Good Times: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|American television sitcom (1974–1979)}}

:''This article is about the 1970s television show. For other uses of '''Good Times''', see [[Good Times (disambiguation)]]''

{{About|the American TV sitcom|other uses|Good Times (disambiguation)}}

{{infobox television |

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

| show_name = Good Times

{{Infobox television

| image = [[Image:Goodtimesecondseason.jpg|250px]]

| image = Good Times Title Screen.jpg

| caption = The cast of ''Good Times'' on the show's set, used as cover art for the second season DVD box set. Clockwise from left: [[Jimmie Walker]], [[John Amos]], [[Ja'net Du Bois]], [[Ralph Carter]], [[Bern Nadette Stanis]], and [[Esther Rolle]].

| genre | format = [[Sitcom]]

| creator = [[Eric Monte]]<br>[[Mike Evans (actor)|Mike Evans]]

| runtime = approx. 0:23 (per episode)

| developer = [[Norman Lear]]

| creator = [[Eric Monte]]<br>[[Mike Evans (actor)|Michael Evans]]

| writer =

| executive_producer = [[Allan Manings]]<br>[[Norman Lear]]

| director = {{Plainlist|

| starring = [[Esther Rolle]]<br>[[John Amos]]<br>[[Ja'net Du Bois]]<br>[[Jimmie Walker]]<br>[[Bern Nadette Stanis]]<br>[[Ralph Carter]]<br>[[Johnny Brown]]<br>[[Janet Jackson]]<br>[[Ben Powers (actor)|Ben Powers]]

*[[Herbert Kenwith]] (seasons 1–3)

| opentheme = [[Dave Grusin]]

*Various (season 1)

| country = [[United States|USA]]

*Gerren Keith (seasons 4–6)

| network = [[CBS]]

| first_aired = [[February 1]], [[1974]]<br>

| last_aired = [[August 1]], [[1979]]

| num_episodes = 133

| imdb_id = 0070991

}}

| starring = {{ubl|[[Esther Rolle]]|[[John Amos]]|[[Ja'Net DuBois]]|[[Ralph Carter]]|[[Bern Nadette Stanis]]|[[Jimmie Walker]]|[[Johnny Brown (actor)|Johnny Brown]]||[[Janet Jackson]]|[[Ben Powers]]}}

'''''Good Times''''' was an [[United States|American]] [[Situation comedy|sitcom]] that was originally broadcast from [[February 1]], [[1974]] until [[August 1]], [[1979]] on the [[CBS]] [[television]] network. The program was a [[spin-off]] of the sitcom ''[[Maude (TV series)|Maude]]'' (itself a spin-off of ''[[All in the Family]]''). Like those two other series, ''Good Times'' was developed by producer [[Norman Lear]].

| theme_music_composer = {{ubl|[[Dave Grusin]]|[[Alan and Marilyn Bergman]]}}

| opentheme = "Good Times" performed by [[Jim Gilstrap]] and [[blinky (singer)|Blinky Williams]]

| composer = [[Dave Grusin]]<br>[[Alan and Marilyn Bergman]]

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_seasons = 6

| num_episodes = 133

| list_episodes = List of Good Times episodes

| executive_producer = {{ubl|[[Norman Lear]] <small>(1974–75)</small>|[[Allan Manings]] <small>(1975–77)</small>|Austin and Irma Kalish <small>(1977–78)</small>|Norman Paul <small>(1978–79)</small>}}

| producer = {{ubl|Allan Manings <small>(1974–75)</small> |[[Jack Elinson]] <small>(1975–76)</small>|Norman Paul <small>(1975–76)</small> |[[Austin Kalish|Austin]] and [[Irma Kalish]] <small>(1976–77)</small> |Lloyd Turner <small>(1977–78)</small>|Gordon Mitchell <small>(1977–78)</small>|Sid Dorfman <small>(1978–79)</small>}}

| camera = [[Multi-camera setup|Multi-camera]]

| runtime = 22–24 minutes

| ___location = [[CBS Television City]], [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]], [[California]] (1974–75)<br>[[Metromedia Square]], Hollywood, California (1975–79)

| company = [[Tandem Productions]]

| channel = [[CBS]]

| first_aired = {{Start date|1974|02|08}}

| last_aired = {{End date|1979|08|01}}

| related = ''{{ubl|[[All in the Family]]|[[Maude (TV series)|Maude]]|[[Checking In]]|[[The Jeffersons]]|[[Archie Bunker's Place]]|[[Gloria (American TV series)|Gloria]]|[[704 Hauser]]|[[Good Times: Black Again]]}}''

}}

'''''Good Times''''' is an American television [[sitcom]] that aired for six seasons on [[CBS]], from February 8, 1974, to August 1, 1979. Created by [[Eric Monte]] and [[Mike Evans (actor)|Mike Evans]] and developed by executive producer [[Norman Lear]], it was television's first African-American two-parent family [[sitcom]]. It is a [[Spin-off (media)|spin-off]] of ''[[Maude (TV series)|Maude]]'', which itself spun off from ''[[All in the Family]]''.

This was the last sitcom [[Bud Yorkin]] produced before he ended his partnership with Norman Lear and [[Tandem Productions]]; two years later he formed TOY Productions with [[Saul Turteltaub]] and [[Bernie Orenstein]].

==Synopsis==

{{spoiler}}

The character [[Florida Evans]] (played by [[Esther Rolle]]) had been Maude Findlay's housekeeper on ''Maude''. In early 1974, the Florida Evans character and her husband James (referred to as "Henry Evans" on ''Maude'') were transported to an apartment in a [[public housing|housing project]] (implicitly the infamous [[Cabrini-Green]] projects, shown in the opening and closing credits but never mentioned by name on the show) in a poor, [[African American]] neighborhood in inner-city [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]].

''Good Times'' tackled challenging and complex issues, such as [[gang warfare]], [[racism]], [[widow]]hood, [[poverty]], [[education]], [[child abuse]], [[unemployment]], [[eviction]]s, financial struggles, [[bigamy]], [[paraplegia]], [[dating]], [[stealing]], [[suicide]], [[mugging]], [[engagement]]s, [[affair]]s, and rent parties.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 25, 2018 |title=Good Times: The Dysfunctions And Decline Of A Team |url=https://medium.com/@bkyler2000/good-times-the-dysfunctions-and-decline-of-a-team-c0d75e0c7175 |accessdate=May 13, 2025 |publisher=medium.com}}</ref>

Florida Evans lived with her husband [[James Evans, Sr.|James]] ([[John Amos]]) and their three children [[J.J. Evans|J.J.]] ([[Jimmie Walker]]), [[Thelma Evans|Thelma]] ([[Bern Nadette Stanis]]), and [[Michael Evans (Good times)|Michael]] ([[Ralph Carter]]). When the series began, J.J. and Thelma were seventeen and sixteen years old, respectively, and Michael, called "the militant midget" by his father due to his passionate [[activism]], was eleven years old. Their exuberant neighbor, and Florida's best friend, was [[Willona Woods]] (played by [[Ja'net Du Bois]]), a recent divorcée.

==Synopsis==

==Topical situations==

[[File:Good times john amos esther rolle 1974.JPG|thumb|150px|left|{{center|[[John Amos]] and [[Esther Rolle]], 1974}}]]

Florida and James (renamed from Henry) Evans and their three children live at 963 North Gilbert Avenue, apartment 17C, in a [[public housing project]] in a poor, black inner-city Chicago neighborhood. The project is unnamed on the show but is implicitly the infamous [[Cabrini–Green Homes]], shown in the opening and closing credits.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cabrini-Green Set For Demolition|url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2010/12/09/cabrini-green-set-for-demolition/|publisher=cbslocal.com|date=December 9, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Simms">{{cite magazine|last=Simms|first=Gregory|title=Ja'Net DuBois Tells Diet And 'Good Times' Secrets During Swing Through Chi.|magazine=Jet|date=September 8, 1977|volume=52|issue=25|pages=62–63|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|issn=0021-5996}}</ref> Florida and James have three children: James Jr., also known as "J.J.", a budding artist and illustrator who thinks of himself as a [[Casanova]] and achieves both success and rejection on his path to monetize his talent into a career; Thelma, a bright girl who takes education very seriously as a way to help her family and is shown attending high school and community college; and Michael, whose passionate [[activism]] and support for the Black community and Black issues causes his father to call him "the militant midget".

When the series begins, J.J. is 17 (portrayed by 26-year-old [[Jimmie Walker]], who was just eight years younger than co-star [[John Amos]]), Thelma 16, and Michael 11. Their exuberant neighbor and Florida's best friend is Willona Woods, a divorcée who works at a boutique. Their [[building superintendent]] is Nathan Bookman (seasons 2–6), whom James, Willona, and later J.J. call "Buffalo Butt" or, even more derisively, "Booger".

