In 1974, there were two sitcoms made their debut on our televisions, and they haven’t left it since.
Over the weekend, cast members from both Good Times and Happy Days made an appearance at Gallatin Comic Con. And we got this photo of Ralph Malph (Donny Most), Michael (Ralph Carter), Thelma (BernNadette Stanis), J.J. (Jimmie Walker), The Fonz (Henry Winkler), and Potsie (Anson Willians).
Even though Chicago and Milwaukee are 90 minutes apart, the shows took place in different decades. And that is why we had to wait 50 years to get a photo like this!
So let’s go celebrate the Good Times and Happy Days they have given us!
I have a feeling that Garry Marshall and Norman Lear are looking down, and verklempt over seeing their six babies as one group!
Before John Amos was looking for any jon he could get on Good Times, he was a pirate on The Tin Conway Comedy Hour. How funny was the late actor in that 1970 episode?
John Amos passed away on August 21st from natural causes at the age of 84, according to his son.
KC Amos wrote in a statement, “It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned. He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold… and he was loved the world over. Many fans consider him their TV father. He lived a good life. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor. My father loved working as an actor throughout his entire life…. most recently in ‘Suits LA’ playing himself and our documentary about his life journey as an actor, ‘America’s Dad.’ He was my dad, my best friend, and my hero. Thank you for your prayers and support at this time.”
Amos is best known for playing the patriarch, James Evans, on Good Times. The series was a Norman Lear sitcom that captured what it was like for a poor African American family surviving in Chicago during the late ’70s. It tackled the hardships that they went through with humor.
However, when the humor and stereotyping became too much, Amos’ complaints about that led to his time on the show coming to an end. His character’s death made way for one of the most iconic moments on television. His character’s wife didn’t seem to be affected by his death. But at the episode, she broke a punch bowl and screamed out, “Damn! Danm Damn!”
He and Lear remained friends, and Amos starred in his sequel to All in the Family in 1994.
His career started in 1970 and continued through this year. While Good Times is what he will be remembered for most, he had plenty of other roles for us to rmeember in. His breakout role was the sane person in the newsroom on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He also was seen in Coming to America and the sequel, Roots, The West Wing. and All About the Andersons, to name a few.
Today, scream out, “Damn! Damn! Damn!” so that he can hear our voices as he makes his way up to heaven.
Fifty years ago today, we got to meet the Evans family for the first time. We watched them have Good Times and bad ones. And through it all, they remained a family.
That did not only pertain to the characters. It also relates to the actors.
Because of that, Ralph Carter (Michael), BernNadette Stanis (Thelma), and Jimmie “JJ” Walker got to celebrate their golden anniversary!
Damn! Damn! Damn! They all look dyn-o-mite!
I love it when casts remain friends like this! That is why I think their series still airs in syndication. We believed that they were a family because they really were one!
Back in the good old days of television, TV shows had theme songs that got everyone singing. There were the ones from The Greatest American Hero, The Jeffersons, Gilligan’s Island, The Golden Girls, and Friends, to name a few.
Another one is the one from Good Times. Recently, BernNadette Stanis and Ralph Carter, who played Thelma and Michael on the groundbreaking Norman Lear sitcom, sang the tune with a fan.
And now I have all the feels that I would get by watching the show that is just as relevant today as it was in the ’70s! It is the happiness we needed and didn’t even know we did.
Now, can we talk about how Carter, 61, looks just like you would expect Michael to look if he were real? And Stanis is absolutely gorgeous! Can you believe she is 69? She looks better now than she did in ’79!
