Why JJ's career did not flourish? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

GoldenTV · 06-15-2022, 07:09 PM

JJ (Jimmie Walker) appeared frequently on TV and comedy shows, including as a panelist on 70's popular game show Match Game. I watched him several times on the game show and he don't seem to be too funny. He tried to be funny (maybe too hard), but the jokes and punchline doesn't deliver any laughs.

So one can see that he is not a good comedian and wont make it in that field. He could have relied on being an actor to further his career, but being type cast as JJ of Goodtimes hurt his chances of landing a good roles in TV and films. A real good actor probably could have broken those glass ceilings to advance their career, but JJ didn't have the skill.

JJ is like fellow comedians Jay Leno and Arsenio Hall. They can be very funny if providing them with funny materiel and situation, but on their own they are not very funny.

TVFactFan · 06-28-2022, 10:20 PM

Since you didnt put jimmie walker I thought u was asking why his career on the show didnt flourish as a Art director

I mean he went from being a career man in season 5 to unemployed when Florida returned to the show.

hatwink · 08-15-2022, 06:14 PM

Jimmie? Times change, people change. To me, he was funny at times as a comedian, still is, but not in the Chris Rock/Dave Chappelle vein. Doesn't always seem to be the friendliest guy either, but that is just my obervation.

Sonny Carson · 10-29-2022, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenTV

JJ (Jimmie Walker) appeared frequently on TV and comedy shows, including as a panelist on 70's popular game show Match Game. I watched him several times on the game show and he don't seem to be too funny. He tried to be funny (maybe too hard), but the jokes and punchline doesn't deliver any laughs.

So one can see that he is not a good comedian and wont make it in that field. He could have relied on being an actor to further his career, but being type cast as JJ of Goodtimes hurt his chances of landing a good roles in TV and films. A real good actor probably could have broken those glass ceilings to advance their career, but JJ didn't have the skill.

JJ is like fellow comedians Jay Leno and Arsenio Hall. They can be very funny if providing them with funny materiel and situation, but on their own they are not very funny.

Most people will tell you this about Jimmie Walker, he was a better comedian before he got on ‘Good Times’. His appearance at the ‘1972 Sing Sing Prison Concert’ was actually really funny. After he got on ‘Good Times’, he was hit or miss. He also didn’t improve as an actor. He played a ‘grown up J.J.’ on the show’s ‘At Ease’ and ‘Bustin Loose’!

Mace Dolex · 10-29-2022, 07:27 PM

Growing up in the 80's and watching afternoon sitcom reruns Good Times was never in syndication either it wasn't popular enough or it aired in obscure hours. I never even heard of Jimmie Walker until Eddie Murphy did a bit on him in his comedy special Delirious.

jamesanthony · 10-30-2022, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusty spike

Perhaps he was too grating and obnoxious to the tv producers.

.

I think that might be the answer. In an interview on Youtube he said Norman Lear and the other GT producers begged him to take acting lessons and he flatly refused. His natural standup could only take him so far.

Yong Fang · 11-02-2022, 09:43 AM

There is an interview series on Youtube and Jimmy Walker was a part of it, where he would talk about his career and his time on Good Times.

Walker was in his late 20's when Good Times started and Walker has been on TV in some capacity since the 1960's as a writer and a bit player. He knew a lot of people from way back and did a lot of stuff since Good Times, mostly behind the camera and other things. It's not like after Good Times he was unemployed and destitute. He has always been around in some capacity. He is over 70 now and had a successful career on the D List, knew a bunch of famous people, had his hand in stuff and had (and probably has) a good life and is probably a millionaire.

06-15-2022, 07:09 PM	#1
GoldenTV Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 10, 2019 Posts: 1,043	Why JJ's career did not flourish? JJ (Jimmie Walker) appeared frequently on TV and comedy shows, including as a panelist on 70's popular game show Match Game. I watched him several times on the game show and he don't seem to be too funny. He tried to be funny (maybe too hard), but the jokes and punchline doesn't deliver any laughs. So one can see that he is not a good comedian and wont make it in that field. He could have relied on being an actor to further his career, but being type cast as JJ of Goodtimes hurt his chances of landing a good roles in TV and films. A real good actor probably could have broken those glass ceilings to advance their career, but JJ didn't have the skill. JJ is like fellow comedians Jay Leno and Arsenio Hall. They can be very funny if providing them with funny materiel and situation, but on their own they are not very funny.

06-28-2022, 10:20 PM	#2
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,064	Since you didnt put jimmie walker I thought u was asking why his career on the show didnt flourish as a Art director I mean he went from being a career man in season 5 to unemployed when Florida returned to the show.

08-15-2022, 06:14 PM	#3
hatwink Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 19, 2004 Posts: 773	Jimmie? Times change, people change. To me, he was funny at times as a comedian, still is, but not in the Chris Rock/Dave Chappelle vein. Doesn't always seem to be the friendliest guy either, but that is just my obervation.

10-29-2022, 07:27 PM	#5
Mace Dolex Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 12, 2013 Posts: 2,669	Growing up in the 80's and watching afternoon sitcom reruns Good Times was never in syndication either it wasn't popular enough or it aired in obscure hours. I never even heard of Jimmie Walker until Eddie Murphy did a bit on him in his comedy special Delirious.

11-02-2022, 09:43 AM	#7
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	There is an interview series on Youtube and Jimmy Walker was a part of it, where he would talk about his career and his time on Good Times. Walker was in his late 20's when Good Times started and Walker has been on TV in some capacity since the 1960's as a writer and a bit player. He knew a lot of people from way back and did a lot of stuff since Good Times, mostly behind the camera and other things. It's not like after Good Times he was unemployed and destitute. He has always been around in some capacity. He is over 70 now and had a successful career on the D List, knew a bunch of famous people, had his hand in stuff and had (and probably has) a good life and is probably a millionaire.