John, still looks a lot younger than the rest of the cast. God, bless you, John...when you left the show, the Evans family went from a strong unit to a hot mess.
The show was definitely over for me when he left. I seriously thought for decades that he died in real life. Hey. I was just a kid, I didn't know any better. Damn, damn, DAMN!!!
I love to hear a man speak his mind. Right or wrong his feelings were valid on how he wanted his tv children to appear. I loved James because he reminds me of my father so he was the best tv father to ever come along. Even though the show was definitely different when James left l still watched because it was still "our" show. But it is true that JJ even though a talented Artist his buffoonery got the best of me.
The "Good Times" was gone after his departure. This show aired two years before I was born. But once I was old enough and able to see it in syndication, James Evans quickly became my favorite T.V. dad. Still ranks as one of the best T.V. sitcom. IMO.
With James dead, the immersion into that world was ... troubling, because dad was dead. The absence was worse than sad; it was quietly profound. At that time in my life, I was very young and my father had left us. It was comforting to have a virtual surrogate family to relate to and emotionally involve myself with. When I found myself mourning the loss of a person who never really existed in the first place, I realized there's already enough of that in my life already. So I stepped back and then out. To this day, part of my brain still remembers losing both dads; the real one and the virtual surrogate. It's not a good feeling; so I'm glad it doesn't come up in my everyday life. After that, I've always watched all shows from a guarded emotional distance; seeing myself watching a show; rather than humoring an emotionally risky level of immersion.
One of Norman Lear's biggest mistakes, if not THE biggest mistake was letting John Amos go. Indeed Good Times was more like just "Times" without the good part after John was so unceremoniously dismissed.
What great writing during the first three seasons. After they began focusing on JJ, it became a one-joke show, practically reduced to minstrelsy. Rewatch the first season and see how it still resonates, emotionally, politically, socially and, importantly, as a great ensemble television play!
James Evans is my favorite television father. We need more James Evans in this world. I was hurt when they killed off his character something was missing ever since that. I respect John Amos on the decision that he made. If you stand for something, you will fall for anything. I LOVE 'Good Times' and still watch it to this day.
Well damn, damn damn! I didn't know they fired him. Show wasn't quite the same without him. Then they had Florida marry an atheist which REALLY made no sense at all.
The biggest mistake for that show. Good Times flopped after that. Some episodes were okay but it wasn't the same without him. The best episodes were those first three seasons though I agree about JJ they made him too stupid to the point it was unrealistic for no one could be that stupid all the time. I always read too though that they never wanted a father for the show it was something Esther Rolle fought for so getting rid of him was no problem for they never wanted to have the father anyway. They wanted to continue the stereotypical show of the the single mother so John was a pioneer. Look how many shows followed his footsteps when they cast a father to their show. Big loss to Good Times.
John your where more than a good parent to just those who where on " Good Times ". Myself, my sister and my grandma welcomed your show 5 days a week religiously.
The show got stupid after he left. He was right though. They rode that show on Jimmie being a one hit note for laughs and took away the original show of a black family in the 70s wanting better and sticking together because they were a strong family unit. They just wanted Jimmie to parade around in that blue hate saying ' dynomite!' every three minutes. It killed the show and I think that is what killed Jimmie Walkers career cause he played a character with no depth to him. How can you show off your acting skills when all you did was say one liners and a catch phrase to where you are now just a type cast?
I agree with him on that... couldn't stand all the dynamite that was used over and over and I had thought why not focus on the other kids and Amos was the key part of the show and I seriously didn't watch it after that
Wow! I always thought they killed him off because he got the role on Roots and left on his own accord. I'll have to watch the next video about his role on Roots to see what he says about it.
Good Times went down the tubes when they killed off John Amos' character of James Evans. It wasn't as funny as it used to be. Eventually, I lost interest in it, and then I stopped watching it altogether.
applause applause applause John Amos, sir. I actually hated that show as a kid mainly because of the way they wrote your character. So much respect in hearing yoir sentiments during that time. Much respect.