As was the case on other Norman Lear sitcoms, the characters and subject matter in ''Good Times'' were a breakthrough for American television. [[Working class]] characters had certainly been featured in sitcoms before (dating back at least to ''[[The Honeymooners]]''), but never before had a weekly series featured [[African American]] characters living in such impoverished conditions (Fred and Lamont Sanford of ''[[Sanford and Son]]'', though they lived in the poor area of [[Watts, Los Angeles, California|Watts]], at least had their own home and business). Episodes of ''Good Times'' dealt with the characters' attempts to get by in an [[inner-city]] [[ghetto]] despite all the odds stacked against them. When he wasn't unemployed, James Evans usually worked at least two jobs, many of them temporary such as a dish washer or car washer, as he struggled to provide for his family. Being a sitcom, however, the episodes were usually more uplifting and positive than they were depressing, as the Evans family stuck together and persevered.

[[File:Good times 1974.JPG|thumb|left|150px|{{center|[[Jimmie Walker]] and [[Esther Rolle]], 1974}}]]

==Initial success==

The characters originated on the sitcom ''[[Maude (TV series)|Maude]]'' as Florida and Henry Evans, with Florida employed as [[Maude Findlay (character)|Maude Findlay]]'s housekeeper in [[Tuckahoe, Westchester County, New York|Tuckahoe, New York]], and Henry employed as a New York City firefighter. When producers decided to feature Florida on her own show, they [[Retroactive continuity|changed]] the characters' history to fit a new series that was well into development rather than start from scratch to create a consistent starring vehicle, even though it meant changing their Black middle-class family into a poverty-stricken lower-class family. Henry's name became James, and he worked various odd jobs due to having only a sixth-grade education. There is no mention of Maude, but in the episode "The Checkup", Florida mentions having formerly worked as a maid. Additionally, the couple's ___location was now Chicago.<ref name=brooks>{{cite book|last1=Brooks|first1=Tim |last2=Marsh|first2=Earle F.|title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present |publisher=Ballantine Books|date=October 17, 2007|edition=9|pages=869|isbn=978-0-345-49773-4}}</ref>

''Good Times'' deals with the characters' attempts to overcome poverty, living in [[Chicago Housing Authority|high-rise public housing]] in [[Chicago]]. James Evans often works at least two jobs, mostly manual labor such as dishwasher or construction worker. Though he is often unemployed, he is a proud man who will not accept charity. He sometimes hustles money playing pool, although Florida disapproves of this.

Originally, the program was slated to run in the spring of 1974, but high ratings led CBS to renew the program for the [[1974-75 American network television schedule|1974–1975 season]]. The program was very successful during its first full season on the air, 1974&ndash;[[1975]], when it was the seventh-highest-rated program in the [[Nielsen ratings]] and a quarter of the American television-viewing public tuned in to an episode during any given week. During 1974&ndash;1975, three of the top ten highest-rated programs on American TV centered around the lives of [[African-Americans]]: ''[[Sanford and Son]]'', ''[[The Jeffersons]]'', and ''Good Times''. Ratings however, declined over time partly because of the many times the show was moved around the CBS schedule.

==Episodes==

==Backstage tension==

{{main|List of Good Times episodes}}

{{:List of Good Times episodes}}

==Cast and characters==

Almost from the premiere episode, J.J., an aspiring artist, was the public's favorite character on the show and his frequently-invoked [[catch phrase]] "dy-no-mite" became very popular. As the series progressed through its second and third year, however, Rolle and Amos, who played the Evans parents, grew more disillusioned with the direction the show was taking as J.J.'s antics and stereotypically buffoonish behavior took precedence in the storylines. Rolle was rather vocal about disliking the character of J.J. in a 1975 interview with ''[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]'' magazine.

===Main===

{| class="wikitable"

|-

! rowspan="2"|Actor

! rowspan="2"|Character

! colspan="6"|Seasons

|-

! width="10%"| 1 !! width="10%"| 2 !! width="10%"| 3 !! width="10%"| 4 !! width="10%"| 5 !! width="10%"| 6

|-

| [[Esther Rolle]] || Florida Evans || colspan="4" {{CMain}} || {{CNone}} || colspan="4" {{CMain|Main}}

|-

| [[John Amos]] || James Evans || colspan="3" {{CMain|Main}} || colspan="3" {{CNone}}

|-

| [[Ja'Net DuBois]] || Willona Woods || colspan="6" {{CMain|Main}}

|-

| [[Ralph Carter]] || Michael Evans || colspan="6" {{CMain|Main}}

|-

| [[Bern Nadette Stanis]]{{efn|Bern Nadette Stanis was credited as "Bern Nadette" during early episodes of season one, and later as "Bernnadette Stanis".}} || Thelma Evans Anderson || colspan="6" {{CMain|Main}}

|-

| [[Jimmie Walker]] || James "J.J." Evans Jr. || colspan="6" {{CMain|Main}}

|-

| [[Johnny Brown (actor)|Johnny Brown]] || Nathan Bookman || {{CNone}} || colspan="3" {{CRecurring}} || colspan="2" {{CMain|Main}}

|-

| [[Janet Jackson]] || Millicent "Penny" Gordon Woods ||colspan="4" {{CNone}} || colspan="2" {{CMain|Main}}

|-

| [[Ben Powers]] || Keith Anderson || colspan="5" {{CNone}} || {{CMain|Main}}

|}

{{notelist}}

===Supporting===

<blockquote>''He's eighteen and he doesn't work. He can't read or write. He doesn't think. The show didn't start out to be that...Little by little&mdash;with the help of the artist, I suppose, because they couldn't do that to me&mdash;they have made J.J. more stupid and enlarged the role. Negative images have been slipped in on us through the character of the oldest child.''

[[File:Johnny Brown Laugh-In 1971.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|{{center|[[Johnny Brown (actor)|Johnny Brown]] as superintendent<br>Nathan ("Buffalo Butt") Bookman}}]]

* Ned the Wino ([[Raymond Allen (television actor)|Raymond Allen]]) is the local [[Low-end fortified wine|drunk]] who frequents the neighborhood and the apartment building where the Evans family reside. In the season one episode "Black Jesus", J.J. uses Ned the Wino as the model for a portrait of [[Jesus]]. Another episode is centered on Michael's plan to "clean up" Ned and get him off the booze by letting him stay at the Evanses' house.

* Carl Dixon ([[Moses Gunn]]) is a shop owner for whom Michael briefly works. Despite their religious differences, Carl and Florida begin dating and become engaged in the final episode of season four. Carl breaks off the engagement after he is diagnosed with lung cancer. After a talk from Bookman, Carl again asks Florida for her hand in marriage. The two marry off-screen and move to Arizona. Florida returns at the beginning of season six, this time without Carl for Thelma's wedding. Carl is referenced briefly in that season's second episode "Florida's Homecoming Part 2", but he is never mentioned again (Florida continues to use the surname Evans instead of Dixon). (Rolle decided to come back to the show on the condition the character of Carl Dixon was written out.) While it is not mentioned onscreen, it is implied that Carl died from lung cancer.

* Marion "Sweet Daddy" Williams ([[Theodore Wilson]]) is a menacing neighborhood [[numbers game|numbers]] runner and [[pimp]], who has a reputation for wearing flashy clothing and jewelry. He is usually accompanied by bodyguards (one portrayed by [[Bubba Smith]], the other by series painter [[Ernie Barnes]]) and comes across as cool and threatening, but has shown a soft heart on occasion, particularly when he decided not to take an antique locket (to settle a debt) that Florida had given to Thelma because it had reminded him of his late mother. (Wilson also plays a club owner named Stanley in the season four episode, "The Comedian and the Loan Sharks").

* [[Alderman]] Fred C. Davis ([[Albert Reed Jr.]]) is a local politician with a slightly shady disposition whom the Evans generally despise. Spoofing President [[Richard M. Nixon]], he would state in a speech, "I am not a crook". He frequently relies on the support of the Evans family (his "favorite project family") for re-election or support and resorts to threats of eviction to secure their support. In a running joke, Alderman Davis frequently antagonizes Willona by "forgetting" her name, and calling her another similar-sounding name that began with a "W" (such as Wilhemina, Winnifrieda, Winsomnium, Wyomia and even Waldorf-Astoria), thus earning him her everlasting ire as well as the nickname "Baldy".

* Lenny ([[Dap "Sugar" Willie]]) (also known as "Lootin" Lenny), is a neighborhood hustler and peddler who tries to sell presumably stolen items that are usually attached to the lining of his fur coat. He usually approaches people with a laid-back rap and a rhyme, such as "my name is Len-nay, if I ain't got it, there ain't an-nay" (in a style similar to [[Rudy Ray Moore]]). He is typically rebuffed by the people he approaches and responds by saying "that's cold" or uses a small brush to "brush off" the negativity.

* "Grandpa" Henry Evans ([[Richard Ward (American actor)|Richard Ward]]) is James's long-lost father. He abandoned the family years before because he was ashamed that he could not do more to provide for them. This deeply hurt James, who disregarded his father's existence, telling everyone that he was dead. Thelma learns about her grandfather while doing some family research. She meets him and invites him to the Evanses' home to surprise James for his birthday, not knowing that James was well aware of his whereabouts but chose to stay out of his life. After Henry arrives at the Evans home and meets the rest of the family, he realizes that James would not welcome him in the home and decides to leave. Florida convinces him to stay and talk to James and explains that there may never be another chance to do so. Henry and James have a heart-to-heart talk, with Henry being remorseful and apologetic. James ultimately forgives his father. After James's death, the Evans family embraces Henry into the family, alongside his [[common law]] (and eventually legal) wife Lena ([[Paulene Myers]]) in later episodes.

