Too Old Blues

Good Times kicks off with James offered a chance to finally advance in a career. This episode is sometimes listed as both the 3rd and 1st episode. We see some early character development; JJ is initially cast as a delinquent that enjoys shoplifting, Michael as the Black power and truth teller. It has been noted the show was supposed to revolve around Michael but JJ's character quickly overshadowed everyone. Wilona is the hip, stylish next door neighbor. Wilona opening lines insults JJ and calls him a thief (Rodney Allan Ripoff). That line seems out of place a few episodes later. Florida is very protective of anyone insulting her children. Wilona also mentions her ex-husband Alvin who will later be renamed Ray that returns in season 4 and becomes inappropriate with Thelma. A reoccurring theme starts, the Evans family has high hopes then, dreams are smashed. Florida smiles and everything appears okay until next week.

GOOD TIMES was spun off from Esther Rolle's Florida Evans character on MAUDE, itself a spin off from ALL IN THE FAMILY. Set in Chicago rather than New York, we also have husband James (John Amos), daughter Thelma (Bern Nadette Stanis), and sons J.J. (26 year old Jimmie Walker) and Michael (Ralph Carter, recent Theatre World Award winner for the 1973 Broadway production RAISIN, based on "A Raisin in the Sun"). Along with good friend Eric Monte, ALL IN THE FAMILY actor Michael Evans was instrumental in helping get it off the ground after years of working on maverick producer Norman Lear, and the results must have surprised the network brass, who didn't believe that a strong father figure would make for a good sitcom (Diahann Carroll's short lived JULIA still fresh on their minds). "Too Old Blues" was third to be filmed but first broadcast, James and his constant search for a decent wage a top priority for every family. Perhaps the best line comes from youngest son Michael, responding to his father's joking assertion that he married Florida because she was pregnant: "wouldn't bother me none, I ain't the oldest!" Only in the pilot "Getting Up the Rent" was J.J. referred to as James Jr., always trading barbs with middle child Thelma, and still portrayed as a streetwise hustler with a penchant for 'finding things' (Ja'net DuBois as neighboring gossip Willona Woods refers to him as 'Rodney Allen Ripoff!'). This was already the second of five appearances by former OUR GANG member Stymie Beard, his comeback begun on Lear's SANFORD AND SON.