Watch Good Times

TV-PG
1974
6 Seasons
7.4 (7,615)

Good Times was a CBS sitcom that ran from 1974 to 1979. The show follows the Evans family, a working-class African American family living in the Cabrini-Green housing project in Chicago. Esther Rolle played Florida Evans, the matriarch of the family. She was a strong-willed mother who held her family together through tough times. John Amos played her husband, James Evans, a hardworking father who worked multiple jobs to support his family. Their children included J. J. (Jimmie Walker), a struggling artist who loved to make people laugh, Thelma (Bern Nadette Stanis), the eldest daughter who aspired to attend college and become a successful businesswoman, and Michael (Ralph Carter), the youngest child who was wise beyond his years. Joining the family was Willona Woods (Ja'net DuBois), the family's sassy neighbor who provided support and love for the family when they needed it most. Willona was a single woman who worked as a secretary and often served as a confidante for the Evans family. Rounding out the cast were bookkeeper Nathan Bookman (Johnny Brown), who often stopped by the Evans' apartment to collect the rent and offer advice, and the jovial new neighbor, J. J.'s friend, Sweet Daddy (Moses Gunn) in later seasons. The show tackled issues that were relevant to many African American families at the time, such as poverty, violence, and discrimination. The show also addressed issues related to the Vietnam War, unemployment, and housing policies that had a significant impact on the African American community. Despite the challenges they faced, the Evans family maintained a positive outlook on life and always found humor in even the most difficult situations. The show was known for its catchy theme song, composed by Ja'net Dubois and Jeff Barry, which became a hit in its own right. Over the course of its run, Good Times became a beloved show for many viewers who could relate to the everyday struggles of the Evans family. The show's humor, heart, and relatability made it a classic in the sitcom genre. If you want to watch Good Times Online, you can find it on various streaming platforms, such as Hulu or Amazon Prime Video. It is a show that still resonates with audiences today and serves as a reminder of the strength and resilience of African American families in the face of adversity.

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24. Cousin Raymond

January 30, 1980

The Evans home gets a visit from Florida's nephew, Raymond, and hands out gifts for everyone. But Florida refuses to accept them after she learns how he makes his money.

23. The Art Contest

December 13, 1979

J.J. is teaching art, and one of his students, Emily, has great talent. J.J. asks Bookman to bring his painting to an art contest and picks up the wrong one. In fact, he has brought one of Emily's instead. But when it wins first place, will J.J. be man enough to tell them who the artist really is?

22. The Evans' Dilemma

September 18, 1979

Keith has been looking for a job for awhile now, and seems aloof when asked how his day has been. Little do they know that Keith has become an alcoholic.

21. The End of the Rainbow

August 1, 1979

The series final episode ties up all the loose ends, as J.J. now is employed as a graphic artist with a comic book company, and Keith has been secretly working out with the Bears and just signed on as a free agent. Florida is asked to move in with Keith and Thelma inside their new apartment, which happens to be the same building that Willona just signed a lease for. Michael decides he wants to move away and live in a doom, and the biggest surprise of all awaits Thelma, who announces she is pregnant.

20. A Matter of Mothers

July 18, 1979

Willona's newest boyfriend, Jeffery has been lavishing gifts on both Penny and herself. Little do they know that Jeffery has been hired to do this by Penny's birth mother, who is trying to make Willona look like a bad mother so she can get her daughter back.

19. The Physical

July 11, 1979

Florida has an important physical in the morning to keep her job at the bus company. So it may not be the best time for Michael to wind up in jail.

18. J.J. and T.C.

June 20, 1979

J.J. has been the subject of T.C.'s affection since she first met him, and now wants to finally ask him to go to a dance with him. But J.J. has always treated her like one of the guys, that is, until he sees her all dressed up in a bar.

17. Where Have All the Doctors Gone?

June 13, 1979

While Penny is left in Florida's care, she comes down with an illness and is brought to the free clinic to be examined. But after a long wait, Florida is greeted by a grumpy female doctor who is planning on leaving the ghetto behind for a better place. Florida tries to convince her how much she is needed in the ghetto, since none of them can afford to go to a hospital.

16. Blood Will Tell

June 6, 1979

Nothing is plain for Sweet Daddy Williams, including his blood type. It's a rare type in which J.J. just happens to have also, and is 'asked' to give Sweet Daddy a transfusion before he dies. Meanwhile, JJ discovers that Sweet's right hand man wants him dead so he can take over his business.

15. Florida's Favorite Passenger (2)

May 30, 1979

Larry, a child with a hearing problem, nearly loses his life when he almost walks into a broken elevator shaft. But after his check up at the hospital, he reveals he is running away from home, feeling his mother doesn't care for him enough to know he had a hearing problem.

