Good Times | James Has A Meltdown | The Norman Lear Effect

Once he learns he's been laid off, James (John Amos) has a little breakdown in front of his family.
From Season 1, Episode 12 'The Check Up': James does not want to go to the doctor for a physical checkup. Florida and the children tell him he needs to go because they depend on him.
Watch more Good Times here: AAN.SonyPicture...
Subscribe to The Norman Lear Effect channel: bit.ly/TheNorm...
Follow us on social:
Facebook: / officialgoodtimes
About Good Times: Life in the Chicago projects is never easy, however, the Evans family never gives up trying to make the best of things.
#GoodTimes #JamesEvans #BestMoments
Good Times | James Has A Meltdown | The Norman Lear Effect
/ thenormanleareffect

[@errolthomas9426]

Gone but never forgotten. Rest in peace John Amos 1938-2024.

[@rht100]

Every father who puts food on the table knows exactly what James feels like. An incredible performance.

[@acebrandon3522]

Damm straight!!! Work like a dog, pack like a mule but the weekends are for the love ones. 😍

[@bz3105]

Bingo.

[@pocahontasseguinart7099]

Immature dads like my evil step dad

[@KtotheG]

@@pocahontasseguinart7099 Your dad gave you life. Honor your parents. You don't know what's like to be a man.

[@peter.4015]

Amen.

[@jamesorsby7553]

Florida screaming "James no" was so dramatic, and funny. She acted her butt off on that show.

[@reggiecarter7167]

Yesss! Now that I’m older I have soo much love and respect for her! She is such an amazing actress!

[@evonza4858]

They All did 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾❤️🖤💚🥰❤️🖤💚

[@angelminaj617]

She overacted

[@jamesorsby7553]

@@angelminaj617 Sometimes, that's what needs to happen to get the point across.

[@six3reggie]

I loved it

[@edwinbrown8509]

When James was about to throw the chair 00:48 JJ hid behind Michael for two reasons. 1. Because he respected James 2. Because he feared for his life 😨

[@Regreviews]

No lie...JJ was pretty sensible that episode

[@ghanasoul]

HA! Good one. They way Jimmie delivered that line was hilarious.

[@j.i.r608]

He hid behind Thelma, not Michael

[@jjbing3]

@@j.i.r608He hid behind Michael the first time. 👀

[@dreamquesttv]

​@@j.i.r608 He knew Thelma was the tough one! 😅

[@russdiggity3060]

I been through this before...it hurts physically, mentally and emotionally when you feel the world around you is falling apart

[@DanielCochranSC]

Thank God for his help in those times. The irony here is the short list of help is in the book of James Chapter 1 *wink* God bless

[@LoopyLemon775]

Rip James, Truly a legendary actor and Played the most stoic father figure I’ve ever seen in television. 🕊

[@MrWolfchamp-xi3cu]

That "JAMES NO!!" 😁😁

[@FomorViceroy]

Florida mentioning she was a maid was, I believe, the only reference ever made to Maude; the series this was spun out of.

[@1talldaddy]

you gotta love the audience response to it.

[@jenniferwilliams5478]

All In The Family- Maude- Good Times

[@evohumans]

@jenniferwilliams5478 The Jeffersons was a spin off of All In The Family too.

[@dreamquesttv]

They actually made a reference to Roots in one episode. Only time the show really broke the fourth wall. "He's making more money than US, now."

[@CartoonMitchell]

They should have stayed where they were. James was a fireman there and they seemed better off.

[@85futureshock]

One of the first scenes in a sitcom to honestly deal with mental health.

[@kennethharden9191]

Yeah,but mental health wasn't an emphasis back then than it is today.

[@SRLovesPandas1]

@@kennethharden9191 true, that's why it was groundbreaking for the time then

[@darkman7010]

All of you are correct.

[@ddjj8]

This is not about mental health this is way deeper than any of you understand. This is a world that is crashing down on a man and he's not afraid of it crashing down on him he's afraid of it crashing down on his family. This has absolutely nothing to do with mental health nor is it actually pride. 🤬😡

[@cgore4]

And the second one was 30 years later in a South Park episode. We are still waiting on the third one.

[@Steve-mp7by]

3:54 JJ hiding behind Thelma was smart because he not gonna hit her with the chair 😄

[@AngelHoll]

Exactly because he loves her and she's his only daughter!!!

[@mikekillagreen9432]

😂😂😂

[@katfauber8631]

He’d never hit a woman

[@Eddie-61864]

1 because I respect you and 2 because i'm scared of you!😂

[@tonytaylor4545]

No matter what "GoodTimes" is a true classic.....

