Good Times was a spin-off from Maude, which in turn was a spin-off from All In The Family. Florida Evans was originally Maude Findlay's maid until, in the spring of 1974, she got a show of her own. Florida and James Evans were lower middle-class blacks living with their three children in a high-rise ghetto on the south side of Chicago. J.J. was the oldest, Thelma was a year younger than he, and Michael was five years younger than she, 10 when the series started.
Trying to make ends meet on the erratic income provided by James, who was always in and out of jobs, made life difficult, but there was always plenty of love in the family. J.J. was an accomplished amateur painter who, though going to trade school, was always looking for some get-rich-quick scheme. His catch phrase "Dy-No-Mite" became very popular in the mid 1970s.
Cast and Characters
Esther Rolle as Florida Evans
John Amos as James Evans (1974-1976)
Jimmie Walker a James Evans Jr. (JJ)
Ja'net Dubois as Willona Woods
Ralph Carter as Michael Evans
Bernadette Stanis as Thelma Evans Anderson
Moses Gunn as Carl Dixon (1977)
Johnny Brown as Nathan Bookman (1977-1979)
Janet Jackson as Penny Gordon Woods (1977-1979)
Ben Powers as Keith Anderson (1978-1979)
Theodore Wilson as Sweet Daddy (1978-1979)
Broadcast History First Telecast: February 8, 1974 Last Telecast: August 1, 1979 Number of Episodes: 133
Number of Seasons: 6
Original Network: CBS
February 1974 - September 1974, CBS, Friday 8:30 - 9:00pm
September 1974 - March 1976, CBS, Tuesday 8:00 - 8:30pm
March 1976 - August 1976, CBS, Tuesday 8:30 - 9:00pm
September 1976 - January 1978, CBS, Wednesday 8:00 - 8:30pm
January 1978 - May 1978, CBS, Monday 8:00 - 8:30pm
June 1978- September 1978, CBS, Monday 8:30 - 9:00pm
September 1978 - December 1978, CBS, Saturday 8:30 - 9:00pm
May 1979 - August 1979, CBS, Wednesday 8:30 - 9:00pm
Theme Song Lyrics and Opening Credits
"Good Times" by Jime Gilstrap and Blinky Williams
Good Times.
Any time you meet a payment.
Good Times.
Any time you need a friend.
Good Times.
Any time you're out from under.
Not getting hastled, not getting hustled.
Keepin' your head above water,
Making a wave when you can.
Temporary lay offs.
Good Times.
Easy credit rip offs.
Good Times.
Scratchin' and surviving.
Good Times.
Hangin in a chow line
Good Times.
Ain't we lucky we got 'em
Good Times.
Shows 
Good Times was a spin-off from Maude, which in turn was a spin-off from All In The Family. Florida Evans was originally Maude Findlay's maid until, in the spring of 1974, she got a show of her own. Florida and James Evans were lower middle-class blacks living with their three children in a high-rise ghetto on the south side of Chicago. J.J. was the oldest, Thelma was a year younger than he, and Michael was five years younger than she, 10 when the series started.
