“Good Times,” which celebrates its 50th anniversary on Feb. 8, suffered from an identity crisis during its six-season run on CBS. So much so, the lead actors — Esther Rolle and John Amos — would leave the popular second spinoff of ‘All in the Family”(Rolle would eventually return) because the sitcom changed focus.
Norman Lear ruled the airwaves in the 1970s. He blew up the conception of a family sitcom in 1971 with the CBS sitcom “All in the Family” which focused on a working class family from Queen lead by the bigoted patriarch Archie Bunker (Carroll O’Connor). During the first season, Bea Arthur guest starred as Maude, Edith Bunker’s (Jean Stapleton) favorite cousin who was the antithesis of Archie-outspoken, much married, ultra-liberal.
And after a second appearance on “All in the Family,” Arthur got her own series “Maude” in the fall of 1972. The breakout performer on that series was Esther...
Norman Lear ruled the airwaves in the 1970s. He blew up the conception of a family sitcom in 1971 with the CBS sitcom “All in the Family” which focused on a working class family from Queen lead by the bigoted patriarch Archie Bunker (Carroll O’Connor). During the first season, Bea Arthur guest starred as Maude, Edith Bunker’s (Jean Stapleton) favorite cousin who was the antithesis of Archie-outspoken, much married, ultra-liberal.
And after a second appearance on “All in the Family,” Arthur got her own series “Maude” in the fall of 1972. The breakout performer on that series was Esther...
- 2/8/2024
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
Netflix’s animated Good Times update from Seth MacFarlane and the late and great Norman Lear is moving full steam ahead.
The streamer has tapped J.B. Smoove, Yvette Nicole Brown and Jay Pharoah to lead the voice cast of the animated and adult-leaning series. Additionally, Ranada Shepard (Family Affair, Lizzie McGuire) has signed on to serve as showrunner, replacing Carl Jones (The Boondocks) in the role.
The animated series follows the Evans family in the present day as they navigate today’s world and contemporary social issues. As the original did, the new show will strive to remind viewers that with the love of family, everyone can keep their heads above water.
Smoove and Brown will play the show’s central couple, Reggie and Beverly, with Pharoah taking on the role of one of their sons, Junior.
The original series starred Esther Rolle and John Amos as Florida and James Evans,...
The streamer has tapped J.B. Smoove, Yvette Nicole Brown and Jay Pharoah to lead the voice cast of the animated and adult-leaning series. Additionally, Ranada Shepard (Family Affair, Lizzie McGuire) has signed on to serve as showrunner, replacing Carl Jones (The Boondocks) in the role.
The animated series follows the Evans family in the present day as they navigate today’s world and contemporary social issues. As the original did, the new show will strive to remind viewers that with the love of family, everyone can keep their heads above water.
Smoove and Brown will play the show’s central couple, Reggie and Beverly, with Pharoah taking on the role of one of their sons, Junior.
The original series starred Esther Rolle and John Amos as Florida and James Evans,...
- 12/12/2023
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Netflix’s animated series reboot of Good Times has set Ranada Shepard as co-creator of the series alongside Carl Jones. Shepard will also executive produce the comedy and serve as showrunner, Deadline has learned.
The Good Times voice cast will include Jb Smoove, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jay Pharoah, Marsai Martin, Slink Johnson and Rashida “Sheedz” Olayiwola, sources close to production reveal exclusively. Pharoah portrayed original Evans family member J.J. Evans, originally played by Jimmie Walker in ABC’s Emmy Award-winning Live in Front of a Studio Audience: All In The Family and Good Times. As we revealed exclusively following the death of TV legend Norman Lear, he will guest-star in a Season 1 episode.
The animated Good Times series finds the fourth generation of the Evans family living in apartment 17C of the last remaining housing projects in Chicago. It turns out the more...
The Good Times voice cast will include Jb Smoove, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jay Pharoah, Marsai Martin, Slink Johnson and Rashida “Sheedz” Olayiwola, sources close to production reveal exclusively. Pharoah portrayed original Evans family member J.J. Evans, originally played by Jimmie Walker in ABC’s Emmy Award-winning Live in Front of a Studio Audience: All In The Family and Good Times. As we revealed exclusively following the death of TV legend Norman Lear, he will guest-star in a Season 1 episode.
The animated Good Times series finds the fourth generation of the Evans family living in apartment 17C of the last remaining housing projects in Chicago. It turns out the more...
- 12/12/2023
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Tributes have been pouring in following the death of Norman Lear Tuesday at the age of 101. CBS, home to the majority of Lear’s classic sitcoms, will celebrate the television legend’s extraordinary career with Norman Lear: A Life on Television special, set to air Friday, December 8 at 8 pm on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
Presented by Entertainment Tonight, the one-hour special, hosted by Nischelle Turner, features interviews with stars of the long-running comedies Lear created, including Jimmie Walker from Good Times and Mackenzie Phillips from One Day At A Time, in addition to never-before-seen interviews from the Et vault. The special also includes Lear’s interview with Et host Kevin Frazier when he celebrated his 100th birthday.
