Working on Good Times was real hard. All the white writers wanted to
do stereotypes and I refused. Every week we'd argue and fight. They
would ignore what I suggested and take all that, "Yassuh Boss," stuff
to the cast and John Amos and Ester Rolle would have a fit. Then they'd
give them what I wrote and the cast would like it they'd shoot it and
it would go on the air. The next week it was the same fight. Originally
I pictured J.J. as a street smart hustler who drove his honest, hard
working parents crazy.
