First
Episode: Friday 1 February 1974 / 8.30pm
Last Episode: Wednesday 1 August 1979 / 8.30pm
Producer: Norman Lear
Sitcom
which was in fact a spin off (from Maude)
of a spin off (which itself emerged from All
in the Family). Esther Roles had been
appearing in Maude as Maude's maid, so popular
was she that it was decided to give her her own
series. The show focused on the family life of
Florida Evans and her family, husband James and
their three kids, J.J., Thelma and Michael. The
family lived in a somewhat ghettoised part of
Chicago's South Side. The family didn't have
much money and James had a succession of jobs.
The kids, especially J.J. (who had numerous get
rich quick schemes) did their best to help.
J.J.'s catchphrase was "Dy-Na-Mite".
The biggest change in the series came during the
1976 season when Florida's husband was killed
off in a car accident. Later Florida began to
date shop owner Carl Dixon and later married
him.
Briefly during 1977 Esther left the show, along
with her husband in the show. (she had become
disenchanted with the shows portrayal of black
life and Amos had been written out as a result
of an interview with Ebony magazine in which he
aired a number of grudges and grievances towards
the show) leaving the kids on their own (albeit
looked after by neighbour Willona Woods).
Esther soon returned to the show (minus her
husband Carl) and the series carried on much as
before even though the network had promised her
some changes to the show. When ratings began to
fall in late 1978 it was decided to cancel the
show at the end of the following season which at
least gave the writers chance to work out happy
endings.
Cast
Esther Rolle as Florida Evans / JOHN AMOS as
James Evans (1974-76) / JIMMIE WALKER as James
Evans Jr (J.J.) / 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 (1977-79) / JANET JACKSON as Penny
Gordon Woods (1977-79) / BEN POWERS as Keith
Anderson (1978-79) / THEODORE WILSON as Sweet
Daddy (1978-79)
USA
/ CBS/ x30m-e / 1974-79
Sitcom
which was in fact a spin off (from Maude)
of a spin off (which itself emerged from All
in the Family). Esther Roles had been
appearing in Maude as Maude's maid, so popular
was she that it was decided to give her her own
series. The show focused on the family life of
Florida Evans and her family, husband James and
their three kids, J.J., Thelma and Michael. The
family lived in a somewhat ghettoised part of
Chicago's South Side. The family didn't have
much money and James had a succession of jobs.
The kids, especially J.J. (who had numerous get
rich quick schemes) did their best to help.
J.J.'s catchphrase was "Dy-Na-Mite".
