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50 years after its original run, the Norman Lear-produced sitcom "Good Times" is more than just "Dy-no-mite!" It's a spinoff within a spinoff and a classic Black family sitcom that inspired controversy as well as laughter. Like many beloved shows from the '70s, "Good Times" made headlines for behind-the-scenes drama and cast disagreements, but it also captivated audiences.

Originally formulated as a spinoff of "Maude" (which was itself a spinoff of unlikely hit "All in the Family"), "Good Times" retconned its central characters and setting in favor of a new premise. Henry (John Amos) became James, the family got poorer, and the setting switched from New York to Chicago, where it took inspiration from the Cabrini-Green housing projects. Audiences still dug the new show, though by the time it signed off five years later, it had changed entirely: Amos and original star Esther Rolle had left, and the show's most one-dimensional character,...

Good Times was a groundbreaking show with a beloved cast that redefined Black families on TV in the '70s. Lead actors like Esther Rolle and Ja'net DuBois created iconic characters that resonated with audiences. The passing of cast members like Johnny Brown and Ben Powers is a sad reminder of the show's impact on TV history.

Good Times was a beloved '70s American sitcom on CBS, and while a significant number of the cast remains working, a few notable deaths of the show's actors have since occurred. The Evans on Good Times is one of the families that helped redefine what it meant to be Black on TV when the sitcom premiered in February 1974. It lasted for six seasons, ending in August 1979. Good Times was the first African-American two-parent family sitcom on television, following Florida and James Evans, two hardworking Chicagoans, and their family of five.

A spinoff of All in the Family,...

Good Times reboot on Netflix revives Evans family in animated form, tackles modern social issues with humor and warmth. Showrunner Ranada Shepard promises a blend of social commentary, boundary-pushing humor, and feel-good TV reminiscent of popular animated shows. Revamped voice cast, creatively flexible animation, and a focus on family unity set the stage for Good Times to resonate with viewers.

The beloved 1970s sitcom Good Times is making a comeback on Netflix. The reboot brings back the Evans family with a fresh take on their lives in a modern context.

good times Comedy Release DateFebruary 8, 1974CastJimmie Walker, Esther Rolle, Ja'net DuBois, Janet JacksonSeasons6

The original Good Times was groundbreaking in its portrayal of a Black two-parent family on television. Created by Mike Evans and Eric Montes and executive-produced by Norman Lear, the show depicted the joys and challenges faced by the Evans family living in a Chicago housing project. Now,...

“Good Times,” which celebrates its 50th anniversary on Feb. 8, suffered from an identity crisis during its six-season run on CBS. So much so, the lead actors — Esther Rolle and John Amos — would leave the popular second spinoff of ‘All in the Family”(Rolle would eventually return) because the sitcom changed focus.

Norman Lear ruled the airwaves in the 1970s. He blew up the conception of a family sitcom in 1971 with the CBS sitcom “All in the Family” which focused on a working class family from Queen lead by the bigoted patriarch Archie Bunker (Carroll O’Connor). During the first season, Bea Arthur guest starred as Maude, Edith Bunker’s (Jean Stapleton) favorite cousin who was the antithesis of Archie-outspoken, much married, ultra-liberal.

And after a second appearance on “All in the Family,” Arthur got her own series “Maude” in the fall of 1972. The breakout performer on that series was Esther...

Exclusive: Affion Crockett will produce and star in new comedy, A Hip Hop Story. The film also stars Cedric the Entertainer, Damaine Radcliff, Jevin Smith, Damien Dante Wayans, Lil Rel Howery, Wayne Brady, Lil Mama, and Norm Nixon, Jr.

Directed by Radcliff, and written by Crockett, the film is about Hip Hop culture is in a crisis! A pioneer of the culture joins forces with a few of rap music’s elite performers to attempt to save Hip Hop and provides social commentary on the state of Hip Hop culture.

A Hip Hop Story is produced Crockett, Radcliff, Charlie Mack, and Talitha Watkins, and will be distributed by AMCi distribution (same division responsible for the Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour and Renaissance: A Film By Beyonce.

Crockett said, “A Hip Hop story is our love letter to the culture that shaped our lives.

