why did john amos leave good times

Heres Everything We Know About Him. Thank God for reruns! Amos, 80, recalls that one of the best perks of his West Wing tenure was meeting former Secretary of State Colin Powell. Roots, inspired by late author Alex Haleys novel of the same name, drew a record 36.4 million viewers and remains one of the most watched television events of all time. Yes, we are talking about the sitcom and his sudden departure. After repeated disagreements with the production staff, Amos was fired from the show. It was too often for Norman and the other writers to accept. He had been with the show since its inception. Amos said he regretted leaving the show, but the offer from Norman Lear to portray James Evans on Good Times couldnt wait. He was let go. Ive had a blessed career, and I attribute that to my faith in God and the fact that I was raised right. It showed a Black family that had the same trials and tribulations as the rest of America, especially those who were financially challenged. Seems to me when at least one parent was in the home, children were a bit more manageable. GT is very family themed, illustrating how family is so important, amidst difficulties and hardships, especially when they lose one of their own, and such a great actor too. Esther Rolle's departure from the show during the 19771978 season, the reason why she left was because she was unhappy that the success of Jimmie Walker's character J.J. Evans took the show in what she thought was a frivolous direction. It also dated politics, recession, wages, history. Mekeisha Madden Toby / I liked many things about this show. During a trip to Mississippi, his character James Evans was fatally injured in a vehicle accident. The parents loved their children more than anything, were always there for them , and wanted the best for them. Good Times was a form of Roots, except it told the story of who we are on a comedic basis. Princr Humperdink! After three seasons of fighting with executive producer Norman Lear and the CBS sitcoms white writers about the stereotypical Black portrayals and dialogue the show perpetuated, particularly when it came to star Jimmie Walker, Amos contract to play patriarch James Evans wasnt renewed at the end of Season 3 in 1976 and his character was killed off. In it's time, Good Times, would of been a hell of a show. They make The Jefferson's look really sickly rich. These were the words the producers used to describe John, as opinionated and troublesome as he was for them, they believed they didnt need such a person on set, so Mr. Evans died and in real life, John Amos discovered just how unimportant he was. After Season 3, his contract was not renewed, and he was sacked. While he was eventually let go, he went on to bounce back with memorable roles in the original Roots miniseries, and later Coming to America. A: Amos was fired from the show and his character killed off after he often Rolle quit when her contract concluded. This show was excellent. Another Norman Lear hit detailing the problems that African Americans had to go through in the turbulent 1960s and 1970s. Also, I really love the theme song. Because of his offensive remarks about the brawls behind the scenes, John Amos was fired. "Dynomite"! The Evans were a real family with real problems, but they also truly loved each other. You must have realised from the title alone that the sitcom only spreads good vibes to its audience. It was then that Lear told him that they were being picked up for another season, which wasnt a surprise to Amos. An explanation of the cause of death of the former mayor of EL Cerrito, California, Gut-wrenching: Rep. Quentin Williams, a rising political star, killed in wrong-way accident. Did the actor and the cast have a falling out? Some folks need bracing, as my uncle used to say. Common, Chicago wasn't all black! It was a ground breaking, memorable and well acted for a sitcom. J.J. (the eldest brother) was the tall comic relief in this show, and always fought with his sister Thelma (the curvacious beauty). Most importantly it had a black family that stuck together through thick and thin. The actor was never afraid to express his thoughts on writing. Created by Norman Lear as a spin off from "Maude" (Which itself was a spin off from "All In The Family"), the show focused on the Evans Family, consisting of Florida (Esther Rolle)and James (John Amos), the heads of the household, trying to survive in the projects of Chicago. Being a white guy from a white city, it was one of my first glimpses into black culture. This was a family that just happened to be black and live in the projects. I couldn't relate to everything, but sometimes they hit home with the problems they were facing. This is a good