Good Times (1974)
The groundbreaking CBS sitcom that brought the laughter, struggles, and resilience of a Black working-class Chicago family into living rooms across America.
Good Times - Series Information
- Original Title: Good Times
- First Air Year: 1974
- Last Air Year: 1979
- Created by: Eric Monte, Mike Evans
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Comedy
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 30 minutes
- Number of Seasons: 6
- Number of Episodes: 133
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Networks: CBS
- Production Companies: Norman Lear/Tandem Productions, Bud Yorkin Productions, CBS
Good Times - Plot
Good Times is an American sitcom that originally aired from February 8, 1974, until August 1, 1979, on the CBS television network. It was created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans, and developed by Norman Lear, the series' primary executive producer. Good Times is a spin-off of Maude, which is itself a spin-off of All in the Family along with The Jeffersons. The series is set in Chicago. The first two seasons were taped at CBS Television City in Hollywood. In the fall of 1975, the show moved to Metromedia Square, where Norman Lear's own production company was housed.
Good Times - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and get a taste of the Evans family's unforgettable world:
Dy-No-Mite!
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Good Times - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Eric Monte
- Mike Evans
Main Cast
- Ja'net DuBois
- Jimmie Walker
- Ralph Carter
- Bern Nadette Stanis
- Esther Rolle
- John Amos
- Johnny Brown
- Janet Jackson
- Ben Powers
- Helen Martin
Writers
- Mike Evans
- John Baskin
- Sid Dorfman
- Allan Manings
- Kim Weiskopf
Good Times - FAQs
Where can you stream Good Times online?
Good Times is available to stream on Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus, and Philo. You can also watch it for free with ads on Tubi TV. If you prefer to own it, the series is available for purchase on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
What is the famous catchphrase from Good Times?
"Dy-no-mite!" — shouted by Jimmie Walker's character JJ Evans — became one of the most iconic catchphrases in American television history. It perfectly captured JJ's larger-than-life personality and helped turn Walker into a pop culture phenomenon during the show's original run in the 1970s.
Why did John Amos leave Good Times?
John Amos departed after Season 3, reportedly due to creative disagreements with producer Norman Lear. Amos felt the show was shifting too much focus onto JJ's comedic antics at the expense of meaningful storytelling. His character, James Evans Sr., was written out by being killed in a car accident off-screen.
Is Good Times based on a true story?
Good Times draws heavily from real life. Co-creator Eric Monte grew up in the Cabrini-Green housing projects in Chicago, and much of the Evans family's daily struggles — poverty, unemployment, and resilience — reflect his own experiences. The show's authenticity in depicting Black working-class life was groundbreaking for 1970s television.
Who are the main cast members of Good Times?
The core cast features Esther Rolle as Florida Evans, John Amos as James Evans Sr., Jimmie Walker as JJ, Bern Nadette Stanis as Thelma, and Ralph Carter as Michael. Supporting players include Ja'net DuBois as neighbor Wilona Woods, Johnny Brown as building superintendent Nathan Bookman, and a young Janet Jackson as Penny.
How many seasons and episodes does Good Times have?
Good Times ran for 6 seasons and 133 episodes in total. Season 1 consisted of 13 episodes, while Seasons 2 through 6 each contained 24 episodes. The series aired on CBS from February 8, 1974, through August 1, 1979, making it a staple of American television throughout the decade.
What shows are similar to Good Times?
Fans of Good Times often enjoy The Jeffersons, Sanford and Son, The Cosby Show, and Family Matters — all sitcoms rooted in Black American family life or working-class humor. For broader Norman Lear-style comedy, All in the Family and Maude (the show Good Times actually spun off from) are natural companions.
What spin-off is Good Times connected to?
Good Times is a spin-off of Maude, which itself spun off from All in the Family — making it part of Norman Lear's remarkable interconnected television universe. Florida Evans, played by Esther Rolle, first appeared as Maude's housekeeper before the character was reimagined as the matriarch of the Evans family in Chicago.
More About Good Times
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