Norman Lear, a titan of television, died at the age of 101 on December 5 surrounded by family. He leaves behind not only a lasting legacy of on-screen delights, but also a string of upcoming projects, one of them reportedly being a voiceover cameo in the upcoming Netflix animated take on his beloved sitcom Good Times. The original series starred Esther Rolle, John Amos, Jimmie Walker, and Ja’net DuBois. The sitcom followed Rolle’s Florida Evans as she raised her family in a Chicago apartment building. The new animated series was green-lit by Netflix in 2020 with basketball star Steph Curry and Seth MacFarlane‘s respective production companies attached in addition to Lear’s Act III Prods. According to Deadline, the animated Good Times follows a new generation of the Evans family living in one of the last housing projects still standing in Chicago. Lear reportedly recorded a voiceover cameo for the series,...

Johnny Brown, the actor, comedian and singer best known for his role as superintendent Nathan Bookman on the popular 70s sitcom “Good Times,” died Wednesday. He was 84 years old.

Brown’s death was confirmed by his daughter, Broadway actress Sharon Catherine Brown, through a post shared on her Instagram. No further details on Brown’s death are available at this time.

“He was literally snatched out of our lives. It’s not real for us yet,” Sharon Catherine Brown wrote. “So there will be more to say but not now. Dad was the absolute best. We love him so very much.”

Prior to his sitcom stardom, Brown was a seasoned entertainment veteran, regularly performing in nightclub acts with his future wife, June Russell. Early in his career he dabbled in recording music, releasing the single “Walkin’, Talkin’, Kissin’ Doll” for Columbia Records in 1961 and “You’re Too Much in Love...

Good Times star Johnny Brown, who played housing project superintendent Nathan Bookman on the hit ’70s series, has died. He was 84.

The actor’s death was confirmed by his family on Instagram. “Our family is devastated,” his daughter Sharon Catherine wrote. “We respectfully ask for privacy at this time because we need a minute to process the unthinkable. To articulate the depths of profound sadness… It’s too terrible. It will never not be. It’s a shock. He was literally snatched out of our lives. It’s not real for us yet… Dad was the absolute best. We love him so very much.

SAG-AFTRA’s unclaimed residuals fund has grown to roughly $76 million – up 60% from $48 million six years ago. According to the union, the fund now contains 124,000 separate accounts for members and others, living and dead, that it can’t locate. That’s up from 96,000 accounts in 2016.

“The funds may be unclaimed for a variety of reasons including a bad address or as a result of mail returned for other reasons; unresolved estate issues, or the funds may be in trust for an inactive or dissolved loan out corporation,” a spokesperson for the union said. “Most often, residuals may be waiting for a recipient or their agent to formalize a change of address or submit the appropriate paperwork to claim the funds. The union uses a number of tools to locate and get money to those individuals due unclaimed residuals including mail, email and telephone outreach to last known address and telephone number,...

Even though Sunday’s SAG Awards ceremony will be shortened to just one pre-taped hour on TNT and TBS, the special In Memoriam segment will still be a highlight. Since the 2020 event aired on January 19, it will be over 14 months until the one on April 4. That means even more actors, actresses and members of SAG/AFTRA will hopefully be honored than the 40 people in the tribute last year.

Chadwick Boseman died last August and is a four-time nominee for the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday. The two individual nominations are for his leading role in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and his supporting performance in “Da 5 Bloods.” Those two films also are nominated for the top ensemble category.

Oscar winners who have died in the past 14 months include Sean Connery, Olivia de Havilland, Cloris Leachman and Christopher Plummer. Academy Award nominees include Boseman, Kirk Douglas, Hal Holbrook, Ian Holm,...

Looking back over the beloved stars we lost in the past year is always emotional, and this year has been especially devastating, given how many members of the entertainment community died due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The pandemic hit the music community especially hard, but television and film performers, as well as stage actors and below-the-line workers were also affected. Singer-songwriter John Prine, record producer Hal Willner and “Nashville” actor Allen Garfield all died of coronavirus on April 7. Broadway actor Nick Cordero died on July 5 after a four-month battle with the disease.

Adam Schlesinger, a composer and co-founder of Fountains of Wayne, died on April 1 at 52. Charley Pride, remembered as country music’s first Black superstar, died on Dec. 12 of coronavirus complications.

Movie greats

Chadwick Boseman‘s death due to colon cancer rocked the entertainment industry on Aug. 28. The “Black Panther” star was just 43, and his death came as a...

HBO’s latest blockbuster drama effort, Lovecraft Country, is a unique Lovecraftian beast. As adapted by Matt Ruff’s novel of the same name, the show takes classic horror, sci-fi, and adventure tropes and adapts them into a timely story of American racism.