show steered by characters I like, of course, loose, fat lipped Jimmy Walker as J.J., as the strikingly brilliant artist, and too, fat maintenance man, Bookman, where Est her Rolle and John Amos, lend strong support as Mother and father team, Amos in particular, who sadly was kicked off the storm, while acting up a bit of the storm, off the set, where the quality of the show, kind of dropped, in the absence of his killed off character, as they went into the second season, where really it was up to J.J to carry it on. JJ wanted to be an artists. Despite the story behind the scenes, this show was worth keeping on the air except I didn't like them killing off the father which I agreed with Esther Rolle who fought hard to keep the family together. Web"Good Times" was one of the first African American family sitcoms to air. The show was a huge success since it was a spinoff of Maude in which Florida was the Maude's housekeeper,and it ran on CBS from 1974-1979. Better than most of the family comedies today! Want to know why did John Amos leave Good Times? When and how did Janet Abelson die? Web2 2.Why Esther Rolle Quit Good Times Heres Why YouTube; 3 3.45 Years Ago: Esther Rolle Takes a Stand by Leaving Good Times 4 4.John Amos Reveals How Departure From Good Times Went Down; 5 5.Did John Amos Leave Good Times Because of J.J. Evans? He is doing an excellent job in his roles, even at this young age. John, who was born in 1939, is now 82 years old. Additionally, he used to assert that in practice, he wouldnt permit his kids to do that. The creators soon became irate over these variances. I realize everyone has their own opinion, but, I don't know . He also adds that two of his favorite comedians Eddie Murphy and Dave Chappelle are able to use humor to communicate in a way he wishes he could have at their age. In the season finale, Esther Rolle returned; did he do the same? It centered on the poor Chicago-based Evans family and their struggles to make ends meet. They were terrific actors and had great chemistry as James and Florida Evans. Now you say one more word about Lisa, and Ill break my foot off in your royal ass., I have to take credit for that. But Amos adds that he wants the course correction to keep going. The secret is to be happy! Devastated, the now-widowed Florida had to support herself and their three children alone. Then? He also states that he wasnt the most diplomatic guy back then and producers got tired of having their lives threatened over jokes.. Want to know why did John Amos leave Good Times? The entertainer admits that he wasnt the most diplomatic guy back then. She never had the chance to finish high school, because she wanted to help support her parents and she started working minimum wage jobs. The acting veteran, whose credits also include Future Cop, Die Hard 2 and Two and a Half Men, says he feels relieved and proud that modern sitcoms such as black-ish, The Neighborhood and The Last O.G. No canned laughter, no music. Yes, we are talking about the sitcom and his sudden departure. The 1970s represented a period of drastic changes in the TV landscape. And it made me laugh! Tulsa Library Shooting: Two People Died, Others Injured At Convenience Store, Phoenix Bar Shooting, Several People Injured, How Did Elizabeth Santos Die? Like most shows, it went on a little too long but for fans, each season has it's moments. The truth of it is, when I started acting, I never thought I would live this long, much less be an actor, the 82-year-old tells TVLine with a chuckle. It concluded with Season 6, [] Yes, we are referring to the sitcom and his unexpected exit. Thelma, a dancer. *If you are a fan of 70s sitcoms then you definitely enjoyed the show Good Times. The hilarious TV show aired in the mid 70s for 6 whole seasons before it ended. She played his wife, matriarch Florida Evans, despite being 20 years his senior in real life. The lives and times of the Evans family living the projects of Chicago. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, 17C at 963 N.Gilbert Ave Housing Projects Chicago. He felt that for a show with such an influence, black people did not have to be represented as clowns all the time when they had the power to be role models to the younger generation. It seldomly is. In that way, Amos observes, Good Times and Roots had more in common than him. I reflect back on that with very, very fond memories., One of Amos favorite moments from the movie is when he ad-libbed the line, I dont give a damn who you are. How did things turn out for John Amos in the movie Good Times? Without being to preachy, The Evans always tried to do the right thing rather than do something wrong to get out of the ghetto. Between the cooking, cleaning, laundry, and shopping, Florida