In addition to Good Times and One Day At A Time, Lear’s iconic sitcoms on CBS included Sanford And Son (1972-1977), All in the Family (1971-1979), The Jeffersons (1975-1977) and Maude...
Presented by Entertainment Tonight, the one-hour special, hosted by Nischelle Turner, features interviews with stars of the long-running comedies Lear created, including Jimmie Walker from Good Times and Mackenzie Phillips from One Day At A Time, in addition to never-before-seen interviews from the Et vault. The special also includes Lear’s interview with Et host Kevin Frazier when he celebrated his 100th birthday.
In addition to Good Times and One Day At A Time, Lear’s iconic sitcoms on CBS included Sanford And Son (1972-1977), All in the Family (1971-1979), The Jeffersons (1975-1977) and Maude...
- 12/7/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Norman Lear, a titan of television, died at the age of 101 on December 5 surrounded by family. He leaves behind not only a lasting legacy of on-screen delights, but also a string of upcoming projects, one of them reportedly being a voiceover cameo in the upcoming Netflix animated take on his beloved sitcom Good Times. The original series starred Esther Rolle, John Amos, Jimmie Walker, and Ja’net DuBois. The sitcom followed Rolle’s Florida Evans as she raised her family in a Chicago apartment building. The new animated series was green-lit by Netflix in 2020 with basketball star Steph Curry and Seth MacFarlane‘s respective production companies attached in addition to Lear’s Act III Prods. According to Deadline, the animated Good Times follows a new generation of the Evans family living in one of the last housing projects still standing in Chicago. Lear reportedly recorded a voiceover cameo for the series,...
- 12/6/2023
- TV Insider
Norman Lear was a man of modest physical stature, standing a trim 5’7″ on a good day. In terms of his impact on television — comedy primarily, but the medium as a whole — he was a giant, who belongs on any Mt. Rushmore of showrunners. He dominated an entire decade of TV like no one before or since, with hit after hit that expanded the boundaries of what could be done with the old-fashioned multi-camera sitcom format (shot on a stage in front of a studio audience), and what kinds of stories and characters audiences would accept.
- 12/6/2023
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Rollingstone.com
The death of Norman Lear at the age of 101 ended the reign of one of the most prolific television producers in the industry’s history. Lear was known for pushing viewers’ buttons in some of his most unforgettable television series, including All in the Family, Maude, Sanford and Son, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, and Good Times. Lear never shied away from tackling the tough topics. Here are 5 of Norman Lear’s most controversial TV episodes.
‘All in the Family’: Edith’s 50th Birthday
The two-part All in the Family episode titled “Edith’s 50th Birthday” was a dark look into Edith Bunker’s (Jean Stapelton) attempted rape. It was the first time a television sitcom dealt directly with the subject.
The season 8 episode centered on Edith’s milestone birthday. As her family was next door planning her birthday party, an attacker posing as a police detective entered her home.
‘All in the Family’: Edith’s 50th Birthday
The two-part All in the Family episode titled “Edith’s 50th Birthday” was a dark look into Edith Bunker’s (Jean Stapelton) attempted rape. It was the first time a television sitcom dealt directly with the subject.
The season 8 episode centered on Edith’s milestone birthday. As her family was next door planning her birthday party, an attacker posing as a police detective entered her home.
- 12/6/2023
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Just days after the death of legendary TV producer Norman Lear at age 101, the new entertainment special “Norman Lear: A Life on Television” will air on CBS this Friday at 8 p.m., in addition to streaming on Paramount+.
The hourlong special, presented by “Entertainment Tonight,” will feature new interviews with Jimmie Walker of “Good Times” and Mackenzie Phillips of “One Day at a Time,” along with other stars of the comedies Lear created. An interview with Lear and “Entertainment Tonight” host Kevin Frazier to celebrate Lear’s 100th birthday a few years ago will also be featured. In the interview, Lear discussed his lengthy career in depth.
As a screenwriter and producer, Lear produced, wrote, created and developed over 100 shows, including “Sanford and Son,” “All in the Family” and “One Day at a Time” for CBS.
In other TV roundup news:
First Looks
Apple TV+ has released first look images from “Constellation,...
The hourlong special, presented by “Entertainment Tonight,” will feature new interviews with Jimmie Walker of “Good Times” and Mackenzie Phillips of “One Day at a Time,” along with other stars of the comedies Lear created. An interview with Lear and “Entertainment Tonight” host Kevin Frazier to celebrate Lear’s 100th birthday a few years ago will also be featured. In the interview, Lear discussed his lengthy career in depth.
As a screenwriter and producer, Lear produced, wrote, created and developed over 100 shows, including “Sanford and Son,” “All in the Family” and “One Day at a Time” for CBS.
In other TV roundup news:
First Looks
Apple TV+ has released first look images from “Constellation,...
- 12/5/2023
- by Caroline Brew, Valerie Wu and Jaden Thompson
- Variety Film + TV
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