* Wanda Williams ([[Helen Martin]]) is another resident in the apartment building where the Evans reside. Earlier episodes show her at a women's support group, and the tenants rallying around her by giving her a [[rent party]]. Later episodes show her appearing and crying at several funerals, whether she knew the person or not, thus earning her the nickname "Weeping Wanda" from J.J. and Willona.

* Lynnetta Gordon ([[Chip Fields]]) is Penny's abusive biological mother whose first appearance is in the four-part fifth season opening episode, "The Evans Get Involved". Penny's father abandoned her mom when Lynnetta became pregnant at 16. As a result, she takes her anger and frustrations out on Penny, including burning her with a hot iron. After the abuse is finally brought to light, she tells the Evans family that she herself was abused as a child. She gets into a fighting match with Willona and Thelma and they plead for her to seek therapy. Just before she disappears, she expresses regret for hurting her child, telling Willona that Penny deserves better than her. This clears the way for Willona to adopt Penny. She reappears more than a year later, in the sixth-season episode, "A Matter of Mothers", having gotten married and reveals that her new husband is from a very wealthy family. She uses her husband's wealth to send Penny anonymous gifts and, in an effort to regain custody of Penny, also attempts to frame Willona as an unfit adoptive mother who throws wild parties with less than wholesome attendees. Her scheme is exposed by being recorded on tape admitting that the scheme was a set up to get Penny back. After Lynnetta tries to get the tape from Penny and threatens to hurt her again, which is stopped by Willona, Penny tells Lynnetta that no matter what anyone says, she will always consider Willona her real mother. Devastated, Lynnetta decides to drop the charges against Willona and leaves Penny with her, never to be seen again.

* Cleatus ([[John Bailey (American actor)|John Bailey]]) is a cousin of J.J. Evans, Thelma Evans Anderson and Michael Evans and nephew of Florida Evans and James Evans. He made one appearance in the episode "Cousin Cleatus".

* Violet Bookman (Marilyn Coleman) is the wife of Bookman (episodes: "Bye, Bye Bookman" and "Willona, the Other Woman" in season 5).

[[File:Good Times Lou Gossett 1976.JPG|thumb|{{center|[[Louis Gossett Jr.]] as Florida's brother, Wilbert}}]]

:&mdash; Esther Rolle <ref>"Bad Times on the ''Good Times'' Set", ''[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]'', September 1975<br></ref></blockquote>

[[File:Good Times 1976.JPG|thumb|{{center|[[J. A. Preston]] as Walter Ingles, friend of Willona Woods<br>([[Ja'Net DuBois]]) (1976)}}]]

==Production==

Although doing so less publicly, Amos also was outspoken about his dissatisfaction with J.J.'s character. The ill feelings came to a head when it came time to negotiate Amos' contract in the summer of [[1976]], and he was dismissed from the series.

''Good Times'' was created by [[Eric Monte]] and actor [[Mike Evans (actor)|Mike Evans]]. The series also features a character named "Michael Evans" after Evans, who portrayed [[Lionel Jefferson]] on the Lear-produced series ''All in the Family'' and ''[[The Jeffersons]].''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Q9teAAAAIBAJ&pg=2047,1663344&dq=good+times+eric+monte&hl=en|title=Good Times Is Maude Spinoff|last=Lewis|first=Dan|date=February 19, 1974|newspaper=St. Joseph News-Press|page=15|access-date=February 24, 2013}}</ref> Monte also created another successful black sitcom ''[[What's Happening!!]]'' (without Norman Lear, but with [[Saul Turteltaub]], [[Bernie Orenstein]] and [[Bud Yorkin]], all of whom worked for Lear), for ABC, which was based on the film ''[[Cooley High]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theexclusivepress.com/2023/12/25/celebrating-eric-monte-the-gifted-mind-behind-beloved-black-tv-shows/| title=Celebrating Eric Monte: The Gifted Mind Behind Beloved Black TV Shows | publisher=theexclusivepress.com |last=Morrison | first=Tracey |date=December 25, 2023 |accessdate=June 5, 2025}}</ref>

===Theme song and opening sequence===

<blockquote>''The writers would prefer to put a chicken hat on J.J. and have him prance around saying "DY-NO-MITE", and that way they could waste a few minutes and not have to write meaningful dialogue.''

{{external media

| float = right

| width = 210px

| title = ''Good Times'' theme

| audio1 = [https://archive.org/download/cd_televisions-greatest-hits-volume-3-70s-80_various-artists-al-burton-alan-thicke-ally_0/disc1/27.%20Dave%20Grusin%20-%20Good%20Times_sample.mp3 Sample] [0:13] [https://archive.org/details/cd_televisions-greatest-hits-volume-3-70s-80_various-artists-al-burton-alan-thicke-ally_0/ via]

}}

The gospel-styled theme song was composed by [[Dave Grusin]] with lyrics written by [[Alan and Marilyn Bergman]]. It was sung by [[Jim Gilstrap]] and [[Motown]] singer [[Blinky (singer)|Blinky Williams]] with a gospel choir providing background vocals. Because of the singing style of the song, and the audio mix, the lyrics to the theme song are notorious for being hard to discern, notably the line "hangin' in a chow line"/"hangin' in and jivin'" (depending on the source used). [[Dave Chappelle]] used this part of the lyrics as a quiz in his "I Know Black People" skit on ''[[Chappelle's Show]]'' in which the former was claimed as the answer.<ref name=timeout/> [[Closed captioning]] on streaming services, and the insert for the Season One DVD box set, have the lyric as "hangin' in a chow line". The Bergmans, along with Bern Nadette Stanis, confirmed that the lyric is actually "hangin' in and jivin'".<ref name=timeout>{{cite web|url=http://www.timeout.com/newyork/music/backstage-with-alan-and-marilyn-bergman|title=Backstage with... Alan and Marilyn Bergman|work=[[Time Out New York]]|date=February 1, 2007|access-date=July 31, 2007|archive-date=October 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019023139/http://www.timeout.com/newyork/music/backstage-with-alan-and-marilyn-bergman|url-status=dead}}</ref> Slightly different lyrics were used for the closing credits, with the song beginning on a verse instead of the chorus.

===Casting===

:&mdash; John Amos <ref>{{cite news | last = Mitchell | first = John L. | title = Plotting His Next Big Break | publisher = [[Los Angeles Times]]|date = [[2006-04-14]] | accessdate = 2006-07-25 | url = http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-me-monte14apr14,1,549871.story?coll=la-headlines-frontpage }}</ref></blockquote>

[[Chip Fields]] was one of the finalists for the role of Thelma, but [[Bernadette Stanis]] was selected. [[Haywood Nelson]] screen tested and was hired for the role of the youngest Evans child, Michael, but was replaced by [[Ralph Carter]] who, at the time, had more experience in front of a live audience. Carter was a cast member in the Broadway musical ''[[Raisin (musical)|Raisin]]'' and the producers of ''Raisin'' were initially reluctant to accept Tandem Productions' buyout offer.<ref name="inte_Jimm">{{Cite AV media| title = Television Academy Interviews: Interview with Jimmie Walker | last = Dalton | first = John | date = 7 February 2017 | access-date = 30 September 2019 | url = https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/jimmie-walker?clip=18200#about}}</ref> While Carter's contract was being negotiated, another young actor, [[Laurence Fishburne|Larry Fishburne (later Laurence)]] filled the role of Michael during initial rehearsals for ''Good Times.''<ref name="inte_Jimm" /> Carter, Nelson, and Fishburne (and their families) were all close friends, each close in age, each having Broadway experience, and living in the same neighborhood in [[Brooklyn, New York]]. Because of a contractual obligation, early episodes of ''Good Times'' contain a notice in the credits: "Ralph Carter appears courtesy of the Broadway musical ''Raisin''."<ref name="inte_Jimm" />

==[[The=Cast Big Move]]conflicts===

[[File:Mike Evans (actor) 1975.jpg|thumb|{{center|Co-creator [[Mike Evans (actor)|Mike Evans]] (1975)}}]]

''Good Times'' was intended to be a family show in the ''All in the Family'' vein focused on Rolle and Amos. Both expected the show to deal with serious topics in a comedic way while providing positive characters to which viewers can identify. It was Walker's character of J.J. that was an immediate hit with audiences and became the [[breakout character]] of the series. J.J.'s frequent use of the expression "Dy-no-mite!" (often in the phrase "Kid Dy-no-mite!"), credited to director [[John Rich (director)|John Rich]] (first delivered by Walker at the end of the Season 1, Episode 2, "Black Jesus"), became a popular [[catchphrase]] (later included in [[TV Land]]'s ''The 100 Greatest TV Quotes and Catch Phrases'' special).<ref>''The Star Ledger''. December 11, 2006</ref>

