why did john amos leave good times

That theme got a little over done at times, but it was the 70's and blacks were still seeking equality. I think good times was a very good show, a lot of us African Americans could relate. 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. Why did James(John Amos) leave the show? Esther Rolle has played her role of her. You must have realised from the title alone that the sitcom only spreads good vibes to its audience. 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. Sad part though: the guy who played Micheal(Ralph Carter) recently passed away.but his character was a symbol of black pride and black progress towards black success,and against racial intolerence in with he quoted that the word "boy" is a white racist word. 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. You probably had no idea that John Amos, who portrayed Glenn Johnson in King of the Hill, also amassed enormous popularity. She is known to throw a good party, and doesn't hesitate to offer whatever she has to those in need. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I ad-libbed quite a bit, and John Landis, the director, was very receptive to my ad-libs, Amos concludes proudly. This was a family that just happened to be black and live in the projects. 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. The sitcom Good Times, created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans, premiered on CBS in 1974. Web"Good Times" was one of the first African American family sitcoms to air. In that way, Amos observes, Good Times and Roots had more in common than him. The movie also reunited him with his Roots costar, the late Madge Sinclair, who played Bell, the wife of his character, adult Kunta Kinte. 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. If you like TVLine, you'll LOVE our email news alerts! Her husband, James fought to get his family out of the ghetto, and he almost succeeded when he left Chicago to find a better job in his home State of Mississippi, and his family was scheduled to move to Mississippi with him, but while in Mississippi, James was killed in a car accident. Everytime Willona came in with"great news", she would informed them that she was just made the "head buyer" for the boutique. The show wasnt as good after he left. 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.. Better than most of the family comedies today! GT is very family themed, illustrating how family is so important, amidst difficulties and hardships, especially when they lose one of their own, and such a great actor too. Most of the early episodes focused on the parents, James and Florida Evans, and their struggle to provide for the family. Common, Chicago wasn't all black! Conclusion Humperdink! something they didn't have very often. My husband and I enjoy this movie so much, we began our wedding ceremony with quotes from this movie. 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. Looking back on both experiences, just before Black History Month comes to a close, Amos says hes proud he was a part of both small-screen offerings because their historical impacts can still be felt today. We got to see them experience a few good times. Another Norman Lear hit detailing the problems that African Americans had to go through in the turbulent 1960s and 1970s. There's no denying the shows impact, it still holds, after forty years. 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. By the way, did they ever make it out of the ghetto? The gospelish theme song and title sequences shown over inner-city Chicago only added to the realism. Returning to the thrilling Good Times, in which John Amos stars as the main character, has astounded the audience. Mekeisha Madden Toby / "); Thelma, their only daughter (BernNadette Stanis)who is a disaster in the kitchen, but who had hopes,dreams and intelligence. Especially without the original cast. 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. "GOOD TIMES," in my opinion, is a must-see CBS hit! Read Also Where is Pumpkin Pie Wars Filmed? Dave Chappelle gets his message across but doesnt offend people who dont need to be offended, Amos opines. Florida Evans (later Florida Evans-Dixon) is the protagonist of Good Times in Seasons 1-4 and 6. All guests were black people. This is the most memorable TV series that I saw in my youth and it left a strong impression on me. They used to live in the South Side of Chicago in a cold water flat where they had their two oldest children, James "J.J." Evans, Jr. and Thelma. 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. A real true cut of reality, and it' cuts deep, which carries more weight, than many other black themed comedies, making this one especial, where the lives of the Evans, demand your attentiveness, as does the shows title song's lyrics. This show, to me reflected on the good side of poverty. 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). Amos said he was shocked but not surprised, since he had already been labeled a disruptive element.. 