This is one of my all time favorite shows. When you allow other people to perpetuate your imagery, they will do so out of their own perceptions and minds, and its not always an accurate view, he continues. Good Times was a groundbreaking comedy about the first nuclear black family living in the Chicago projects. When questioned about it, John Amos responded that the reason for his departure was that Good Times higher-ups informed him that his contributions were no longer required at the time. In it's time, Good Times, would of been a hell of a show. Florida Evans (later Florida Evans-Dixon) is the protagonist of Good Times in Seasons 1-4 and 6. If you got past all the stereotypes, you would notice that many of the episodes discussed issues that are just as relevant today as they were back then. Here are the explanations for John Amos departure from Good Times. Norman Lear User Ratings Florida Evans John Amos Reveals How His Departure From 'Good Times' Went These were the words the producers used to describe John, as opinionated and troublesome as he was for them, they believed they didnt need such a person on set, so Mr. Evans died and in real life, John Amos discovered just how unimportant he was. He took no bull from any of the kids. "Dynomite"! Because of his offensive remarks about the brawls behind the scenes, John Amos was fired. The parental figures in "Good Times" didn't last the duration of the series. Why was his character abruptly killed off? JJ has to be the unlikeliest playa in the history of television but he always had a lot of girls, which is funny to me. Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson in Chicago: We do not support that behavior.. Why Did John Amos Leave Good Times As she was putting away dishes from the wake at their house, she saw a flower James had left her and kept working, she finally stopped and smashed a bowl on the kitchen floor as she swore and then broke down in tremendous grief over the loss of her husband. Fascinatingly enough, Good Times Season 4B premiered mere weeks before the Roots miniseries debuted in January 1977 on competing network ABC and changed television as we know it forever because of the grippingly personalized way it portrayed enslaved Black Americans. WebGood 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 and developed by executive producer Norman Lear, it was television's first African American two-parent family sitcom. John Amos left the series immediately following the third season of Good Times. On Good Times, she appears in 109 of the 133 episodes in Seasons 1 through 4 and then returns in Season 6 after Carl died of lung cancer at the end of Season 4, in the episode "Love Has a Spot on His Lung: Part 2", the season finale. It showed a Black family that had the same trials and tribulations as the rest of America, especially those who were financially challenged. His We all know that happened throughout the decade, but Good Times revolved around the 70's style. Most importantly it had a black family that stuck together through thick and thin. Tulsa Library Shooting: Two People Died, Others Injured At Convenience Store, Phoenix Bar Shooting, Several People Injured, How Did Elizabeth Santos Die? After Season 3, his contract was not renewed, and he was sacked. Just as Florida shockingly received notice that her husband had died, so, too, Amos received a call out of the blue that his character was no longer needed. From 1974 to 1976, John Amos touched millions of lives as the iconic patriarch James Evans, Sr., on Good Times until he was unceremoniously dumped from the cast midway through its run. Common, Chicago wasn't all black! They were actually trying to do everything they could to get out of the projects. Seems to me when at least one parent was in the home, children were a bit more manageable. By I was very sadden when James Evans was killed in an auto accident,and that was the show's very best episode and an emotional one as well in what the family was going through without a father figure for the children,but they continued on with J.J. stepping from a kid into manhood and the fatherly role after John Amos' character left the show. Is John Amos Dead? | Snopes.com due to the scripts' lack of authenticity in portraying the African-American experience. Speaking of theme songs, Ja'net DuBois (neighbor Willona) co-wrote and sang another truly memorable one during this time. What many dont realize is that John Amos was just about as shocked as Florida when he learned that he was no longer on the show. With her stern, but loving disposition, Florida does her best to to give her often unemployed husband emotional support and be a good mother and role model