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Good Times
S3.E12
All episodesAll
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IMDbPro

The Mural

  • Episode aired Dec 2, 1975
  • TV-PG
  • 25m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
90
YOUR RATING
Jimmie 'JJ' Walker and James Wheaton in Good Times (1974)
Comedy

Thelma remains short on tuition after receiving a scholarship but J.J. agrees to give her the money he is supposed to earn for painting a mural inside a bank.Thelma remains short on tuition after receiving a scholarship but J.J. agrees to give her the money he is supposed to earn for painting a mural inside a bank.Thelma remains short on tuition after receiving a scholarship but J.J. agrees to give her the money he is supposed to earn for painting a mural inside a bank.

  • Director
    • Herbert Kenwith
  • Writers
    • Eric Monte
    • Mike Evans
    • Norman Lear
  • Stars
    • Esther Rolle
    • John Amos
    • Ja'net DuBois
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    90
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Herbert Kenwith
    • Writers
      • Eric Monte
      • Mike Evans
      • Norman Lear
    • Stars
      • Esther Rolle
      • John Amos
      • Ja'net DuBois
    • 1User review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Top cast8

    Edit
    Esther Rolle
    Esther Rolle
    • Florida Evans
    John Amos
    John Amos
    • James Evans, Sr.
    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)
    Jimmie 'JJ' Walker
    Jimmie 'JJ' Walker
    • James 'J.J.' Evans, Jr.
    • (as Jimmie Walker)
    James Wheaton
    James Wheaton
    • P.J. Hewitt
    Rani DuBois
    • J.J.s Date
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Herbert Kenwith
    • Writers
      • Eric Monte
      • Mike Evans
      • Norman Lear
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews1

    7.890
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    Featured reviews

    7kevinolzak

    JJ paints a mural for the bank

    "The Mural" opens with JJ's boast of auctioning off his first painting, for five dollars after an attempt to up sell failed miserably. In need of $200 to advance her education, Thelma's college savings account is almost nonexistent, as James dipped into it to pay for his wife's gall bladder operation and JJ's 12 cavities: "you raggedy mouthed rascal!" Help arrives in the form of banker P.J. Hewitt (James Wheaton), whose admiration of the very painting that JJ sold earlier that day inspires an offer to paint a mural for his establishment, parting with a little joke: "as we say in the bank, it is time for my withdrawal!" The big reveal finds everyone ecstatic over the depiction of a night at the pool hall, all except Hewitt, who refuses to pay JJ for his 'sordid' effort. James gives a stirring defense of his son's talents, successfully browbeating the bank manager into full compliance with a few well chosen words: "if you don't pay him I'm gonna shove you in the night deposit box!" Father and son enjoy a blissful moment of solidarity as JJ admits that he'll never be the man his father is. James Wheaton made a similar impression as a mortician in two episodes of SANFORD AND SON.

    Best Emmys Moments

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    Related interests

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

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The mural JJ creates is featured in the opening credits in seasons 4-5.
    • Quotes

      James Evans, Sr.: [Wakes up from a bad dream, yelling] . Hey! Hey! Aarrgh!

      Florida Evans: [awakened by the yelling] What is it?

      James Evans, Sr.: Oh, Florida! I was having a nightmare! Baby, it was a bad one, too!

      Florida Evans: What was it?

      James Evans, Sr.: [Agitated] Florida, I dreamed I was walking in this field... I came across this hole, and it was real narrow, about 20 feet deep. I fell down in it, and baby, I broke my leg! And I couldn't get out! And then, right across from me was a stream, and right on the other side of the stream was a pack of mean crocodiles! And, when they saw me, they looked at me and said 'sharpen your teeth... here comes Sunday dinner!' I looked up at you baby, and you said you'd try to help me, but you couldn't get through the hole, because it was too narrow...

      Florida Evans: [Florida reacts negatively to his comment alluding to her weight]

      James Evans, Sr.: [Realizing his comment on her weight, sheepishly] Baby, it wasn't nothing but a dream! I was just dreaming! Anyhow, I looked up, and I saw Junior's face smiling down at me.

      [James smiles large like junior]

      James Evans, Sr.: And he said, 'don't worry dad, I'll get you out, I'll save you!' But, he couldn't reach me, so you grabbed him by his heels, and skinny as he was, you let him hang down in the hole, and he grabbed me. And baby, seconds, just seconds before the crocodiles were going to make me the blue plate special, Junior reached down, grabbed me and pulled me up! Then he smiled at the crocodiles, and he tipped his hat, and said 'sorry you gotta miss your Sunday delight, 'cause dad's been saved by kid

      [CLAPS]

      James Evans, Sr.: Dyn-o-mite!'

      Florida Evans: [Florida laughs] That IS a wild one!

    • Crazy credits
      Ralph Carter courtesy of the Broadway musical "Raisin". (Closing credits. This original Broadway production ran from October 1973 to December 1975.)
    • Connections
      References Good Times: Operation Florida (1975)
    • 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

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 2, 1975 (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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