Good Times
Good Times first aired in February 1974 as a mid-season replacement and went on for six years. This spinoff of the TV series, Maude, centered on the Evans family. In Maude Esther Rolle had portrayed Florida Evans, the black housekeeper, but in Good Times Florida and her family were struggling to survive in a South Side ghetto in Chicago. Florida was married to James Evans (in Maude his name was Henry) and they had three children, J.J., Thelma and Michael. The Evans family also had a next door neighbor, Willona Woods who was also a main character. At the beginning of 1976-1977 season, John Amos, who portrayed James, left the series. The writers decided to kill him off in a car accident, leaving Florida to run the household by herself. But then a year later, Esther Rolle decided to leave. She was not happy with the direction of the series. Especially the direction the character, J.J. had taken. In the 1977-1978 season, with both John Amos and Esther Rolle gone, sto
Thelma comes home from a date and tells her family she is in love, and thinks Keith loves her too. She invites Keith to dinner at their home, and he proposes to her. Florida returns home from Arizona and gives her approval for the marriage.
With Florida back in town, everyone is excited about her return and Thelma's upcoming wedding. However, Thelma gets nervous and is not sure if she wants to marry Keith. Also, JJ is let go from his job.
To help pay for Thelma and Keith's wedding, JJ takes gets a loan from a loan shark. The wedding ceremony goes as planned, but as they walk from the church, Keith falls and breaks his leg. This will affect his job in sports.
After a joyous wedding ceremony, things are anything but happy. Thelma and Keith cannot go on a honeymoon because Keith's leg is broken and it may end his sports career. Also, the loan sharks come to visit JJ to get their money back.
Jobs are scarce for Florida and JJ. An ad for a school bus driver catches Florida's eye, but she finds it has strings attached for JJ, and the strings are attached to Alderman Davis
When Willona learns that one of Penny's friends is pregnant, she explains the situation to the 11-year-old - that her friend has a case of the 'stomach mumps'. Florida urges Willona to tell Penny the truth, putting a strain on the rekindled friendship.
JJ holds painting classes in the apartment and Thelma and Michael are tired of it. However, he wants to help one student is having problems at home. His father does not want him painting and is being abusive.
The Evans' apartment feels crowded with Thelma and Keith still living there after their marriage. In addition, things continue to fall apart. Michael decides he can help the situation by moving into his own apartment - with a white girl.
JJ's former girlfriend Vanessa is back in town, and she still has expensive taste. JJ does not want to tell her that he is out of work and cannot afford to take her out all the time. Bookman's assistant is interested in JJ.
J.J. could pay dearly for witnessing an auto accident.
Florida is called to work as substitute drive for the school bus because the regular drivers called off due to a snow storm. Florida makes the rounds & picks up children, but then everyone has to abandon the bus when it gets stuck in snow.
As the Evan's prepare for their Christmas Party, Keith comes home from work and reports that he has to work the night of the party. Florida decides everyone will have the party at his work.
Florida tells the family they are ready to move into their own house. After they find the house, they have trouble finding a loan.
JJ tries for a job in Indiana. Florida realizes one of the children on the school bus has difficulty hearing things, so she talks to the mother about having the boy tested. The mother does not believe there is a problem.
Florida tries to get Larry's mother to realize her son has a hearing loss. After Larry does not hear a warning, he almost falls down an elevator. Larry's mother finally realizes he has a problem. Florida takes the boy to the doctors.
Thugs who work for Sweet Daddy come to get JJ by force. Sweet Daddy is very sick and needs a blood transfusion. Turns out JJ is the closest person who has the blood Sweet Daddy needs. In exchange, he promises to do something for JJ.
While Willona is out of town, Florida is taking care of Penny. Just about everyone in the apartment is sick with the flu. Florida takes Penny to the clinic, but doctors are scarce, and the remaining doctor has plans to close the practice.
Bookman's assistant TC is interested in going out with JJ. He does not think much of TC because he sees her only as one of the guys. With a dance event coming up, this seems like a good time for them to get together.
With the art contest approaching, J.J. believes that he is shoo-in to win. However things don't go as planned after he trusts a distracted Bookman to deliver his painting to the judges.
Florida has to pass an annual exam in order to keep her job as a school bus driver.
Willona is forced into the stand of a lifetime when Penny's natural mother arrives.
The Evans Family, Wilona & daughter Penny, have life changing events that lead to their final day in the Chicago projects.
The Evans family tries to discover the source of Keith's anger and depression.
The family is happy to see Florida's cousin Raymond, especially when he has nice gifts for everyone. He seems to have a lot of money to spend, and he offers Florida a new apartment for the family. Then she learns how he earns his money.
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Ja'Net DuBois | Willona Woods |
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Janet Jackson | Millicent 'Penny' Woods |
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Esther Rolle | Florida Evans |
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Jimmie Walker | James 'J.J.' Evans / Jr. |
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Johnny Brown | Nathan Bookman |
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BernNadette Stanis | Thelma Evans Anderson |
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Ralph Carter | Michael Evans |
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Ben Powers | Keith Anderson |
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Teddy Wilson | Sweet Daddy Williams |
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Bubba Smith | Claude |
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Larry Greene | Hood #2 |
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Bebe Drake | Mrs. Baker |
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Helen Martin | Weeping Wanda Williams |
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Kim Fields | Kim |
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Albert Reed | Alderman Fred Davis |
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Ebony Wright | Living Cable #2 |
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Derek Wells | Larry Baker |
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Charles Hallahan | Sergeant Curry |
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John Witherspoon | Officer Lawson |
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Norman Stevans | Restaurant Patron |
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Calvin Lockhart | Cousin Raymond Brown |
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Sheryl Lee Ralph | Vanessa Blake |
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Rai Tasco | Caterer |
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Al Fann | Minister |
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Leoda Richards | Restaurant Patron |
| Director | Gerren Keith |
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| Writer | Joseph Bonaduce, Eric Monte, Mike Evans, Norman Lear, Bruce Howard, Gene Farmer, Michael G. Moye, Norman Paul, Mark Fink, Wayne Kline, Sid Dorfman, Cecil M. Brown, Bud Slocomb, Michael S. Baser, Kim Weiskopf | |
| Producer | Sid Dorfman, Norman Lear, Norman Paul, Ken Stump | |
| Packaging | Keep Case |
|---|---|
| Nr Discs | 1 |
| Distributor | Columbia/Tri-Star |
| Layers | Single side, Single layer |
| Regions | Region 1 |
| Purchased | At Amazon.com |
|---|---|
| Condition | Excellent |
| Index | 923 |
| Added Date | Jul 03, 2012 03:49:56 |
| Modified Date | Nov 26, 2016 05:14:55 |