S2.E12

The Windfall

Name: The Windfall
Genre: Comedy
Released: 1974-12-03
Duration: 25 min
Rating: 7.7
Cast: Esther Rolle, John Amos, Ja'net DuBois

Episode aired Dec 3, 1974
TV-PG
25m

IMDb RATING

7.7/10

YOUR RATING

John Amos and David Lewis in Good Times (1974)

Comedy

James comes across a bag containing a claimed $27,000 in stolen money and turns it into the police. The Evanses are quickly hassled by ghetto neighbors, strangers and people they thought wer... Read allJames comes across a bag containing a claimed $27,000 in stolen money and turns it into the police. The Evanses are quickly hassled by ghetto neighbors, strangers and people they thought were their friends about James' good deed. However that's nothing compared to Florida's react... Read allJames comes across a bag containing a claimed $27,000 in stolen money and turns it into the police. The Evanses are quickly hassled by ghetto neighbors, strangers and people they thought were their friends about James' good deed. However that's nothing compared to Florida's reaction when James reveals that the bag actually contained $29,000, and that he kept $2,000 to... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.7/10

YOUR RATING

2User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

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Esther Rolle

Florida Evans

John Amos

James Evans, Sr.

Ja'net DuBois

Willona Woods
(as Ja'net Du Bois)

Ralph Carter

Michael Evans

Jimmie 'JJ' Walker

James 'J.J.' Evans, Jr.
(as Jimmie Walker)

BernNadette Stanis

Thelma Evans
(as Bernnadette Stanis)

Alvin Childress

Rev. Gordon

David Lewis

Mr. Borgen

Willie Trotter

First Guy

Walter Pittman

Second Guy
(as Walter Pittman Jr.)

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
After Rev. Gordon sees the money on the kitchen table, James responds, "He helped one who helped himself." Florida rebukes James for quoting Scripture for the wrong reason. However, the quote "God helps those who help themselves" is not in the Holy Bible. It is a quote by English theorist Algernon Sidney. It was later used by Benjamin Franklin in his Poor Richard's Almanack.

Goofs
When Florida begins giving James examples of how the kids can fall into dishonest money, she tells Thelma to wear her red dress downtown to work. At that point, Esther Rolle is sweating under the hot studio lights and you can see the black hair dye running down the right side of her face.

Quotes
James 'J.J.' Evans, Jr.: Dad, how could you do a thing like that? Keeping that $2000? You should have gave that back and kept the rest!

Connections
Featured in TV Guide Spotlight: Groundbreaking Sitcoms of the '70s (2014)

Soundtracks
Good Times
Music by Dave Grusin
Lyrics by Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman
Performed by James Gilstrap and Blinky (as Blinky Williams)

User reviews2

Review

Featured review

9/10

Florida is okay with poverty

"The Windfall" opens with the Evans family excited James found $27k from a grocery store robbery. Willona comes over to share in the excitement. James comes home as the news segment airs on TV. Florida looks as if she has seen a ghost. She doesn't understand how James could be on TV and be home at the same time. She acted as if her brain short-circuited. Florida was ready to faint and call James an evil spirit! Fortunately, James explained it was taped delayed. Michael revealed the night prior, Florida and James discussed keeping the money. Florida nagged, begged and threw some bible verses at James. James agreed to give the money back. After it was revealed on the newscast James gave the money back, the Evans family started to receive harassment from their neighbors. JJ was assaulted in the hallway over the money. Out of frustration, James revealed he did not give all the money back. Once again, Florida went to work on James to give ALL the money back. Sadly he did. That money could have helped the Evans family so much, college tuition, medical emergencies (which Florida had two), dental (Florida had no problem begging her rich cousin for money for JJ dental bill) or a phone bill (James spent all day trying raise money to get the telephone turned back on and only made $5). Florida was happy at the end to be happy and poor.