"Good Times" (1974) TV series 1974-1979

Creators:

Mike Evans
Eric Monte
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

8 February 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A poor Afro-American family make the best of things in the Chicago housing projects.

Plot Keywords:

Inner City | Housing Project | Urban | Spin Off | Chicago Illinois

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Nov. 29	8:00 AM	TVLAND	The I.Q. Test	#2.7
Sun. Nov. 29	8:30 AM	TVLAND	The Encyclopedia Hustle	#2.8

Cast

Ralph Carter	...	Michael Evans (132 episodes, 1974-1979)
BernNadette Stanis	...	Thelma Evans / ... (132 episodes, 1974-1979)
Jimmie Walker	...	James 'J.J.' Evans, Jr. (126 episodes, 1974-1979)
Ja'net DuBois	...	Willona Woods (123 episodes, 1974-1979)
Esther Rolle	...	Florida Evans (102 episodes, 1974-1979)
John Amos	...	James Evans, Sr. (57 episodes, 1974-1976)
Johnny Brown	...	Nathan Bookman (53 episodes, 1975-1979)

Series Directed by
Gerren Keith		(72 episodes, 1976-1979)
Herbert Kenwith		(57 episodes, 1974-1976)
Bob LaHendro		(3 episodes, 1974)
Donald McKayle		(3 episodes, 1974)

Series Writing credits
Norman Lear		(133 episodes, 1974-1979)
Eric Monte		(66 episodes, 1974-1979)
Mike Evans		(64 episodes, 1974-1979)
Norman Paul		(26 episodes, 1974-1978)
Jack Elinson		(19 episodes, 1974-1976)
John Baskin		(18 episodes, 1974-1977)
Roger Shulman		(18 episodes, 1974-1977)
Bob Peete		(11 episodes, 1974-1977)
Sid Dorfman		(9 episodes, 1976-1978)
Michael G. Moye		(9 episodes, 1978-1979)
Allan Manings		(7 episodes, 1974-1977)
Michael S. Baser		(6 episodes, 1976-1978)
Kim Weiskopf		(6 episodes, 1976-1978)
Bruce Howard		(5 episodes, 1975-1978)
Dick Bensfield		(5 episodes, 1975)
Perry Grant		(5 episodes, 1975)
Austin Kalish		(5 episodes, 1976-1977)
Irma Kalish		(5 episodes, 1976-1977)
Bill Davenport		(4 episodes, 1974-1976)
Lou Derman		(4 episodes, 1974-1976)
John Donley		(4 episodes, 1974-1976)
Kurt Taylor		(4 episodes, 1974-1976)
Joseph Bonaduce		(4 episodes, 1978-1979)
Mark Fink		(4 episodes, 1978-1979)
Wayne Kline		(4 episodes, 1978-1979)
Bruce Kalish		(3 episodes, 1977-1978)
Robert Wolterstorff		(2 episodes, 1974-1977)
Thad Mumford		(2 episodes, 1974-1975)
Roland Wolpert		(2 episodes, 1974)
Patricia Edwards		(2 episodes, 1975)
Phillip Wickham Taylor		(2 episodes, 1977-1978)
John Ashley Hamilton		(2 episodes, 1977)
Gordon Mitchell		(2 episodes, 1977)
Lloyd Turner		(2 episodes, 1977)
Gene Farmer		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
Judi Ann Mason		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
Len Riley		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
Bud Slocomb		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)

Series Produced by
Allan Manings	....	executive producer / producer (81 episodes, 1974-1977)
Norman Paul	....	executive producer / producer (48 episodes, 1975-1979)
Austin Kalish	....	executive producer / producer (48 episodes, 1976-1978)
Irma Kalish	....	executive producer / producer (48 episodes, 1976-1978)
Norman Lear	....	executive producer (37 episodes, 1974-1975)
Viva Knight	....	associate producer (29 episodes, 1974-1975)
Jack Elinson	....	producer (24 episodes, 1975-1976)
Gordon Mitchell	....	producer (24 episodes, 1977-1978)
Lloyd Turner	....	producer (24 episodes, 1977-1978)
Sid Dorfman	....	producer (24 episodes, 1978-1979)
Camilla Dunn	....	associate producer (13 episodes, 1974)
George Sunga	....	associate producer (10 episodes, 1976-1978)
Whitney J. LeBlanc	....	associate producer (9 episodes, 1975-1976)
Ken Stump	....	associate producer (5 episodes, 1978-1979)

Series Film Editing by
Tucker Wiard		(25 episodes, 1974-1975)

Series Casting by
Jane Murray		(29 episodes, 1974-1976)

Series Art Direction by
Edward Stephenson		(28 episodes, 1974-1976)
Don Roberts		(4 episodes, 1976-1978)

Series Set Decoration by
Charles Kreiner		(28 episodes, 1974-1975)

Series Makeup Department
Billie Jordan	....	hair stylist / makeup artist (4 episodes, 1976-1978)
Jim Kail	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1976)

Series Production Management
Martin Vagts	....	production supervisor (14 episodes, 1974-1975)
Dick Brooks	....	unit manager (14 episodes, 1975-1977)
Rita Burton	....	production supervisor (13 episodes, 1974)
Norman Lear	....	production supervisor (11 episodes, 1975-1977)
Alan Horn	....	production supervisor (2 episodes, 1978)
Tyna Huebner	....	unit manager (2 episodes, 1978)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carl Ginnow	....	associate director (12 episodes, 1974)
Samn Sherman	....	associate director / assistant director (11 episodes, 1974)
Jim Drake	....	associate director (3 episodes, 1975)
Hal Alexander	....	assistant director / associate director (3 episodes, 1976)
Drew Handley	....	assistant director (2 episodes, 1978)

