Good Times - Getting Up The Rent Part 1 of 3

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     Good Times originally aired from February 8, 1974 to August 1, 1979.  It was a sitcom on CBS consisting of  a poor African American family living in Chicago's projects.  Good Times was created by Eric Monte and Michael Evans and was produced by Norman Lear.  It also aired a total of 133 episodes. 

Cast:

• Esther Rolle – Florida Evans (Seasons 1–4, 6)
• John Amos – James Evans, Sr. (Seasons 1–3)
• Ja'net DuBois – Willona Woods
• Ralph Carter – Michael Evans
• Bern Nadette Stanis – Thelma Evans Anderson
• Jimmie Walker – James "J.J." Evans, Jr.
• Johnny Brown – Nathan Bookman (Seasons 5–6; recurring 2–4)
• Janet Jackson – Millicent "Penny" Gordon Woods (Seasons 5–6)
• Ben Powers – Keith Albert Anderson (Season 6)

     There was a lot of controversy about the show in and outside of the cast.  Esther Rolle and John Amos were not pleased with the character role of J.J. who was the eldest son and an aspiring artist.  He gradually became the favorite of the show with the catch phrase "Dy-no-mite."  Throughout the seasons J.J. became more and more silly, hysterical, and foolish.  He was eighteen who did not have a job, was not educated, and his foolish antics began to claim the value of the show.  When the father James Evans left the show, it was expected that J.J. would step up and become the man of the house.  This did not happen.  More characters were added while both Esther and John left the sitcom. 

James Evans was the modern day typical man who did whatever he had to, to support his father.  On a regular he held down two jobs if not more.
Florida Evans was the strength and  stronghold of the family.  She kept them all in line and took care of them the best she could. 
Thelma was the foxy daughter striving to follow in her mothers footsteps. 
Michael was all about black power and enrichment.  He showed the unity of blacks as a whole.
J.J. was the humorous stereotypical figure; loud, funny, lazy,  and comical.