Thank God Esther Rolle came back - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ThomasE · 10-18-2002, 08:28 PM

I'm so serious. She was the missing void during season 5. What was Norman Lear thinking? He and the producers should have gave into her demand for more money since they were not going to make J.J. a more responsible character. J.J. going "Dynomite can only hold out for ratings so long" The ratings were still down but thank goodness she came back and help complete the last season with class. Had she not been back for the last episodes, that would have left the series incomplete. As the Matricarch, it was only appropriate that she be there. Some people had a problem with Ms. Rolle wanting the show to be centered around her and not J.J. so much. I disagree. The show was designed around her character and the issues she faced with her family in the ghetto.

During the last season, Norman Lear wised up and asked her to come back and wooed her back with some promises of more money, the promise that J.J. would be more repsonsible and more episodes would be based around her and she was able to have more creative leadway. During the first few episodes of the 78-79 season, she received standing ovations whenever she entered the living room which I thought was great.

Now would it make sense to try to base the Maude show around the antics of Dr. Arthur Harmon when it is supposed to be about Maude herself. I know Jimmie was funnier than Esther, but there should be a balance. To me, the sixth season was one of the best. I know others may disagree but that is how I feel.

jerry allen · 10-18-2002, 09:59 PM

you're right about how great it was when she came back. any producer is money driven, it's only natural for Norman Lear to want to focus on J.J. since he had emerged as such a teen-idol type. however, is it just me or did the show in Esther's absence start to resemble that other Norman Lear hit, "What's Happening?", with the ephasis on the kids and overall chaos and mayhem on the screen?

Brian Damage · 10-18-2002, 10:07 PM

Norman Lear did What's Happening?

Are you sure about that?

TVFactFan · 10-19-2002, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ThomasE
I'm so serious. She was the missing void during season 5. What was Norman Lear thinking? He and the producers should have gave into her demand for more money since they were not going to make J.J. a more responsible character. J.J. going "Dynomite can only hold out for ratings so long" The ratings were still down but thank goodness she came back and help complete the last season with class. Had she not been back for the last episodes, that would have left the series incomplete. As the Matricarch, it was only appropriate that she be there. Some people had a problem with Ms. Rolle wanting the show to be centered around her and not J.J. so much. I disagree. The show was designed around her character and the issues she faced with her family in the ghetto.

During the last season, Norman Lear wised up and asked her to come back and wooed her back with some promises of more money, the promise that J.J. would be more repsonsible and more episodes would be based around her and she was able to have more creative leadway. During the first few episodes of the 78-79 season, she received standing ovations whenever she entered the living room which I thought was great.

Now would it make sense to try to base the Maude show around the antics of Dr. Arthur Harmon when it is supposed to be about Maude herself. I know Jimmie was funnier than Esther, but there should be a balance. To me, the sixth season was one of the best. I know others may disagree but that is how I feel.

The show best seasons were the first 3-you are saying the last season was the best-HUH???-there was no james, and a stupid janet jackson added to the cast. You say the 6 season was the best and it really wasn't no sixth season because the first 8 months of 1979 there was no episodes so I don't what you are talking about.

TVJunkie101 · 10-19-2002, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SOLOMON
The show best seasons were the first 3-you are saying the last season was the best-HUH???-there was no james, and a stupid janet jackson added to the cast. You say the 6 season was the best and it really wasn't no sixth season because the first 8 months of 1979 there was no episodes so I don't what you are talking about.

Calm down Solomon. That was only HIS opinion. I believe he said, IN HIS OPINION it was ONE of the best seasons.

jerry allen · 10-19-2002, 07:41 PM

i'm sure that Norman Lear was the producer of the 1976-1979 version of "What's Happening!!" i saw a TV program about Shirley Hemphill and Lear was featured on it and under his name was printed "prodcer/What's Happening!!". now, i don't know if he produced the 1985-1988 revival "What's Happening Now!!" or not and the show i saw on Shirley didn't specify i Lear was the producer for the whole 1976-1979 run or not...but at least at some point in that show's history he was the producer. i'm going by what the E! story reported and so they should know!?

jerry allen · 10-19-2002, 08:15 PM

after research, i learned that E! asked Norman Lear to appear on the Shirley Hemphill biography because he was a partner with Bud Yorkin, the producer of "What's Happening!!" along with Saul Turteltaub, and Bernie Orenstein. Norman and Bud formed a company, Norbud, and though Lear wasn't the "producer" in the traditional sense, he did have an impact on Bud Yorkin's choices in cast and scripts. i think that Yorkin has passed away and that's why Lear was on the E! show

TVFactFan · 10-19-2002, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jerry allen
i'm sure that Norman Lear was the producer of the 1976-1979 version of "What's Happening!!" i saw a TV program about Shirley Hemphill and Lear was featured on it and under his name was printed "prodcer/What's Happening!!". now, i don't know if he produced the 1985-1988 revival "What's Happening Now!!" or not and the show i saw on Shirley didn't specify i Lear was the producer for the whole 1976-1979 run or not...but at least at some point in that show's history he was the producer. i'm going by what the E! story reported and so they should know!?