Rich insisted Walker say it in every episode. Walker and executive producer [[Norman Lear]] were skeptical of the idea, but the phrase and the J.J. Evans character caught on with the audience.<ref name="CNN">{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/16/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/jimmie-jj-walker-book|title=Jimmie 'J.J.' Walker lights 'Dy-no-mite' on gay marriage, Leno and dating|publisher=CNN|date=July 16, 2012|access-date=February 12, 2012}}</ref> As a result of the character's popularity, the writers focused more on J.J.'s comedic antics instead of serious issues. Throughout seasons two and three, Rolle and Amos grew increasingly disillusioned with the direction of the show and especially with J.J.'s [[tomfoolery]] and stereotypically [[buffoon]]ish behavior.<ref>{{cite book|last=Fearn-Banks|first=Kathleen |title=The A to Z of African-American Television|volume=49 |date=August 4, 2009|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-810-86348-4|page=169}}</ref> Rolle was vocal about her hate of his character. In a 1975 interview with ''[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]'' magazine she stated: {{blockquote|He's 18 and he doesn't work. He can't read or write. He doesn't think. The show didn't start out to be that...Little by little—with the help of the artist, I suppose, because they couldn't do that to me—they have made J.J. more stupid and enlarged the role. Negative images have been slipped in on us through the character of the oldest child.<ref name="robinson197509">{{cite magazine|last=Robinson|first=Louie|date=September 1975|title=Bad Times On the 'Good Times' Set|magazine=Ebony |publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|volume=30|issue=11|pages=35|issn=0012-9011|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iVx7JXZQWgEC&q=good+times+cbs+james+amos&pg=PA33}}</ref>}}Despite doing so less publicly than Rolle, Amos also was outspoken about his dissatisfaction with the J.J. character, stating: {{blockquote|The writers would prefer to put a chicken hat on J.J. and have him prance around saying {{nobr|"DY-NO-MITE",}} and that way they could waste a few minutes and not have to write meaningful dialogue.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mitchell |first=John L. |title=Plotting His Next Big Break |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=April 14, 2006 |access-date=November 3, 2017 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-apr-14-me-monte14-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416151932/http://articles.latimes.com/2006/apr/14/local/me-monte14/2 |archive-date=April 16, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>}} In addition to his criticism of J.J.'s personality, Amos also greatly criticized what he felt was a greater emphasis on J.J. and more disregard for the other two Evans children, telling the [[Television Academy Foundation]] in 2014 that: {{blockquote|We had a number of differences. I felt too much emphasis was being put on J.J. in his chicken hat, saying ‘Dy-no-mite!’ every third page. I felt just as much emphasis and mileage could have been gotten out of my other two children, one of whom aspired to become a Supreme Court justice, played by Ralph Carter, and the other, BernNadette Stanis, who aspired to become a surgeon. But I wasn’t the most diplomatic guy in those days, and [the show’s producers] got tired of having their lives threatened over jokes. So they said, ‘Tell you what, why don’t we kill him off? We can get on with our lives!’ That taught me a lesson — I wasn’t as important as I thought I was to the show or to Norman Lear’s plans.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/john-amos#interview-clips|title=John Amos|publisher=Television Academy Foundation |date=2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/john-amos-dead-good-times-roots-1236019054/|title=John Amos, 'Good Times' Dad, Dies at 84|first=Mike|last=Barne|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|date=October 1, 2024|accessdate=October 1, 2024}}</ref>}} While Amos was less public with his dissatisfaction than Rolle, he was fired after season three due to disagreements with Lear and the writing staff, which, according to Amos, were often confrontational and heated. Amos' departure was initially attributed to his desire to focus on a film career, but he admitted in a 1976 interview that Lear called him and told him that his contract option with the show was not being renewed. Amos stated: "That's the same thing as being fired."<ref>{{cite magazine|date=May 27, 1976|title='I Was Fired,' Reveals Good Times' John Amos|magazine=Jet |publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|volume=50|issue=10|page=57|issn=0021-5996|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZMADAAAAMBAJ&q=good+times+john+amos&pg=PA57}}</ref> The producers decided not to recast the character of James Evans, instead opting to [[kill off]] the character in the two-part season four premiere, "The Big Move", with Florida finding out that James died in an automobile accident while in Mississippi setting up a new business opportunity at an auto repair shop, which would have allowed the family to move from the ghetto.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WS0fAAAAIBAJ&pg=6905,826510&dq=good+times+john+amos+car+accident&hl=en|title=Lear, Amos paired up again|last=Dawidziak|first=Mark |date=January 17, 1994|newspaper=Herald-Journal|page=C3 |access-date=February 24, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=5000 Episodes and No Commercials: The Ultimate Guide to TV Shows On DVD|date=November 9, 2011|publisher=Random House Digital |isbn=978-0-307-79950-0|page=125}}</ref>

Husband-and-wife team Austin and Irma Kalish were hired to oversee the day-to-day running of the show, replacing Allan Manings, who had become [[executive producer]] at a time when he was also working on another Lear sitcom, ''[[One Day at a Time]]''. The Kalishes and Manings, as script supervisors, threw ideas to writers Roger Shulman, [[John Baskin]], and Bob Peete, and eventually penned an exit for Amos's character.

===Final seasons===

<p>At the beginning of the [[1976-77 American network television schedule|1976–1977 season]], the family was packing to move from the ghetto to a better life in Mississippi where James had found a job as a partner in a garage. At the end of the first episode that season, Florida learned via a [[telegram]] (which, at first, she thought was to congratulate her on her move) that James was killed in a [[car accident]]. The show continued without a father, which was something Rolle did not want to pursue. One of the primary appeals of the project for her had been the presentation it initially offered of the strong black father heading his family. </P>

By the end of season four, Rolle had also become dissatisfied with the show's direction and decided to leave the series. In the two-part season finale, "Love Has a Spot On His Lung", Florida gets engaged to Carl Dixon ([[Moses Gunn]]), a man she began dating toward the end of season four. In the season five premiere episode, "The Evans Get Involved Part 1", it is revealed that Florida and Carl married off screen and moved to [[Arizona]] for the sake of Carl's health.<ref name="petersburg">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PWlQAAAAIBAJ&pg=6663,817298&dq=good+times+esther+rolle&hl=en|title=Esther Rolle Returning To 'Good Times'|last=Marguiles|first=Lee|date=June 10, 1978|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|page=11B|access-date=February 24, 2013}}</ref> With Amos and Rolle gone, DuBois took over as lead actor, as Willona checked in on the Evans children since they were now living alone.<ref name="Simms" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JdRaAAAAIBAJ&pg=6371,5851220&dq=good+times+ja-net+du+bois&hl=en|title=It's 'good times' for Ja'net Dubois |last=Beck|first=Marilyn|date=September 23, 1977|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|page=14D|access-date=February 24, 2013}}</ref>

In season five, [[Janet Jackson]] joined the cast, playing Penny Gordon, an abused girl, abandoned by her mother, and eventually adopted by Willona.<ref name="petersburg" /> During that season, [[Johnny Brown (actor)|Johnny Brown]]'s character of Nathan Bookman, the Evans' superintendent, became more prominent. At the beginning of the fifth season, Brown became a series regular and was included in the opening credits. Ratings began to decline. It was clear to the producers as well as viewers that Rolle's absence had left the series without a much-needed unifying center of attention.<ref name="petersburg" />

However, she stayed on hoping that the loss of the father's character would necessitate a shift in J.J.'s character, as J.J. would now become the man of the family. The writers did not take this approach, however; if anything, J.J.'s foolishness only increased. Wanting no further part in such depictions, by the summer of [[1977]], Rolle left the series. She was written out as marrying and moving to [[Arizona]] with her new love interest, Carl Dixon ([[Moses Gunn]]).

Before the taping of season six began, CBS and the show's producers decided that they had to do "something drastic" to increase viewership. According to then-vice president of CBS programming Steve Mills: "We had lost the essence of the show. Without parental guidance, the show slipped. Everything told us that: our mail, our phone calls, our research. We felt we had to go back to basics."<ref name="petersburg" />

Rolle had disliked the Carl Dixon character, as she believed Florida would have not moved on so quickly after James' death. Rolle also thought the writers had disregarded Florida's devout [[Christianity|Christian]] beliefs by making her fall for Carl, who was an [[Atheism|atheist]]. When Rolle eventually agreed to return to the show, there were several conditions. One of which was that the Carl Dixon character be written out as if he never existed. Another condition of her return was she would have a greater say in the story line and J.J. would become a more respectable character as well as a raise in pay.

