Goodtimes the tv show archive#

In a 2015 interview with the American Archive of Television (via The Root), Amos explained of his disapproval, вЂњI felt too much emphasis was being put on J.J. lacked nuance and was irresponsible, perpetuating negative racial stereotypes and taking precious screen time away from more important, serious social issues that could be explored. вЂ“ the EvansвЂ™ oldest of three children вЂ“ was initially meant to provide some comedic relief.Д«ut the character became increasingly popular with audiences, in part because of his slapstick antics and signature catchphrase, вЂњDy-no-mite!вЂќ Over time, WalkerвЂ™s character took up more and more screen time.Д«oth Amos and Rolle disapproved of the shift. When Good Times premiered, the character of J.J. RELATED: вЂThe Golden GirlsвЂ™: NBC Almost Forbid Casting Bea Arthur as Dorothy Both Rolle and Amos took umbrage with the characterization of J.J. John Amos as James Evans and Esther Rolle as Florida Evans | Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images вЂњI only took my part with provisions that Good Times would have a complete Black family with a father image,вЂќВ Rolle shared in a 1978 interview with Ebony. In particular, she advocated for the Evans family to feature a strong father figure вЂ“ and refused to sign on for the project unless her character had a devoted husband. Rolle, too, had concerns about the showвЂ™s direction over the years, especially because it was the first sitcom to focus on a Black family in a two-parent household. We donвЂ™t think that way we donвЂ™t act that way. The Good Times star went on to explain that the problems would often only escalate from there: And theyвЂ™d say, вЂWhat do you mean we canвЂ™t do this?вЂ™ and theyвЂ™d go on about their credits and the rest of that,вЂќ he said, вЂњand IвЂ™d look at each and every one of them and say, вЂWell, how long have you been Black? That just doesnвЂ™t happen in the community. вЂњAnd some of the attitudes they had written, as per my character, and frankly for some of the other characters as well, caused me to say вЂUh uh, we canвЂ™t do this, we canвЂ™t do that.вЂ™вЂќ вЂњThe truth of it was, when the show first started, we had no African-American writers on the show,вЂќ Amos revealed. WhatвЂ™s more, because Good Times was the first sitcom of its kind, he felt it had to be done well and accurately. The now-80-year-old actor explained that, at the time, he wasnвЂ™t ready or willing to express himself вЂњdiplomaticallyвЂќ when it came to matters of potential mischaracterization and racial stereotyping. In a 2017 interview on Sway in the Morning (via Ebony), Amos looked back on his groundbreaking Good Times role and why he clashed so often with the showвЂ™s creators. In large part, AmosвЂ™ differences with the Good Times creative team stemmed from concerns that the white writersвЂ™ portrayal of Black characters was inauthentic, inaccurate, and/or stereotypical.

John Amos and Jada Pinkett Smith | Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for The Blackhouse Foundation at Sundance 2018 Amos felt the showвЂ™s representation should have been more authentic

Goodtimes the tv show