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. He depicted a strong father figure-something likely missing in many people's lives. I remember when it came back on t.v. But despite all the fights behind the scenes, Good Times was a show about a family. She had the authority to discuss the plot in more detail. 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? In 85, my second best year, I begin to take notice of it, where recently it has come back on the new channel 76 Flix, like Benson has. A: Amos was fired from the show and his character killed off after he often You have entered an incorrect email address! So does JJ. Esther Rolle's departure from the show during the 19771978 season, the reason why she left was because she was unhappy that the success of Jimmie Walker's character J.J. Evans took the show in what she thought was a frivolous direction. My favorite moment in the series is Thelma's wedding day. 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. In any case, James Evans was portrayed by John Amos. Good Times was originally great, thanks to John Amos. Although the Evans family was poor and lived in the projects, they had each other. When "Good Times" premiered in 1974, it was one the first black family sitcoms. Rolle quit when her contract concluded. All Rights Reserved. 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. (on which he guest-starred) have Black writers and showrunners. He loved his wife. "Good Times" was one of the first African American family sitcoms to air. Also, I really love the theme song. John Amos left the series immediately following the third season of Good Times. Damn! It really suffered the year that Esther Rolle was off. Seems to me nowadays, the projects or ghetto life is romanticized (see BET videos or MTV videos), whereas the Evans family in "Good Times" was trying to get out and onto something better. After Season 3, his contract was not renewed, and he was sacked. In Amos eyes, Good Times had too much shucking and jiving, which was something he couldnt take anymore. A disruptive factor WebRalph Carter, BernNadette Stanis, Janet DuBois, John Amos, Esther Rolle, and Jimmie Walker in Good Times / Everett Collection. Throughout those times, many African American families consisted of a single mom with numerous kids. He was tough, but loving and kind. In an interview with the American Archive of Television, Amos discussed why he received the boot from the show: I felt that with two other younger children, one of whom aspired to become a Supreme Court justicethat would be Ralph Carter, or Michaeland the other, BernNadette Stanis she aspired to become a surgeon. Because of his offensive remarks about the brawls behind the scenes, John Amos was fired. Micheal (the youngest of the Evans children) was always the militant of the family and always keeping the family together even after the mom(Florida played by Esther Rolle)had a emotional breakdown after James' funeral. I first saw the reruns once our local WB affiliate took off the weekday morning reruns of Happy Days and began airing this instead. She did, however, make a return in Season 6 under one condition. This series is not only entertaining but instructive at the same time. They find humor and have strong family values and morals. Great acting. The Evans family had both parents providing stabilty and shelter for them. Damn! Good Times was a groundbreaking comedy about the first nuclear black family living in the Chicago projects. Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson in Chicago: We do not support that behavior.. 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. | This show was excellent. 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. He was out of town, got hit by a car, and died. I think the episode with the black Jesus was my favorite. The next day, that guy was gone never to be seen again. 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. 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 Q: Why did John Amos leave Good Times? 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. They tried to show their kids to strive for more in life, DESPITE obstacles. The truth of it is, when I started acting, I never thought I would live this long, much less be an actor, the 82-year-old tells TVLine with a chuckle. As a child,this show was mandatory when me and my brother saw the show each week. Stimulus Check Proposal Could Give Americans Monthly $1,200 Checks. After repeated disagreements with the production staff, Amos was fired from the show. The little brother "Michael" was Mr. Militant black pride. Yet why? But while the show would air for an additional three years without Amos, his career would hardly stop there. John, who was born in 1939, is now 82 years old. 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! JJ was never stupid-he only acted that way most of the time. Well, John Amos played the character of James Evans. Tulsa Library Shooting: Two People Died, Others Injured At Convenience Store, Phoenix Bar Shooting, Several People Injured, How Did Elizabeth Santos Die? 