Though the series is certainly timely, it’s also timeless. As evidenced by our helpful explainer article, it wasn’t immediately clear when Lovecraft Country even took place. That’s partly because the Jim Crow era of American institutionalized racism was a lengthy one. And the fact that Atticus “Tic” Freeman was a war veteran didn’t help out much. Which war coincided with “whites only” restaurants and sundown towns? World War II, The Korean War, The Vietnam War – take your pick, really. That pleasant disorientation is enhanced by an equally disorienting soundtrack.

Rest assured, Lovecraft Country takes place in the mid 1950s. But the show’s...

Many TV legends and contributors were included for the “In Memoriam” segment on Sunday’s Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony for ABC. But producers are always forced to omit some of the 100+ insiders who died since the last ceremony. Who was left out of the group that was honored?

With dozens of television veterans having died since last year’s mid-September ceremony, people certainly included were these six TV Academy Hall of Fame members:

Diahann Carroll

Leonard Goldberg (executive at 20th Century Fox and ABC; producer of “Charlie’s Angels” and more)

Jim Lehrer (anchor/reporter of “MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour)

Regis Philbin

Carl Reiner

Fred Silverman

SEECelebrity Deaths 2020: In Memoriam Gallery

Even though he wasn’t known for his TV work, blockbuster film actor Chadwick Boseman was featured in the final slot. NBA Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant was not mentioned, even though the event was being held in the Staples Center.

For Sunday’s Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony on ABC, producers will have the always difficult task of assembling a memoriam segment. Even though the event hosted by Jimmy Kimmel will be virtual, it’s a certainty they will include the popular “In Memoriam” on the show.

With over 100 television veterans having died since last year’s mid-September ceremony, those expected to be honored would include such TV legends and TV Academy Hall of Fame members:

Diahann Carroll

Leonard Goldberg (executive at 20th Century Fox and ABC; producer of “Charlie’s Angels” and more)

Jim Lehrer (anchor/reporter of “MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour)

Regis Philbin

Carl Reiner

Fred Silverman

SEECelebrity Deaths 2020: In Memoriam Gallery

Even though they weren’t known for their TV work, it’s very likely NBA Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant and blockbuster film actor Chadwick Boseman will be honored. Also among the dozens most likely included since they...

Netflix has given a series order to an animated version of Norman Lear’s groundbreaking TV sitcom Good Times. The project hails from Lear and his Act III Productions, NBA star Steph Curry and his Unanimous Media, Seth MacFarlane and his Fuzzy Door, and Sony Pictures TV.

Based on his iconic ’70s series, Good Times is Lear’s first animated series. It comes on the heels of the recent animated episode of One Day At a Time, Pop TV’s reboot of another Lear classic.

Good Times follows the Evans family as they navigate today’s world and contemporary social issues. Just as the original did years ago, Good Times strives to remind us that with the love of our family, we can keep our heads above water.

Carl Jones serves as creator, showrunner, and executive producer. Lear and Brent Miller executive produce for Act III Productions, Stephen Curry, Erick Peyton...

Netflix has given a 10-episode, straight-to-series order to a new animated take on Norman Lear’s classic sitcom “Good Times.” Lear and his Act III Prods. shingle is partnering with basketball star Steph Curry and his production company, Unanimous Media, as well as Seth MacFarlane and his shingle Fuzzy Door, to develop the show.

Both Act III and Unanimous are based at Sony Pictures TV, which is behind the animated “Good Times.” Carl Jones, whose credits include animated series “The Boondocks” and “Black Dynamite,” as well as TBS’ Tracy Morgan starrer “The Last O.G.,” will create, showrun and executive produce the project. Per the logline, the new animated series will follow “the Evans family as they navigate today’s world and contemporary social issues. Just as the original did years ago, ‘Good Times’ strives to remind us that with the love of our family, we can keep our heads above water.

Former Good Times actress Ja’Net DuBois died unexpectedly in her sleep in her home in Glendale, California on February 17. The police in Glendale said they received a report about DuBois’ death late Monday. She died from natural causes. She had appeared to be in good health and had not stated any specific ailments to […]

The post ‘Good Times’ Star Ja’Net Dubois Dies At 74 appeared first on uInterview.

“When They See Us” and “This Is Us” actor Asante Blackk reminisced on the brief time he recently shared with late actress Ja’Net DuBois as they worked on the live rendition of the ’70s sitcom “Good Times.”

DuBois, who played the Evans family’s neighbor Willona Woods in the original series, died in her sleep in her Glendale, California home on Tuesday, Feb. 18. She was believed to be 74.

