Ester Rolle had the same issues that Amos did. She left the show, and they asked her back.She made the same demands for a male figure in the house.And they gave it to her.
I’m very convinced that if John Amos’ character was never killed off, Good Times would’ve ran a lot longer than it did. The show was never the same after his departure
@@vjwebb6182 the ratings department suffered because of it. If I also recall, the late Esther Rolle left after season 4 & ratings took an even bigger nosedive. They begged for her to return for season 6 in hopes of getting more viewers. Even though she agreed to come back, by that point it was too little too late
Even in the 1970’s Hollywood had white writers trying to write for black characters. And all of it was stereotypes, I’m glad that James Amos fought to see that black fathers are in the home. Because my parents where married for 60 years until death do them part, and my father was a Huge influence in my life.
Actually it was Mrs. Esther Role who insisted that they give her a husband or she wouldn't do the show. She stated that black families have two parents in the home as well. Either way they both were phenomenal people who did all of us proud! Wish there were more shows like this today!
@Javier Zapata in my opinion secure ur mask before you help others get out of the shit they call life then help ask can we get the doctor lawyer or professional to be black can we actually be married kids watch this shit
THEY didn’t, but thank God Ester Rolle did! She was the the one that cared, and we would not have the good times we know and love today w/o her. THEY ain’t give a damn about the impact on the black community, give that woman alllllll her credit! A true Queen.
JAMES EVANS..........YOU WOULD BE A GREAT DAD FOR 2DAY'S GENERATION........YOU RAISED EVERY SINGLE LAST ONE OF US 70'S BABIES AND THAT ISN'T A SLAP IN THE FACE TO OUR REAL DAD'S IN WHICH I MYSELF WAS BLESSED WITH A GREAT ONE.....
She is so beautiful to me and he is handsome. Altogether they were a beautiful family.. Can you imagine what would've happened if they all stood together and if Jimmie would've refused the roll unless they kept him on?
The real first black father on TV! He was the one I grow up with. What a strong role model to learn from. Thank you Mr. Amos, you did touch the hearts of many! You will forever be part of black culture.
When they killed off the father they killed the show. John Amos was a big reason why I watched the show. My favorite sitcom of All-time. I was raised very poor and lived in the ghetto so I could definitely relate to Good Times.
The producers tried to redeem the show in season 4 when they brought in Moses Gunn to play Carl Dixon, but it didn't work, and when Esther Rolle left, the show was sure enough over. In my opinion, once the producer seen how season 4 was and the ratings, season 5 and 6 was not needed.
Urkel was a better character in my opinion. He gave representation to 'black nerds' when they had literally no representation. Although, his depiction was clearly hyperbolic.
They lost a great actor when they fired John Amos. When you think about it, John Amos became the most successful actor from Good Times. He went on to star in Roots, Die Hard Two, and other action packed movies.
I loved James Evans he reminded me of my father who is still with my mother and raised three of us. I cried like a baby when they killed him off and if I was to watch that episode today I wouldn’t be able to get through it.
Carl wasn't needed either, because he was not JJ'S, Thelma's, or Michael's father. He couldn't put that strong fatherly figure on them, because wasn't their real father.
Back in the 1970's, my dad was the athletic equipment manager at Cal State LA, and he met John Amos at a public event held there. He was so impressed with how down to earth and unpretentious Mr Amos was. It speaks well of the man.
You're definitely right about that and even Jimmy walker said in a old interview that you will never see a poor black family on tv again and nowadays on black sitcoms you see a few of them with families or either they taking on the leverage on being a single father/mother.
I don't give a damn what anyone says but John Amos was good times and when he was fired that was the end of good times. John Amos left some unfilliable shoes he is, was, and will always be one the greatest tv dads of all-time.
Black unity and black love is something "They" will always try to disrupt! Look at rap and r&b music videos....no black unity and no black love! It's too powerful, so "they" try to destroy it!