This is the Good Times messageboard-NOT what's happening

TVJunkie101 · 10-19-2002, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SOLOMON
This is the Good Times messageboard-NOT what's happening

So what? You need to calm down. All he was doing was clearing up a misunderstanding. He thought Norman Lear was a producer for Whats Happening, but found out information that proved him wrong, he was simply clearing it up. It's not a big deal.

ThomasE · 10-20-2002, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SOLOMON

The show best seasons were the first 3-you are saying the last season was the best-HUH???-there was no james, and a stupid janet jackson added to the cast. You say the 6 season was the best and it really wasn't no sixth season because the first 8 months of 1979 there was no episodes so I don't what you are talking about.

Chill out, man. It is my opinion and I am sticking to it. Do you see me criticizing you? With all due respect you don't know me so don't do that! I ain't with the "I gonna be rude to so and so because his opinion is stupid and different from mine" game. I'm not with that program. There was a season six. It may not have aired all 9 months, but eps did air so there WAS a season six. Anybody could tell you that, man. I LOVED that season and it ranks as one of my top favorites.

SOLOMON, you post things that I don't agree with at times(like your believing that Good Times was not a Maude spinoff) but I still have to respect what you say. Do the same with me please so we will not have any problems. Thank You! People on the Facts of Life board used to get all mad when someone posted that Nancy McKeon was NOT their favorite and others were ready be at their throats. HOW STUPID! Why fight about it?

Also Janet was a good addtion to the show. I really did not consider her stupid. Yorkin did participate with Good Times and Shirley was a guest star back in 1976, so the other poster's comment is somewhat valid for this board.

ThomasE · 10-31-2002, 12:31 AM

It was a great entrance for Esther Rolle. Having Thelm married was a good storyline. It almost seemed as though they needed something for her to do jsut to keep things fresh IMO. The storylines were good for season six. I wonder why so many people disagree. Janet Jackson and Janet DuBois made a good mother and daughter team. The season that sucked to me was season 5 without Ms. Rolle. What was Lear thinking? The last episode. I know everybody got what they wanted within 30 minutes, but with all that mess they had been through, I think it was well deserved. Think about it, having tripped on your leg during the wedding ceremony and it almost looked like the family was getting out of the ghetto was a bad thing. I felt that pain. Another good ep during that year was Keith's drinking problem. I like how he got mad and slapped Thelma and she was ready to send him packing and later slapped him back. She was a strong young woman.

BTW if you noticed, the Grandparent show of Good Times(All in the family/ABP) did not get a farewell ep in 1983 and neither did it's uncle show (The Jeffersons) but the mother show(Maude) did. Just an observation.

TVFactFan · 10-31-2002, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ThomasE
It was a great entrance for Esther Rolle. Having Thelm married was a good storyline. It almost seemed as though they needed something for her to do jsut to keep things fresh IMO. The storylines were good for season six. I wonder why so many people disagree. Janet Jackson and Janet DuBois made a good mother and daughter team. The season that sucked to me was season 5 without Ms. Rolle. What was Lear thinking? The last episode. I know everybody got what they wanted within 30 minutes, but with all that mess they had been through, I think it was well deserved. Think about it, having tripped on your leg during the wedding ceremony and it almost looked like the family was getting out of the ghetto was a bad thing. I felt that pain. Another good ep during that year was Keith's drinking problem. I like how he got mad and slapped Thelma and she was ready to send him packing and later slapped him back. She was a strong young woman.

BTW if you noticed, the Grandparent show of Good Times(All in the family/ABP) did not get a farewell ep in 1983 and neither did it's uncle show (The Jeffersons) but the mother show(Maude) did. Just an observation.

How did Maude end? I think she became a Congress Woman.

ThomasE · 11-01-2002, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SOLOMON

How did Maude end? I think she became a Congress Woman.

Yes, and there was talk about going into a seventh season with many cast changes but Ms. Arthur wanted to call it quits. The Political idea was used for another show "Hangin' In".

mstewart · 02-16-2003, 04:02 PM

Thank God that Esther came back and brought the final season of Good Times some dignity that was well deserved. It was unfortunate that James was not around. If the show was done with that much dignity, like the final season was, it would have been a classic.