Producers approached Rolle with an offer to appear in a guest role on the series. Rolle was initially hesitant, but when producers agreed to a number of her demands (including an increased salary and higher quality scripts), she agreed to return to the series on a full-time basis. Rolle also wanted producers to make the character of J.J. more responsible, as she felt the character was a poor role model for African-American youths. She also requested that producers write out the character of Carl Dixon; Rolle reportedly disliked the storyline surrounding the Carl Dixon character, as she believed Florida would not have moved on so quickly after James's death or left her children. Rolle also thought the writers had disregarded Florida's devout [[Christianity|Christian]] beliefs by having her fall for and marry Carl, who was an [[Atheism|atheist]].<ref name="petersburg" /><ref name="brooks552">{{cite book|last1=Brooks|first1=Tim |last2=Marsh|first2=Earle F.|title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present |publisher=Ballantine Books|date=October 17, 2007|edition=9|isbn=978-0-345-49773-4|page=552}}</ref>

==''Good Times'' without the parents==

In the season six premiere episode "Florida's Homecoming: Part 1", Florida returns from Arizona without Carl to attend Thelma's upcoming wedding to professional football player Keith Anderson ([[Ben Powers]], who joined the cast for the final season). In a rare uncut version of "Florida's Homecoming: Part 2", after Florida arrives home from Arizona, Willona briefly pulls her aside and mentions Carl, to which Florida sadly smiles and shakes her head, implying that Carl had died from cancer. Florida later mentions Carl one last time when she tells Michael about a book they'd both bought him.<ref name=brooks />

With Amos and Rolle gone, Ja'net Du Bois took over as the star, checking on the Evans children as they were now living alone. New characters were added or had their roles expanded: [[Johnny Brown]] as the overweight [[building superintendent]] [[Nathan Bookman]]; [[Ben Powers (actor)|Ben Powers]] as Thelma's husband Keith Anderson; and [[Janet Jackson]] as [[Penny Gordon Woods]], an [[Child abuse|abused]] girl [[adopted]] by Willona.

Despite changes in the series at Rolle's request and her return, plus the addition of Powers to the cast, ratings continued to fall and CBS canceled the series during the 1978–79 season.<ref>Newcomb 2004 p.1012</ref><ref name=bodroghkozy>{{cite book|last=Bodroghkozy|first=Aniko |title=Equal Time: Television and the Civil Rights Movement|date=January 1, 2012|publisher=University of Illinois Press|isbn=978-0-252-09378-4|page=223}}</ref> In the [[series finale]] episode "The End of the Rainbow", each character finally gets a "happy ending". J.J. gets his big break as a nationally syndicated artist for a comic book company with his newly created character, DynoWoman, which is based on Thelma (much to her surprise and delight) and is moving into an apartment with some lady friends.<ref name=bodroghkozy />

It was at this time that many viewers defected from the series, and although Florida returned (the writers had finally let J.J.'s character mature to a point that Rolle found tolerable) for the sixth season in 1978, the viewers did not, and production was halted abruptly in early 1979.

The last original episode of ''Good Times'' aired in the summer of 1979. In a [[series finale]] typical of the series, each character had a "happy ending." J.J. finally got his big break as an artist for a [[comic book]] company, after years of the audience waiting for such a development. J.J.'s newly-created character, DynoWoman was based on Thelma herself. Michael attendedattends college and movedmoves into an on-campus dorm. Keith's bad knee miraculouslyheals healeddue to his exercise and own physical therapy, leading to the [[Chicago Bears]] offering him a contract to play [[football (American)|football]]. Keith andannounces (athat newlyhe pregnant)and Thelma movedare tomoving into a luxury apartment acrossin townthe andcity's offeredupscale Florida[[Gold theCoast chanceHistoric toDistrict move(Chicago)|Gold inCoast]] with themdistrict. Thelma Willonaalso becameannounces the head buyer of the boutiquethat she workedis inpregnant and she and Penny move in towith the samecouple's buildingfirst andchild.<ref becomename=bodroghkozy their downstairs neighbors (again)./>

Keith offers Florida the chance to move in with them so she can help Thelma with the new baby; Florida accepts the offer. Willona becomes the head buyer of the boutique, she walks in and announces that she and Penny are also moving out of the projects. Willona then reveals that her new apartment is in the same apartment building to which Keith, Thelma and Florida are also moving; she and Penny become the Evanses' downstairs neighbors.<ref name=bodroghkozy />

==Two-parters==

==Broadcast and syndication==

''Good Times'', like many other Norman Lear series, was known for its use of the "two-parter" to draw viewers back to the show the next week. Although these story arcs usually played out over two episodes, some stories, like Willona adopting Penny from her abusive mother, took as many as four episodes to play out.

Cable network [[TV One (American TV channel)|TV One]] aired reruns of the show since its launch on January 19, 2004. ''Good Times'' had also aired at various times on [[TV Land]] and on the Canadian specialty cable channel [[DejaView]]. [[The Minisode Network|Minisodes]] of the show are available for free on [[Crackle (service)|Crackle]]. Additionally, digital multicast network [[Antenna TV]] also aired episodes of the show until January 1, 2018, when [[GetTV]], operated by Sony (which distributes the show), began airing the program. ''Good Times'' airs on GetTV with a [[TV parental guidelines (US)#TV-PG|TV-PG]] rating.

Most episodes run on TV One with a [[TV parental guidelines (US)#TV-G|TV-G]] rating, with the lone exception being the season three episode "J.J. in Trouble," in which J.J. fears he may have contracted an [[Venereal disease|STD]]. That episode airs with a [[TV parental guidelines (US)#TV-14|TV-14]] rating, as well as the "parental guidance is suggested" slide that preceded the episode when it was originally broadcast on CBS. In the past, it aired on TV Land with a TV-PG rating.

Here is a list of notable ''Good Times'' two-parters:

As of March 27, 2023, episodes have been airing nightly on the [[Catchy Comedy]] (formerly Decades) digital retro TV network.

*In the fall of 1974, J.J. celebrated his 18th birthday. Expecting art supplies from his father, he receives a sweater instead because the department store turned down James' credit. J.J. leaves his birthday party to go out with his girlfriend, but he is implicated in a [[liquor store]] robbery instead. The first part ends with Thelma breaking the news to her parents, while the second episode is set mostly in the city jail as they try to get him out. It turns out that J.J. is innocent and the police admit they confused him with the actual crook, despite the fact the real criminal is short and fat and looks nothing like J.J., beyond wearing the same kind of clothing.

==British adaptation==

*Later in 1974, J.J. is recruited into a gang, the Satan's Knights, against his will. He is forced to participate in a gang fight, and James finds out. While helping J.J. flee from the fight, a rival gang member shoots J.J., where the first episode ends. The next week, James waits for the hoodlum to go to trial and subsequently feels sympathy for the boy and the broken home he comes from.

In 1976, a British adaptation of the show under the name ''[[The Fosters (British TV series)|The Fosters]]'' aired on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] from April 9, 1976 until July 9, 1977. It was known for being the first sitcom that was written both for and to have an all black cast and starred a young [[Lenny Henry]] and [[Norman Beaton]] who would 13 years later go on to gain fame in the 1989 sitcom ''[[Desmond's]]''.

==Home media==

*In 1976, J.J. and his girlfriend, Diana ([[Debbie Allen]]), announce plans to elope, against their parents' wishes. Unknown to J.J., Diana is a [[heroin]] [[drug addiction|addict]]. The only way the rest of the Evans family finds out is when Thelma finds Diana's purse and the drug paraphernalia and drugs hidden inside. Even more shocking is the fact that Diana's supplier is an elementary-aged school boy. Meanwhile, J.J. (still oblivious to his fianceé's secret) and Diana drive across the state line in search of a [[religious minister|minister]], leaving the Evanses and Diana's parents frantically searching for their children. By the time they reach the hotel where they plan to marry, Diana is in desperate need of a [[fix]] and discovers her purse missing. She yells at J.J., blaming him for not bringing her purse along and goes into the bathroom. Just then, James finally makes phone contact with J.J., warning his son that Diana is a drug addict. J.J. stubbornly refuses to believe his father. In an attempt to prove him wrong, J.J. calls for Diana to come to the phone. When she doesn't reply, J.J. walks into the bathroom to find the window open and Diana missing, her fate unknown.

[[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]] released the entire series on DVD in Region 1 between February 2003 and August 2006, with a complete box set following the separate seasons on October 28, 2008. Season 1 was released on DVD in Region 4 on December 27, 2006. On August 27, 2013, it was announced that Mill Creek Entertainment had acquired the rights to various television series from the Sony Pictures library, including ''Good Times.''<ref>{{cite press release|title=Mill Creek Entertainment Signs Deals With Sony Pictures Home Entertainment To Expand Their Distribution Partnership|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Site-News-Mill-Creek-Sony-License-Deal/18902|website=tvshowsondvd.com|date=August 27, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006134321/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Site-News-Mill-Creek-Sony-License-Deal/18902|archive-date=October 6, 2014}}</ref> They have subsequently re-released the first four seasons on DVD.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dyn-O-Mite! Mill Creek Brings the First Two Seasons Back to DVD Soon!|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Good-Times-Seasons-1-and-2/19159|website=tvshowsondvd.com|date=November 8, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109020016/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Good-Times-Seasons-1-and-2/19159|archive-date=November 9, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Good Times - We've Got Mill Creek's Box Art Now for Their 3rd and 4th Season Re-Releases!|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Good-Times-Seasons-3-and-4/19697|website=tvshowsondvd.com|date=April 15, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416174414/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Good-Times-Seasons-3-and-4/19697|archive-date=April 16, 2014}}</ref> On September 1, 2015, Mill Creek Entertainment re-released ''Good Times: The Complete Series'' on DVD in Region 1.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Good-Times-The-Complete-Series/21286|title=Good Times DVD news: Announcement for Good Times - The Complete Series - TVShowsOnDVD.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710094228/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Good-Times-The-Complete-Series/21286|archive-date=2015-07-10}}</ref>

All episodes are available to stream on [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]] and [[Tubi]].