for their three children. JJ is about to insult her, but he breaks down and tells her he'll miss her. If Amos believed this, he was wrong. John Amos Says He Was Kicked Off 'Good Times' Because He Didn't Agree With The Shucking And Jiving John Amos Explains Why He Was Kicked Off 'Good Times' By Brennan Williams Jun 5, 2015, 04:44 PM EDT | Updated Jun 5, 2015 This affected the quality in later years. Christine Paduch, a teacher, is detained on suspicion of abusing a student with special needs. If you didn't like the show, fine, but some of your reasons for disliking it are totally erroneous. Q: Why did John Amos leave Good Times? I would like to know why John Amos left the show, and how did he die off the show again? Everybody had afros, went rollerskating, danced around a disco, and had platform shoes. By the way, did they ever make it out of the ghetto? Metacritic Reviews. If you like TVLine, you'll LOVE our email news alerts! John Amos JJ was never stupid-he only acted that way most of the time. John Amos Reveals How His Departure From 'Good Times' Went It is a crime that John Amos never received an Emmy nomination for his role on this show. It's hard to say which one is my favorite. Not only is Florida the superwoman of the Evans household, but for many - including her good friend and neighbor, Willona - she's the superhero of her housing project on the North Side of Chicago. I hope that this phenomenon continues until we are totally in absolute control of our own imagery, the Newark, New Jersey native divulges while comparing Good Times to its television descendants. Although the series continued without her for the fifth season, she returned to reprise her role as Florida in the show's final season, with the explanation that the shop owner whom she wed at the end of Season 4, Rolle's most memorable moment from the show is in the episode. And last, but not least, Thelma, the older Sister to Michael, another seasoned performer. All guests were black people. 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. These are my questions and comments. John Amos Details Why He Got Fired From Good Times (WATCH) Everyone always gave a good performance, the production design was spectacular, the costumes were well-designed, and the writing was always very strong. Amos, 80, recalls that one of the best perks of his West Wing tenure was meeting former Secretary of State Colin Powell. He stuck to his guns, and it eventually got him fired. The Real Reason John Amos Was Fired From Good Times It also dated politics, recession, wages, history. Another great aspect of the show was JJ and Thelma. What I do know is that when Janet Jackson, Bookman, and that annoying neighbor Willona; Miss Big Mouth, I'm beautiful, took over, this show was lost forever(but I did like sweet daddy). He also states that he wasnt the most diplomatic guy back then and producers got tired of having their lives threatened over jokes.. John Amos, though, how about him? He also adds that two of his favorite comedians Eddie Murphy and Dave Chappelle are able to use humor to communicate in a way he wishes he could have at their age. No. Roots? They were terrific actors and had great chemistry as James and Florida Evans. The show ended. I liked Good Times. We all loved JJ's dynamite and his antics. James tried to work several jobs, just so Florida could stay home and tend to the needs of the house/family. Rolle quit when her contract concluded. Good Times focuses on Florida and Jamess efforts to raise their three children in the best possible ways. No canned laughter, no music. Because he was always butting heads with producers, his character was killed off which came as a shock to him. Which of his works do you like, if youre a fan? in 1985, where before then, it played in the late 70's. I think good times was a very good show, a lot of us African Americans could relate. This is a classic show. Actually I loved the intro and ending to each show; the painting at the end, the camera sky-views of Chicago, the theme music, the bike rider and citizens. Good Times was a form of Roots, except it told the story of who we are on a comedic basis. Now you say one more word about Lisa, and Ill break my foot off in your royal ass., I have to take credit for that. Good Times Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. America and the world got to see what life could be like within a Black family on Good Times, Amos shares. The Real Reason Esther Rolle Left Good Times - Grunge He was tough, but loving and kind. This was a good show for the first three seasons. Good Times embraces the reality of what hard living in the ghetto is like, and what one must do, to overcome many hindrances, and