“I remember it was the day before we were getting ready to go live and we were all in rehearsal — dress rehearsal, in the makeup, trailer and everything. I saw her and at first, I didn’t recognize her,” Blackk told the audience at the “Black History: Inspiring Stories on Television” panel hosted by the Television Academy. “She said, ‘You were so amazing in ‘When They See Us.’ And I go, ‘Thank you so much.’ Then she goes, ‘That’s when you say,...

Ja’Net DuBois is being remembered by her former co-workers for bringing “light” to the set of Good Times.

DuBois, who played Willona Woods on the 1970s sitcom, passed away Tuesday at her home in Glendale, California. She was 74.

As news of the actress and singer’s death spread, members of the Good Times family — including Janet Jackson who portrayed her adopted daughter “Penny” Woods — shared touching tributes.

“I am so very saddened to hear my longtime friend Ja’Net DuBois has passed away,” Jackson began. “I saw first hand how she broke stereotypes and changed the landscape for Black women in entertainment. I’m grateful in recent years I had a chance to see her and create more lasting memories.”

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I am so very saddened to hear my longtime friend Ja’Net DuBois has passed away. I saw first hand how she broke stereotypes and...

Some of the biggest names in television paid tribute to “Good Times” star Ja’net Dubois, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 74.

“Oh man!!! Just saw you!,” actress Viola Davis, who appeared in a “Good Times” re-creation as part of the ABC special “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” last December, tweeted. “What a pleasure it was to meet you. You shaped so much of the best memories of my childhood! God bless you, Ja’net DuBois! Rip??'”.”

Famed television producer Norman Lear, who worked with Dubois on “Good Times,” made reference to the fact she wrote the theme song to another of his primetime hits, “The Jeffersons,” in his social media post. He wrote, “Ja’Net DuBois was all light and will be missed. I love that she wrote the theme song for her passing, ‘Movin’ on Up.’ #GoodTimes #TheJeffersons.”

Oh man!!! Just saw you! What a...

Actress Ja’Net DuBois died on Tuesday at her home in Glendale, Calif. at the age of 74. The actress, known for her role in the 70s sitcom “Good Times” as Wilona, the Evans family neighbor, died unexpectedly in her sleep. She appeared in several other films and shows throughout her career including “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle,” “Roots,” “Home Improvement” and “Sister Sister.” DuBois was a veteran actress who began her career in the 1960s and went on to become the first African American woman who was a regular cast member on a daytime serial for the television soap opera “Love of Life.” She won two primetime Emmy’s for outstanding voice-over performance in 1999 for the series “The PJs” and in 2001 for “The PJs: Let’s Get Ready to Rumba.”

Reps for the Pan African Film Festival, where DuBois was one of the co-founders, said in a statement, “she will be deeply missed.

(Updated with Norman Lear remarks) Just over two months after she wowed the crowd at ABC’s Live in Front of a Studio Audience: All in the Family & Good Times, Ja’net DuBois died suddenly today. She was 74.

As confirmed by her family and those close to the two-time Emmy winner, the seemingly healthy DuBois died early Tuesday in her sleep at her home in Glendale, CA.

She was known for making some of the greatest entrances in sitcom history week after week as neighbor Willona Woods on Good Times, the groundbreaking 1970s sitcom starring Esther Rolle, John Amos, Jimmie Walker and Janet Jackson. Back in December of last year, DuBois joined Walker and co-star Bern Nadette Stanis for an appearance on the latest live retelling of one of Norman Lear’s classic TV shows – and she stole the star-studded show with pure pizzazz.

Good Times wasn’t DuBois’ only connection to Learland.

Ja'net DuBois, best known for playing the hip, confident and sometimes nosey neighbor Willona Woods on Norman Lear's classic sitcom Good Times, has died at age 74. TMZ first broke the news.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, on August 5, 1945 and raised on Long Island, DuBois got her start in theater,

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Other Links From TVGuide.com Janet DuBoisGood TimesThe Jeffersons...

Ja’Net DuBois, known for her turn as Willona Woods on “Good Times,” was found dead in her Glendale, Calif. home on Tuesday. The Pan African Film Festival, which she co-founded, said she “would be deeply missed.”

Her family told TMZ the actress died unexpectedly in her sleep. She was believed to be 74.

In addition to her role as the Evans family’s neighbor in the ’70s sitcom, she also appeared in a number of notable films and TV programs including “Roots,” Keenan Ivory Wayans’ “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka” and “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” as Momma Bosley. DuBois was also known for her legendary voice. She composed and sang “Movin’ On Up,” the theme song for “The Jeffersons.” She also voiced the character of Mrs. Avery in “The PJs” as well as Mrs. Patterson in “As Told by Ginger.”

