Norman Lear confirms that Good Times is A Spinoff (See Video interview)

[ThomasE]

Folks, this video that I rediscovered comes from the TV archives. In it, is a interview with well known television producer and developer Norman Lear. Norman Lear discusses the spinoff franchise with the interviewer in the video. He goes into particular detail about how the sitcom “Good Times” became a spinoff. Now Norman Lear says he does not really like to use the term “Spinoff” when it comes to the franchise and then gives the description about how the show Maude derived from its parent show All In The Family. He then specifically talks about how Esther Rolle was like a baseball player candidate preparing for the major league. John Amos was hired to see how how he and Ms. Rolle looked together and the producers and network loved them. Norman Lear then says that they then “were committed to doing a pilot now a spinoff”. The commentary regarding this begins at 01:25.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqTvOTqgDRw

Wikipedia’s definition of spinoff: In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work (e.g. a particular topic, character, or event)
Key Word: “Character”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spin-off_(media)

Merriam Webster’s Dictionary:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spin-off
SPINOFF:
: a television program, movie, book, etc., that is based on characters from another television program, movie, book, etc.
: something useful that results from work done to produce something else

: something that is imitative or derivative of an earlier work, product, or establishment; especially : a television show starring a character popular in a secondary role of an earlier show

You see, a spinoff does not always have to be a consistent format regarding a character’s background. It’s the idea or character that derived from another piece of work.

My boy Solomon at one time was almost willing to declare it is a spinoff because he found out on Good Times that Florida was former maid in the world of “Good Times” like on “Maude”. He did state that “they forgot to change the names”. I don’t think so.


It has already been stated that it is a spinoff and Solomon has even admitted himself after proof had been given. His mind has been changed again but I do respect where he is coming from and applaud him for bringing a strong argument.

[Brieannas21]

Originally Posted by ThomasE

Folks, this video that I rediscovered comes from the TV archives. In it, is a interview with well known television producer and developer Norman Lear. Norman Lear discusses the spinoff franchise with the interviewer in the video. He goes into particular detail about how the sitcom “Good Times” became a spinoff. Now Norman Lear says he does not really like to use the term “Spinoff” when it comes to the franchise and then gives the description about how the show Maude derived from its parent show All In The Family. He then specifically talks about how Esther Rolle was like a baseball player candidate preparing for the major league. John Amos was hired to see how how he and Ms. Rolle looked together and the producers and network loved them. Norman Lear then says that they then “were committed to doing a pilot now a spinoff”. The commentary regarding this begins at 01:25.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqTvOTqgDRw

Wikipedia’s definition of spinoff: In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work (e.g. a particular topic, character, or event)
Key Word: “Character”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spin-off_(media)

Merriam Webster’s Dictionary:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spin-off
SPINOFF:
: a television program, movie, book, etc., that is based on characters from another television program, movie, book, etc.
: something useful that results from work done to produce something else

: something that is imitative or derivative of an earlier work, product, or establishment; especially : a television show starring a character popular in a secondary role of an earlier show

You see, a spinoff does not always have to be a consistent format regarding a character’s background. It’s the idea or character that derived from another piece of work.

My boy Solomon at one time was almost willing to declare it is a spinoff because he found out on Good Times that Florida was former maid in the world of “Good Times” like on “Maude”. He did state that “they forgot to change the names”. I don’t think so.


It has already been stated that it is a spinoff and Solomon has even admitted himself after proof had been given. His mind has been changed again but I do respect where he is coming from and applaud him for bringing a strong argument.

Sol has been silent. What happen? LOL

[ThomasE]

Originally Posted by Brieannas21

Sol has been silent. What happen? LOL

This board has been dead for almost 48 hours!!!

[Wawwie]

Originally Posted by Brieannas21

Sol has been silent. What happen? LOL

Why isn't the TVFactFan disputing this?

[Skywalker]

The problem I have with Good Time being called a spinoff is this, if it is indeed a spinoff as Norman Lear says then why was there no backdoor pilot or even a remote connection between Good Times and Maude? Were the writers and Norman Lear so lazy that they couldn't make 1 reference to Maude? Why did Henry leave what I assume was an ok paying job as a firefighter in NY and take his family to live in the projects in Chicago? I don't really care about definitions, Good Times was the only so called spinoff which Norman Lear was involved with that didn't have a backdoor pilot . Maude had one. Jeffersons had one. Even Checking In had one. It's obvious to me that the creators of Good Times, not Norman Lear, didn't want their show to be connected to Maude.


I can accept some tweaking with a spinoff like Family Matters where they say something about living in an apartment on PS and later on it's said that they've lived in a house for several years on FM, but not an extreme makeover.

[ThomasE]

@ SKYWALKER: But as someone who works in the industry as of 6 1/2 years, I can tell you that is the magic of Television. The rules are not always strict. Story line is changeable to make a certain vision happen. They tested John Amos with Esther Rolle. The CBS Execs along with Norman Lear's crew liked them. Then there was the commitment to do a spinoff. I know you don't care about definition but it applies tremendously to this situation. The connection lies with the ideas/characters/people deriving from another piece of work.

[TVFactFan]

All I hear is lies. He said they did a pilot for Good times?