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 - They struggle a lot since they reside in a low-income black Chicago area where nothing is simple. When many people think about the most memorable moments in black television history, the first storyline to pop into their minds is when Florida Evans read a letter informing her that her husband, James Evans, had died. Yes, we are talking about the sitcom and his sudden departure. When and how did Janet Abelson die? 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, There's Michael (Ralph Carter), who is intelligent beyond his years and very outspoken (He is often heard saying that "Boy is a white racist word. Thelma, a dancer. Forever FLOTUS Michelle Obama Jams w/Bruce Springsteen Will Smith Posts BTS of Emancipation & More | WATCH, Lil Meech Calls Cap on 2-Year-Old Pic w/Groupie Doctor Says Oral Sex Causes Throat Cancer & More | PicsVideos, Ne-Yo Says Celebs Are Weirdos-Hes Willing to Love Down A Plain Jane + Ime Udoka Publicly Apologizes for Affair & More | PicsVideos. Webhttps://comedyhype.com/ - In 1974 Good Times would premiere showcasing black family life like never before. I love everything he does, and to work with him day after day, for such an extended period of time, was a blessing. Did the actor and the cast have a falling out? Contract disputes? 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. Metacritic Reviews. After decades of Then? But he did return to Good Times in a way in 2019, when he made a surprise appearance during a live re-creation of a Good Times episode on ABC. During the daytime so people can actually stay up to watch. He was let go. He is doing an excellent job in his roles, even at this young age. Some folks need bracing, as my uncle used to say. The Evans were a real family with real problems, but they also truly loved each other. This is a classic show. Speaking of theme songs, Ja'net DuBois (neighbor Willona) co-wrote and sang another truly memorable one during this time. To work with Eddie Murphy on Coming to America was a paid vacation for me because Im an Eddie Murphy fan. America and the world got to see what life could be like within a Black family on Good It was one of the most realistic shows ever about the black experience in America,and a product of 1970's TV culture of what the black family was going through. You get to learn a lot about the hardships of life. 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. Some of the people who star in the series like cast regulars Jimmie Walker(J.J. 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. James tried to work several jobs, just so Florida could stay home and tend to the needs of the house/family. 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. Good Times Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. And just like that, his fate was sealed. Floridas Damn, damn, damn is still relevant in todays pop culture and memes. This was a good show for the first three seasons. I certainly hope that the phrase "Kid Dynamite" will come back into common usage some day. Additionally, he used to assert that in practice, he wouldnt permit his kids to do that. The creators soon became irate over these variances. . They were actually trying to do everything they could to get out of the projects. I think JJ was a precursor to characters such as Horshack, Screech, Urkel, Rerun, etc. I'm getting emotional, too! . When Florida was pregnant with their third child, Michael, they moved to the North Side of Chicago in the Housing Projects. It is a crime that John Amos never received an Emmy nomination for his role on this show. 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. 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. Everybody had afros, went rollerskating, danced around a disco, and had platform shoes. They were terrific actors and had great chemistry as James and Florida Evans. 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. John Amos left the series immediately following the third season of Good Times. Created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans, Good Times is a sitcom that made its debut in 1974 on CBS. While he was eventually let go, he went on to bounce back with memorable roles in the original Roots miniseries, and later Coming to America. "Dynomite"! Heres Everything We Know About Him. We all loved JJ's dynamite and his antics. There is no more complete source for urban news than the Electronic Urban Report. COPYRIGHT 2022 EURweb.com/Rabercom Enterprises. Florida was the glue that kept the family together, Amos joyfully recalls. Princr Humperdink! No matter how much the family suffered financially, they never turned to crime or other illegal actions to make ends meet. The show ended with Season 6, and recently, people have expressed concern about John Amos departure. And it made me laugh! If Amos believed this, he was wrong. 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 show ended. No. Amos recalled complete silence on the set. I think the critics of this show miss the point of the show. 