Yet why? 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. She never had the chance to finish high school, because she wanted to help support her parents and she started working minimum wage jobs. I remember when it came back on t.v. The show wasnt as good after he left. John Amos 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. 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. The reason I like the show is that of John Amos'character of James Evans. 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. It appears to be comparable. Better than most of the family comedies today! Why Did John Amos Leave Good Times? Reason Behind It Pay Property Tax Before April 30; You Can Receive a $5,000 Rebate: GCC. John Amos 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. Heres Everything We Know About Him. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, 17C at 963 N.Gilbert Ave Housing Projects Chicago. 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. I liked many things about this show. Due to proximate causes. 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. 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. John Amos Says He Was Kicked Off 'Good Times' Because He Didn't Agree With The Shucking And Jiving. 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. 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. A: Amos was fired from the show and his character killed off after he often 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. All posters in there rooms were black people, furniture pieces were African. 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. After repeated disagreements with the production staff, Amos was fired from the show. I ad-libbed quite a bit, and John Landis, the director, was very receptive to my ad-libs, Amos concludes proudly. 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. America and the world got to see what life could be like within a Black family on Good Times, Amos shares. He reportedly left the show, after 3 seasons, because he disapproved of Jimmie Walker's character. (on which he guest-starred) have Black writers and showrunners. The Real Reason John Amos Was Fired From Good Times You must have realised from the title alone that the sitcom only spreads good vibes to its audience. We watched Janet Jackson's Penny grow up a little. She played his wife, matriarch Florida Evans, despite being 20 years his senior in real life. something they didn't have very often. It was a ground breaking, memorable and well acted for a sitcom. 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. It was the sort of family white viewers had read about in their own magazines with their slanted perceptions. John Amos Reveals How His Departure From 'Good Times' Went Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now! You get to learn a lot about the hardships of life. Why He stuck to his guns, and it eventually got him fired. Which of his works do you like, if youre a fan? Metacritic Reviews. 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. 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. Dont Miss A Story. Good Times Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. Why Did John Amos Leave Good Times I realize everyone has their own opinion, but, I don't know . I don't find it stereotypical or shuckin'/jivin' at all. Also, I really love the theme song. Man, I can't remember ever seeing a white guy in that show! We Publish News 24/7. Im an Eddie Murphy fanatic. The lives and times of the Evans family living the projects of Chicago. John Amos Says He Was Kicked Off Good Times Because He Didn Has Tension risen Between President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris? Speaking of theme songs, Ja'net DuBois (neighbor Willona) co-wrote and sang another truly memorable one during this time. in 1985, where before then, it played in the late 70's. I liked Good Times. 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. These are my questions and comments. The movie also reunited him with his Roots costar, the late Madge Sinclair, who played Bell, the wife of his character, adult Kunta Kinte. Michael, involved in legal/justice. John Amos departure from Good Times appears to have much to do with his African-American cultural values. 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. Good Times Especially without the original cast. Esther Rolle has played her role of her. John Amos discusses why he stopped doing Good Times - YouTube Id want to send John Amos my warmest wishes for the remainder of his days. 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. That's when I got hooked!!! 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. John Amos, though, how about him? Yes, we are referring to the sitcom and his unexpected exit. It showed a Black family that had the same trials and tribulations as the rest of America, especially those who were financially challenged. COPYRIGHT 2022 EURweb.com/Rabercom Enterprises. The 1970s represented a period of drastic changes in the TV landscape. This is not gonna work. I just didnt do it in the most diplomatic terms.. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Is Our TV Pick Of The Week, Small Town Horror Story: The Racist Attack Of A FedEx Worker. Some folks need bracing, as my uncle used to say. When many people think about the most memorable Thank God for reruns! Tulsa Library Shooting: Two People Died, Others Injured At Convenience Store, Phoenix Bar Shooting, Several People Injured, How Did Elizabeth Santos Die? This show was groundbreaking to show despair in drugs, gangs, and alcoholism. He occasionally disagreed with the writings and questioned the writers about how long they had been black. Yes, we are talking about the sitcom and his sudden departure. You know a show is going downhill when they have to resort to bringing on a cute kid character. 