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 The show lost something when Amos left, but the others were good enough to keep it going. 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. 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. You know a show is going downhill when they have to resort to bringing on a cute kid character. You have entered an incorrect email address! 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. We watched Janet Jackson's Penny grow up a little. But Good Times creator Norman Lear gave him a call to let him know that he would also be absent from Season 4. 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. 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. He was let go. 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. Humperdink! 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. Webhttps://comedyhype.com/ - In 1974 Good Times would premiere showcasing black family life like never before. It really suffered the year that Esther Rolle was off. It was a ground breaking, memorable and well acted for a sitcom. Read Also Where is Pumpkin Pie Wars Filmed? In a new interview with Great acting. 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. I wish they would bring the show back. A: Amos was fired from the show and his character killed off after he often complained about the shows writing. A great show! I don't think a movie or a new show would work. | While Amos doesnt mention Walker or his character JJ, his fond recollections do include the late Esther Rolle. The original lineup could've easily gone on a few more years. Despite the fact that I've never seen every episode, I still enjoy it. This pocket Bluetooth printer lets you print your precious memories before they hit Instagram. 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). Which of his works do you like, if youre a fan? You get to learn a lot about the hardships of life. Why? 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. in 1985, where before then, it played in the late 70's. My favorite moment in the series is Thelma's wedding day. And just like that, his fate was sealed. How did things turn out for John Amos in the movie Good Times? But Amos adds that he wants the course correction to keep going. It showed a Black family that had the same trials and tribulations as the rest of America, especially those who were financially challenged. The show wasnt as good after he left. 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. No. 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. Another great aspect of the show was JJ and Thelma. John Amos Says He Was Kicked Off 'Good Times' Because He Didn't Agree With The Shucking And Jiving. Issues such as gun control, teen pregnancy, v.d., gangs and teen suicide. Like The Jeffersons, Good Times was one of the those classic American sitcoms which was never aired in the UK, not to mention it came out in the 1970s- a decade where of which I wasn't born yet. Some may find that chauvinistic by today's standards, but, I'm not so sure about that. Everytime Willona came in with"great news", she would informed them that she was just made the "head buyer" for the boutique. Good Times was a form of Roots, except it told the story of who we are on a comedic basis. Why was his character abruptly killed off? 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. We have a low bullst threshold in New Jersey. Thank God for reruns! Damn! JJ was never stupid-he only acted that way most of the time. This is a good show steered by characters I like, of course, loose, fat lipped Jimmy Walker as J.J., as the strikingly brilliant artist, and too, fat maintenance man, Bookman, where Est her Rolle and John Amos, lend strong support as Mother and father team, Amos in particular, who sadly was kicked off the storm, while acting up a bit of the storm, off the set, where the quality of the show, kind of dropped, in the absence of his killed off character, as they went into the second season, where really it was up to J.J to carry it on. 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. During the daytime so people can actually stay up to watch. There's no denying the shows impact, it still holds, after forty years. This funeral episode was excellent. 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. 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. To work with Eddie Murphy on Coming to America was a paid vacation for me because Im an Eddie Murphy fan. The lives and times of the Evans family living the projects of Chicago. I love everything he does, and to work with him day after day, for such an extended period of time, was a blessing. If you ask me, even though I like everyone, it would have been nice if everyone had stayed on the show throughout its entire run. Her children(who were shocked she hadn't grieved in front of others but was laughing) then ran from their rooms and comforted her with a family hug. The end of James Evans Sr. He was tough, but loving and kind. 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. She had the authority to discuss the plot in more detail. Amos recalled complete silence on the set. | It was the sort of family white viewers had read about in their own magazines with their slanted perceptions. February 25 2022, 6:52 PM PST. Want to know why did John Amos leave Good Times? However, there was one little pesky problem that always seemed to bother me. I certainly hope that the phrase "Kid Dynamite" will come back into common usage some day. No matter how much the family suffered financially, they never turned to crime or other illegal actions to make ends meet. He claimed that the sitcoms creative team demanded his departure because they could not stand that. COPYRIGHT 2022 EURweb.com/Rabercom Enterprises. Big John, I got some good news and some bad news. Once Amos left the show, there was definitely a missing element. Despite their many financial issues, Florida is the quintessential hostess and is possessed of a generous spirit. If you like TVLine, you'll LOVE our email news alerts! 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. Mekeisha Madden Toby / WebTrivia 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. 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. Because of his offensive remarks about the brawls behind the scenes, John Amos was fired. 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. Like most shows, it went on a little too long but for fans, each season has it's moments. America and the world got to see what life could be like within a Black family on Good 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. And Ive always contended, as some of my mentors taught me, the best way to get a message across to people is through humor.. Who Is UAE's Astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi Wife. Everyone always gave a good performance, the production design was spectacular, the costumes were well-designed, and the writing was always very strong. 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. We all loved JJ's dynamite and his antics. She did, however, make a return in Season 6 under one condition. Esther Rolle has played her role of her. 