TVFactFan · 02-16-2003, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mstewart
Thank God that Esther came back and brought the final season of Good Times some dignity that was well deserved. It was unfortunate that James was not around. If the show was done with that much dignity, like the final season was, it would have been a classic.

the real start and beginning for good times was 1974-1977. when florida came back in 1978,i don't know what it was called.

10-18-2002, 08:28 PM	#1
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	Thank God Esther Rolle came back I'm so serious. She was the missing void during season 5. What was Norman Lear thinking? He and the producers should have gave into her demand for more money since they were not going to make J.J. a more responsible character. J.J. going "Dynomite can only hold out for ratings so long" The ratings were still down but thank goodness she came back and help complete the last season with class. Had she not been back for the last episodes, that would have left the series incomplete. As the Matricarch, it was only appropriate that she be there. Some people had a problem with Ms. Rolle wanting the show to be centered around her and not J.J. so much. I disagree. The show was designed around her character and the issues she faced with her family in the ghetto. During the last season, Norman Lear wised up and asked her to come back and wooed her back with some promises of more money, the promise that J.J. would be more repsonsible and more episodes would be based around her and she was able to have more creative leadway. During the first few episodes of the 78-79 season, she received standing ovations whenever she entered the living room which I thought was great. Now would it make sense to try to base the Maude show around the antics of Dr. Arthur Harmon when it is supposed to be about Maude herself. I know Jimmie was funnier than Esther, but there should be a balance. To me, the sixth season was one of the best. I know others may disagree but that is how I feel.

10-18-2002, 10:07 PM	#3
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Norman Lear did What's Happening? Are you sure about that?
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

10-31-2002, 12:31 AM	#11
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	I liked the way season six started off It was a great entrance for Esther Rolle. Having Thelm married was a good storyline. It almost seemed as though they needed something for her to do jsut to keep things fresh IMO. The storylines were good for season six. I wonder why so many people disagree. Janet Jackson and Janet DuBois made a good mother and daughter team. The season that sucked to me was season 5 without Ms. Rolle. What was Lear thinking? The last episode. I know everybody got what they wanted within 30 minutes, but with all that mess they had been through, I think it was well deserved. Think about it, having tripped on your leg during the wedding ceremony and it almost looked like the family was getting out of the ghetto was a bad thing. I felt that pain. Another good ep during that year was Keith's drinking problem. I like how he got mad and slapped Thelma and she was ready to send him packing and later slapped him back. She was a strong young woman. BTW if you noticed, the Grandparent show of Good Times(All in the family/ABP) did not get a farewell ep in 1983 and neither did it's uncle show (The Jeffersons) but the mother show(Maude) did. Just an observation.

10-18-2002, 09:59 PM	#2
jerry allen Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 01, 2002 Location: State Route 72/ Ohio Posts: 148	you're right about how great it was when she came back. any producer is money driven, it's only natural for Norman Lear to want to focus on J.J. since he had emerged as such a teen-idol type. however, is it just me or did the show in Esther's absence start to resemble that other Norman Lear hit, "What's Happening?", with the ephasis on the kids and overall chaos and mayhem on the screen?

10-19-2002, 07:41 PM	#6
jerry allen Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 01, 2002 Location: State Route 72/ Ohio Posts: 148	i'm sure that Norman Lear was the producer of the 1976-1979 version of "What's Happening!!" i saw a TV program about Shirley Hemphill and Lear was featured on it and under his name was printed "prodcer/What's Happening!!". now, i don't know if he produced the 1985-1988 revival "What's Happening Now!!" or not and the show i saw on Shirley didn't specify i Lear was the producer for the whole 1976-1979 run or not...but at least at some point in that show's history he was the producer. i'm going by what the E! story reported and so they should know!?

10-19-2002, 08:15 PM	#7
jerry allen Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 01, 2002 Location: State Route 72/ Ohio Posts: 148	after research, i learned that E! asked Norman Lear to appear on the Shirley Hemphill biography because he was a partner with Bud Yorkin, the producer of "What's Happening!!" along with Saul Turteltaub, and Bernie Orenstein. Norman and Bud formed a company, Norbud, and though Lear wasn't the "producer" in the traditional sense, he did have an impact on Bud Yorkin's choices in cast and scripts. i think that Yorkin has passed away and that's why Lear was on the E! show

02-16-2003, 04:02 PM	#14
mstewart mstewart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 25, 2002 Location: California Posts: 1,780	Thank God that Esther came back and brought the final season of Good Times some dignity that was well deserved. It was unfortunate that James was not around. If the show was done with that much dignity, like the final season was, it would have been a classic.