Where is it????????????? LOL

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Skywalker

The problem I have with Good Time being called a spinoff is this, if it is indeed a spinoff as Norman Lear says then why was there no backdoor pilot or even a remote connection between Good Times and Maude? Were the writers and Norman Lear so lazy that they couldn't make 1 reference to Maude? Why did Henry leave what I assume was an ok paying job as a firefighter in NY and take his family to live in the projects in Chicago? I don't really care about definitions, Good Times was the only so called spinoff which Norman Lear was involved with that didn't have a backdoor pilot . Maude had one. Jeffersons had one. Even Checking In had one. It's obvious to me that the creators of Good Times, not Norman Lear, didn't want their show to be connected to Maude.


I can accept some tweaking with a spinoff like Family Matters where they say something about living in an apartment on PS and later on it's said that they've lived in a house for several years on FM, but not an extreme makeover.

Lear said they did a pilot episode LOL I wanna know where it is

[ThomasE]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Lear said they did a pilot episode LOL I wanna know where it is

My sitcom brother, you must listen again. Norman never said that they did the pilot but was commited to doing one. You see, the pilot was the original move but when the execs saw Amos and Rolle together on Maude, they were pleased and it was decided that committed pilot order (test run) would become a committed spinoff (full 13 episodic series) instead. I would like for you to listen again. LOL.

"We were committed to doing sp- pilot now called a spinoff". ~ Norman Lear

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by ThomasE

My sitcom brother, you must listen again. The pilot was the original move but when the execs saw Amos and Rolle together on Maude, they were pleased and it was decided that committed pilot order (test run) would become a committed spinoff (full episodic series) instead. I want you to listen again.

"we were committed to doing sp- pilot now called a spinoff".

I would have asked him


"Mr. Lear, how come you didn't do a pilot episode for Good Times like you did for maude and the Jeffersons? LOL

[ThomasE]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

I would have asked him


"Mr. Lear, how come you didn't do a pilot episode for Good Times like you did for maude and the Jeffersons? LOL

He answered that for you. When you get time, try to listen again. The execs were happy with what they had seen between Esther Rolle and John Amos. Norman got the okay to go through with the abbreviated 13ep season order. That does happen here and there behind the scenes. They had enough faith that the show would be fine based on John Amos working with Esther Rolle on Maude.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by ThomasE

He answered that for you. When you get time, try to listen again. The execs were happy with what they had seen between Esther Rolle and John Amos. Norman got the okay to go through with the abbreviated 13ep season order. That does happen here and there behind the scenes. They had enough faith that the show would be fine based on John Amos working with Esther Rolle on Maude.

So they had more faith in that show and not Maude and the jeffersons, makes no sense

[ThomasE]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

So they had more faith in that show and not Maude and the jeffersons, makes no sense

A Pilot is a test run to see how character act with one another. It also shows if there is good comedic timing and chemistry existing and if the show/actors are worthy to carry a whole series. The Jeffersons and Maude had the backdoor pilots on the parent show (All In the Family) with actors who would be sharing the spotlight. Esther Rolle had her test run with John Amos (According to Lear) on Maude in their scenes. The execs were pleased. Besides, spinoff or not, a new show would have to have a stand alone pilot if there is no backdoor episode or new introduction of a new character from a parent series that would be ushered into a spinoff.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by ThomasE

A Pilot is a test run to see how character act with one another. It also shows if there is good comedic timing and chemistry existing and if the show/actors are worthy to carry a whole series. The Jeffersons and Maude had the backdoor pilots on the parent show (All In the Family) with actors who would be sharing the spotlight. Esther Rolle had her test run with John Amos (According to Lear) on Maude in their scenes. The execs were pleased. Besides, spinoff or not, a new show would have to have a stand alone pilot if there is no backdoor episode or new introduction of a new character from a parent series that would be ushered into a spinoff.

I asked someone tonight did they know Good Times was a spinoff of maude and they never heard of Maude before


Good Times was a "stand alone Norman Lear Comedy"

[ThomasE]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

I asked someone tonight did they know Good Times was a spinoff of maude and they never heard of Maude before


Good Times was a "stand alone Norman Lear Comedy"

You asked someone who never heard of Maude before. Maybe that's better they don't know because if they found out the Evans family was on Maude first, then it could mess things up for you although that has nothing to do with the fact that it was a spinoff...and you got the details from the horses' mouth. I know you're disappointed but it'll be all right.

I know how much you want to believe that it was a stand alone comedy, so your wish is granted...too bad Esther Rolle's Florida Evans went from one show to the other playing the role. If Judy Pace and Fred Williamson were playing the "Blacks" then it would not be a spinoff.

It did stand alone but not all the way as the actors that played the Evans laid the foundation down for that and Monte's vision of them being "The Black Family" was out the door when Lear and Rolle made changes.

I know it hurt you to see that interview, man. LOL. It took you two days to post. You ignored it, regrouped and started again tonight however your only rebutle was that a stranger didn't know Maude was connected to Good Times. Sorry, man. That doesn't make a difference. For a while, I didn't know that Maude was Edith's cousin on AITF nor did I know The Jeffersons were neighbors of the Bunkers. All of these shows sort of became stand alone sitcoms:

Maude never appeared on Good Times
Archie and Edith never appeared on Maude or The Jeffersons(although in a flashback ep and George refers to Archie in a ep when George is in hypnotic state)

So you see, the argument that this person you talked about Maude not knowing about the connection with Good Times does not determine a full stand alone argument.