And make no mistake about it, Good Times is as classic as classic comes. This show is a marvel, at least for its early period. What really stands out is how well it captures the sentiments of the times, eerily similar to some of our current realities in 2008. "Temporary layoffs" and "Easy credit rip-offs" (quotes from the show's theme song) are hitting too close to home for those of us living in what is supposed to be the better-than-ever 21st Century. Especially for black folks, 30 years has made some, but not nearly enough difference. The number of people (black and white) living in the conditions that were portrayed by the Evans family in Good Times is still high, and other social ills like crime and drugs continue to plague our cities. A good sign at least is that many of the storylines from Good Times: The Complete Series have come back to television recently with a far different treatment. Instead of laughing about gangs, drugs, and crime, we now have shows like The Wire that expose the travesty of children slinging in the streets and fighting each other (or worse) in failing schools.
Following the evolution of the Evans family through six seasons is interesting. The show began with a bang, showcasing a family in the projects in Chicago that is hanging on largely through diligence, friends, and family bonds. John Amos as the father (James Evans) and Esther Rolle as the mother (Florida Evans) were always welcomed warmly on stage and filled up the screen with humor, passionate convictions, and concern for their family. Their kids, James Jr./J.J., Thelma, and Michael, were good in contrast. J.J. was the comic relief, Thelma the comic foil, and Michael the mouthpiece for some pretty radical politics. The idea of putting black power in the mouth of the youngest child was a brilliant, "from the mouths of babes," kind of move. The parents always had more practical issues to attend to, but nobody dismissed Michael as a flake or radical. Instead, they celebrated him as the smart one, the kid that was destined to go on and do great things. Several seasons later, both parents were out of the picture and the household was firmly in the grip of J.J. and the kids. Willona the friendly neighbor made more and more appearances, and other incidental characters popped up along the road that led to the end of Good Times. The end was a bit ignominious compared to the great promise that Season One held. Wisecracks, sophomoric humor, and the end of uplifting ideals met during the last two seasons, reducing the Evans family to a set piece for the writers to air some of their poorest material. Examples of show topics that featured in this creative desert were the new relationship between Florida and her out-of-town beau. Nobody liked seeing the family without a father, but the new man was really just an excuse to cover for Esther Rolle's decision to leave the show. Nobody bought it. An episode where J.J. dreams he has turned white is pure nonsense, with nothing redeeming or creative behind it. The new characters like Penny (Janet Jackson) were either sad attempts to inject something meaningful into the Evans' household, or attempts to create another "Dy-no-mite" hook with comedic foils like Johnny Brown as the Superintendent. Brown would often literally walk on the set, crack a joke or two, and then split...
Compare content from the final seasons with earlier Good Times episodes like "J.J.'s Fiancee" or "The Gang," that dealt openly with the hardship of life in the projects. There were plenty of comedic moments, such as the impromptu dinner party for a neighbor the Evans' suspected of being reduced in her old age to eating cat food. Watching their surprise and evasion when the neighbor surprises them by bringing a meatloaf they suspect is made of cat-food is hilarious. The jokes and plot-lines about serious subjects were a function of the show walking around lines that were too bold to openly tread on in those days. Good Times: The Complete Series may chronicle the eventual demise of a show that was off to a great start, but even the later material held its own in the ratings. Good Times represents a unique chapter on television, informed by "family" shows before it like All in the Family but featuring a very different slice of American life. If the show missed its potential, it still managed to pull out several very good seasons. The real missed potential is in the packaging of this collection. Fans should still proceed to the nearest retailer, cover their eyes, and plunk down the money for Good Times: The Complete Series. Better to grab what you do have and enjoy it, rather than sit around moping about what you don't have.