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. J.J. (the eldest brother) was the tall comic relief in this show, and always fought with his sister Thelma (the curvacious beauty). 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Smart-TV Maker Vizio Launches Branded Content Studio, Building, Bruins' Historic Loss Wasn't the Week's Biggest Upset: DataViz, Patti LuPone Didn't Know Marvel Before 'Agatha: Coven of Chaos', 'Beef' Breakout Young Mazino Signs With M88 (EXCLUSIVE), Editor's Choice: I Purchased This TikTok-Viral Walking Pad and I, TVLine is a part of Penske Media Corporation. 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. ABCs Live in Front of a Studio Audience promised to be full of surprises while bringing back to life Good Times and All in the Family. FLAMIO. When many people think about the most memorable And Ive always contended, as some of my mentors taught me, the best way to get a message across to people is through humor.. According to rumours, Good Times emphasises the dynamics of African-American households. The show lost something when Amos left, but the others were good enough to keep it going. Issues such as gun control, teen pregnancy, v.d., gangs and teen suicide. Amos, 80, recalls that one of the best perks of his West Wing tenure was meeting former Secretary of State Colin Powell. Good Times is a spin-off of Maude, which itself is a spin-off of All in the Family, arguably After three seasons of fighting with executive producer Norman Lear and the CBS sitcoms white writers about the stereotypical Black portrayals and dialogue the show perpetuated, particularly when it came to star Jimmie Walker, Amos contract to play patriarch James Evans wasnt renewed at the end of Season 3 in 1976 and his character was killed off. Fans will forever remember how Florida Evans broke down in her kitchen and we can confidently say, most fans broke down with her. Having recently watched a few episodes, I was happy to see that it still holds up after all these years. I don't know. Pay Property Tax Before April 30; You Can Receive a $5,000 Rebate: GCC. It's not an overly funny show, but does has some good hearty chuckle moments. 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. The end of James Evans Sr. Awards 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. The entertainer admits that he wasnt the most diplomatic guy back then. We watched Janet Jackson's Penny grow up a little. J.J. was the skirt-chasing but well-meaning teenage son who made up for his lack of subtlety with artistic talent. 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. The parental figures in "Good Times" didn't last the duration of the series. This funeral episode was excellent. The Real Reason John Amos Was Fired From Good Times Aaron Homer The 1970s represented a period of drastic changes in the TV landscape. It concluded with Season 6, [] On the Maude series, the Findlays up there in Tuckahoe had a maid played by Esther Rolle named Florida Evans. STEVE HARVEYS STEVE IS DONE DAYTIME TALKER OFFICIALLY CANCELED, KENYA BARRIS ANNOUNCES FIRST NETFLIX SERIES (WITH RASHIDA JONES): BLACK EXCELLENCE, Blac Chyna Accused of Pulling Knife Hair Stylist who Defended Her Self with Soda Cans: Report, Polish Instagram Influencer Denies Accusations of Blackfishing for Clout, Gladys Knights Farewell Tour Continues This Summer in US. Good Times focuses on Florida and Jamess efforts to raise their three children in the best possible ways. It showed a Black family that had the same trials and tribulations as the rest of America, especially those who were financially challenged. Law. They are all great shows. This is one of the few shows that became just as big as its presider's. Yes, we are referring to the sitcom and his unexpected exit. Famous words by Jimmie Walker as JJ the breakout character and due to providing over in very bad role model for African-American teens there led both the parents on the TV show, the late Esther Rolle and John Amos to leave the show with the latter's character dying in a car wreck. 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. And of course theres the scene when Florida had her breakdown in the kitchen, when she could no longer play strong in her time of mourning. Actually, that was not the case as the show certainly lacked some personality after his exit and many viewers just could not cope with the void his absence left. Well, John Amos played the character of Unexpectedly, Florida Evans, John Amos on-screen spouse, left the show after Good Times Season 4. In the season finale, Esther Rolle returned; did he do the same? John Amos and Esther Rolle were the best part of the show. It could be more genuine, he thought. Id want to send John Amos my warmest wishes for the remainder of his days. 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. In a new interview with The 1970s represented a period of drastic changes in the TV landscape. A: Amos was fired from the show and his character killed off after he often complained about the shows writing.

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