‘Good Times’ Celebrates 50 Years: A Look Back at the First Season (PHOTOS)
The late, great Norman Lear‘s Good Times has turned 50 years old, ushering in a legacy of African American storytelling that remains peerless to this day.
The iconic sitcom Good Times first aired on February 8, 1974, starring Esther Rolle as Flordia Evans, John Amos as James, Jimmie Walker as J.J., Ja’net DuBois as Willona Woods, Ralph Carter as Michael, and Bernadette Stanis as Thelma.
Created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans, the show portrayed the struggles and joys of an African-American family living in the Chicago projects. Its catchy theme song, sung by Jim Gilstrap and Blinky Williams, became synonymous with the show’s spirit and remains memorable to this day.
ABC celebrated the series in December 2019 with a Live in Front of a Studio Audience special hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and Lear, starring Andre Braugher as James, Jay Pharaoh as J.J., Viola Davis as Flordia, and Willona as Tiffany Haddish.
As we celebrate this milestone, Good Times continues to be cherished for its humor, authenticity, and cultural significance with the crew during its earliest moments.
Esther Rolle as Flordia Evans, John Amos as James
The glue that holds the family together, mother Flordia of the Evans household
Bernadette Stanis as Thelma severed as the middle child and only daughter of the Evans
Florida (Rolle) and James (Amos) remained together for 3 seasons before the character James died
Esther Rolle, Jimmie Walker, Ralph Carter, BernNadette Stanis, and John Amos in promotional shot of the series for TV Guide in 1974
Ja’net DuBois played the nosey neighbor and best friend of Florida, Willona Woods.
The show often took place in this now iconic Chicago living room.
Flordia was originally a character from the series Maude before featuring in her own spinoff series in Good Times.
A shot of the entire cast from Season 1
The breakout star and eldest son of the Evans family, J.J. (played by Jimmie Walker)
An early promotional shot of the parents
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