Series Art Department
Ernie Barnes	....	paintings by (29 episodes, 1974-1976)

Series Sound Department
Terry Hensey	....	audio (17 episodes, 1974)
Ray Kemper	....	audio / sound (5 episodes, 1974-1975)
Marshall King	....	audio (4 episodes, 1974)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Walter Glover	....	lighting director (70 episodes, 1975-1978)
Ed S. Hill	....	lighting director (26 episodes, 1974-1975)

Series Casting Department
Jane Murray	....	casting (5 episodes, 1974-1978)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rita Riggs	....	wardrobe / costumes / ... (31 episodes, 1974-1976)

Series Music Department
Dave Grusin	....	composer: theme music (32 episodes, 1974-1978)
Alan Bergman	....	composer: theme music (31 episodes, 1974-1978)
Marilyn Bergman	....	composer: theme music (31 episodes, 1974-1978)

Series Other crew
Norman Paul	....	script supervisor / executive story editor / ... (42 episodes, 1974-1978)
Jack Elinson	....	executive story editor / script supervisor / ... (40 episodes, 1974-1976)
Bob Peete	....	production consultant / program consultant / ... (31 episodes, 1974-1977)
Buddy Borgen	....	stage manager (28 episodes, 1974-1975)
Charlotte McDaniel	....	assistant to producer / assistant to producers (27 episodes, 1974-1975)
Norman Lear	....	developer / developed for television by / ... (26 episodes, 1974-1979)
John Baskin	....	story editor / production consultant (23 episodes, 1974-1977)
Roger Shulman	....	story editor / production consultant (23 episodes, 1974-1977)
Richard Draney	....	stage manager (17 episodes, 1974-1978)
Allan Manings	....	script supervisor (17 episodes, 1975-1977)
George Chilton	....	stage manager (13 episodes, 1974)
Eric Monte	....	script supervisor (13 episodes, 1974)
Leslie Vaught	....	technical director (13 episodes, 1974)
Hal Alexander	....	associate director (10 episodes, 1975-1977)
Sid Dorfman	....	executive script consultant / script editor / ... (10 episodes, 1976-1978)
Charles Franklin	....	technical director (8 episodes, 1974-1975)
Jay Sommers	....	script editor (6 episodes, 1976)
Drew Handley	....	associate director (6 episodes, 1977-1979)
Bob Schulz	....	technical director (5 episodes, 1974)
Gary Shimokawa	....	associate director (4 episodes, 1975)
Gloria Vinson	....	assistant: producer / production assistant (4 episodes, 1976-1978)
Dick Woodka	....	technical director (4 episodes, 1976-1978)
Austin Kalish	....	script supervisor (4 episodes, 1976-1977)
Irma Kalish	....	script supervisor (4 episodes, 1976-1977)
Joseph Bonaduce	....	story editor (4 episodes, 1978-1979)
Bruce Howard	....	story editor (3 episodes, 1978-1979)

Production Companies

• Bud Yorkin Productions
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1974-1979)
• Norman Lear/Tandem Productions (1974-1979)

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1974-1979) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Columbia Pictures Television
• Columbia TriStar Domestic Television (2001)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD) (season 1)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD) (seasons 2 and 3)
• Columbia TriStar Television
• Embassy Telecommunications
• P*I*T*S Films
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD) (seasons 4 and 5)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (season 6)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (complete series)
• Sony Pictures Television (2002-)

Other Companies

• CBS Television City  taping location
• Metromedia Square  taping location

Runtime:

USA:30 min (including commercials) (133 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:PG | USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

CBS Television City - 7800 Beverly Blvd., Fairfax, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Bud Yorkin Productions

Trivia:

Wanda (Helen Martin) was often referred to as "Weeping Wanda".

Quotes:

James: [to Thelma and Michael] If I do have hypertension, y'all gave it to me wit' all that nickin' and naggin' goin' on. Junior here's the only one who haven't got on my nerves.
J.J.: That's because, one, I respect you, and two, I fear for my life.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Family Guy: Peter Griffin: Husband, Father... Brother? (#3.14)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Good Times

Great show early ...but suffered a decline in quality in later seasons

When "Good Times" premiered in 1974, it was one the first black family sitcoms. It centered on the poor Chicago-based Evans family and their struggles to make ends. Most of the early episodes focused on the parents, James and Florida Evans, and their struggle to provide for the family. John Amos and Esther Rolle were the best part of the show. They were terrific actors and had great chemistry as James and Florida Evans. They had three kids: J.J., Thelma, and Michael. J.J. was the skirt-chasing but well-meaning teenage son who made up for his lack of subtletly with artistic talent. Thelma was an attractive, bright girl who was constantly trading insults with J.J. Michael was a near child prodigy who was well-educated on social issues and was destined to become a lawyer.

In 1976, the producers made a huge mistake by firing John Amos, literally killing off his character. This really changed the focus, and not for the good I might add. The shows began to focus more on J.J. and his buffoon-like behavior which angered black viewers as well as series star Esther Rolle, who left after the next season. Instead of a show that focused on key African-American issues that existed in society at the time, viewers got shows that were overloaded with skirt chasing and fat jokes.

Once Esther Rolle left, the quality of the show suffered even more. Although it was still watchable, it was no longer the great ground-breaking show that it once was.

Although Esther Rolle came back for the 1978 season, it became obvious that the show was on its last legs. All loose ends were tied up during that season and the show quietly faded off the air.

First three season: A. Last three seasons: C+.