[@marcelledecoteau4353]

Like it when James saw how scared he was making his own children

[@mickeyphillips6603]

James is one of my favorite TV dads.

[@millenniumman75]

The whole set shook when he slammed the door!

[@georgiablackman9661]

That's a man's man for you

[@DaddyOfTheSugarVariety]

John Amos was a great actor.

[@kallen868]

Still is!

[@RenzaBossDaddy]

Was or is? You do know he’s still alive.

[@evonza4858]

Correction he STILL is❤️🖤💚🥰❤️🖤💚

[@evonza4858]

​@@RenzaBossDaddyhe's very much alive more alive than Norman Lear who killed him off the show🤔❤️🖤💚🥰❤️🖤💚

[@anateali7186]

He still is

[@bradley8867]

James is my all time fav tv 📺 Dad

[@williamhaynes4800]

#1 James Evans, SR #2 Ward Cleaver #3 Phillip Banks #4 Carl Winslow #5 Al Bundy 😁

[@centuryrox]

1. Archie Bunker 2. James Evans 3. Michael Brady

[@freddy8479]

Some would also say Andy Taylor Ben Cartwright Lucas McCain Tom Corbett

[@OneMinuteChickens]

RIP John Amos. Better acting and dialogue in this clip than most "top tier" movies today.

[@rosrychaplet]

THERE IS DIGNITY IN ALL WORK.

[@w.a.franklin4739]

Let's not get carried away with that "there is this dignity in all work" rhetorical.

[@josebro352]

Even prostitution? Hmmmm.

[@JonathanHebrews]

Not onlyFans.

[@lesliemiros6743]

That's true

[@Tizoc69]

@@w.a.franklin4739shut up bootlicker

[@m42037]

It looks like a man that's had enough of this fkd up world

[@angholloway5091]

Agreed

[@blt4life112]

The world is what it is. It was here long before we were and it was much tougher back then. If you can't handle reality, you've lost.

[@albihysenaj5997]

@@blt4life112 the world is much tougher now

[@donbuyshousescash4765]

YES SIR...

[@leelohaskin7941]

​@@blt4life112and you're probably the main one lost in the sauce now so stfů

[@spockboy]

John Amos and Esther Rolle were phenomenal actors on Good Times.

[@Gumbier_Than]

John Amos is still alive.

[@poohwilliams4544]

Facts 💯 💯

[@spockboy]

@@Gumbier_Than I know, I meant they "were" phenomenal actors on Good Times. Point taken though : )

[@AngelHoll-pr8fz]

​@spockboy but jimmy walker and bernadette they made the sitcom funny!!!

[@ChloeSumner-dq2cn]

RIP John Amos🕊️

[@Aakino]

R.i.p., John Amos! We loved you, dad! 😢 💐🌹💐

[@jonwmeyer11]

James should've just opened McDowels and competed with McDonalds.

[@T-Dawg94]

“Coming To America”

[@jakep1979]

McDowell: Son, I'm only going to tell you this one time. Akeem: Yes? McDowell: If you want to keep working here, stay off the drugs.

[@illuminatecomics]

😂😂😂😂 HILARIOUS

[@Petequinn741]

Lol

[@cicolasnage5684]

They got the Golden Arches… we got the golden arcs!

[@docdee770]

It's called, "teamwork". I pitched in and got a paper route one summer for my family. Me and my sisters went to school with new threads that fall because of me. 💰

[@janeentumbao8690]

Proud of you! 🎉❤🎉❤🎉❤

[@raiden25256666]

How is JJ hiding behind Michael 😂😂😂

[@DoubeEdged7]

He also hid behind Thelma

[@queenettajones5510]

R I.P John Amos 😢❤🙏🕊️. You were one of the greatest tv dads ever!

[@Truckergregg]

Amen; all work is important to us all.

[@Hupomone]

James Evans- legend.

[@blt4life112]

If it wasn't for Florida, James temper and pride would have landed him in jail a long time ago.

[@tripfisk4246]

Very intelligent observation and this was a very good show. I watched reruns almost every day growing up.

[@RalphSmith-cj5he]

The nostalgia of these old CBS comedies is overwhelming at times. The show's today on 📺 are goat tripe😂

[@rtususian]

This series was the best when James was on it. It just wasn't the same after he was fired at the beginning of Season 4.

[@centuryrox]

Totally agree. There were a handful of good episodes without him (mainly Penny's mother episodes), but nowhere like the first 3 seasons.

[@frankieseward8667]

@@centuryrox the ratings definitely fell after he left.

