Strange references on Good Times episodes - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 03-29-2003, 12:04 PM

I always found it strange that the Show Good Times was based in the city of Chicago and the characters always made a reference to New York City-LOL. Florida said to J.J after he was out painting all night-"You can have painted the Empire State Building by now" Why didn't say the Sears Tower? And them J.J would always make references to Harlem. I thought the creator of Good Times, Eric Monte, grew up in Chicago not New York City-LOL. Which is why i don't understand the references to NYC.

AtlantaBravesFan29 · 03-29-2003, 03:43 PM

That is very strange,Solomon,since they make no mentions about Florida working for Maude in New York City,and that's where Florida worked for Maude. Since I thought it was a spin-off of Maude, they act like they lived in Chicago all of their lives. But in Maude, James(called Henry on Maude), worked as a fire fighter and they mentioned the kids but not by name but they did have 3 kids. Also Florida mentioned in an episode that she worked as a maid and a darn good one but never mentions Maude by name. Yes, Good Times was sort of a strange show to that extent.

TVFactFan · 03-29-2003, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BravesFan712002
That is very strange,Solomon,since they make no mentions about Florida working for Maude in New York City,and that's where Florida worked for Maude. Since I thought it was a spin-off of Maude, they act like they lived in Chicago all of their lives. But in Maude, James(called Henry on Maude), worked as a fire fighter and they mentioned the kids but not by name but they did have 3 kids. Also Florida mentioned in an episode that she worked as a maid and a darn good one but never mentions Maude by name. Yes, Good Times was sort of a strange show to that extent.

That statement Florida made about being a maid was the only thing that connects Good Times to Maude. But i just always wonder why they never discussed the Chicago gettho section if that's where the creator grew up. They kept discussing Harlem like they live in New York. How would J.J know about Harlem if he always lived in chicago?-LOL

Moonlight Lady · 04-03-2003, 10:08 PM

That's a good point... Unless, he went there on vacation or something, but I doubt that.

TVFactFan · 04-03-2003, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Katie_NY
That's a good point... Unless, he went there on vacation or something, but I doubt that.

I would say mentioning NY all the time was one of the STRANGEST things about this show.

Moonlight Lady · 04-08-2003, 09:58 PM

Yeah that is strange, You would think that they would make references to Chicago, since they lived there.

There should be a book out that answers these questions. It would be really good reading.

TVFactFan · 04-08-2003, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Katie_NY
Yeah that is strange, You would think that they would make references to Chicago, since they lived there.

There should be a book out that answers these questions. It would be really good reading.

Here is the real strange part of all of this, The creator of Good Times grew up in Chicago-LOL. Which is mind boggling that NY was always mentioned instead Chicago. Florida mentioned something about the Empire State Building-i was like-doesn't she mean the Sears Tower?

PracTz · 04-10-2003, 03:45 PM

IIRC, Harlem and NYC were VERY publicized during the 1970's via TV, pop songs, magazines,etc. .IMO, it wouldn't have been that tricky for JJ or the others to have heard about and made reference to those places. Also, more viewers would have heard about and IDed with these spots than with Chicago ones!viewers

TVFactFan · 11-01-2003, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PracTz
IIRC, Harlem and NYC were VERY publicized during the 1970's via TV, pop songs, magazines,etc. .IMO, it wouldn't have been that tricky for JJ or the others to have heard about and made reference to those places. Also, more viewers would have heard about and IDed with these spots than with Chicago ones!viewers

But it wasn't so much Harlem, it was other things like when Florida mentioned the Empire State Building. Why couldn't she just say the Sears Towers since it was in the opening credits?-LOL

W.J. Griffin · 11-01-2003, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sitcom Analyzer
But it wasn't so much Harlem, it was other things like when Florida mentioned the Empire State Building. Why couldn't she just say the Sears Towers since it was in the opening credits?-LOL

I'd blame it on sloppy writing. Presumably the writers, all cloistered in Hollywood, would probably be more familiar with New York landmarks than Chicago's. (Aggravating, when you consider other sitcoms set in Chicago..."Married: With Children" and "Family Matters" immediately come to mind...really go out of their way to mention Wrigley Field and the Sears Tower. I suppose you can chalk it up as another example of "Good Times"s schizophrenic exposition...)

