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Good Times
S5.E11
All episodesAll
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  • User reviews
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IMDbPro

Requiem for a Wino

  • Episode aired Dec 14, 1977
  • TV-PG
  • 25m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
83
YOUR RATING
Cal Gibson and Robert Guillaume in Good Times (1974)
Comedy

A homeless man returns to the Evan's apartment building after having been away for awhile. Later, they hear he died in an accident and hold a wake. Turns out, Fishbone's wallet was stolen an... Read allA homeless man returns to the Evan's apartment building after having been away for awhile. Later, they hear he died in an accident and hold a wake. Turns out, Fishbone's wallet was stolen and another man died. Fishbone finds he has friends.A homeless man returns to the Evan's apartment building after having been away for awhile. Later, they hear he died in an accident and hold a wake. Turns out, Fishbone's wallet was stolen and another man died. Fishbone finds he has friends.

  • Director
    • Gerren Keith
  • Writers
    • Eric Monte
    • Mike Evans
    • Norman Lear
  • Stars
    • Ja'net DuBois
    • Ralph Carter
    • BernNadette Stanis
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    83
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Gerren Keith
    • Writers
      • Eric Monte
      • Mike Evans
      • Norman Lear
    • Stars
      • Ja'net DuBois
      • Ralph Carter
      • BernNadette Stanis
    • 1User review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Top cast12

    Edit
    Ja'net DuBois
    Ja'net DuBois
    • Willona Woods
    • (as Ja'net Du Bois)
    Ralph Carter
    Ralph Carter
    • Michael Evans
    BernNadette Stanis
    BernNadette Stanis
    • Thelma Evans
    • (as Bern Nadette Stanis)
    Johnny Brown
    Johnny Brown
    • Nathan Bookman
    Janet Jackson
    Janet Jackson
    • Millicent 'Penny' Gordon
    Jimmie 'JJ' Walker
    Jimmie 'JJ' Walker
    • James 'J.J.' Evans, Jr.
    • (as Jimmie Walker)
    Robert Guillaume
    Robert Guillaume
    • Fishbone - Theodopius P. Johnson
    Helen Martin
    Helen Martin
    • Weeping Wanda Williams
    Bill Henderson
    Bill Henderson
    • Ray the Bartender
    Dap Sugar Willie
    • Looting Lenny
    J. Christopher Sullivan
    • Campbell the Cop
    Cal Gibson
    Cal Gibson
    • Vagrant
    • Director
      • Gerren Keith
    • Writers
      • Eric Monte
      • Mike Evans
      • Norman Lear
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews1

    6.983
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    Featured reviews

    8kevinolzak

    Robert Guillaume as Fishbone

    "Requiem for a Wino" is one of the fifth season's most celebrated episodes, with mainstays Looting Lenny (Dap Sugar Willie, fourth of seven) and Weeping Wanda (Helen Martin, fifth of seven) joined by Robert Guillaume, then riding high in his breakout role as Benson the butler on SOAP, in his sole appearance as resident wino Fishbone (Ned the Wino long gone). Just yesterday he was fired from his job delivering free samples of mouthwash, containing 2% alcohol: "I never felt so bad and smelled so good in all my life!" Still disappointed at not receiving his own card for his birthday, Fishbone feels down and out and friendless, his wallet later stolen by a vagrant who gets killed by a car: "you see this wallet here, well he's flatter than this!" The victim's name of Theodopius P. Johnson aka Fishbone inspires the Evans family to throw him a wake like no corpse ever woke up to: "here's to me, may I rest in peace!" It's only the first stop for Wanda, the funeral professional, the immaculate Lenny displaying his wares to her weeping discomfort: "my name is Lenny and if I ain't got it there ain't any, though we came here to weep I got something you can keep, now it ain't a horse and it ain't a rhino, it's just a memento for Fishbone the Wino!" Topping it off is the presence of the widow Fishbone, all covered in black to enjoy the festivities: "a man gets a funeral like this only once in a lifetime!"

    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      The well-known, successful jazz singer, Bill Henderson, plays the part of Ray, the bartender.
    • Soundtracks
      Good Times
      Music by Dave Grusin

      Lyrics by Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman

      Performed by James Gilstrap and Blinky (as Blinky Williams)

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • December 14, 1977 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Metromedia Square - 5746 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Tandem Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 25m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1
      • 4:3

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