often squeezes in a part-time job to help stretch the family dollar, and she even returned to school to get her high school diploma. This is a classic show. James was the father figure everyone like,and he was always providing something for his family even though they was struggling through tough times,but they came through. This show was groundbreaking to show despair in drugs, gangs, and alcoholism. During the daytime so people can actually stay up to watch. Damn! We got to see them experience a few good times. I think good times was a very good show, a lot of us African Americans could relate. So does JJ. . And just like that, his fate was sealed. I hope that this phenomenon continues until we are totally in absolute control of our own imagery, the Newark, New Jersey native divulges while comparing Good Times to its television descendants. He stuck to his guns, and it eventually got him fired. The show lost something when Amos left, but the others were good enough to keep it going. In an interview, Amos said that he felt the show was giving too much attention to one of his children on the show who was more interested in fooling around in a chicken hat when more emphasis could have been placed on his other two children who had ambitions of becoming a surgeon and Supreme Court Justice respectively. Well, John Amos played the character of Good Times embraces the reality of what hard living in the ghetto is like, and what one must do, to overcome many hindrances, and the Evan's really have it tough. When many people think about the most memorable moments in black television history, the first storyline to pop into their minds is when Florida Evans read a letter informing her that her husband, James Evans, had died. This pocket Bluetooth printer lets you print your precious memories before they hit Instagram. She and JJ have one last hassle. We may say that John did not want to leave the Good Times. Because of his strong beliefs, John Amos was fired from Good Times. Many other stars have faced similar situations with producers who simply want to be blindly obeyed, but with actors and actresses getting a stronger voice these days, we can only hope that the same fate that befell the character of Mr. James Evans, does not happen to some of our current unproblematic and beloved TV stars. User Ratings Especially without the original cast. Awards That's when I got hooked!!! If you like TVLine, you'll LOVE our email news alerts! When many people think about the most memorable They struggle a lot since they reside in a low-income black Chicago area where nothing is simple. 2023 TVLine Media, LLC. They were actually trying to do everything they could to get out of the projects. In an interview with the American Archive of Television. From 1974 to 1976, John Amos touched millions of lives as the iconic patriarch James Evans, Sr., on Good Times until he was unceremoniously dumped from the cast midway through its run. Issues such as gun control, teen pregnancy, v.d., gangs and teen suicide. They find humor and have strong family values and morals. The show ended. Most of the early episodes focused on the parents, James and Florida Evans, and their struggle to provide for the family. John said that was the last he heard from him for months, he never called back to check on him and even today, many fans can agree that after Mr. Evans death, something unique was missing from the show. It was great. John Amos Reveals How His Departure From 'Good Times' Went Returning to the thrilling Good Times, in which John Amos stars as the main character, has astounded the audience. Issa Rae and Shameik Moore Would Unalive Spiders Matthew Lawrence Shaquille ONeal Releasing New Hip-Hop Track to Celebrate NBA Playoffs, Elon Musk Announces Charging Option for Publishers on Twitter. Im an Eddie Murphy fanatic. It was the sort of family white viewers had read about in their own magazines with their slanted perceptions. All Rights Reserved. However, once John Amos left, the show was not the same and suffered as a result. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); WHO WE AREThe news you want unfiltered.The Electronic Urban Report/EUR puts the most buzz worthy African American news at your fingertips. I had the chance to portray a father on a situational comedy that so many Black fathers and men of all races could identify with and appreciate., Amos adds that up until that point, there had never been a complete Black family portrayed on television. A movie career? She starts to cry. I liked Good Times. Fascinatingly enough, Good Times Season 4B premiered mere weeks before the Roots miniseries debuted in January 1977 on competing network ABC and changed television as we know it forever because of the grippingly personalized way it portrayed enslaved Black Americans. Great show early but suffered a decline in quality in later seasons, Good Times Early On, But Faded In the End, Good Times- Weren't We Lucky We Had Them & This Show ?