Good Times

1974 - 1979

Follows the daily lives of a low income family living in an underserved community of Chicago as they struggle to keep their heads above water and make a wave when they can through temporary layoffs, easy credit rip-offs, and whatever else life throws at them.

Stars: Esther Rolle, John Amos, Jimmie Walker, BernNadette Stanis, Ralph Carter, Ja'net DuBois, Johnny Brown, Janet Jackson
Created by: Mike Evans, Eric Monte, Norman Lear
Tags: family, poc

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Episode Tropes

Season 1

Landlord from Hell: Episode 9, "The Visitor" (1974). Conditions in the Evans family's building are getting worse every day: the elevator never works (forcing them to climb 17 flights of stairs), their phone doesn't work, their refrigerator is broken, and their water isn't running. Michael gets fed up and writes a letter to a local newspaper, which prompts a housing authority official to pay them a visit and experience the poor conditions for himself.
Commercial Star: Episode 11, "The TV Commercial" (1974). Florida is cast in a commercial for "Vita-Brite" health tonic, and the whole family is excited, but when they discover Vita-Brite is full of alcohol, Florida turns down the job.
Magic Brownies: Episode 11, "The TV Commercial" (1974). Florida is chosen to appear in a commercial for "Vita-Brite" health tonic, but she's uncomfortable selling a product she doesn't use, so the family decides to try it. It's not until after they've all drank it that they read the ingredients and discover it's 18% alcohol. Michael is the most affected by the drink and starts dancing around, singing "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree."
Dance Lessons: Episode 12, "The Check Up" (1974). JJ has a "heavy date," and he begs Thelma to teach him how to dance so he can impress his date. At first, Thelma refuses, but then she gets a call telling her that she landed the part-time job she wanted, and she's so happy she decides to help JJ.

Season 2

Housewife Rebellion: Episode 1, "Florida Flips" (1974). Florida has been blowing up at everyone lately, and the family can't figure out why. When she gets so angry that she slaps Michael, Florida runs out of the house and doesn't come back until late that night. She attends a women's group meeting with Willona and realizes she has dedicated her whole life to her husband and children and lost herself as an individual, so she decides to take some night school classes to improve herself.
Giving Up the Gun: Episode 2, "The Family Gun" (1974). As crime continues to rise in the neighborhood, James buys a gun, which subsequently goes missing on the same day a little boy in the building accidentally shoots himself. Eventually, Michael reveals that he hid the gun, then accidentally fires a shot at the ceiling when he tries to show that the gun isn't loaded, which prompts James to hand the gun over to Florida to get rid of it.
IQ Controversy: Episode 7, "The I.Q. Test" (1974). The Evans family is shocked when they hear that Michael's IQ test score is one of the lowest in his school. Michael explains that he didn't finish the test because it's "a white racist test," and the questions are written so that Black students can't understand them, so Florida and James visit the school administrator and quiz him with a Black IQ test to prove the test Michael took was unfair.
Found Money: Episode 12, "The Windfall" (1974). James finds a bag full of $29,000 that was stolen from a supermarket. He wants to keep it, but Florida wants him to turn it into the police. He does but secretly keeps $2,000 and tells Florida it was only $27,000.
Drug PSA: Episode 13, "Sometimes There's No Bottom in the Bottle" (1974). Cousin Naomi is staying with the Evans family for Christmas, and she's been acting strange. Thelma quickly discovers that Naomi has been secretly getting drunk, and she tries to convince Naomi that she has a problem, but Naomi refuses to believe it.
Affirmative Action: Episode 14, "Florida's Big Gig" (1974). James interviews for great job at a store, and he's convinced he got it. Florida goes along with him to see if they have anything available for her, and she ends up getting the job because the store wants to comply with government regulations on hiring minorities, and being a Black woman, Florida is apparently "two minorities" at once.
Back to School: Episode 15, "Florida Goes to School" (1975). Florida decides to go to night school to earn her GED. At first, James is against it, but he changes his mind and decides to join her.
Business Goes Bust: Episode 17, "The Family Business" (1975). The family convinces James to start his own electronics repair business, but a clause in their lease forbids them from operating a business in their apartment, and when Bookman finds out, he insists on getting free repairs for himself and everyone he knows, which runs James ragged.
Dance Lessons: Episode 18, "The Debutante Ball" (1975). A rich girl invites JJ to a debutante ball, so Florida teaches him how to dance a waltz.

Season 3

Giving Up the Gun: Episode 2, "The Family Gun" (1975). As crime continues to rise in the neighborhood, James buys a gun, which subsequently goes missing on the same day a little boy in the building accidentally shoots himself. Eventually, Michael reveals that he hid the gun, then accidentally fires a shot at the ceiling when he tries to show that the gun isn't loaded, which prompts James to hand the gun over to Florida to get rid of it.
Cherish the Cabin: Episode 6, "The Weekend" (1975). James's boss has a cabin in the wood that he lets James and Florida use for the weekend to celebrate their anniversary.
Surprise Delivery: Episode 7, "The Baby" (1975). A pregnant friend of Florida's goes into labor in the Evans family's apartment, and Florida has to deliver the baby.
Mounting the Hustings: Episode 9, "The Politicians" (1975). Florida and James are campaigning for opposing candidates for alderman.
Long Lost Parent: Episode 15, "The Family Tree" (1975). While researching her family tree for a school project, Thelma discovers that James's father, whom everyone thought was dead, is actually alive, and the whole family is anxious to meet him, except James, who is angry at his father for abandoning his family when James was a child.
Dying to Die: Episode 16, "A Place to Die" (1975). While James is away for work, an elderly man whom Michael befriended comes to the Evans family home to die among people he likes.
Housewife Rebellion: Episode 22, "Florida the Woman" (1976). When Florida gets fed up with her family's constant demands, she decides to have lunch with her boss and gets drunk on sake.
Hey, Kids, Let's Put on a Show!: Episode 24, "The Rent Party" (1976). The Evans family throws a rent party to help Wanda pay her rent, and Florida, Thelma, Michael, Willona, and even Bookman perform.

Season 4

Sister Wife: Episode 16, "Thelma's African Romance: Part 2" (1977). A foreign exchange student asks Thelma to marry him, and she accepts, until she finds out he plans to have multiple wives.

Character Tropes

Brainiac: Michael Evans - Played by Ralph Carter.
Nosey Neighbor: Willona Woods - Played by Ja'net DuBois.
The Magnificent Bickersons: Willona Woods & Nathan Bookman - Played by Ja'net DuBois and Johnny Brown.
The Magnificent Bickersons: Thelma & JJ Evans - Played by BernNadette Stanis and Jimmie Walker.