*The fourth-season opener, in the fall of 1976, in which Florida learns that James has died in a car accident in [[Jackson, Mississippi]]. The second part deals with his funeral, and Florida acting strange as if she didn't care about James' death. Part Two ends with Florida smashing a punch bowl and breaking down in her children's arms, uttering the uncharacteristically emotional line "Damn, damn, DAMN!" Despite the fact that this is perhaps the series' most memorable episode, the death of James Evans Sr. is almost universally recognized as the moment when the series "[[jumping the shark|jumped the shark]]".

{| class="wikitable"

*In 1977, Thelma and a friend of hers (a Nigerian named Ibe)picket their college. Thelma and Ibe, despite initial misgivings, fall in love. When they are suspended from school, Ibe's parents are furious and demand that he return to Nigeria. Ibe and Thelma had planned on living together, but he asks Thelma to go to Nigeria with him as his wife. Florida is against the idea, and Thelma decides against it when Ibe tells her that she wouldn't be his only wife.

|-

!DVD name!!Ep #!!Release date

|-

|The Complete First Season || style="text-align:center;"|13 || February 4, 2003<br><small>January 21, 2014 (re-release)</small>

|-

|The Complete Second Season || style="text-align:center;"|24 || February 3, 2004<br><small>January 21, 2014 (re-release)</small>

|-

|The Complete Third Season || style="text-align:center;"|24 || August 10, 2004<br><small>May 20, 2014 (re-release)</small>

|-

|The Complete Fourth Season || style="text-align:center;"|24|| February 15, 2005<br><small>May 20, 2014 (re-release)</small>

|-

|The Complete Fifth Season || style="text-align:center;"|24 || August 23, 2005

|-

|The Complete Sixth and Final Season || style="text-align:center;"|24 || August 1, 2006

|-

|The Complete Series || style="text-align:center;"|133 || October 28, 2008<br><small>September 1, 2015 (re-release)</small>

|}

==Reception==

*In the fourth season two-part finale, Carl Dixon, who has been courting Florida, wants to marry her. Curiously, he rescinds his offer as quickly as he had said it. Florida is hurt and demands to know why he has decided against marriage. Carl tells Florida that he is moving to Arizona because he has [[lung cancer]] and the weather there would be good for his health. Florida goes with him.

===Ratings===

[[File:Good Times the Evans family 1974.JPG|thumb|250px|{{center|L–R: [[Ralph Carter]], [[Bern Nadette Stanis]], [[Jimmie Walker]], [[Esther Rolle]] and [[John Amos]]}}]]

The program premiered in February 1974; high ratings led CBS to renew the program for the [[1974-75 American network television schedule|1974–75 season]], as it was the seventeenth-highest-rated program that year. During its first full season on the air, the show was the seventh-highest-rated program in the [[Nielsen ratings]], with more than 25% of all American households tuning into an episode each week. Three of the top ten highest-rated programs on American TV that season centered on the lives of African-Americans: ''[[Sanford and Son]],'' ''The Jeffersons'' and ''Good Times.'' The Nielsen ratings for the series declined over time, partly because of its many time slot changes and the departure of John Amos.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=December 14, 1978|title=Good Times In Trouble; Jeffersons Holding Own|magazine=Jet|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|volume=55|issue=13|page=64|issn=0021-5996|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iL8DAAAAMBAJ&q=good+times+ratings+cbs&pg=PA64}}</ref> The ratings went down considerably when the show entered its final two seasons:

{| class="wikitable"

*The fifth season premiere in 1977 was a four-part episode. Eleven-year-old Janet Jackson was introduced as Penny Gordon, a little girl who followed J.J. home on her way from school. She spends some time at the Evans home, but then she leaves the area, along with her mother, played by [[Chip Fields]]. It later turns out that Penny is abused by her mother who burnt her with a hot iron, among other things. Willona steps in to declare Penny's mother unfit and legally adopts Penny.

|-

! rowspan="2"|Season

*The sixth season premiere in 1978 was also a four-part episode. Thelma falls in love with a football player named Keith Anderson, and Florida returns to Chicago for her wedding. At the wedding, Keith trips over J.J. and breaks his knee. The [[Chicago Bears]], who offered him a contract, takes back the offer. Florida decides to live in Chicago again, with no mention of Carl Dixon.

! rowspan="2"|TV Season

! rowspan="2"|No. of Episodes

*The final two-part episode in early 1979, revolved around Larry, a little boy who rode the bus Florida was driving. Florida was convinced that Larry was not "stupid", but rather hard of hearing, which his mother refused to believe. At the end of the first part, Larry almost fell down an [[elevator shaft]] because he couldn't hear everyone telling him that the elevator was out of service. In the second part, it was revealed that Keith pulled Larry out of harm's way, Larry's mother apologized to Florida for being stubborn, and Larry received the ear [[surgery]] he needed to hear again.

! rowspan="2"|Time slot (ET)

! colspan="2"|Nielsen ratings<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brooks |first1=Tim |last2=Marsh |first2=Earle |date=2007 |title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present |publisher=Ballantine Books |pages=1687–1688 |isbn=978-0-345-49773-4 |edition=Ninth }}</ref>

==Production==

|-

! Rank

The first two seasons of ''Good Times'' were taped at [[CBS Television City]] in [[Hollywood]], [[California]]. The show moved to [[Metromedia Square]], Norman Lear's own production facility, in the fall of 1975.

! Rating

|-

== Principal cast ==

| 1

| [[1973–74 United States network television schedule|1973–1974]]

* [[Esther Rolle]] - Florida Evans (Seasons 1-4, 6)

| 13

* [[John Amos]] - James Evans, Sr. (Seasons 1-3)

| Friday at 8:30 pm

* [[Ja'net Du Bois]] - Willona Woods

| 17

* [[Ralph Carter]] - Michael Evans

| 21.4 <small>(Tied with ''[[Barnaby Jones]]'')</small>

* [[Bern Nadette Stanis]] - Thelma Evans Anderson

|-

* [[Jimmie Walker]] - James Evans, Jr. ("J.J.")

| 2

* [[Johnny Brown]] - Nathan Bookman (Seasons 5 and 6; recurring 2-4)

| [[1974–75 United States network television schedule|1974–1975]]

* [[Janet Jackson]] - Millicent "Penny" Gordon Woods (Seasons 5 and 6)

| 24

* [[Ben Powers (actor)|Ben Powers]] - Keith Anderson (Season 6)

| rowspan="2"|Tuesday at 8:00 pm

| 7

| 25.8

|-

| 3

| [[1975–76 United States network television schedule|1975–1976]]

| 24

| 24

| 21.0

|-

| 4

| [[1976–77 United States network television schedule|1976–1977]]

| 24

| Wednesday at 8:00 pm <small>(Episodes 1-15, 17–24)</small><br>Wednesday at 8:30 pm <small>(Episode 16)</small>

| 26

| 20.5

|-

| 5

| [[1977–78 United States network television schedule|1977–1978]]

| 24

| Wednesday at 8:00 pm <small>(Episodes 1, 3-16)</small><br>Wednesday at 8:30 pm <small>(Episode 2)</small><br>Monday at 8:00 pm <small>(Episodes 17–24)</small>

| 55 <ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/78-OCR/1978-05-01-BC-OCR-Page-0036.pdf|title=FCC cites ABC as 'negligent' in handling of boxing tournament|access-date=February 5, 2020}}</ref>

| 17.4 <ref name=":0" />

|-

| 6

| [[1978–79 United States network television schedule|1978–1979]]

| 22

| Saturday at 8:00 pm <small>(Episode 1)</small><br>Saturday at 8:30 pm <small>(Episodes 2-10)</small><br>Wednesday at 8:30 pm <small>(Episodes 11–22)</small>

| 91 <ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/79-OCR/BC-1979-06-18-OCR-Page-0056.pdf#search=%22rounding%20up%20the%20ratings%22|title=Rounding up the ratings for 'the season'|access-date=February 5, 2020}}</ref>

| 13.0 <ref name=":1" />

|}

===Awards and nominations===

==DVD Releases==

'''Season Releases'''

{| class="wikitable"

!DVD Name!!Release Date!!Additional Information

|-

! Year

|The Complete First Season||[[February 4]] [[2003]]|| Includes all 13 episodes from Season 1.