@@youngboyneverbrokeagain1899 everything. Are you serious? The attitudes of a lot of children and younger adults mimics and reflects the music and entertainment they consume. When someone makes a comment you should try exploring what they are saying and try to verify its level of truth before questioning the comment or opposing it. Music may not have the same direct influence that parents and family has but it can influence how we think subconsciously. When something affects you subconsciously it’s harder to shake because you may not even be aware of the hold it has on you. Look at the obsession with materialism that we have as black people, and a people in general as Americans. Rap music, in general promotes these ideas of individualism, materialism, warped views of man and woman’s purpose, among other things. I love rap music but it’s undeniable. And the fact that some people can’t admit this is alarming.
@@sebastienc.2257 thank you. people don't t try to research or think for themselves. they believe and absorb everything they're told and everything that's put in front of them. automatically think the truth sounds absofuckinglutely ridiculous
@@theeladyj im so glad there are people who realize the bs that's going on in the music industry. You don't see any rap or r&b music that talks about strong family relationships or working to have good careers hitting the top list or even being heard of. They'll tell you nobody wants to here that but have you ever seen enough people try make music about it?
@@donnarichards8681 Thelma wanted to be a writer, singer, dancer, etc. That annoyed me. Why couldn't they just pick a career? In the later seasons, you don't hear anything about it other than she worked at Willona's shop. Did they even have her graduate from college?
Proud to say I grew up watching Good Times... I was definitely disappointed when he left the show... I got to meet the Bern Nadette, Ralph and Jimmie they are great people I’m still a fan!
@@harperstacey9604 funny you should say that because he was hmmm what do you call it when you’re going through the motions he said something under his breath I didn’t care to ask what did you say because it wasn’t meant for me and my wife… it was cool… Bern Nadette’s energy was special though…
James Evans is still my number 1 tv black father .. Nobody kept it 💯 like his character. And Esther Rolle was so intelligent and eloquent when she spoke RIP queen . My all time fav Black family on tv
His firing caused the show to plummet in the ratings leading Esther Rolle to leave as well but she returned for the last season. The show simply never recovered from the firing of John Amos. I, for one, couldn’t stand the JJ character.
I grew up on that show and John's character was definitely an idol of mine. Not JJ, although he did crack me up sometimes! Being no more than 6-9 years old, and living in the same house with a highly explosive, violent war veteran, I was constantly looking for any kind of stability in the world! I found it through that character. What a father should be! WOW! Never really thought about it, but the character put forth by John Amos gave hope to a little half breed Irish/Shawnee boy through the squiggly lines of a 10" black and white, on a farm in Oklahoma! You did very good John.
I contrast this with the sitcom Family Ties. The parents were the focus also until Michael J Fox became the breakout star and more storylines were written about him. The two actors playing the parents also rebelled against the producers for this to change but they weren't fired.
Difference is that they weren't confrontional and didn't give veiled threats like "taking it outside". Like any employee dealing with an employer, you have to negotiate civilly.
100% agree with John Amos. Loved the show when I was a kid and I remember a sense that something big was missing when his character was gone. The black community needed (needs) strong male role models. Not just a celebrity to be idolized.
Seemed Totally Empty Without Him To Me He Was The Show Supporting But Very Important Part Too Much Attention Around Jimmie Walker Put Show On Life Support No Disrespect Where Jimmie Walker Been Since Good 🕙 Went Off Air John Amos Still Going Strong
Not Only Supporting Actor But Very Important Member Of Ensemble Like Esther Rolle Bernadette Stanis Ralph Carter Jimmie Walker But Put Show Around One Person Like Producers Did For Jimmie Walker It Out Good Times On Borrowed Times Especially When Firing John Amos Bad Idea
No, he was making repeated veiled threats to them when he wasn't getting his way. Would you like it if your employee physically threatened you when telling you how to run your own business?
I think we sometimes forget why the show exists in the first place, to make money. Whether it's Fonzie, JJ, or Urkel, whenever there is a breakout character that the audience loves, the writers and producers are going to focus on them because it makes them more money.