the Evan's really have it tough. Ester Rolle was handling the death all well untill the end. The little brother "Michael" was Mr. Militant black pride. I ad-libbed quite a bit, and John Landis, the director, was very receptive to my ad-libs, Amos concludes proudly. America and the world got to see what life could be like within a Black family on Good Created by Norman Lear as a spin off from "Maude" (Which itself was a spin off from "All In The Family"), the show focused on the Evans Family, consisting of Florida (Esther Rolle)and James (John Amos), the heads of the household, trying to survive in the projects of Chicago. The Evans family had both parents providing stabilty and shelter for them. We Publish News 24/7. How did things turn out for John Amos in the movie Good Times? "Movin' On Up" for The Jeffersons, of course. | Yet why? That's when I got hooked!!! The Real Reason John Amos Was Fired From Good Times. Esther Rolle and John Amos on set of Good Times Ms. Rolle was finally fed ALL the way up with the coonery: In 1977 Esther walked out of the still high-rated Good Times series because she felt the popular character J.J., played by Jimmy Walker, was tailored into a buffoon. He had been with the show since its inception. Amos said he regretted leaving the show, but the offer from Norman Lear to portray James Evans on Good Times couldnt wait. Will Downing on New Song Following Daughters Suicide, Advice Kandi Burruss Hustles Up KFC Ad Based on Scene Dr. Phil Calls Professors $350,000-Per-Person Reparations Idea an Absolute Four Tops Singer to Sue Racist Hospital: They Told Suge Knight Says Snoop Dogg and Harry-Os Death Row Barbies Racial Justice Dolls Continue Mattels Path Toward Representation Daveed Diggs Planned Twister Sequel with All-Black and Brown Laura Coates Unlikely to Host CNNs 11 p.m. John said that was the last he heard from him for months, he never called back to check on him and even today, many fans can agree that after Mr. Evans death, John Amos - Wikipedia The entertainer admits that he wasnt the most diplomatic guy back then. We got to see them experience a few good times. I liked many things about this show. Very cool. This was a family that just happened to be black and live in the projects. And the differences I had with the producers of the show I felt too much emphasis was being put on J.J. and his chicken hat and saying dy-no-mite every third page, when just as much emphasis and mileage could have been gotten out of my other two children , Amos stated. I think JJ was a precursor to characters such as Horshack, Screech, Urkel, Rerun, etc. He was out of town, got hit by a car, and died. The show wasnt as good after he left. John Amos John Amos departure from Good Times appears to have much to do with his African-American cultural values. I had the chance to portray a father on a situational comedy that so many Black fathers and men of all races could identify with and appreciate., Amos adds that up until that point, there had never been a complete Black family portrayed on television. They tried to show their kids to strive for more in life, DESPITE obstacles. So does JJ. Life for the Evans family is not easy, especially when trying to keep their 3 children on the straight and narrow. Good Times Despite the story behind the scenes, this show was worth keeping on the air except I didn't like them killing off the father which I agreed with Esther Rolle who fought hard to keep the family together. Dont Miss A Story. Better than most of the family comedies today! John Amos Says He Was Kicked Off Good Times Because He Didn I'm sure a lot of even the most liberal thinking people have no conception of the fact that the help which was what Florida was go home to a whole different world. There is no more complete source for urban news than the Electronic Urban Report. 2023 TVLine Media, LLC. Some may find that chauvinistic by today's standards, but, I'm not so sure about that. FAQ When Norman Lear who just dominated television in the 70s decided to give Rolle her own series, he took her character and moved them to the south side of Chicago where they lived in the projects. I had innumerable arguments with the writers on the set in regards to my characters demeanor, or what he would say in certain given situations. The Real Reason John Amos Was Fired From Good Times Id want to send John Amos my warmest wishes for the remainder of his days. You must have realised from the title alone that the sitcom only spreads good vibes to its audience. The reason I like the show is that of John Amos'character of James Evans. This funeral episode was excellent. Will Downing on New Song Following Daughters Suicide, Advice to