14. Florida's Favorite Passenger (1)

May 23, 1979

Florida takes a young male passenger under her wing when she discovers he has a hearing problem. But for some reason his mother refuses to believe her son has any problems.

13. House Hunting

January 3, 1979

The Evans family have found a house they'd like to move into. But this will all depend on receiving a loan from the bank....

12. The Traveling Christmas

December 20, 1978

Keith's boss at the cab company refuses to let him have Christmas day off. So Florida comes up with the idea of putting on a show at the cab company for the workers who are stuck there.

11. The Snow Storm

December 13, 1978

Florida brings the kids from her school bus into an abandoned building after the bus becomes stuck in a snow storm.

10. The Witness

December 9, 1978

Sweet Daddy's lady, Samantha, has a car accident with a cab, and J.J. is a witness. So Sweet Daddy pressures J.J. into saying the cab driver was at fault, but that driver just happens to be Keith.

9. J.J. and the Plumber's Helper

December 2, 1978

J.J.'s old flame Vanessa has returned and he can't break the news that he no longer has a job. Meanwhile, Bookman has a new female assistant name T.C. who has fallen in love with J.J., but he only has Vanessa on his mind.

8. Michael's Decision

November 8, 1978

Michael feels the apartment has become too full now that Keith has moved in, and makes plans to move in with a white girl. Although Florida is not too happy about the plans, surprisingly, her parents are all for it feeling that Michael will be a good protector of their little girl.

7. J.J. the Teacher

October 21, 1978

J.J. offers to give a young kid free art lessons after seeing how his violent father treats him, but his dad still says no.

6. Stomach Mumps

October 14, 1978

Penny asks Willona questions when her 13-year old friend appears to be pregnant. But Willona is not prepared to tell Penny the truth and explains that she is suffering from the stomach mumps.

5. Florida Gets a Job

October 7, 1978

Both JJ and Florida are looking for work to pay the bills. Florida finds a job as a school bus driver in the want ads, but if Alderman Davis gets his way, the job will be going to one of his relatives.

4. Florida's Homecoming: United We Stand

September 30, 1978

J.J. tries to put on a brave face after the wedding, but Keith can't stop thinking that his career is already over before it began. And it the meantime, Sweet Daddy has sent his goons to collect on the loan J.J. took out.

3. Florida's Homecoming: The Wedding

September 23, 1978

J.J. takes out $1,000 loan from Sweet Daddy Williams, to help pay for the wedding. All goes off without a hitch until Keith trips over a photographer's foot and tears a knee ligament, jeopardizing his contract with the Chicago Bears.

2. Florida's Homecoming (2)

September 16, 1978

There's good news and bad news as Florida finally arrives back from Arizona. She meets her new son-in-law to-be, well, at least he will be as long as Thelma can get past her pre-wedding jitters. Meanwhile, J.J. keeps it quiet that he has lost his job.

1. Florida's Homecoming (1)

September 16, 1978

Everyone gets a happy surprise when they learn that Thelma has been dating a famous football star who is in the process of negotiating a $1,000,000 deal with the Chicago Bears. But when he proposes to Thelma, all she has to do is try to get her mother's blessing.

Description

Joining the family was Willona Woods (Ja'net DuBois), the family's sassy neighbor who provided support and love for the family when they needed it most. Willona was a single woman who worked as a secretary and often served as a confidante for the Evans family. Rounding out the cast were bookkeeper Nathan Bookman (Johnny Brown), who often stopped by the Evans' apartment to collect the rent and offer advice, and the jovial new neighbor, J. J.'s friend, Sweet Daddy (Moses Gunn) in later seasons.

The show tackled issues that were relevant to many African American families at the time, such as poverty, violence, and discrimination. The show also addressed issues related to the Vietnam War, unemployment, and housing policies that had a significant impact on the African American community.

Despite the challenges they faced, the Evans family maintained a positive outlook on life and always found humor in even the most difficult situations. The show was known for its catchy theme song, composed by Ja'net Dubois and Jeff Barry, which became a hit in its own right.

Over the course of its run, Good Times became a beloved show for many viewers who could relate to the everyday struggles of the Evans family. The show's humor, heart, and relatability made it a classic in the sitcom genre.

If you want to watch Good Times Online, you can find it on various streaming platforms, such as Hulu or Amazon Prime Video. It is a show that still resonates with audiences today and serves as a reminder of the strength and resilience of African American families in the face of adversity.

Good Times is a series that is currently running and has 6 seasons (210 episodes). The series first aired on February 8, 1974.

Where to Watch Good Times

Good Times is available for streaming on the CBS website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Good Times on demand at Apple TV.