TVFactFan · 11-01-2003, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by W.J. Griffin
I'd blame it on sloppy writing. Presumably the writers, all cloistered in Hollywood, would probably be more familiar with New York landmarks than Chicago's. (Aggravating, when you consider other sitcoms set in Chicago..."Married: With Children" and "Family Matters" immediately come to mind...really go out of their way to mention Wrigley Field and the Sears Tower. I suppose you can chalk it up as another example of "Good Times"s schizophrenic exposition...)

The writing was defintely not as strong as it should have been.

marvin g · 11-04-2003, 10:13 PM

I don't know when that episode originally aired but the Sears Tower was built about the same time the show aired. But in the 70's the John Hancock building was more famous than the Sears Tower. Another instants is when Penny had information on some rumor and finished by saying "news at 11"! Well the news comes on at "10" in Chicago!!

Very sloppy writing!!

TVFactFan · 11-04-2003, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by marvin g
I don't know when that episode originally aired but the Sears Tower was built about the same time the show aired. But in the 70's the John Hancock building was more famous than the Sears Tower. Another instants is when Penny had information on some rumor and finished by saying "news at 11"! Well the news comes on at "10" in Chicago!!

Very sloppy writing!!

I know the Sears Towers was in the opening credits.

nerrad · 11-05-2003, 11:32 AM

They rarely mentioned schools that much. Did JJ and Thelma attend the same school? They were in the same prom, so I guess so. Also, I never seen any of Thelma's classmates.

TVFactFan · 11-05-2003, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nerrad
They rarely mentioned schools that much. Did JJ and Thelma attend the same school? They were in the same prom, so I guess so. Also, I never seen any of Thelma's classmates.

Her classmates were seen in the two part episode-African Romance

03-29-2003, 12:04 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,052	Strange references on Good Times episodes I always found it strange that the Show Good Times was based in the city of Chicago and the characters always made a reference to New York City-LOL. Florida said to J.J after he was out painting all night-"You can have painted the Empire State Building by now" Why didn't say the Sears Tower? And them J.J would always make references to Harlem. I thought the creator of Good Times, Eric Monte, grew up in Chicago not New York City-LOL. Which is why i don't understand the references to NYC.

04-03-2003, 10:08 PM	#4
Moonlight Lady Member Forum Star Join Date: Aug 18, 2002 Posts: 16,052	That's a good point... Unless, he went there on vacation or something, but I doubt that.
	__________________ [

03-29-2003, 03:43 PM	#2
AtlantaBravesFan29 Atlanta Braves Fan Senior Member Join Date: Aug 13, 2002 Location: Pleasanton,TX--40 Miles South Of San Antonio Posts: 1,859	That is very strange,Solomon,since they make no mentions about Florida working for Maude in New York City,and that's where Florida worked for Maude. Since I thought it was a spin-off of Maude, they act like they lived in Chicago all of their lives. But in Maude, James(called Henry on Maude), worked as a fire fighter and they mentioned the kids but not by name but they did have 3 kids. Also Florida mentioned in an episode that she worked as a maid and a darn good one but never mentions Maude by name. Yes, Good Times was sort of a strange show to that extent.

04-08-2003, 09:58 PM	#6
Moonlight Lady Member Forum Star Join Date: Aug 18, 2002 Posts: 16,052	Yeah that is strange, You would think that they would make references to Chicago, since they lived there. There should be a book out that answers these questions. It would be really good reading.

04-10-2003, 03:45 PM	#8
PracTz Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2002 Location: United States of America [Happily Living in the 20th Century] Posts: 2,711	IIRC, Harlem and NYC were VERY publicized during the 1970's via TV, pop songs, magazines,etc. .IMO, it wouldn't have been that tricky for JJ or the others to have heard about and made reference to those places. Also, more viewers would have heard about and IDed with these spots than with Chicago ones!viewers

11-04-2003, 10:13 PM	#12
marvin g Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 30, 2003 Location: Chicago,IL Posts: 1,217	I don't know when that episode originally aired but the Sears Tower was built about the same time the show aired. But in the 70's the John Hancock building was more famous than the Sears Tower. Another instants is when Penny had information on some rumor and finished by saying "news at 11"! Well the news comes on at "10" in Chicago!! Very sloppy writing!!

11-05-2003, 11:32 AM	#14
nerrad Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 06, 2003 Location: pfunkytown Posts: 1,253	They rarely mentioned schools that much. Did JJ and Thelma attend the same school? They were in the same prom, so I guess so. Also, I never seen any of Thelma's classmates.