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. This was a good show for the first three seasons. Because he was always butting heads with producers, his character was killed off which came as a shock to him. Thank You!! As a child,this show was mandatory when me and my brother saw the show each week. Q: I was wondering why networks dont show TV shows like Dynasty, Dallas, Knots Landing and L.A. She starts to cry. I think the critics of this show miss the point of the show. Pop culture Q&A: The story behind Amos leaving 'Good Times' 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. Awards Returning to the thrilling Good Times, in which John Amos stars as the main character, has astounded the audience. Television Images: My Favorite TV Characters of All-Time: (1970s edition). 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. An interesting comedy series about a poor black family trying to make ends meet and make a better life in the projects of Chicago. My favorite moment in the series is Thelma's wedding day. | But Amos adds that he wants the course correction to keep going. "Movin' On Up" for The Jeffersons, of course. Everytime Willona came in with"great news", she would informed them that she was just made the "head buyer" for the boutique. The Real Reason Esther Rolle Left Good Times - Grunge 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. Web"Good Times" was one of the first African American family sitcoms to air. 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. 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. I don't think a movie or a new show would work. It spawned some dy-no-mite catchphrases and 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. John Amos on Why He was Killed Off of Good Times - EURweb 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. In Amos eyes, Good Times had too much shucking and jiving, which was something he couldnt take anymore. 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 was tough, but loving and kind. Stimulus Check Proposal Could Give Americans Monthly $1,200 Checks. Humperdink! He claimed that the sitcoms creative team demanded his departure because they could not stand that. 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. Claim: Actor John Amos died from a heart attack on 28 December 2016. Amos Good Times was originally great, thanks to John Amos. It also dated politics, recession, wages, history. If you didn't like the show, fine, but some of your reasons for disliking it are totally erroneous. After Season 3, his contract was not renewed, and he was sacked. The secret is to be happy! Florida Evans 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. Why did James(John Amos) leave the show? They were actually trying to do everything they could to get out of the projects. However, there was one little pesky problem that always seemed to bother me. 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. John Amos Details Why He Got Fired From Good Times (WATCH) 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. The way he was written out of the show was very abrupt. James tried to work several jobs, just so Florida could stay home and tend to the needs of the house/family. due to the scripts' lack of authenticity in portraying the African-American experience. 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, something unique was missing from the show. Copyright 2021 The republic Monitor All Right Reserved, The explanation for John Amos dismissal from Good Times is revealed. 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 Why John Amos Was Fired From 'Good Times' - Here's Why They were terrific actors and had great chemistry as James and Florida Evans. 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 - 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. 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. I certainly hope that the phrase "Kid Dynamite" will come back into common usage some day. I think the episode with the black Jesus was my favorite. They had three kids: J.J., Thelma, and Michael. This is one of the few shows that became just as big as its presider's. Big John, I got some good news and some bad news. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); WHO WE AREThe news you want unfiltered.The Electronic Urban Report/EUR puts the most buzz worthy African American news at your fingertips. It was actually quite funny> All references in the show had to be "black". John Amos Reveals How His Departure From 'Good Times' Went 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. Because of his offensive remarks about the brawls behind the scenes, John Amos was fired. 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. Some of the people who star in the series like cast regulars Jimmie Walker(J.J. 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. A: Amos was fired from the show and his character killed off after he often complained about the shows writing. It centered on the poor Chicago-based Evans family and their struggles to make ends meet. In any case, James Evans was portrayed by John Amos. 