Parents, TikTok Food Critic Regrets Houston Hot Chicken Review | Watch, Issa Rae and Shameik Moore Would Unalive Spiders Matthew Lawrence Opens Up About Hollywood Casting Couch & More | PicVideos. And with Roots, I dont think any of us involved in the production, particularly the network, were aware audiences would tune in to the extent that they did.. Despite the fact that I've never seen every episode, I still enjoy it. For instance: Every book report had to be about black history, every movie had to involve black people, every politition had to be black, the list went on and on. The way he was written out of the show was very abrupt. A disruptive factor Issues such as gun control, teen pregnancy, v.d., gangs and teen suicide. He felt that for a show with such an influence, black people did not have to be represented as clowns all the time when they had the power to be role models to the younger generation. Like most shows, it went on a little too long but for fans, each season has it's moments. James was the father figure everyone like,and he was always providing something for his family even though they was struggling through tough times,but they came through. Want to know why did John Amos leave Good Times? I don't find it stereotypical or shuckin'/jivin' at all. Fans will forever remember how Florida Evans broke down in her kitchen and we can confidently say, most fans broke down with her. "); Thelma, their only daughter (BernNadette Stanis)who is a disaster in the kitchen, but who had hopes,dreams and intelligence. Additionally, he used to assert that in practice, he wouldnt permit his kids to do that. The creators soon became irate over these variances. The show revolves around a blue collar family, making the best of it, in the dangerous projects, where you should always pray the elevator doesn't break down. You get to learn a lot about the hardships of life. It was actually quite funny> All references in the show had to be "black". Why did James(John Amos) leave the show? John Amos Says He Was Kicked Off Good Times Because He Didnt Agree With the Shucking and Jiving Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude Send us a Also, I really love the theme song. What I liked about this show over Sanford and Son was that whites weren't portrayed as idiots, like some stupid attack against shows in the past that put blacks in an Aunt Jemima mode, please! Hey, its your dime, you made the call, Amos replied. John also revealed that he had shared creatively divergent ideas with the Good Times shows founders and producers. However, once John Amos left, the show was not the same and suffered as a result. Roots, inspired by late author Alex Haleys novel of the same name, drew a record 36.4 million viewers and remains one of the most watched television events of all time. Regarding John Amos, he has acted in many movies and TV shows, including Me Time, Maude, Shadowboxing, The Ranch, All About The Andersons, The Righteous Gemstones, and many others. In any case, James Evans was portrayed by John Amos. She played his wife, matriarch Florida Evans, despite being 20 years his senior in real life. He reportedly left the show, after 3 seasons, because he disapproved of Jimmie Walker's character. Issa Rae and Shameik Moore Would Unalive Spiders Matthew Lawrence Shaquille ONeal Releasing New Hip-Hop Track to Celebrate NBA Playoffs, Elon Musk Announces Charging Option for Publishers on Twitter. Between the cooking, cleaning, laundry, and shopping, Florida often squeezes in a part-time job to help stretch the family dollar, and she even returned to school to get her high school diploma. Amos thought that JJ was stereotyped as a stupid guy. This is the most memorable TV series that I saw in my youth and it left a strong impression on me. Stimulus Check Proposal Could Give Americans Monthly $1,200 Checks. Are you curious as to why John Amos left Good Times? The gospelish theme song and title sequences shown over inner-city Chicago only added to the realism. John Amos left the series immediately following the third season of Good Times. American Idol's Top 10 Revealed Live, Following Pair of Brutal Eliminations, Yellowstone's Kelly Reilly Offers Explanation For Her PaleyFest Absence, Morning Show Renewed for Season 4 Plus, Find Out When Season 3 Will Air, Stephen Amell Doesn't Think He's Done Playing Green Arrow, Days of Our Lives' Victoria Grace Loses Daytime Emmy Nomination After, Morning Show Renewed for Season 4 Plus, Find Out When Season 3 Will, Will Trent Recreates the Scene of Angie's Abduction and Betty's, Shades of Funny: A Celebration of TV Comedy's Trailblazers & Rising Stars, Fresh Off Ted Lasso, Emmy Winner Ashley Nicole Black Is On a Mission to 'Make More People Feel Seen'. Rolle quit when her contract concluded. I wish they would bring the show back. Amos stated that during the shows hiatus, Lear called him. She is known to throw a good party, and doesn't hesitate to offer whatever she has to those in need. