[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by Richard B

I read that site before. I also heard the John Amos dispute was over money and that Esther Rolle was very displeased with the direction of the show and in particular JJ's role, which is why she left after Season 4, but returned for Season 6 (the final season).

Also, after they fired John Amos, it was one of the first shows, especially a situation comedy to actually kill off a major character. The beginning of Season 4 was the announcement that he died in car accident.

I agree with you, I watch these episodes and I think the same thing. There was some serious meat in Good Times. One in particular was a 2-part episode with JJ in love and ready to marry without the approval of his parents. He and his fiance decide to elope, only to find out that she was a heroin junkie. I mean they showed it all, the rubber tube, the needle and then her withdrawl systems when it is found out that JJ grabbed Thelma's purse instead of hers. Riveting.

Not to mention other strong topics: alchoholism, gangs, guns, teen pregnancy, unwanted babies, international foreign policy (Cuba related), politics, child abuse, etc.

Yeah, teen pregnancy, remember when Penny's best friend caught "stomach mumps"?

The show broke my heart killing off the dad, that was just wrong.