The upcoming Good Times animated series has already been met with negative reactions. The trailer for the reboot produced by Norman Lear, Seth MacFarlane and Stephen Curry for Netflix is sparking outrage online.
The original Good Times aired for six seasons from 1974 to 1979 on CBS. This sitcom about a black family living in Chicago’s public housing projects became a television classic.
The Hollywood Reporter reached out to two members of the cast of “Good Times” from the 1970s. John Amos plays family patriarch James Evans. Bernie Nadette Stennis plays Therma Ivins Anderson, the daughter of James Ivins.
“I can’t really form an opinion because I haven’t seen any of the episodes,” John Amos said. The 84-year-old actor also wished the new version of “Good Times” all the best, but admitted it would be difficult to live up to the quality of the 1970s version.
Original ‘Good Times’ star guest stars in Netflix version
Bernie Nadette Stennis has confirmed she’s voicing a character in the new show “Good Times.” Additionally, Jimmy Walker, who played James “JJ” Evans Jr. in the original film, also makes a cameo in the Netflix animated series.
“I did a little bit of vocals for them, but I didn’t know it was going to be like this. I thought it would be different,” Bernadette Stannis said. She added, “But I think they did it because they knew what their show was going to look like. So I guess they thought if you put us out there, it wouldn’t look that bad or whatever.”
Producers part ways with reboot due to creative differences
Carl Jones has received producer credit for his work on Netflix’s “Good Times,” but the former “The Boondocks” producer has distanced himself from the show. On March 28, Jones announced on social media that he would no longer be involved in the show’s production.
“For the record, I was involved with the Good Times animated series from the beginning but had to leave due to creative differences. So I haven’t even seen an episode or script of this version of the show,” Carl Jones tweeted Specially written.
Showrunners compare Good Times to other animated sitcoms
JB Smoove (Reggie Evans), Yvette Nicole Brown (Beverly Evans), Jay Pharoah (Jr. Evans), Marsai Martin (Gray Evans) and Slink Johnson (Darwin Evans) Si) formed the voice cast of the animated film “Good Times”. The show will premiere on April 12.
“It’s about a black family coming together, laughing together, and surviving the system on Chicago’s South Side,” showrunner Ranada Shepherd said of “Good Times.” “You’re going to get a lot of social commentary from it, a lot of boundary-pushing, a lot of feel-good TV, but also a lot of stuff that might be in the vein of ‘The Simpsons,’ ‘South Park’ and ‘Family’ Guy.”