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Is Our TV Pick Of The Week, Small Town Horror Story: The Racist Attack Of A FedEx Worker. Getting fired from Good Times is one of the best things that could have ever happened to John Amos. Amos worked with Murphy on the 1988 classic Coming to America, in which he played Cleo McDowell, a businessman who owned a fast-food restaurant that too hilariously and closely resembled McDonalds. Heres Everything We Know About Him. Law. They are all great shows. Web"Good Times" was one of the first African American family sitcoms to air. In an interview, Amos said that he felt the show was giving too much attention to one of his children on the show who was more interested in fooling around in a chicken hat when more emphasis could have been placed on his other two children who had ambitions of becoming a surgeon and Supreme Court Justice respectively. Although the producer wanted to get some words out of him, he didnt budge, he simply hung up and remained his same old recalcitrant self to the very end. ),Bernadette Stanis(the teenage daughter Thelma),and Janet Jackson(who made her TV debut as Penny and also as Willona's daughter after she adopted her from a abusive stepmomvery touching episode),and Janet Dubois. The next day, that guy was gone never to be seen again. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now! Well, John Amos played the character of James Evans. Thelma, a dancer. Why? He occasionally disagreed with the writings and questioned the writers about how long they had been black. Amos said he was shocked but not surprised, since he had already been labeled a disruptive element.. They argued all the time, but they loved the hell out of each other. WebRalph Carter, BernNadette Stanis, Janet DuBois, John Amos, Esther Rolle, and Jimmie Walker in Good Times / Everett Collection. I don't know. In the season finale, Esther Rolle returned; did he do the same? Without being to preachy, The Evans always tried to do the right thing rather than do something wrong to get out of the ghetto. She starts to cry. It made history as the first African American show with two parents and gathered a following of avid fans countrywide, so if Good Times had such a good reputation and following, why did one of the lead actors, John Amos, famous for playing James Evans Sr suddenly stop doing the show? But Good Times corrected that imagery with its crazy teenage kids, a studious son Michael, as portrayed by Ralph Carter, and a beautiful young daughter with unlimited mental potential, as portrayed by BernNadette Stanis as Thelma.. What do you want to hear first? Amos said Lear asked him. But they don't dwell on it. An explanation of the cause of death of the former mayor of EL Cerrito, California, Gut-wrenching: Rep. Quentin Williams, a rising political star, killed in wrong-way accident. Did the actor and the cast have a falling out? The Real Reason John Amos Was Fired From Good Times Aaron Homer The 1970s represented a period of drastic changes in the TV landscape. Humperdink! Pop culture Q&A: The story behind Amos leaving 'Good Times' Amos recalled complete silence on the set. I initially ad-libbed the line at a reading of the script, and when Eddie Murphy dropped the script, hollered, and released that signature laugh that he has, I knew my line had gotten the laughing approval of a master comedian.. The show wasnt as good after he left. Much to the chagrin of the shows supporters, James Evans was killed during the height of Good Times popularity. Many wondered why the shows producers would make such a decision and, over the years, rumors surfaced that they and Amos could not reach an agreement in their contractual negotiations. Print fond memoriesThis pocket Bluetooth printer lets you print your precious memories before they hit Instagram. This is America, Jack. I reflect back on that with very, very fond memories., One of Amos favorite moments from the movie is when he ad-libbed the line, I dont give a damn who you are. In Amos eyes, Good Times had too much shucking and jiving, which was something he couldnt take anymore. There's no denying the shows impact, it still holds, after forty years. something they didn't have very often. Good Times Headed by two parents who realized there own shortcomings (lack of education, money), but didn't they try to lead by example by teaching their kids values, strong work ethic and