"Getting Up the Rent" waited for the third broadcast but was actually the pilot, spun off from MAUDE, where Esther Rolle's Florida character was introduced. Florida's appendix has been removed, and thoughts of rest have to wait until the rent payment is made. At this early stage, J. J. is referred to as 'James Jr.' and is a specialist in 'finding things,' much to his mother's displeasure (he also has yet to find his hat). James insists that his friend Monty (Stymie Beard, first of five) figures they'll be all right, though they're still short $70. With eviction only hours away James brings out the old cue stick for a little hustle, no matter how loudly his bible quoting wife protests. J. J.'s petty thievery would soon be dropped for a more artistic lifestyle, though we learn that he has at least one finished painting, with Michael already in full 'militant midget' mode.
3 Reviews
Good Screaming
angelsunchained7 March 2024
In general I enjoyed watching Good Times. I didn't always agree with the liberal ideas or the political agenda of the series, but we overall I found it entertaining. However, one thing that bugged me was the constant arguments and the screaming and yelling. For some reason tv writers seems to think that yelling is funny. Good examples of these yelling shows, The Honeymooners, Sgt Bilko, All In The Family, etc. Maybe I am the weirdo, but yelling and screaming and arguing are not funny! Gives me a headache. Evidently the cast of this show had off screen issues, especially between the actors playing the parents and Jimmy Walker and sometimes you can notice the distain on the faces. Oh well, nothing earth shattering here.
Not the best way to start
gregorycanfield3 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
In syndication, this was always the first episode shown, despite being the third one produced. I watched Good Times for many years, not realizing that this show was a spin-off from Maude. I subsequently watched a few Maude episodes with Esther Rolle as Florida. John Amos also appeared as her husband, but his character was called Henry instead of James. This pilot episode of Good Times makes no reference to the Maude connection. The two main characters were simply transplanted to a different setting. In Maude, the Evanses lived in Harlem, rather than Chicago. Whether or not they had kids wasn't mentioned. In the Good Times pilot, the family is depicted as dirt poor and on the verge of eviction. The three kids are not very likeable at first. Thelma,in particular, turned me off at first. She didn't look good with an Afro. The animosity between Thelma and JJ was a bit much, at first. You didn't sense any love at all. Interesting, because these were the same actors that I would later come to like so much in their roles. I guess Thelma had to change her hair, and stop being so nasty to JJ. Ultimately, this episode had a downbeat feel to it. Not much incentive for viewers to want to see more-but we all kept tuning in.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