! Association

! Category

! Recipient(s)

! Result

|-

| 1974 || [[Golden Globe Awards]] || [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film#1970s|Best Supporting Actor – Television]] || Jimmie Walker || {{nom}}

|The Complete Second Season||[[February 3]] [[2004]]|| Inlcudes all 24 episodes from Season 2

|-

| rowspan=4|1975 || rowspan=2|[[Golden Globe Awards]] || [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy|Best TV Actress – Musical/Comedy]] || Esther Rolle || {{nom}}

|The Complete Third Season||[[August 10]] [[2004]]|| Includes all 24 episodes from Season 3.

|-

| [[33rd Golden Globe Awards#Best Supporting Actor 2|Best Supporting Actor – Television]] || Jimmie Walker || {{nom}}

|The Complete Fourth Season||[[February 15]] [[2005]]|| Includes all 23 episodes from Season 4.

|-

| rowspan=2|[[Humanitas Prize]] || [[List of Humanitas Prize recipients#1975|30 Minute Category]] || John Baskin and Roger Shulman / episode: "The Lunch Money Ripoff" || {{nom}}

|The Complete Fifth Season||[[August 23]] [[2005]]|| Includes all 24 episodes from Season 5.

|-

| 30 Minute Category || Bob Peete / episode: "My Girl Henrietta" || {{nom}}

|The Complete Sixth Season||[[August 1]] [[2006]]|| Includes all 24 episodes from Season 6.

|-

| 2006 || [[TV Land Awards]] || [[TV Land Award#Recipients|Impact Award]] || John Amos, Ralph Carter, Ja'net DuBois, Esther Rolle (posthumously), BernNadette Stanis, and Jimmie Walker || {{won}}

|}

==Revival==

==Television Reruns==

{{main|Good Times: Black Again}}

In addition, the network [[Radio One|TV One]] (which can be seen on [[Comcast]] cable systems as well as [[DirecTV]]) airs the show in a programming block with another African-American sitcom, ''[[227 (TV series)|227]]''.

In September 2020, it was announced that the series would receive an [[animated sitcom]] revival with Carl Jones originally attached as showrunner and Norman Lear originally executive producing alongside [[Seth MacFarlane]] and [[Stephen Curry]] for [[Netflix]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Porter|first=Rick|title='Good Times' Animated Revival Scores Series Order at Netflix|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/good-times-animated-revival-scores-series-order-at-netflix|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=September 14, 2020}}</ref> In December 2023, it was announced Ranada Shepard replaced Carl Jones as showrunner for the series.<ref>{{cite web|title=Netflix's 'Good Times' Toon Taps New Showrunner, Voice Stars|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/12/netflixs-good-times-toon-taps-new-showrunner-voice-stars/|work=[[Animation Magazine]]|date=December 12, 2023}}</ref> It centers on the current generation of the Evans family, and stars [[Jay Pharoah]], [[Marsai Martin]], [[Yvette Nicole Brown]], [[Slink Johnson]], and [[J. B. Smoove]]. The series (titled on-screen as ''[[Good Times: Black Again]]'')<ref>{{Cite web |last=McGloster |first=Niki |title=Good Times: Black Again Isn't As Bad As Its Trailer — But It Also Isn't Good |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2024/04/11710356/good-times-netflix-reboot-review-backlash |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=www.refinery29.com |language=en}}</ref> was released on April 12, 2024.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bleedingcool.com/tv/good-times-netflix-previews-animated-series-take-on-classic-sitcom/ | title=Good Times: Netflix Previews Animated Series Take on Classic Sitcom | date=20 March 2024 }}</ref>

It received overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics and audiences with criticism aimed at the animation style, the crass presentation, racist and offensive humor, and general lack of connection to the original series aside from occasional mentions of the James Evans character.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/reviews/good-times-animated-reboot-review-1235964209/|title=Netflix's 'Good Times' Reboot Is Dated, Humorless and Baffling: TV Review|website=Variety|last=Tinubu|first=Aramide|date=April 12, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2024/04/13/1244330945/good-times-review-netflix|title=Netflix's 'Good Times': An explicit revival which feels calculated to offend|website=NPR|last=Deggans|first=Eric|date=April 13, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/good-times-review-netflix-1235872582/|title='Good Times' Review: Netflix's Animated Sequel Improves When It Steps Out From Norman Lear's Shadow|website=The Hollywood Reporter|last=Feinberg|first=Daniel|date=April 12, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/12/entertainment/good-times-review-netflix/index.html|title=Netflix's animated 'Good Times' flunks the TV reboot test|website=CNN|last=Lowery|first=Brian|date=April 12, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/good-times-reboot-netflix_n_66184cffe4b00c2fbcbdad81|title=The 'Good Times' Reboot Is Absolutely Terrible|website=Huff Post|last1=Evans|first1=Erin E.|last2=Frederick|first2=Candice|last3=Finley|first3=Taryn|date=April 12, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/good_times_2024|website=Rotten Tomatoes|title=Good Times 2024 - Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=April 29, 2024}}</ref>

The sitcom has also aired on [[TV Land]] as a 48-hour marathon the weekends of [[July 23]], [[2005 in television|2005]], [[November 26]], 2005, and [[May 6]], [[2006 in television|2006]].

==References==

CBS also aired reruns of ''Good Times'' during the afternoons from 1976-78.

{{Reflist}}

==Adaptations==

The [[United Kingdom|British]] sitcom ''The Fosters'' (1976&ndash;1977), about a black family in [[England]], was based on ''Good Times''. In fact, ''The Fosters'' used many of the same scripts, after they had been adapted for the British audience.

==Trivia==

[[Image:Goodtimess4boxset.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The ''Good Times'' Season Four box set. Note the similarities and differences between the picture and that of Season Two.]]

*Though'' Good Times'' was set in Chicago, the character of Florida had started out as Maude Findlay's housekeeper on ''[[Maude (TV series)|Maude]]'', which was set in [[Tuckahoe, Westchester County, New York|Tuckahoe]], [[New York]]. No attempt was ever made to explain this inconsistency, and Florida's previous life as the Findlay housekeeper was never referred to on ''Good Times'' (Although she did refer to her previous job as a maid, she never specified whom she'd worked for or where).

*The cover art for the ''Good Times'' DVD releases do not correspond with the season in which it aired. For example, the second season box set photograph (seen above) was actually taken in the fall of 1976, the show's fourth season. Another photograph from the same photo shoot can be seen on the ''Good Times'' fourth season box set. To differentiate, the characters' clothes were given different colors, and the character of Nathan Bookman was [[photoshopped]] out, replaced by James Evans, who was still on the show in the second season.

*Parts of the lyrics to the theme music are notorious for being hard to discern - notably the "Hangin' in a chow line"/"Hangin' in and Jivin'" lyric (depending on the source used). [[Dave Chappelle]] used this part of the lyrics as a test in his "I Know Black People" Skit/Quiz on ''[[Chappelle's Show]]'' in which the former was claimed as the answer. The "liner notes" for the Season One DVD box set confirm that the proper lyric is "hangin' in a chow line".

*Another inconsistency that was never mentioned was James Evans Sr.'s name change. On ''Maude'', he was always known as Henry Evans. As a matter of fact, on the episode of ''Maude'' that aired the week before ''Good Times'' premiered, Florida made her last appearance, and her husband was known as Henry Evans.

*Despite the fact that they portrayed father and son, John Amos is less than 8 years older than Jimmie Walker. When ''Good Times'' premiered in February 1974, Amos was 34 and Walker was 26.

*Ralph Carter's character shares the same name as ''Good Times'' co-creator [[Mike Evans (actor)|Michael Evans]]. Evans portrayed Lionel Jefferson on ''[[All in the Family]]'' and its [[spinoff]] ''[[The Jeffersons]]''.

*One of the consistent themes of ''Good Times'' during the first three seasons was James' inability to find a well-paying, long-term job. Ironically, John Amos would later have recurring roles on several TV series as characters with excellent jobs, such as an NFL coach (''[[In the House (TV series)|In the House]]''), the mayor of Washington, D.C. (''[[The District]]''), and the [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]] (''[[The West Wing (TV series)|The West Wing]]'').

*Comedian [[Chris Rock]] has based the father character in his TV series ''[[Everybody Hates Chris]]'' on John Amos' portrayal of James Evans Sr. "I kind of wanted to give him that James Evans nobility," Rock told TV critics in the summer of [[2005]].[http://www.freep.com/entertainment/tvandradio/duffy22e_20050922.htm]

*John Amos' portrayal of James Evans Sr. is frequently cited as perhaps the most realistic depiction of an African-American father in television history. James' death is almost universally recognized as the moment when the series "[[jumping the shark|jumped the shark]]".

*[[James Evans, Sr.|James Evans Sr.]] serves as the template for other strong [[African-American]] TV fathers, including Lester Jenkins (''[[227 (TV series)|227]]''), Phillip Banks (''[[The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air]]''), and J.C. Williams (''[[New York Undercover]]'').

*Former ''[[Our Gang]]'' child actor [[Matthew "Stymie" Beard]] appeared in five episodes, including four appearances as James' friend Monty.

*Like Lamont's Uncle Woody on ''[[Sanford and Son]]'', Ned the Wino was an alcoholic. Both characters were portrayed by Raymond Allen.

*[[Carl Franklin]], who portrayed Thelma's boyfriend Larry in two episodes in Season 3, later became a successful movie director. Among his films are the [[Ashley Judd]]-[[Morgan Freeman]] film ''[[High Crimes]]'', and the [[Denzel Washington]] films ''[[Devil in a Blue Dress (film)|Devil in a Blue Dress]]'' and ''[[Out of Time (film)|Out of Time]]''.

