What if Evans family were not poor? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

GoldenTV · 04-08-2019, 07:09 PM

Do you guys think Good Times show would have worked if Evans were middle or upper middle class, which probably would have mean living in the project was out and show being situated in a house or apartment.

I don't think it would have worked since the writer probably would had to leave out a lot social commentary that would have applied to living in the 70's era in inner city Chicago.

For example for Cosby Show, Bill Cosby originally wanted to be a Plummer or carpenter. But the show producers rejected that idea and made him a doctor with middle upper class family. And for that reason show only dealt with trivia social matters that was forgotten the next day.

But Evans family for being poor had to deal with some serious social matters that are still pack a punch and are relevant today. Thus Good Times have much more endured over last 5 decades over African/American shows like Cosby Show and to lesser extend The Jeffersons.

cbikle · 04-19-2019, 10:16 AM

Well, since GT was based on the memoirs of a young black kid growing up poor in the late 60's/early 70's, that change would have been a significant jump from the source material, although that wasn't unheard of back then.

With the Cosby Show, you had a married couple where BOTH parents were probably making close to (low ?) 6-figure incomes and were possibly making a combined income of over $1 million/year.

On the CS, money was rarely more than a fluff issue, usually with Cliff Huxtable overreacting to money issues out of principle and/or concerns over it being used frivolously or being wasted. Kind of like how Larry David's character reacts on Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Heenan Fan · 04-22-2019, 09:57 PM

I can't imagine watching GT with the Evans family being well off. The heart and soul of the show, and of the times for a lot of us that grew up poor, would of been represented wrong. The Cosby Show was the next era and it worked that Cliff and Clare were well off. But GT would probably not of worked if the Evans Family was middle class or higher imo.

04-08-2019, 07:09 PM	#1
GoldenTV Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 10, 2019 Posts: 1,044	What if Evans family were not poor? Do you guys think Good Times show would have worked if Evans were middle or upper middle class, which probably would have mean living in the project was out and show being situated in a house or apartment. I don't think it would have worked since the writer probably would had to leave out a lot social commentary that would have applied to living in the 70's era in inner city Chicago. For example for Cosby Show, Bill Cosby originally wanted to be a Plummer or carpenter. But the show producers rejected that idea and made him a doctor with middle upper class family. And for that reason show only dealt with trivia social matters that was forgotten the next day. But Evans family for being poor had to deal with some serious social matters that are still pack a punch and are relevant today. Thus Good Times have much more endured over last 5 decades over African/American shows like Cosby Show and to lesser extend The Jeffersons.

04-19-2019, 10:16 AM	#2
cbikle Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 15, 2019 Posts: 113	Well, since GT was based on the memoirs of a young black kid growing up poor in the late 60's/early 70's, that change would have been a significant jump from the source material, although that wasn't unheard of back then. With the Cosby Show, you had a married couple where BOTH parents were probably making close to (low ?) 6-figure incomes and were possibly making a combined income of over $1 million/year. On the CS, money was rarely more than a fluff issue, usually with Cliff Huxtable overreacting to money issues out of principle and/or concerns over it being used frivolously or being wasted. Kind of like how Larry David's character reacts on Curb Your Enthusiasm.

04-22-2019, 09:57 PM	#3
Heenan Fan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 19, 2016 Posts: 6,001	I can't imagine watching GT with the Evans family being well off. The heart and soul of the show, and of the times for a lot of us that grew up poor, would of been represented wrong. The Cosby Show was the next era and it worked that Cliff and Clare were well off. But GT would probably not of worked if the Evans Family was middle class or higher imo.