didn't they try to IMPROVE the lives of THEIR children? Because of his strong beliefs, John Amos was fired from Good Times. Many other stars have faced similar situations with producers who simply want to be blindly obeyed, but with actors and actresses getting a stronger voice these days, we can only hope that the same fate that befell the character of Mr. James Evans, does not happen to some of our current unproblematic and beloved TV stars. What happened? It was a ground breaking, memorable and well acted for a sitcom. I couldn't relate to everything, but sometimes they hit home with the problems they were facing. On the Maude series, the Findlays up there in Tuckahoe had a maid played by Esther Rolle named Florida Evans. I had to make a commitment, he said. COPYRIGHT 2022 EURweb.com/Rabercom Enterprises. His departure so soon caught everyone off guard. Why So when I was being fed a line that was bullst, I wasnt apprehensive at all about saying, Uh-uh. It could be more genuine, he thought. In Amos eyes, Good Times had too much shucking and jiving, which was something he couldnt take anymore. Whether or not, you live in the inner cities, ghettos, suburbs, or rural countryside, this show is still a treasure to watch and observe a family being just a family rather than a show about a poor black family. It was then that Lear told him that they were being picked up for another season, which wasnt a surprise to Amos. Thank You!! To work with Eddie Murphy on Coming to America was a paid vacation for me because Im an Eddie Murphy fan. But Amos adds that he wants the course correction to keep going. JJ wanted to be an artists. Back then, Amos was vocal about his issues with the show, and it seemed to have rubbed the shows creator, Norman Lear, the wrong way. In 2014, Amos gave a lengthy interview with the Television Academy Foundation, during which he discussed his career and, in particular, his experiences on "Good Times" and the series of events that led to his firing. Part of the problem was that he didn't see eye to eye with the producers over the directions of the characters of his three children. They struggle a lot since they reside in a low-income black Chicago area where nothing is simple. Everytime Willona came in with"great news", she would informed them that she was just made the "head buyer" for the boutique. It was too often for Norman and the other writers to accept. Why Did John Amos Leave Good Times WebJohn Amos discusses why he stopped doing Good Times - EMMYTVLEGENDS.ORG - YouTube 0:00 / 2:54 John Amos discusses why he stopped doing Good Times - She is the beautiful mother of J.J., Thelma, and Michael Evans, and the widow of James Evans and Carl Dixon after the untimely death of James, who died in a automobile accident while preparing his family to move to Mississippi. However, there was one little pesky problem that always seemed to bother me. He depicted a strong father figure-something likely missing in many people's lives. Some folks need bracing, as my uncle used to say. It was the sort of family white viewers had read about in their own magazines with their slanted perceptions. Humperdink! J.J. was the skirt-chasing but well-meaning teenage son who made up for his lack of subtlety with artistic talent. They make The Jefferson's look really sickly rich. Awards But while the show would air for an additional three years without Amos, his career would hardly stop there. "Good Times" was one of the first African American family sitcoms to air. In a new interview with Because of his offensive remarks about the brawls behind the scenes, John Amos was fired. Thank God for reruns! But the remaining Esther Role was very good, Ralph Carter too, as the younger son, Michael, who sadly, and very disappointingly, didn't pursue the acting after his stint here. An interesting comedy series about a poor black family trying to make ends meet and make a better life in the projects of Chicago. The acting veteran, whose credits also include Future Cop, Die Hard 2 and Two and a Half Men, says he feels relieved and proud that modern sitcoms such as black-ish, The Neighborhood and The Last O.G. Personally, even while watching repeats when I was younger, I seem to remember asking myself what happened with James Evans, and eventually I stopped watching altogether. It's not an overly funny show, but does has some good hearty chuckle moments. Why Did John Amos Leave Good Times? Reason Behind It It centered on the poor Chicago-based Evans family and their struggles to make ends meet. Well, John Amos played the character of You probably had no idea that John Amos, who portrayed Glenn Johnson in King of the Hill, also amassed enormous popularity.