Shark Bytes

Some posters say that James hated white people. I don't remember him taking about white people that much; it was Michael who was complaining about "The Man" and the system keeping black folks down. As for James' anger, I guess I'd be angry too if everytime I had an opportunity it fell through or my silly wife wanted me to turn it down. I guess some people want black people to always be happy and joking around like Al Roker. Yes, sometimes this show was unrealistic, overdramatic (Esther Rolle's damn, damn, damn being a good example), and full of insults, but most of the time it was funny as hell. Unfortunately, the ending was one of the worst I've ever seen with everything being perfect at the same time. Thelma practically fainted while everyone is sharing how they are leaving the ghetto,because of course any woman that fainted on television in the seventies and eighties was pregnant. Also, she had to insist that Florida live with her and Keith so Florida could keep meddling in their lives and nagging them. How realistic is that? I always skip that episode when I watch the CDs. Furthermore, there was something creepy about Penny, but Janet Jackson was a fantastic actress then, and she still is now. Her face was so pretty then, that when I see that tiny nose and huge cheekbones sticking out I want to scream, "Damn, damn, damn!"

Jason,

Just for the record, everything I have ever read on the subject says that John Amos did NOT leave the show of his own will. Oh, he may have been ready to do so soon, but that's not how things transpired, from what I have been able to ascertain. On John Amos' entry in Wikipedia, it says he was 'fired' and on the Good Times entry in Wikipedia, it says he was 'dismissed' from the show.

There are other websites that say similar things. Plus, I heard even as early as a couple years after the show left the air that Amos was not offered a new contract for the upcoming season, thus effectively becoming 'fired'.

It's not a big deal to me, but it's just as easy to get these things right. I'm not sure why the bio channel said that Amos willingly left the show.

In one interview that I have just read, Amos said that the show's producers 'killed my character off'. It doesn't sound as if Amos, himself, is the source of the misinformation about him leaving the show of his own initiative, so not sure where that one came from.

Not everything you read, see or hear is true, including the things I have read. But I have read several sources which state he was basically fired, so that is what I choose to believe. We can all form our own conclusions, I suppose.

Peace.

Just so you all know, John Amos was not "forced" off the show. According to the biography channel, he was tired of doing the same lame jokes on a sitcom because he was a classically trained actor who preferred doing stage plays, so he left the show on his own will. IMO, the show jumped the shark when JJ first said "dyn-o-mite" I never did understand what was supposed to be so freakin hillarious about that line, but it sure never made me laugh.

To correct an earlier poster who referred to "the late John Amos": Mr. Amos is alive and well. Only his character (James Evans) died...the actor did not. He'll turn 69 this year.

I hate "Good Times". There wasn't one good time in it. When James died and when Thelma got married, the show was simply set up 2 fail. The writers were idiots.

I loved Good Times when it was new, and now, but it always jumped the shark to me when every single time they had opportunity to advance forward, florida would put on that steel toed boot of hers and forcibly kick away that opportunity. Maybe they should have killed off her character, not james.

It kills me when people say Good Times is RACIST. Lol!! Come on man! Notice the times that usually Michael says something against White people. It's not like EVERY EPISODE somebody is going "Kill White people"!! Just like I don't think Archie Bunker (and I'm a Black man whose mom watched these shows RELIGIOUSLY)is a racist per se. Archie is more ignorant than anything. Even against other Whites. Like on one of my favorite eps when Gloria's cab driver was still waiting in the driveway. The cab driver was German and Archie says "You want me to tell him to leave? You know those people won't do anything unless you give 'em an order"! LMAO! At least back in the 70's you could pretty much say what's on your mind. (No I am not on of these PC attackers,I could care less about PC,it's all about RESPECT. Seems the people who are against "PC" are the ones who want the days where the "N word" could still flow like spring water out of their mouths.

Well, there were some white people on the show; however, not many. I am white, and just loved this show. I also have more black friends than I do white.

J.J. and Michael eventually get bumped off by white trash? That's awful

Sadly, they would never make a show like this on television these days. Are there any poor ethnic families in America anymore? I guess not.

Or maybe its because everyone is so f-ing PC that the PC police would hunt down and kill the producers who made a show like this one.

"Ridiculous how many people praise John Amos for playing a sterotypical father (always bellowing, threatening) and a stereotypical Black man (complaining about "the system" and "The Man"). What, exactly, was so awe inspiring about either of these performances?"

I've always thought that. I got so mad seeing how everytime something was happening, Micheal couldn't stay around, and how he just let his father threaten hi m like that.

Here's what happened to the Evans' family in the future:
JJ - got shot/killed by white cops in accidental shooting.
Michael - got shot/killed by white cops for resisting arrest in public disturbance crime.
Thelma - married rich white dude and settled in Oregon and lived the good life.
Florida - won a huge lottery and split the ghetto to live in Palm Springs. Took neighbor lady across the hall with her.
James Sr. -- well... he died, but Florida bought him a new headstone.

Should have been called "Little Project in the Ghetto." Norman Lear should be very, very, very ashamed of himself. The late John Amos should be commended for jumping off this loser and salvaging his career.
This is the ultimate in bad television. Worse than all other day one shark jumping shows put together and raised to the millionth power. So so soooooooooooo excruciatingly bad you have to wonder how anyone associated with the production lives down the memories. I'm sure Esther Rolle's spirit walks the CBS studios regretfully going "DAMN! DAMN! DAMN!"
And like Dawn Lyn on My Three Sons, I think Janet Jackson's portrayal of Penny could have been Emmy award winning, if "special" (i.e. retarded) was what had been intended. But I don't think it was. How the hell did she get that role, anyway? Was she the only one who auditioned?

To the person named 'correct',

Thank you for the clarification. It doesn't change anything regarding my point, but it's always good to be as accurate as possible. and I appreciate the correction. Thanks.

To Jim Nasium,

For what little it is worth, James Madison was not a member of the Federalist Party and the Federalists were not aka Democratic Republicans. They were rival parties.

Madison was a federalist (lower case f) as a member of the group who supported ratification of the Constitution in 1787-1788, before there were any political parties in this country.

Once the parties formed, he was in the Democratic-Republican Party. He was an opponent of the Federalists. The Federalists, by the way, unanimously opposed the War of 1812.