****. Here are the explanations for John Amos departure from Good Times. He was let go. If you got past all the stereotypes, you would notice that many of the episodes discussed issues that are just as relevant today as they were back then. Which of his works do you like, if youre a fan? (on which he guest-starred) have Black writers and showrunners. something they didn't have very often. The movie also reunited him with his Roots costar, the late Madge Sinclair, who played Bell, the wife of his character, adult Kunta Kinte. They argued all the time, but they loved the hell out of each other. In any case, James Evans was portrayed by John Amos. John Amos Says He Was Kicked Off 'Good Times' Because He Didn't Agree With The Shucking And Jiving. Micheal (the youngest of the Evans children) was always the militant of the family and always keeping the family together even after the mom(Florida played by Esther Rolle)had a emotional breakdown after James' funeral. Whats your favorite John Amos role? Television Images: My Favorite TV Characters of All-Time: (1970s edition). Thelma was an attractive, bright girl who was constantly trading insults with J.J. Michael was a near child prodigy who was well-educated on social issues and was destined to become a lawyer. You probably had no idea that John Amos, who portrayed Glenn Johnson in King of the Hill, also amassed enormous popularity. I would like to know why John Amos left the show, and how did he die off the show again? Why? You have entered an incorrect email address! That wasnt very pleasant, as it was already said that he spoke those things in public when asked in an interview. Wi Election Results: Wisconsin Supreme Court Election Results: Who Won? I don't think a movie or a new show would work. Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude. But Good Times creator Norman Lear gave him a call to let him know that he would also be absent from Season 4. In conclusion, even though it can be seen on TV Land now, I strongly recommend you catch it just in case it goes off the air for good. due to the scripts' lack of authenticity in portraying the African-American experience. Will Downing on New Song Following Daughters Suicide, Advice Kandi Burruss Hustles Up KFC Ad Based on Scene Dr. Phil Calls Professors $350,000-Per-Person Reparations Idea an Absolute Four Tops Singer to Sue Racist Hospital: They Told Suge Knight Says Snoop Dogg and Harry-Os Death Row Barbies Racial Justice Dolls Continue Mattels Path Toward Representation Daveed Diggs Planned Twister Sequel with All-Black and Brown Laura Coates Unlikely to Host CNNs 11 p.m. Claim: Actor John Amos died from a heart attack on 28 December 2016. Amos thought that JJ was stereotyped as a stupid guy. No matter how much the family suffered financially, they never turned to crime or other illegal actions to make ends meet. In Amos eyes, Good Times had too much shucking and jiving, which was something he couldnt take anymore. But they don't dwell on it. Created by Norman Lear as a spin off from "Maude" (Which itself was a spin off from "All In The Family"), the show focused on the Evans Family, consisting of Florida (Esther Rolle)and James (John Amos), the heads of the household, trying to survive in the projects of Chicago. John Amos left the series immediately following the third season of Good Times. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now! I had to make a commitment, he said. My husband and I enjoy this movie so much, we began our wedding ceremony with quotes from this movie. I was very sadden when James Evans was killed in an auto accident,and that was the show's very best episode and an emotional one as well in what the family was going through without a father figure for the children,but they continued on with J.J. stepping from a kid into manhood and the fatherly role after John Amos' character left the show. James tried to work several jobs, just so Florida could stay home and tend to the needs of the house/family. And last, but not least, Thelma, the older Sister to Michael, another seasoned performer. Amos worked with Murphy on the 1988 classic Coming to America, in which he played Cleo McDowell, a businessman who owned a fast-food restaurant that too hilariously and closely resembled McDonalds. To receive additional updates, you can follow John on Instagram. The Real Reason John Amos Was Fired From Good Times Aaron Homer The 1970s represented a period of drastic changes in the TV landscape.

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