Good Times lost ensemble chemistry

[Will Dockery]

I think Good Times, like so many television shows, worked best when the "ensemble" cast was used, and not just over focused on one star. Sometimes the writers just had JJ act without any sensible character as with the episode I watched a day or so ago, James Evans needed help bringing something up from downstairs, and little Micahel was eager to go downstairs to help, while JJ just sort of sneered-smiled and said he'd hold the door open for them when they get back... and he wasn't kidding, the two men left for JJ to carry on and insult his mother and sister in a supposed to be funny way but in real life the mother would have surely told him to get out of her home and don't come back until he learned some respect. JJ really was turned from a funny smart a*** to just a bad example for the viewers of the show. And I'm sure he didn't start out so terrible.