Do you think it would have been better to have James just AWAY than dead?

[Frump]

To me after James died, the show went down, there were a few good episodes after that, but by the time Penny and Keith came along I thought it was pretty well poor.

I'm thinking, since James went to the other city *I forget which now* to get a new job and the family would be joining him later, do you think it would have been better just have have become a situation where James had to be working away from home for an indefinite extended period of time, rather than him dying?

That way occasionally James could make a visit, and they could have phone calls from him and MAYBE the dynamic of the show would not have changed so drastically.

[*ROGER*]

After James died, the show really went down hill in my opinion. I hated when Florida and Carl got married. Then in the next season, they just totally acted as if Carl never existed and Florida was never re-married. I also despised the characters of Penny and Keith. Keith was so unfunny and Penny was just annoying. I also hated the episodes when they had Michael singing off key. That boy was a horrendous singer.

James was working in Mississippi when he died. I've often wondered if the show would have been better if they didn't kill off James.

[Frump]

Originally Posted by *ROGER*

After James died, the show really went down hill in my opinion. I hated when Florida and Carl got married. Then in the next season, they just totally acted as if Carl never existed and Florida was never re-married. I also despised the characters of Penny and Keith. Keith was so unfunny and Penny was just annoying. I also hated the episodes when they had Michael singing off key. That boy was a horrendous singer.

James was working in Mississippi when he died. I've often wondered if the show would have been better if they didn't kill off James.

I've wondered about the Carl thing, it's funny though, Florida DOES mention Carol when she gets home, I think she gives Michael a gift and says, "Carl and I picked it out for you."

I guess he was still part of the canon and either he died or they got seperated.

I really didn't have much hope for their marriage anyway, and I thought that was out of character for Florida getting remarried THAT FAST after James had died.

[*ROGER*]

Originally Posted by Frump

I've wondered about the Carl thing, it's funny though, Florida DOES mention Carol when she gets home, I think she gives Michael a gift and says, "Carl and I picked it out for you."

Yes, when Florida comes back from Arizona, she gives Michael a book and says it was a gift from Carl. After that, Carl is never mentioned again! That's some lazy writing and an insult to viewers in my opinion. Florida was supposed to be married to Carl. They just dropped the story line without any sort of closure.

[Neutronman67]

Yeah they could have mentioned him in the forth season like the evans saying dad got his first paycheck or have them talk on the phone with him for a few seconds throughout the series, killing him off was just a mean trick for the producers who made the show.

[ThomasE]

Originally Posted by *ROGER*

Yes, when Florida comes back from Arizona, she gives Michael a book and says it was a gift from Carl. After that, Carl is never mentioned again! That's some lazy writing and an insult to viewers in my opinion. Florida was supposed to be married to Carl. They just dropped the story line without any sort of closure.

As Carl and Florida should have never been together in the first place, I forgive the writing that caused Carl to disappear. I totally forgive it without fail.

[*ROGER*]

Originally Posted by ThomasE

As Carl and Florida should have never been together in the first place, I forgive the writing that caused Carl to disappear. I totally forgive it without fail.

Carl and Florida were a mis-match from the very beginning. They had way too many differences. I remember Florida was disappointed in him because he didn't believe in god, and they had that one dinner date that was a total disaster.

[You_Rang]

Killing James off was a major mistake on the shows part and for one which the show never truly recovered. Kinda wished they pulled a "Dallas" and James death was but a dream.

[ThomasE]

Originally Posted by *ROGER*

Carl and Florida were a mis-match from the very beginning. They had way too many differences. I remember Florida was disappointed in him because he didn't believe in god, and they had that one dinner date that was a total disaster.

That is why I gave the writers a free pass and applaud them for fading out the Carl character.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Frump

To me after James died, the show went down, there were a few good episodes after that, but by the time Penny and Keith came along I thought it was pretty well poor.

I'm thinking, since James went to the other city *I forget which now* to get a new job and the family would be joining him later, do you think it would have been better just have have become a situation where James had to be working away from home for an indefinite extended period of time, rather than him dying?

That way occasionally James could make a visit, and they could have phone calls from him and MAYBE the dynamic of the show would not have changed so drastically.

Yeah kind of like he was in the episode when the old man died. He was working..........OUT OF TOWN


But that wasn't possible since the actor was fired. Only if there was a contract dispute not a terminated contract

[*ROGER*]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Yeah kind of like he was in the episode when the old man died. He was working..........OUT OF TOWN


But that wasn't possible since the actor was fired. Only if there was a contract dispute not a terminated contract

Could you imagine if they did him like Suzanne Sommers was done on Three's Company? They could have had James call in every once in a while And we'd get to see him talking on the phone while he's away in Mississippi

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by *ROGER*

Could you imagine if they did him like Suzanne Sommers was done on Three's Company? They could have had James call in every once in a while And we'd get to see him talking on the phone while he's away in Mississippi

Yeah that would be crazy, James calling to talk to Florida or Thelma or Micahel but I can see him never talking to JJ on the lol:

[prestige]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Yeah that would be crazy, James calling to talk to Florida or Thelma or Micahel but I can see him never talking to JJ on the lol:

I can't really see James talking as much to either of them, just really think about it, what the hell can James really talk about on the phone besides NOT being paid enough, so that means that he will keep talking about the same thing?

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by prestige

I can't really see James talking as much to either of them, just really think about it, what the hell can James really talk about on the phone besides NOT being paid enough, so that means that he will keep talking about the same thing?

Really I can only see him talking to Florida on the phone

[Dr. Thong]

James was too crucial a character to be "away" all the time. If James had just been away off-camera, viewers would have held out hope that John Amos would someday return and resume his role.

And it's an even more ludicrous idea to have him call once an episode, like they did with the character of Chrissy Snow on Three's Company. That was done because Suzanne Somers had made ridiculous salary demands and was unprofessional, forcing the producers to scrap one show because she went on strike to make her point.

I agree that the show wasn't as good without John Amos, but Amos dug his own grave - so to speak - when he spoke out against the show publicly.