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. 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. Florida Evans (later Florida Evans-Dixon) is the protagonist of Good Times in Seasons 1-4 and 6. However, once John Amos left, the show was not the same and suffered as a result. In Amos eyes, Good Times had too much shucking and jiving, which was something he couldnt take anymore. He was out of town, got hit by a car, and died. On the Maude series, the Findlays up there in Tuckahoe had a maid played by Esther Rolle named Florida Evans. Seems to me when at least one parent was in the home, children were a bit more manageable. Hey, its your dime, you made the call, Amos replied. They were terrific actors and had great chemistry as James and Florida Evans. 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. I think the critics of this show miss the point of the show. The Real Reason John Amos Was Fired From Good Times Aaron Homer The 1970s represented a period of drastic changes in the TV landscape. This show, to me reflected on the good side of poverty. Well, John Amos played the character of He loved his wife. 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. The Evans were a real family with real problems, but they also truly loved each other. 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. 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. Amos, 80, recalls that one of the best perks of his West Wing tenure was meeting former Secretary of State Colin Powell. It spawned some dy-no-mite catchphrases and Amos left show after not so Good Times with writers 2020-02-11 - By Rich Heldenfels Tribune News Service Q: Why did John Amos leave Good Times? It also dated politics, recession, wages, history. 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. Actor John Amos died from a heart attack on 28 December 2016. On 28 December 2016, the web site Headline NewsNetwork published an article reporting that actor John Amos, best known for his role on the 1970s TV sitcom Good Times, had passed away from a heart attack at the age of 77: There was no truth to this article. Due to proximate causes. Yes, we are referring to the sitcom and his unexpected exit. You must have realised from the title alone that the sitcom only spreads good vibes to its audience. We may earn a commission from links on this page. In conclusion, even though it can be seen on TV Land now, I strongly recommend you catch it just in case it goes off the air for good. Speaking of theme songs, Ja'net DuBois (neighbor Willona) co-wrote and sang another truly memorable one during this time. Want to know why did John Amos leave Good Times? I think the episode with the black Jesus was my favorite. 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. Why did James(John Amos) leave the show? Classic episodes include the unfortunate death of James Evans and the one where Penny falls down the elevator shaft. John Amos departure from Good Times appears to have much to do with his African-American cultural values. 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. She and JJ have one last hassle. 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. By This is the most memorable TV series that I saw in my youth and it left a strong impression on me. Very cool. Heres Everything We Know About Him. I ad-libbed quite a bit, and John Landis, the director, was very receptive to my ad-libs, Amos concludes proudly. Amos got the call that ended his time on the show while they were on a hiatus and he recalled Norman Lears voice saying, Big John, Ive got some good news and some bad news. The good news was that Good Times had renewed for another season, which wasnt exactly big news and he wasnt surprised to hear this as they had a solid spot with high ratings and then Lear hit him with you want the bad news? To which the actor replied sure how bad can it be Lear then said to him, you wont be with us.. As a young adult, she met her childhood sweetheart and the love of her life, James Evans, Sr., and eventually married him. Good Times was just that: It was a show that was very depicted in the everyday situations of the African American family growing up in the dangerous streets of Chicago. 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. It is a crime that John Amos never received an Emmy nomination for his role on this show. After decades of They were actually trying to do everything they could to get out of the projects. They struggle a lot since they reside in a low-income black Chicago area where nothing is simple. 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. I first saw the reruns once our local WB affiliate took off the weekday morning reruns of Happy Days and began airing this instead. Life for the Evans family is not easy, especially when trying to keep their 3 children on the straight and narrow. Humperdink! Created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans, Good Times is a sitcom that made its debut in 1974 on CBS. It was actually quite funny> All references in the show had to be "black". Common, Chicago wasn't all black! Q: I was wondering why networks dont show TV shows like Dynasty, Dallas, Knots Landing and L.A. 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? Id want to send John Amos my warmest wishes for the remainder of his days. He referred to himself as the disruptive element as well. FLAMIO. The show was a huge success since it was a spinoff of Maude in which Florida was the Maude's housekeeper,and it ran on CBS from 1974-1979. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The show wasnt as good after he left. 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. All posters in there rooms were black people, furniture pieces were African. Did the actor and the cast have a falling out? They are really what made Good Times GoodTimes. My husband and I enjoy this movie so much, we began our wedding ceremony with quotes from this movie. Amos said he was shocked but not surprised, since he had already been labeled a disruptive element.. This is a classic show. Tulsa Library Shooting: Two People Died, Others Injured At Convenience Store, Phoenix Bar Shooting, Several People Injured, How Did Elizabeth Santos Die? Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now! Man, I can't remember ever seeing a white guy in that show! Ive had a blessed career, and I attribute that to my faith in God and the fact that I was raised right. According to rumours, Good Times emphasises the dynamics of African-American households. John Amos left the series immediately following the third season of Good Times. Good Times is a spin-off of a spin-off: this spun-off of Maude and Maude spun-off of All in the Family. Additionally, he used to assert that in practice, he wouldnt permit his kids to do that. The creators soon became irate over these variances. But while the show would air for an additional three years without Amos, his career would hardly stop there. Then? 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.
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