Answers to frequently asked GT Questions by GT Fans! :D

[Janice Johnson]

WHY did only PENNY get into trouble for stealing the necklace and not the horrible low life Thief who pickpocketed her purse?

Answer. We don't know how long the lapse between The NASTY Thief pickpocketing Penny's Purse and Penny being caught was. He most likely mosied away out of the Mall and wasn't caught. Not to be rude, but technically, Penny being pickpocketed was NOT The Mall's Problem. Her stealing their Necklace WAS however their problem.

Why would Keith slap Thelma? She was only trying to help him out.

Keith was drunk and depressed. Although Thelma did NOT deserve to be slapped by Keith, she shouldn't have invited his successful Friend to the Apartment without Keith's permission, especially since Keith was JUST about to become a Wealthy Football Player before the messed up knee accident. Many Fans wondered WHY Thelma would expect Keith to be HAPPY for his Friend to see him as technically disabled.

Why did Florida leave her three children in the Ghetto alone to go live with Carl? I mean, Michael was only FOURTEEN and technically, he was still a CHILD?

She didn't want to uproot Michael, JJ, and Thelma for some man she met only a year ago and felt that JJ and Thelma who were young Adults in their 20's could take care of Michael and Willona could help take care of Michael too.

WHY was Florida given a TELEGRAPH that James was killed in a car accident and not a PHONE CALL?TELEGRAPHS were already on their way out in 1976, and were even more expensive than a long distance Phone call.

They most likely used a TELEGRAPH because James forgot to include a phone number in case of emergency and only gave an address.

WHY did Thelma seem to become nothing more than Keith's wife? In earlier Seasons, she had dreams of becoming a Dancer , Writer, and Florida even thought she was going to be a Future Doctor. Why make her a sit around Housewife?

IIRC, The Writers admitted they hit a wall when it came to Thelma in Season 6.

WHY DIDN'T Thelma have a JOB? Why was she relying on her Mother and JJ to bring income?

Thelma WORKED. She was an Employee at The Boutique Willona worked at.

WHY was James killed off in the first place? He was such a popular and well loved Character, why suddenly throw him away like yesterday's trash? Also, did John Amos quit or was he fired?

James was killed after John Amos gave an Infamous Interview in a Popular Black Magazine about how buffoonish the show got with JJ's immature, childish, and silly antics and how JJ was a Ministrel Caricature when it was supposed to be about a Poor black Family surviving The Ghetto while sticking together. He DIDN'T quit, he was fired, but DID commit Character Suicide by badmouthing the Show.

[GoldenTV]

Originally Posted by Janice Johnson

WHY was Florida given a TELEGRAPH that James was killed in a car accident and not a PHONE CALL?TELEGRAPHS were already on their way out in 1976, and were even more expensive than a long distance Phone call.

They most likely used a TELEGRAPH because James forgot to include a phone number in case of emergency and only gave an address.

That is kind of puzzling. If James was in the south job hunting he probably was staying with relatives or close friend while getting things set up for family to move. So the host probably would have known family phone number rather than their address.

Unless he was staying in a motel or hotel which does get expensive if staying more than couple of days.

WHY DIDN'T Thelma have a JOB? Why was she relying on her Mother and JJ to bring income?

Thelma WORKED. She was an Employee at The Boutique Willona worked at.

I think she was onlly working 15 hours a week which probaly wouldnt cover her make up kit cost

With her look, she probaly could have easily find a full time cutomer related jobs such as recepcenst or field representive.

WHY was James killed off in the first place? He was such a popular and well loved Character, why suddenly throw him away like yesterday's trash? Also, did John Amos quit or was he fired?

James was killed after John Amos gave an Infamous Interview in a Popular Black Magazine about how buffoonish the show got with JJ's immature, childish, and silly antics and how JJ was a Ministrel Caricature when it was supposed to be about a Poor black Family surviving The Ghetto while sticking together. He DIDN'T quit, he was fired, but DID commit Character Suicide by badmouthing the Show.

I think if JJ was not becoming the front and center character by third season, James probably wouldn't been fired as show was still in top ten. Firing a main character would have been a rating suicide.

[Janice Johnson]

Originally Posted by GoldenTV

That is kind of puzzling. If James was in the south job hunting he probably was staying with relatives or close friend while getting things set up for family to move. So the host probably would have known family phone number rather than their address.

Unless he was staying in a motel or hotel which does get expensive if staying more than couple of days.



I think she was onlly working 15 hours a week which probaly wouldnt cover her make up kit cost

With her look, she probaly could have easily find a full time cutomer related jobs such as recepcenst or field representive.



I think if JJ was not becoming the front and center character by third season, James probably wouldn't been fired as show was still in top ten. Firing a main character would have been a rating suicide.

About the very last part, the Good Times Producers admitted killing off James was a mistake... A saving Grace is that James's "Brother," John recently became a part of The Evans Family in a way....