"Good Times" (1974) TV series 1974-1979

Creators:

Mike Evans
Eric Monte
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

8 February 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A poor Afro-American family make the best of things in the Chicago housing projects.

Plot Keywords:

Housing Project | Poor Family | Inner City | Black Militant | African American

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Ja'net DuBois	...	Willona Woods (133 episodes, 1974-1979)
Ralph Carter	...	Michael Evans (133 episodes, 1974-1979)
BernNadette Stanis	...	Thelma Evans / ... (133 episodes, 1974-1979)
Jimmie Walker	...	James 'J.J.' Evans, Jr. / ... (133 episodes, 1974-1979)
Esther Rolle	...	Florida Evans (109 episodes, 1974-1979)
John Amos	...	James Evans, Sr. (61 episodes, 1974-1976)
Johnny Brown	...	Nathan Bookman (57 episodes, 1975-1979)

Series Directed by
Gerren Keith		(72 episodes, 1976-1979)
Herbert Kenwith		(57 episodes, 1974-1976)
Bob LaHendro		(3 episodes, 1974)
Donald McKayle		(3 episodes, 1974)

Series Writing credits
Mike Evans		(133 episodes, 1974-1979)
Norman Lear		(133 episodes, 1974-1979)
Eric Monte		(133 episodes, 1974-1979)
Norman Paul		(26 episodes, 1974-1978)
Jack Elinson		(19 episodes, 1974-1976)
John Baskin		(18 episodes, 1974-1977)
Roger Shulman		(18 episodes, 1974-1977)
Bob Peete		(11 episodes, 1974-1977)
Sid Dorfman		(9 episodes, 1976-1978)
Michael G. Moye		(9 episodes, 1978-1979)
Allan Manings		(7 episodes, 1974-1977)
Michael S. Baser		(6 episodes, 1976-1978)
Kim Weiskopf		(6 episodes, 1976-1978)
Bruce Howard		(5 episodes, 1975-1978)
Dick Bensfield		(5 episodes, 1975)
Perry Grant		(5 episodes, 1975)
Austin Kalish		(5 episodes, 1976-1977)
Irma Kalish		(5 episodes, 1976-1977)
Bill Davenport		(4 episodes, 1974-1976)
Lou Derman		(4 episodes, 1974-1976)
John Donley		(4 episodes, 1974-1976)
Kurt Taylor		(4 episodes, 1974-1976)
Joseph Bonaduce		(4 episodes, 1978-1979)
Mark Fink		(4 episodes, 1978-1979)
Wayne Kline		(4 episodes, 1978-1979)
Bruce Kalish		(3 episodes, 1977-1978)
Robert Wolterstorff		(2 episodes, 1974-1977)
Thad Mumford		(2 episodes, 1974-1975)
Roland Wolpert		(2 episodes, 1974)
Patricia Edwards		(2 episodes, 1975)
Philip John Taylor		(2 episodes, 1977-1978)
John Ashley Hamilton		(2 episodes, 1977)
Gordon Mitchell		(2 episodes, 1977)
Lloyd Turner		(2 episodes, 1977)
Gene Farmer		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
Judi Ann Mason		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
Len Riley		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
Bud Slocomb		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)

Series Produced by
Allan Manings	....	executive producer / producer (85 episodes, 1974-1977)
Norman Paul	....	executive producer / producer (48 episodes, 1975-1979)
Austin Kalish	....	executive producer / producer (48 episodes, 1976-1978)
Irma Kalish	....	executive producer / producer (48 episodes, 1976-1978)
George Sunga	....	associate producer (48 episodes, 1976-1978)
Viva Knight	....	associate producer (38 episodes, 1974-1975)
Norman Lear	....	executive producer (37 episodes, 1974-1975)
Jack Elinson	....	producer (24 episodes, 1975-1976)
Gordon Mitchell	....	producer (24 episodes, 1977-1978)
Lloyd Turner	....	producer (24 episodes, 1977-1978)
Sid Dorfman	....	producer (24 episodes, 1978-1979)
Ken Stump	....	associate producer (24 episodes, 1978-1979)
Camilla Dunn	....	associate producer (13 episodes, 1974)
Whitney J. LeBlanc	....	associate producer (10 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Film Editing by
Jay Scherberth		(40 episodes, 1976-1978)
Tucker Wiard		(36 episodes, 1974-1976)
George Zimmermann		(20 episodes, 1978-1979)
Jay Cook		(14 episodes, 1975-1976)
Chuck Adams		(9 episodes, 1976)
Vince Humphrey		(8 episodes, 1974-1975)
Bill Kendall		(3 episodes, 1974-1975)
Dave Eckenberg		(2 episodes, 1978)
Michael Krupnick		(2 episodes, 1978)