[@rtususian]

@@centuryrox Yes I always loved how Norman Lear would mix drama with comedy on his sitcoms, usually when it's done by others it seems silly and a waste of time and insincere and corny but for some reason it seems to resonate more with me when it's done under Norman Lear's direction. It seems more like real life, where comedy and drama mix.

[@centuryrox]

@@rtususian That's exactly what I loved about Good Times. Not only was it funny, but almost every episode had a very serious or heartbreaking scene in it, which made it feel all that more real for the viewer. The viewer could really relate to watching this family struggle to make ends meet, only to be knocked down by some tragedy or stroke of bad luck. You could really feel for them emotionally.

[@adriennerobinson1180]

Yes,Most of us say the same thing.

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Rip John A ❤😢

[@d757gaming]

Sad 😢

[@manofmanyinterests]

Now THIS was the series at its best. No clowning, but the truth. It is a SHAME that the series devolved into being a cartoon.

[@cwp4eva]

Notice how it happened after he left

[@ghanasoul]

@@cwp4eva to be honest, the clowning happened before Mr. Amos left when the “JJ” character caught on with audiences. I think it would’ve been funnier if “JJ” was only just a wisecracking type of guy and not so silly. The jumping around, the silly walk, showing how skinny he was etc was a bit much.

[@jamesorsby7553]

@@ghanasoul All of that is the reason Esther Rolle said that she left the show. The writers were turning JJ into a stereotype, and she didn't like that.

[@charlessedlacek5754]

Same thing happened to reganald vel Johnson on family matters after uerkle became popular..

[@keithharrison9797]

James was indeed the strong father figure !

[@samuelgriffin4167]

When James picked up that chair it reminded of an angry Steve Wilkos

[@AngelHoll-pr8fz]

Oh ok

[@mickey_hp4617]

Exactly with him screaming GET OFF MY STAGE

[@Ghostrider-71]

Great show, brings back TV memories from my childhood.

[@edwinbrown8509]

James was a great Father, but sometimes he had too much pride.

[@erikbunty2016]

And a bit of a temper, too.

[@rtususian]

He and Florida had some good scenes on MAUDE too that tackled that subject, especially when he wanted Florida to quit her maid job with Maude's family.

[@evonza4858]

He's supposed to have pride❤️🖤💚🥰❤️🖤💚

[@evonza4858]

​@@rtususiantrue Good Times is a spin off of Maude❤️🖤💚🥰❤️🖤💚

[@evonza4858]

​@@erikbunty2016if you were overworked and underpaid you may act like that too ❤️🖤💚😘

[@michaellurie9138]

R.I.P. John Amos

[@mossgeorge2001]

3:56 that look of wait a minute my own family is afraid of me, that's what did it for him.

[@mikekillagreen9432]

Yesss

[@samuelgriffin4167]

James Evans strong dad and loving husband he made sure he keeps his family on point but struggled to find long term employment

[@AngelHoll]

The evans parent's have 4 children right? Isn't Penny thier daughter also 2 son's and 2 daughter's right?

[@alishashay17]

@@AngelHollno . Florida & James have 3 kids( JJ, Thelma & Michael) Penny is Willona Woods adopted daughter

[@AngelHoll]

@@alishashay17 oh ok thanks!!!

[@bigwillietheb]

if they would have kept John Amos the final episode might have been sweeter than what it was

[@dmonsterlove]

John amos laughed when heard that lollipop joke😂❤

[@MrWolfchamp-xi3cu]

Pluto needs to get the rights to this and play it on Black Classics or any of the channels with classic sitcoms.

[@ritabonner888]

Good Times is on TV One every Friday and Saturday

[@rowendacarter8790]

It's also on metv

[@gerrenallmon6999]

You can also watch it Peacock and Freevee

[@wsmith580]

Going thru the same bs in 2024, nothing's changed.

[@steelionx9255]

That zoom in at the very end was excellent. Fits very well.

[@dbrown9495]

Right on Florida!

[@G-POWER.46-lx9hi]

JAMES. WAS A GOOD DAD&MAN. HE WAS DOING HIS BEST TO SUPPORT HIS FAMILY. BUT LIFE KEEP ON BEATING HIM DOWN... BUT HE KEEP ON GETTING UP!!!

[@JamieKkos]

THEE best, most disciplined and loving father on TV. For me hands down.

[@joblack1838]

One of the best tv shows ever

[@nickc7494]

Excellent show!

