Good Times [TV Show] (DVD)

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Any history of African-Americans on American television has to prominently feature Norman Lear. Without Lear, the white producer most famous for introducing the world to the bigoted Archie Bunker on "All in the Family," the Seventies would have been nearly devoid of sitcoms featuring black families. With "What´s Happening!!" the only other black-cast entry in the decade, Lear was a one-man Hollywood Civil Rights Movement, giving audiences "Sanford and Son" (1972-77), "Good Times" (1974-79), and "The Jeffersons" (1975-85).

Admittedly, it was a white man´s view of black culture played for laughs, but it was better than no view at all. The history of blacks on television B.L. (before Lear) is eye-blink brief. First came "Beulah" (1950-53), about a black maid whose relationship to her white employers was revealed by such Stepin Fetchit responses as "Somebody bawl fo´ Beulah?" Then came the TV adaptation of a popular radio show, "Amos ´n´ Andy" (1951-53), where the main character said things like, "Holy mackerel dere, Sapphire!" and drew complaints from the NAACP about racial stereotypes. Hard as it is to believe now, that show ran in syndication until 1966, just two years before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. From 1965-68, Bill Cosby teamed with Robert Culp in the seriocomic "I Spy," while singer Diahann Carroll became the first African-American to land a starring role in a sitcom, playing a nurse in "Julia" (1968-71). But both of those characters lived in largely white worlds. Even Lear´s "Sanford and Son" was more comic than realistic, because it gave viewers characters far removed from the average family—a cantankerous junkyard dealer and his adult son. It wasn´t until "Good Times" when Americans finally got a TV glimpse of an entire, normal, loving black family.

"Good Times" was the third-generation progeny of Lear´s flagship show, "All in the Family." Edith Bunker´s liberal-talking Cousin Maude got her own show in 1972, though it was more than uncomfortable for liberal thinkers that this progressive talker, herself a rich white woman, nonetheless employed a black maid. But fans took to the quick-witted Florida, and "Good Times" was born. Instead of New York, where Maude and her husband lived, Florida was transplanted to the low-income high-rise projects on Chicago´s south side. In "Good Times," Florida Evans (Esther Rolle) was the loving but no-nonsense matriarch who kept the family in line. Her husband, James (John Amos), was a strong role model for African-Americans, a strict disciplinarian and hard worker who had a fondness for quips and a boundless love for his family. More clichéd was James Junior, or J.J. for short, played by the spindly comedian Jimmie Walker (whose comedy was based on black stereotypes), and his slightly younger sister Thelma (BernNadette Stanis), who squared off against her brother in an endless battle of insults. Rounding out the cast was the "baby" of the family, Michael (Ralph Carter), and neighbor Willona Woods (Ja´net DuBois), who was constantly dropping by for a cup of something or other and was more than ready to jump into the debate of the day with a fresh, outside-the-family perspective.

As he did with "All in the Family," Lear used many episodes of "Good Times" to set up a debate concerning an issue involving class, race, gender, sex, religion, or values. In episode one, for example, the issue is gun-control, with James taking the gun lobby´s side and Florida citing the statistic that 80 percent of all gunshot victims in households with guns weren´t home invaders but family or friends. Even in episodes that mostly concern the family dynamics, issues still abound. When James gets an offer to take a job in Alaska, he changes his mind when Michael´s "club" edges closer in behavior to a gang. Michael argues that their "club" needs to extract revenge with a rival. "What about black pride?" he says. Dad responds, "What about black pride? You don´t need no gang for that. You black, be proud."

Here´s a rundown on the episodes:

Episode 1—The Family Gun.
Episode 2—A Real Cool Job.
Episode 3—Operation Florida. Unaffordable medical care for the average hard-working American is the topic as James wants the best for his wife but is frustrated that he can´t afford it.
Episode 4—Florida´s Rich Cousin. This one could have come right out of John Edwards´ "two Americas" speech. James is surprised to learn that only the ultra-rich don´t have money woes.
Episode 5—The Politicians. Speaking of elections, James and Florida nearly come to blows when they support rival candidates.
Episode 6—Love in the Ghetto. Thelma becomes engaged, and James becomes enraged. Character comes into play.
Episode 7—The Weekend. With Mom and Dad away at a less-than-romantic retreat, the kids play Family Feud over Who´s the Boss?