Series Casting by
Jane Murray		(132 episodes, 1974-1979)
Pat Kirkland		(47 episodes, 1976-1978)

Series Art Direction by
Don Roberts		(70 episodes, 1976-1979)
Edward Stephenson		(62 episodes, 1974-1976)

Series Set Decoration by
Charles Kreiner		(37 episodes, 1974-1975)

Series Costume Design by
Rita Riggs		(109 episodes, 1974-1978)
Adella Farmar		(3 episodes, 1978)

Series Makeup Department
Billie Jordan	....	makeup artist / hair stylist (51 episodes, 1976-1979)
Jim Kail	....	makeup artist (45 episodes, 1976-1978)
Al Schultz	....	makeup artist (24 episodes, 1975-1976)
Karen Edwards	....	hair stylist (24 episodes, 1978-1979)
Ora Green	....	hair stylist (23 episodes, 1977-1978)
Paul Sanchez	....	makeup artist (7 episodes, 1975)

Series Production Management
Norman Lear	....	production supervisor (72 episodes, 1975-1978)
Dick Brooks	....	unit manager (39 episodes, 1975-1977)
Steve McPeek	....	unit manager (24 episodes, 1977-1978)
Alan Horn	....	production supervisor / unit manager (24 episodes, 1978-1979)
Tyna Huebner	....	unit manager / production supervisor (24 episodes, 1978-1979)
Martin Vagts	....	production supervisor (23 episodes, 1974-1975)
Rita Burton	....	production supervisor (13 episodes, 1974)
Dick Drummy	....	unit manager (9 episodes, 1975)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Drew Handley	....	associate director (51 episodes, 1976-1979)
Hal Alexander	....	associate director (32 episodes, 1975-1977)
Samn Sherman	....	associate director (13 episodes, 1974)
Gary Shimokawa	....	associate director / assistant director (13 episodes, 1975)
Carl Ginnow	....	associate director (12 episodes, 1974)
Jim Drake	....	associate director (10 episodes, 1974-1975)

Series Art Department
Ernie Barnes	....	paintings by (133 episodes, 1974-1979)

Series Sound Department
Chris Chigaridas	....	audio (68 episodes, 1976-1979)
Hal Kolker	....	audio consultant (24 episodes, 1975-1976)
Art Warshaw	....	audio consultant (24 episodes, 1975-1976)
Terry Hensey	....	audio (18 episodes, 1974)
Doc Bennett	....	audio (17 episodes, 1975-1976)
Ray Kemper	....	audio / sound (13 episodes, 1974-1975)
James L. Mylenek	....	audio (6 episodes, 1976)
Marshall King	....	audio (4 episodes, 1974)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Tom Schamp	....	lighting director (63 episodes, 1976-1979)
Ed S. Hill	....	lighting director (34 episodes, 1974-1975)
Walter Glover	....	lighting director (24 episodes, 1976-1978)
Dan Johnson	....	lighting director (17 episodes, 1978-1979)
Greg Brunton	....	lighting director (14 episodes, 1975-1976)
George Schamp	....	lighting director (12 episodes, 1976-1979)
David Andress	....	lighting director (7 episodes, 1977-1978)
Tom Lindner	....	lighting director (6 episodes, 1976-1977)
Bill Chapman	....	lighting director (6 episodes, 1976)
Ken Palius	....	lighting director (4 episodes, 1975)
Donald A. Morgan	....	lighting director (4 episodes, 1978)
Jeff Worn	....	lighting director (4 episodes, 1979)
Chris Roberts	....	lighting director (3 episodes, 1976-1977)
Ken Wilcox	....	lighting director (2 episodes, 1978)

Series Casting Department
Pat Kirkland	....	casting (6 episodes, 1978)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Adella Farmar	....	costumes (22 episodes, 1978-1979)
Rita Riggs	....	costumes (2 episodes, 1978)

Series Music Department
Alan Bergman	....	composer: theme music (133 episodes, 1974-1979)
Marilyn Bergman	....	composer: theme music (133 episodes, 1974-1979)
Dave Grusin	....	composer: theme music (133 episodes, 1974-1979)