[@justanadams9430]

In Loving Memory Of Norman Milton Lear July 27th, 1922-December 5, 2023. Thanks For The Legacy Of The Television Shows Like Good Times, Sanford And Son,The Jeffersons,Maude And All In The Family.

[@roosterwilson6702]

One of the best shows ever. Well written.

[@thiqboi]

Back when they didn't make the man of the house look like a buffoon. This is all my family used to watch when we was younger.

[@adriennerobinson1180]

Truth Indeed

[@michellehebert5061]

Not having enough money to cover all expenses is more than enough to cause stress and hypertension.

[@pedropoloma1205]

Good show...wish we coulda gotten more of John Amos.

[@Rallisport]

Norman Lear helped raise us all.

[@e.l.norton]

Society needs to see these old shows. They should be on prime time.

[@beckyshell4649]

The show was doomed after James was killed off. Then when Flordia remarried and left the kids to fend for themselves it was so unbelievable of her character. It was a decent show for the times but I think it had run its course. A show with kids in it has a difficult time transitioning when the kids grow up.

[@erikbunty2016]

And her second husband also died, of lung cancer.

[@MelissaThompson432]

I think I agree with John Amos, that the show killed off James because the quality of the show was deteriorating. He wanted creative input and they didn't like it. He wanted it more true to life. They wanted more "dy-no-MITE."

[@kelvinbremont1341]

I’m surprised that they didn’t end the show when James was killed off! Sure it would have been a very sad ending to a great show but it just wasn’t the same without him.

[@conniecanas1422]

​@erikbunty2016 they never said he died. They just didn't memrion him anymore

[@MelissaThompson432]

@@conniecanas1422 he was killed "off screen" in a car wreck, and there was a big flap when Florida initially seemed not to accept that he was really dead.

[@charlesromanelli503]

Poor guy. I always felt for him.

[@ozzpockettriesbassguitar5647]

They never should have gotten rid of John Amos.....big mistake.

[@raymondsolisjr.1262]

Yes it was

[@MrPatrickworthington]

They didn't get rid of him. The show began to focus on Jmmie Walker which Amos thought was a mistake. So he quit. It turned out he was right.

[@m.p.776]

Amos quit of his own accord. I am not sure, but I think he didn't want to be second-fiddle to Jimmie Walker's character. IMO it was a prideful mistake.

[@christiansoldier77]

@@MrPatrickworthington No thats not why . He wanted more money and they said no so he left

[@MrPatrickworthington]

@@christiansoldier77 Wrong. Alda wished to make season 10 (1981-1982) M*A*S*H's last, but was persuaded by CBS to produce a slightly shortened 11th season, coupled with a farewell movie finale, at the request of CBS.

[@mattstiles-ok8yz]

RIP JOHN AMOS

[@debraethan8920]

One of the best shows on TV. Family values. Love for each other & the Lord. Ahead of it's time. Both old fashioned & progressive.

[@xphiles2345]

man that voice makes me think of Coming to America at around 2:42 looks like he's trying not to laugh

[@hayatorpg3896]

JJ cracked James with the lollipop Joke 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@marcy-brooklyn161]

When she said when she was a maid she was talking about the show "Maud" and James was her husband on that show also

[@MichaelBradley1967]

Funny though, how Maude was in NY and Good Times was in Chicago.

[@amitypredator9385]

​@@MichaelBradley1967and I believe James was named Henry on Maude.

[@MichaelBradley1967]

@@amitypredator9385 IMDB agrees.

[@waltonsimons12]

@@MichaelBradley1967 Must've been one helluva long commute. 🙂

[@mcgannahanskyjellyfetti6854]

...possibly the ONLY _Maude_ reference in the ENTIRE series? 🤔 1:43

[@1talldaddy]

and they didn't even mentioned Maude.

[@2jacksplat]

Do the best job no matter what job you are given. That's how you get ahead in life.

[@i.am.king89]

2:43 - James also cracked 😂

[@holyonekanobi]

He saw that face jj made 😂

[@dinoc734]

I had 4 fathers growing up: James Evans Sr., Charles Ingalls, Mr. Drummond for Different Stroke, and of course dad.

[@tanyanelson8780]

My dad list is James Evans, Steven Keaton,Hank hill.

[@bigwillietheb]

I had the same , but 1 addition Al Bundy

[@fletchkeilman2205]

John Amos is an awesome actor and human being. Glad he is still around

[@demethiaodom6837]

He really had too much pride. I dont understand why he wouldn't let Florida work. 3 kids to feed and no job. Somebody has to pay the bills.

[@mcgannahanskyjellyfetti6854]

James is old school with the belief of him out working while Florida stays home to do the housework...