@@tboneforrealThey Chose Quantity Over Quality Because They Didn’t Have Faith That Black Family Shows & Happy Days Could Be Sustained Without A Gimmick Character. One Of Family Matters Writers And One Of Producers Wrote/Produced Happy Days. They Didn’t Hsve Faith That White FamilyShows Could Be Sustained Without A Gimmick Character. And Two More Of Their Shows Full House & Step By Step Focused More On Cody & Kimmy Than Both The Families. Cody Wasn’t The Family Main Proble Regularly But He Gimmicky. Kimmy Was TheTanners Main Problems Regularly And JJ Evans & Steve Urkel Were Families Main Problems Regularly.
I am a 77 year old white guy and always thought He was a strong person and thought a lot of his role.. Very sorry the writers fired him.. Hes' a strong person I admire and don't see color..A good man is a good man period
John Amos was the greatest sitcom dad ever. A disciplined, strict, that often leapt to correct his kids and not feigning to show and concern where needed. A loving husband too. Good Times lost its steam when he was "fired" from the show.
I remembering reading in the newspaper back in 1976 that John Amos was leaving "Good Times". So, when the episode aired that he was killed in a car accident, everyone thought he had really died. But I already knew that he was only leaving the series and he was still alive and kicking!
John Amos found work a year later as the adult Kunta Kinte in Roots. He found more work in later years. He and Norman Lear settled their differences and in 1994, he was cast in 704 Hauser which was another All In The Family spinoff. Then in 2019, he appeared on Good Times Live In Front Of A Studio Audience, but as Alderman Davis in a re-created episode of Good Times.
I remember when the show changed and made J.J. the main character and I hated the way it turned what started out as a great family show into a one-line circus and basically downplayed the family story!
The reason for Michael being less pro-black as he got older probably had to with advertisers & the white audience who watched the show!! Let me explain, it was much more acceptable for Michael to be militant when he was younger because it was easier for the show to make its social statements if it came out of the mouth of a child instead of the adult. Once, Ralph Carter started maturing it became harder to do that because Michael was no longer the precocious kid & instead would've been looked at as threatening & an angry young black man.
The Jefferson had a married couple with a grown son and later daughter-in-law. That was the first show which featured an upward middle class Black family.
I’m white and because of how the dad was on that show is how i could relate with it my family was dirt poor and my dad was very strict and just like the dad on the show you did not want dad to take off his belt it’s not just a black thing
I remember John wanted more money and as a black father saw the value that he brought to the show but the show runners saw JJ as way more important. In reality not only was he right but the racial undertones were obvious on the show and the characters all knew and acknowledged it which sucked the most because as great of a show that it was it was a slap to all of our faces
"DAMN, DAMN, DAMN"...Will go down in tv history. Not just for the emotion feeling of a character dying, but also that the writers once again killed off a meaningful message of portraying the black family more serious and realistic.
You did not have to be black to enjoy Good Times, I was raised by my grandfather in high school back in the 70s, grandmother was decease. We watch The show every week, when John Amos left, we also stopped watching it. killing off the wholesome father figure was foolish. I am not black, but Good times is one of my favorite shows, it brings back good memories of my own grandpa and me who spent time watching it while Mr. Amos was in it.
*Eastside Low Bottoms sh*t !* _Tappin' in from South Central Los Angeles_ There's no way in holy hell they'd want Us to tell THEIR story from OUR perspective !
What a man,sometimes we must stand up for our convictions! More power to you Mr. John Amos! Real patriot and a credit to his race. Wish more of us were like him..
Loved the show! Never realized that Mr Amos felt the way he did about the show's direction or JJ. In my opinion it was a great show about an American family that just happened to be black. For me & most of the fans it wasn't about skin but about values & the family nucleus delivered with comedy & heart felt messages. In my opinion it took a wrecking ball to idiocy of racism & shared how much we're all dealing w our own issues together. It was DYNOMITE❤
The reason I watched good times was because of John Amos character “James” not JJ, he was the glue that made the show funny and his strong father figure presence was something that couldn’t be duplicated and made the show that much better. When his character was killed off the show was never the same, I stopped watching from that episode on and when I do watch the reruns its only the episodes from the first 3 seasons only.
John Amos had some very impactful roles. Mainly James Evans, and Kunta Kinte, but an impact none the less. Cool thing is my kids are related to Kunta Kinte through my wife's family. She is related to Tom (Lea) Moore.
