but I won't give them away. Let me know if you read the book!!!

I probably won't spend over $29.95 for the book. lol Even though it sounds good

Janice Johnson · 11-17-2012, 11:29 PM

I've read somewhere that Bernadette said she didn't get involved in the GT drama. She was just grateful to hsve a job!

catlover79 · 11-18-2012, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

I probably won't spend over $29.95 for the book. lol Even though it sounds good

Why don't you check it out of your library? That's what I did - I didn't buy it.

TVFactFan · 11-18-2012, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Why don't you check it out of your library? That's what I did - I didn't buy it.

I think i may do that, sounds like a Saturday activity LOL

catlover79 · 11-19-2012, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

I think i may do that, sounds like a Saturday activity LOL

Do it!!! Then let us know what you think of the book. Definitely some surprises as well.

ThomasE · 12-10-2012, 12:19 AM

I wanna check out that book. It seems very interesting.

catlover79 · 12-10-2012, 01:00 PM

You'd like it, I know.

magellan333 · 03-03-2013, 08:48 PM

I am reading this book now and loving every page of it. I downloaded for the Kindle for $2.95! I had no idea Laurence Fishburn was almost Michael Evans! I just can't seem him in the role.

catlover79 · 03-04-2013, 01:26 AM

I know!! Larry Fishburne was indeed a child actor, but I can't see anyone else but Ralph Carter as the "Militant Midget"!!!

Sonny Carson · 03-13-2013, 07:47 PM

I heard he said in the book that Chip Fields(Miss. Gordon) and Tamu Blackwell(Edna in the "Rich is better than Poor" episode) tried out for Thelma. I can't see Chip as Thelma and

at Tamu playing Thelma. Glad those two didn't happen even though they may have actually been better actresses than Bern. If Chip played Thelma their would have been a "J.J Gets Cut" episode of Good Times

.

TVFactFan · 03-13-2013, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonny Carson

I heard he said in the book that Chip Fields(Miss. Gordon) and Tamu Blackwell(Edna in the "Rich is better than Poor" episode) tried out for Thelma. I can't see Chip as Thelma and

at Tamu playing Thelma. Glad those two didn't happen even though they may have actually been better actresses than Bern. If Chip played Thelma their would have been a "J.J Gets Cut" episode of Good Times

.

Tamu had hips like a snake and a face like a shoe, she was a bad acting chick who was born in the Zoo

Sonny Carson · 03-13-2013, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Tamu had hips like a snake and a face like a shoe, she was a bad acting chick who was born in the Zoo

Yeah she was homely though she gave a good performance in the movie "Claudine".

11-17-2012, 08:01 PM	#1
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Hey Sol...you've GOT to read Jimmie Walker's book!! Sol, you have got to read Jimmie's book, which was just released a few months ago. He reveals: At the annual Lear-Yorkin Tandem Productions Christmas party in 1974, Mike Evans was already so unhappy about how small the role of Lionel on The Jeffersons (which wouldn't premiere until the next month!) had become that he demanded to Lear to be let out of his contract. Lear called his bluff and terminated Evans' contract then and there - at the Christmas party!!! Thus came the "official" reason that Mike had left his role of Lionel to concentrate on writing GT...which actually never happened. Jimmie was close friends with both Jay Leno and Dave Letterman (and is still tight with Dave) and shares his unique experiences on the Late Night Wars in the early 90s...and how his friendship with Jay ended. While not overly close to many people in the cast, Jimmie thought Ralph Carter was a cool kid but because the latter was still a minor and had to go to school on the set, they didn't see much of each other off the set. Bern Nadette became Jimmie's best friend of the GT cast and would sometimes go to the comedy clubs with him to hang out. When Johnny "Bookman" Brown joined the cast, they became close because Johnny was also a stand-up comic. Bern Nadette tried to be the buffer between Jimmie and Esther Rolle/John Amos, saying, "can't we just all get along?" Many years later at a stand-up date in Vegas, Jimmie was making fun of Michael Jackson in his act when a heckler started swearing and yelling at him. The heckler was none other than the Jackson father, Joe!!! There are plenty more interesting stories, but I won't give them away. Let me know if you read the book!!! Attached Images
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

12-10-2012, 12:19 AM	#7
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	I wanna check out that book. It seems very interesting.
	__________________ Check out my my "It's A Living" Facebook Fanpage!!! https://m.facebook.com/groups/107208...&source=result

11-17-2012, 11:29 PM	#3
Janice Johnson Commercial Lover Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 30, 2003 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 4,739	I've read somewhere that Bernadette said she didn't get involved in the GT drama. She was just grateful to hsve a job!

12-10-2012, 01:00 PM	#8
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	You'd like it, I know.

03-03-2013, 08:48 PM	#9
magellan333 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 26, 2003 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 822	I am reading this book now and loving every page of it. I downloaded for the Kindle for $2.95! I had no idea Laurence Fishburn was almost Michael Evans! I just can't seem him in the role.

03-04-2013, 01:26 AM	#10
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	I know!! Larry Fishburne was indeed a child actor, but I can't see anyone else but Ralph Carter as the "Militant Midget"!!!

03-13-2013, 07:47 PM	#11
Sonny Carson Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 26, 2012 Location: Southfield, Michigan Posts: 395	I heard he said in the book that Chip Fields(Miss. Gordon) and Tamu Blackwell(Edna in the "Rich is better than Poor" episode) tried out for Thelma. I can't see Chip as Thelma and at Tamu playing Thelma. Glad those two didn't happen even though they may have actually been better actresses than Bern. If Chip played Thelma their would have been a "J.J Gets Cut" episode of Good Times .