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. By Good Times is a spin-off of a spin-off: this spun-off of Maude and Maude spun-off of All in the Family. My husband and I enjoy this movie so much, we began our wedding ceremony with quotes from this movie. Another great aspect of the show was JJ and Thelma. The show ended with Season 6, and recently, people have expressed concern about John Amos departure. The parents loved their children more than anything, were always there for them , and wanted the best for them. This is one of my all time favorite shows. If you like TVLine, you'll LOVE our email news alerts! Q: Why did John Amos leave Good Times? This is All We Know, 4 Factors That May Increase Chances of Long COVID-19, New Study Shows, COVID-19 Origin: American Scientists, Federal Health Officials Found Out Conflicting Root of the Virus, Surge of Omicron Variant Hampers Economic Recovery in the Country, 2 More $1,400 Stimulus Checks Could Be Released Anytime To Millions of Americans, Children Infected With COVID-19 Has Reached 1 Million, Wayne Brown Jr Died Read Now To Know More, $660 Monthly Stimulus Check Now Open For Application, $15,775 Can Now Be Claimed from IRS Open, $500 Million Child Care Assistance Remains Unclaim, Heres How To Apply. There were a lot of behind the scenes issues, which led to cast members leaving the show. The next day, that guy was gone never to be seen again. John Amos left the series immediately following the third season of Good Times. Good Times was a form of Roots, except it told the story of who we are on a comedic basis. If Amos believed this, he was wrong. 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. During the daytime so people can actually stay up to watch. In that way, Amos observes, Good Times and Roots had more in common than him. The sitcom Good Times, created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans, premiered on CBS in 1974. Then? 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. But they don't dwell on it. Some may find that chauvinistic by today's standards, but, I'm not so sure about that. After decades of The entertainer admits that he wasnt the most diplomatic guy back 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. His departure so soon caught everyone off guard. 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. Although the Evans family was poor and lived in the projects, they had each other. | Without being to preachy, The Evans always tried to do the right thing rather than do something wrong to get out of the ghetto. Amos was a force to be reckoned with on the show, and apparently, because of his personality and the fact that he realized the show was making a coonery out of the family, he couldnt be a part of it any more. 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. In an interview with the American Archive of Television. But Good Times creator Norman Lear gave him a call to let him know that he would also be absent from Season 4. Being a white guy from a white city, it was one of my first glimpses into black culture. 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. Damn! 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 External Reviews JJ wanted to be an artists. It seemed as if every other season, fiesty neighbor and friend Willona, always received the same promotion on her job. The Real Reason John Amos Was Fired From Good Times. | Webhttps://comedyhype.com/ - In 1974 Good Times would premiere showcasing black family life like never before. 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. Yes, we are talking about the sitcom and his sudden departure. They make The Jefferson's look really sickly rich. She had the authority to discuss the plot in more detail. The Evans family had both parents providing stabilty and shelter for them. 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. 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. February 25 2022, 6:52 PM PST. I had to make a commitment, he said. In it's time, Good Times, would of been a hell of a show. Princr Humperdink! why did "Good Times" was one of the first African American family sitcoms to air. When asked by Lear if he wanted to say something, he simply said no and hung up. 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. He took no bull from any of the kids. No. All Rights Reserved. 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. Issues such as gun control, teen pregnancy, v.d., gangs and teen suicide. Hey, its your dime, you made the call, Amos replied. Life for the Evans family is not easy, especially when trying to keep their 3 children on the straight and narrow. What was it? 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. And last, but not least, Thelma, the older Sister to Michael, another seasoned performer. Ive had a blessed career, and I attribute that to my faith in God and the fact that I was raised right. Despite their many financial issues, Florida is the quintessential hostess and is possessed of a generous spirit. A movie career? No canned laughter, no music. Humperdink! 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. 2023 TVLine Media, LLC. The entertainer admits that he wasnt the most He depicted a strong father figure-something likely missing in many people's lives. No matter how much the family suffered financially, they never turned to crime or other illegal actions to make ends meet. Why? She did, however, make a return in Season 6 under one condition. 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. "GOOD TIMES," in my opinion, is a must-see CBS hit! 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. 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.. Floridas Damn, damn, damn is still relevant in todays pop culture and memes.
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