DuBois started her acting career in the 1960s. She starred in...

“Good Times” star Ja’net Dubois has died at the age of 74.

Dubois was found dead at her home in Glendale on Tuesday morning, Glendale police told USA Today. Her representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment from TheWrap.

The actress starred on the CBS sitcom “Good Times” for five years from 1974 to 1979 as Willona Woods, the gossipy divorcee and next-door neighbor of the Evans family. She went on to appear in a number of film and TV projects, including voicing one of the main characters on the stop-motion animated series “The PJs.”

Also Read: Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2020 (Photos)

Dubois’s work on “The PJs” earned her two Emmys for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance in 1999 and 2001. She also earned a NAACP Image Award nomination in 1998 for a guest appearance on “Touched by an Angel.”

Her other credits include “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka,” “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle,” Moesha,...

Ja’net DuBois, best known for her role as Good Times‘ Willona Woods, died on Tuesday at the age of 74, TMZ reports. A cause of death has not been disclosed.

DuBois rose to fame as Florida and James Evans’ next-door neighbor on the aforementioned Norman Lear sitcom, which ran from 1974-1979. She also co-wrote and sang the iconic Jeffersons theme song “Movin’ On Up.”

More from TVLineGood Times Recap: Was Viola Davis 'Dyn-o-mite'? Grade the Live EpisodeLive in Front of a Studio Audience: Patti Labelle and Anthony Anderson Sing Good Times Theme Song -- WatchLive Good Times Cast: Viola Davis, Andre Braugher,...

1935: Backstage Wife premiered.

1985: Days of our Lives' Tony and Anna were married.

1994: All My Children's Erica found her mother, Mona, dead.

2002: Passions' Timmy died."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1935: Radio soap opera Backstage Wife premiered on the Mutual Broadcasting System (Mbs). The show moved to NBC Blue in 1936, NBC in 1938 and CBS in 1955, where it ran until January 2, 1959. Created by Frank and Anne Hummert, each episode opened with the announcer explaining:

Now, we present once again, Backstage Wife, the story of Mary Noble,...

1935: Backstage Wife premiered.

1985: Days of our Lives' Tony and Anna were married.

1994: All My Children's Erica found her mother, Mona, dead.

2002: Passions' Timmy died."The best prophet of the future is the past."

― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1935: Radio soap opera Backstage Wife premiered on the Mutual Broadcasting System (Mbs). The show moved to NBC Blue in 1936, NBC in 1938 and CBS in 1955, where it ran until January 2, 1959. Created by Frank and Anne Hummert, each episode opened with the announcer explaining:

Now, we present once again, Backstage Wife, the story of Mary Noble, a little Iowa girl who married one of America's most handsome actors,...

[caption id="attachment_48521" align="aligncenter" width="590"] (ABC/Ron Tom.)/caption]

Ain't we lucky we got 'em? Check out these photos of the second season finale of the Black-ish TV show on ABC. In "Good-ish Times," Dre falls asleep watching a Good Times TV show marathon. In his dream, the Johnson family goes back to the 1970s and are transformed into the characters of this classic TV show. The episode airs May 18th.

Black-ish stars Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Laurence Fishburne, Yara Shahidi, Marcus Scribner, Miles Brown, Marsai Martin, and Jenifer Lewis. Guest starring are Peter Mackenzie, Jeff Meacham, Deon Cole, and Catherine Reitman. The cast of the original Good Times TV series includes: BernNadette Stanis, Ralph Carter, Jimmie Walker, Ja'net DuBois, Esther Rolle, John Amos, and Janet Jackson (Miss Jackson, if you're nasty).

Read More…...

The original cast of Norman Lear’s groundbreaking 1970s sitcom Good Times has taken to Kickstarter to fund an original movie the includes the same characters. The Original Good Times Cast Movie brings together all the original stars. The project, which Jimmie “Dyn-o-mite” Walker calls a docu-drama-comedy, is being done to give fans closure on what happened to Lear’s fictional Chicago family. The cast is doing this together outside of rights owner Sony, saying that they are not infringing on the copyright or trademark.

“In the case of Good Times there is going to be a comparison, but it’s not an infringement of copyright,” said Shaun Weiss, who is the attorney for both BernNadette Stanis (who played Thelma in the TV show) and the project. Kevin Fontana is her manager. “What we are doing is bringing a new era into the cast.