Series Other crew
Richard Draney	....	stage manager (119 episodes, 1974-1979)
Norman Paul	....	script supervisor / executive story editor / ... (84 episodes, 1974-1979)
Gloria Vinson	....	assistant to producers / assistant to producer / ... (83 episodes, 1975-1979)
Dick Woodka	....	technical director (76 episodes, 1976-1979)
Sid Dorfman	....	executive script consultant / script editor / ... (72 episodes, 1976-1979)
Bob Peete	....	production consultant / story editor / ... (71 episodes, 1974-1977)
John Baskin	....	story editor / production consultant (63 episodes, 1974-1977)
Roger Shulman	....	story editor / production consultant (63 episodes, 1974-1977)
Jack Elinson	....	script supervisor / executive story editor / ... (60 episodes, 1974-1976)
Charlotte McDaniel	....	assistant to producer / assistant to producers (49 episodes, 1974-1975)
Allan Manings	....	script supervisor (48 episodes, 1975-1977)
Kimya Amani	....	production assistant (48 episodes, 1976-1978)
Austin Kalish	....	script supervisor (48 episodes, 1976-1978)
Irma Kalish	....	script supervisor (48 episodes, 1976-1978)
Buddy Borgen	....	stage manager (37 episodes, 1974-1975)
Karen K. Miller	....	production assistant / assistant to executive producer (35 episodes, 1977-1978)
Joe Henderson	....	stage manager (24 episodes, 1975-1976)
Rosalind Woodruff	....	production assistant (24 episodes, 1976-1977)
Michael S. Baser	....	story editor (24 episodes, 1977-1978)
Clarence Clay	....	stage manager (24 episodes, 1977-1978)
Gordon Mitchell	....	script supervisor (24 episodes, 1977-1978)
Rosalind Stevenson	....	assistant to executive producer (24 episodes, 1977-1978)
Lloyd Turner	....	script supervisor (24 episodes, 1977-1978)
Kim Weiskopf	....	story editor / script editor (24 episodes, 1977-1978)
Joseph Bonaduce	....	story editor (23 episodes, 1978-1979)
Richard Baxter	....	stage manager (22 episodes, 1976-1977)
Arlando Smith	....	stage manager (21 episodes, 1978-1979)
Norman Lear	....	developer / developed for television by (20 episodes, 1974-1977)
Len Uslaner	....	technical director (17 episodes, 1975-1976)
Charles Franklin	....	technical director (15 episodes, 1974-1975)
George Chilton	....	stage manager (13 episodes, 1974)
Eric Monte	....	script supervisor (13 episodes, 1974)
Leslie Vaught	....	technical director (13 episodes, 1974)
Susan Jacoby	....	assistant to executive producer / assistant: executive producer (13 episodes, 1976-1977)
Bruce Howard	....	story editor (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Gene Farmer	....	story editor (8 episodes, 1978)
Bob Schulz	....	technical director (7 episodes, 1974-1975)
Jay Sommers	....	script editor (6 episodes, 1976)
John Westbrook	....	technical director (3 episodes, 1975-1978)
Travis McCulley	....	stage manager (2 episodes, 1977)
Tony Singletary	....	stage manager (2 episodes, 1978-1979)

Production Companies

• Bud Yorkin Productions
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1974-1979)
• Norman Lear/Tandem Productions (1974-1979)

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1974-1979) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Columbia Pictures Television
• Columbia TriStar Domestic Television (2001)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD) (season 1)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD) (seasons 2 and 3)
• Columbia TriStar Television
• Embassy Telecommunications
• P*I*T*S Films
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD) (seasons 4 and 5)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (season 6)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (complete series)
• Sony Pictures Television (2002-)

Other Companies

• CBS Television City  taping location
• Metromedia Square  taping location

Runtime:

USA:30 min (including commercials) (133 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-PG | Singapore:PG | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

5746 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Bud Yorkin Productions

Trivia:

On the show, it was implied that James was at least a couple of years older than Florida. However, in real life Esther Rolle was 19 years older than John Amos.

Quotes:

[Thelma's listening to some classical music]
J.J:What is that music?
Thelma:That's Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.
JJ:Well tell the swans to get out - the lake's polluted!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Chris Rock: Bigger & Blacker (1999) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Good Times

THE most misunderstood show of all time

I realize everyone has their own opinion, but, I don't know . . . I think the critics of this show miss the point of the show. I don't find it stereotypical or shuckin'/jivin' at all. This was a family that just happened to be black and live in the projects. They didn't dwell on it. They were actually trying to do everything they could to get out of the projects. JJ wanted to be an artists. Thelma, a dancer. Michael, involved in legal/justice. Seems to me nowadays, the projects or ghetto life is romanticized (see BET videos or MTV videos), whereas the Evans family in "Good Times" was trying to get out and onto something better. Headed by two parents who realized there own shortcomings (lack of education, money), but didn't they try to lead by example by teaching their kids values, strong work ethic and didn't they try to IMPROVE the lives of THEIR children? They tried to show their kids to strive for more in life, DESPITE obstacles. James tried to work several jobs, just so Florida could stay home and tend to the needs of the house/family. Some may find that chauvinistic by today's standards, but, I'm not so sure about that. Seems to me when at least one parent was in the home, children were a bit more manageable. What better representation of a family values can you ask for? A great show! Better than most of the family comedies today!