[@conniecanas1422]

​@@mcgannahanskyjellyfetti6854his old school thinking kept them poor

[@12ezkobar]

Never bring home a bad report card

[@FlyingV3rd]

Or cheat on your school test.

[@MARINEdadUSMC]

Need more dads like James in 2 days world

[@AmandaDragmire]

black fathers?

[@janeentumbao8690]

​@@AmandaDragmire Men in general. We could definitely use more black men like him too.

[@janeentumbao8690]

today's world. Not two days...😂

[@AmandaDragmire]

@@janeentumbao8690 I dunno- crime stats would suggest 13% is already WAAAY too much

[@KKPsi-TubaDawg]

John Amos is an excellent actor. I had the privilege of seeing him do his one man show entitled Halley's Comet when I was a student. It was a great performance.

[@grahambrown1980]

I used to watch Good Times on ch. 48 on Prime (maybe few others) on a Sony Trinitron big screen colour TV (nothing like my big 65 incher now mounted on my wall, also a Sony) back in the early 2000’s. I’m not a dad, but I can just feel the dynamics here. The stress wears people down.

[@josephnolan8217]

Such an amazing cast and great storylines.

[@EVILKIRK-i5o]

JJ in his nature defense mode hiding behind Thema! LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

[@AngelHoll-pr8fz]

Yeah jimmie walker and bernadette have beautiful and natural chemistry!!!

[@EVILKIRK-i5o]

@@AngelHoll-pr8fz True Classic indeed!

[@SL-cl9gt]

James was a man’s man

[@samuelgriffin4167]

J.J. spoke the truth about his father about he respects him

[@Eddie-61864]

And feared him lol😂

[@erikbunty2016]

He knew James would have knocked him into the next century if he got out of line.

[@blt4life112]

John and Esther are so great. They make it look so easy.

[@davisstarsha3630]

I understand the frustration but also James should control his emotions

[@kjwraggs]

R.I.P Mr. John Amos, I will always watch your episode on Good Times

[@sharonjackson268]

RIP JOHN AMOS😢😢😢

[@wayneadams9102]

i had a teacher in high school who used to say "In all work, there is honor." :)

[@EVILKIRK-i5o]

JJ said I had a dream of a flying chair! LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

[@mikekillagreen9432]

He was the best actor on the show. It died a little when he left.

[@mikhailabunidal9146]

1:48-1:57 👏 Bless you Flo Evans ! BLESS YOU ! REST PEACEFULLY!

[@PlayingInVestapol]

@2:44 - You can see John almost breaks character.

[@josejordan2803]

I really wish there more shows like Good Times. Though it was product of the times, it still showed the reality of life, but that the family can push forward together. What great writing on this show. A true classic.

[@TacMedTV]

James Evans is the best TV Dad, no question.

[@RDJR007]

Best father ever. I used to watch this amazing show with amazing actors.

[@hankking9007]

James couldn't help it. It's that damn tough society

[@DKingillustrator]

3:58 The audience failed the vibe check

[@sbrecke1507]

JJ hides behind Thelma 😆😆😆

[@harperstacey9604]

He hid behind Michael, not Thelma. From Ms. Harper Stacey.

[@sbrecke1507]

@@harperstacey9604 3:56 he's hiding behind Thelma

[@harperstacey9604]

@@sbrecke1507 sorry, I didn't see that part. From Ms. Harper Stacey.

[@sbrecke1507]

@@harperstacey9604 it's alright! I watched it again to double check! I love Good Times!

[@harperstacey9604]

@@sbrecke1507 the show wasn't the same when James was killed in a car accident. From Ms. Harper Stacey.

[@poohwilliams4544]

Love this show greatest ever

[@holyonekanobi]

When James grabbed the chair 😂

[@ajwilson6793]

Thank you 🙏

[@niabelizaire3596]

RIP John Amos 💔🪦🥀🙏🏾🕊️

[@jamesrodriquez2863]

Watching these clips at 57 years of age is so different than when I was a youngster. I so clearly understand what the show was portraying. It's sad to know that even after all these years and decades since it was on the air, the issues the show deals with are still relevant today.

[@lemurianchick]

But dealt with in a more respectful way than this woke crap.

[@waltonsimons12]

@@lemurianchick "Good Times" WAS "woke crap." The term didn't exist back then, of course, but if it had, that's what the haters would've called it.

[@impactvoice12]

My Dad reminded me of James Evans always taking care of his family .

[@lucyfuir6386]

I love good times it was a staple in my house growing up in the 80s