Word on the street is, they’re dropping a spin-off of Good Times on Netflix. I (figuratively) ran to YouTube to watch the trailer.
Although Good Times aired their last episodes decades ago in 1979, it has been a feel-good classic in black households all this time.
As you may know, the original sitcom showcases the Evans family as they deal with the hurdles of life as black folks in the Chicago projects. Temporary layoffs, easy credit rip-offs, scratchin and surviving— you get it.
Within the first 20 seconds of tuning into this trailer, I couldn’t help but think, “Is Good Times in the room with us?”
The animated spin-off seems to follow the grandchildren of James and Florida Evans, still in the projects but set in modern day. This generation of Evans includes two parents, a son that is failing in school, a budding pro-black daughter, and a drug dealing baby. At first glance, it gives “caricatures”. Stereotypes. It gives loud, slapstick images of black people. I’ve even seen it written off as a minstrel show.
However, the optimist in me decided to dig a little deeper and watch with my head instead of my heart.
Where have we seen this before?
The Boondocks.
The Boondocks (2006-2014) also depicts wild, stereotypical parodies of black folks in comedic and animated form. But at the end of the day, it always has a relevant theme or moral. And it is, for the most part, an acceptable show to most black people I know.
You come for the comedy, stay for the sprinkle, sprinkle:
It’s a common theme in adult cartoons as well as most elevated comedy. Think: Dave Chapelle. It’s loud, it’s funny, it might offend some people. But at the end of the day, you might just learn something.
As of now, my main qualm with Good Times (2024) is that it seems to have nothing to do with the Evans family besides also being in the projects– three whole generations later, might I add. They could’ve called it Bad Times and that would’ve sat better with me.
But there is a possibility that the franchise route was used as a way to reel in viewers, as well as the big names on board: Wanda Sykes, J.B. Smoove, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jay Pharoah, Marsai Martin and producer, Steph Curry. With Good Times (1974) being widely recognized and beloved, a spin-off is less likely to fail than an indie, original animated series.
I may be completely left field with my hypothesis, but I’m willing to bite the bullet and at least watch the first couple episodes to find out. Will you be tuning in when Good Times hits Netflix on April 12th?
I Can’t Wait To Watch The Show. I’m Excited To See Where They Go With It. Very Well Written Article. Keep Up The Great Work !
You made some great points… im going to give it a try before I judge it by its cover!
I’m with you, I think they just used the name as click bait. It’s seems like it might be a good show, but based off first judgement I might pass on watching.
Friday Shabazz — I applaud your ability to view that trailer with an open mind and consider it with your head instead of your heart. I was admittedly unable to do that. Your well-written description of it as “caricatures, (negative) stereotypes, and slapstick images of black people” is exactly where my observation began and ended. Whoever wrote it off as “a minstrel show” hit the nail on the head. I agree with most of your additional observations, but I question why some of our most well-known and financially successful Black folk (Wanda Sykes, Stef Curry, et al) would lend their names/brands, credibility, and money to what appears to be NOTHING MORE THAN TRASH is both disturbing and disappointing. I understand, somewhat, why artists who are actually scratching and surviving might try to capitalize on furthering negative portrayals of us, but I can’t even begin to understand why anyone who has achieved generational wealth (with our support) would sink that low. The worst thing about the trailer and show to follow is that viewers will be expected to accept as plausible that a talented, intelligent, hard-working family like the original Evans would still be in the projects multiple generations later. Ridiculous! Since Netflix counts the number of viewers to determine if an offering should be continued; I will adamantly refuse to be one of them.
I was thinking the exact thing: Why would those iconic comedians get behind that. I’m not interested in seeing anything negative surrounding our people written as comedy. This was NOTHING like the original. This would have been a good show if the grandchildren showed financial growth because of what they learned from their grandparent’s struggles. I don’t plan on watching, but may because it is possible the trailer didn’t do a good job on depicting the trajectory of the show.