*J.J.'s paintings were actually created by African-American artist [[Ernie Barnes]]. The series helped to make the artist and his distinctive style famous.

*The first-season episode "Black Jesus" (where J.J. uses Ned the Wino as the model for a portrait of [[Jesus]]) was one of the first times that a prime-time television series challenged the notion that Jesus had a [[Caucasian race|Caucasian]] or [[European]] appearance.

*The third-season episode "J.J. in Trouble" was one of the first times that the subject of [[sexually transmitted disease|STD]]s (then referred to as "[[sexually transmitted disease|VD]]") was addressed on a prime time television series. A 25-year old [[Jay Leno]] appears briefly in this episode.

*The fifth-season episode "Wheels" introduces J.J.'s three best friends Poppo ([[Randy Martin]]), Cool Breeze ([[Larry Beecham]]), and Head ([[T.K. Carter]]). Collectively, the quartet refer to themselves as "The Awesome Foursome".

*Later in the fifth season, in "J.J. and the Boss' Daughter", J.J., Poppo, and Head become "The Gleesome Threesome." Cool Breeze is forgotten after only one episode.

*In 1975, John Amos and Jimmie Walker both appeared in the [[Sidney Poitier]]-[[Bill Cosby]] film ''Let's Do It Again''.

*In 1986, Ja'net Du Bois appeared briefly in the video for Janet Jackson's hit single "Control". Du Bois portrays Jackson's mother, reminiscent of the mother-daughter roles they played on ''Good Times''.

*In 1989, Esther Rolle portrays Lena Younger in a [[Public Broadcasting System|PBS]] TV production of [[Lorraine Hansberry]]'s ''[[A Raisin in the Sun]]'', an immensely popular play about another struggling African-American family from Chicago's South Side. Mrs. Johnson is portrayed by [[Helen Martin]], who played Wanda on ''Good Times''.

*In 1997, ''Good Times'' is parodied on a fourth-season episode of ''[[The Wayans Bros.]]'' entitled "Unspoken Token". In a "fantasy" sequence, the ''Wayans Bros.'' cast assumes the roles of ''Good Times'' characters, with [[Shawn Wayans]] (Shawn) as J.J., [[Marlon Wayans]] (Marlon) as Michael, [[John Witherspoon]] (Pops) as James, [[Anna Maria Horsford]] (Dee) as Florida, and Ja'net Du Bois (Grandma) reprising her role as Willona. Bern Nadette Stanis and Johnny Brown make special guest appearances in their roles as Thelma and Bookman. Penny and Keith are not depicted.

*In 2003, Bern Nadette Stanis portrays herself in a third-season episode of ''[[Girlfriends]]'' entitled "Where Everybody Knows My Name." In this episode, William ([[Reginald C. Hayes|Reggie Hayes]]) goes on a date with Stanis, yet constantly refers to her as "Thelma", as if Thelma is a real person and not merely a character from ''Good Times''.

*In 2006, Jimmie Walker appears as Chris' ([[Tyler James Williams]]) grandfather in a first-season episode of ''[[Everybody Hates Chris]]'' entitled "Everybody Hates Funerals". Later in that episode, Chris' mother Rochelle ([[Tichina Arnold]]), in a frustrated moment, exclaims ''"Damn, damn, DAMN!"'', an obvious reference to Florida's outburst on ''Good Times'' after James' death.

*In March 2006, at the 4th Annual [[TV Land Awards]], ''Good Times'' received the "Impact Award", for being "a show that offered both entertainment and enlightenment, always striving for both humor and humanity, with comedy that reflected reality." Norman Lear attended the ceremony, as did all the members of the principal cast except Esther Rolle (who died in 1998), Ben Powers, and Janet Jackson.

*For the first four seasons, the show opened with views of Chicago's South Side, ending with a stop at the Cabrini-Green projects. The camera then zoomed in on an apartment (presumably the Evans family's), then would cut inside and zoom in on a painting presumably painted by J.J. Evans (not really, obviously). For the last two seasons, these were replaced by individual montage intros, with clips from past episodes used. Also, for the final season, the zoom in to the apartment with the painting at the end was used for half the season. The second half ended with a painting of the entire cast assembled in the Evans' living room, then dissolved to a real-life shot of the same scene. open

* [[Gary Coleman]] and [[Kim Fields]] appeared on-and-off during the later years of the series. Coleman would go on to star in ''[[Different Strokes]]''. Fields had been the adorable child in the Mrs. Butterworth's syrup commercials ("Mrs. Butterworth, I love you!" and was later a cast member on ''[[Livin' Single]]''.

==Catchphrases==

Few television series spawned as many catchphrases as ''Good Times'':

*"Dyn-o-mite!" (J.J.)

*"Well, you know . . . what can I say?" (J.J., and occasionally Michael)

*"Chello?" (J.J.'s "fancy" manner of answering the telephone)

*"I know!" (J.J.'s response to a high compliment, always said in false modesty)

*"Damn, damn, DAMN!" (Florida, in "The Big Move, Part 2", Season 4)

*" 'Boy' is a White racist word." (Michael, in his "Militant Midget" days)

*"Buffalo Butt" and "Booger" (Willona's nicknames for Bookman)

*"Big Boy" (Penny, at the end of her Mae West impressions)

*"Thelma, Thelma, Thelma" (Poppo, as a prelude to one of his unsuccessful advances toward Thelma)

*"Is ya hip?" (James, in "Florida's Protest", Season 3)

*"Willona Woods... the galloping gossip of the ghetto!"/"the [[Rona Barrett]] of the projects" (James' nicknames for Willona)

*"Hey there, Sweet Momma!" (J.J.'s occasional greeting when he attempts to pick up girls)

==Songs==

*Season 2 - Episode #34 My Girl Henrietta. Henrietta talks to Thelma in her room and dances to the song "Pick Up the Pieces," by [[Average White Band]].

* Season 3 - Episode #51 Cleatus. The family is listening to their new record player when it blows a fuse. The lights go out, helping them to catch Cleatus. The song playing is "Once You Get Started," by [[Rufus (band)|Rufus]] and [[Chaka Khan]].

* Season 3 - Episode #61 The Rent Party. Willona, Thelma, and Florida perform the [[Supremes]]' "[[Stop! In the Name of Love]]" at a rent party for Wanda, a fellow tenant.

* Season 4 - Episode #70 Florida's Night Out. Willona takes Florida out to a club and Florida dances to the song "Hey Girl, Come and Get It," by [[Van McCoy]].

* Season 4 - Episode #62 The Big Move (Part 1). As the family celebrates New Year's Eve, they receive a telegram announcing that James has died in an accident. The music playing in the background is "Movin'," by [[Brass Construction]].

* Season 4 - Episode #67 J.J.'s New Career. While J.J. is visiting the apartment of his employers, we can hear the end of the song "Get the Funk Out My Face," by [[Brothers Johnson|The Brothers Johnson]].

* Season 5 - Episode #91 Thelma Moves Out. Thelma's football player roommate listens to his transistor radio and dances to "Won't You Come Dance With Me," by [[The Commodores|Commodores]].

* Season 5 - Episode #109 That's Entertainment, Evans Style. During the talent show, Thelma performs dance moves to "Native New Yorker," by [[Odyssey]].

* Season 6 - Episode #112 Florida's Homecoming: The Wedding. As J.J. walks Thelma down the aisle at her wedding to Keith, Michael gives a stirring rendition of [[Stevie Wonder]]'s "You and I".

* Season 6 - Episode #123 The Snowstorm. To keep warm, Florida and the kids on the school bus dance and sing to "Dance Across the Floor," by [[Jimmy Bo Horne]].

* Season 6 - Episode #129 A Matter of Mothers. At the party planned for Willona by Penny's biological mother, the music playing is "Shake Your Body Down to the Ground," by [[The Jacksons]] (Janet Jackson's real-life siblings).

==External links==

{{Commons}}

*{{imdb title|id=0070991|title=Good Times}}

* {{IMDb title|id=0070991}}

*[http://www.tvparty.com/70good.html Article on ''Good Times'' at tvparty.com]

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070206173341/http://www.tvland.com/shows/goodtimes/ ''Good Times''] at [[TV Land|TVLand.com]]

* {{EmmyTVLegends title|good-times}}

{{Maude}}

==References==

{{All in the Family}}

<references />

{{Norman Lear}}

[[Category:Good1974 Times|*American television series debuts]]

[[Category:1970s1979 TVAmerican showstelevision inseries the United States|Good Timesendings]]

[[Category:Black1970s sitcoms|GoodAmerican Timesmulti-camera sitcoms]]

[[Category:CBS1970s networkAmerican shows|Goodblack Timessitcoms]]

[[Category:Janet1970s Jackson|GoodAmerican Timesblack television series]]

[[Category:TelevisionAll spin-offs|Goodin Timesthe Family]]

[[Category:American television spinoffs]]

[[Category:TV One (American TV channel) original programming]]

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[[Category:CBS sitcoms]]