Good Times 2024 Tv Series Review Trailer

 If you've ever tuned in for a glimpse of life through the window pane, you're probably familiar with the iconic theme from "Good Times" and the resilient Evans family, who face the challenges of survival in the Chicago projects.

You can remember moments like when Michael struggled to convince his parents about Jesus' ethnicity.

Creators: Ranada Shepard, Carl Jones

Stars: J.B. Smoove, Yvette Nicole Brown, Marsai Martin

Do you remember the time J.J.'s father he confronted neighborhood troublemakers who were trying to recruit him into their gang.

Remember when matriarch Florida turned down a lucrative endorsement deal after discovering the product was laced with alcohol?

“Good Times,” the groundbreaking television series that aired for six seasons in the 1970s, was packed with poignant life lessons.

Despite facing weekly trials and temptations, the family generally chose the morally sound path, a distinction not shared by the creators and actors and that tarnishes the show's legacy today. The family, as the nostalgic theme suggests, may still be "surviving", but is now perpetuating stereotypes and sensationalism.

The modern version introduces the next generation of Evans: Reggie, the taxi driver father; Beverly, the money-conscious mother; Junior, the aspiring artist son; Grey, the activist daughter; and Dalvin, the infant involved in drug dealing.

Yes, you read that correctly: a drug dealer baby.

Of course, the original show had its own flaws. When John Amos, who played stern patriarch James Evans Sr., raised objections about the show's decline into buffoonery, he was immediately fired and his character met a tragic end.

“The truth is, when the show started, there were no African-American writers on board,” Amos later revealed. "Some of the scripts, including those of my character and others, were problematic and provoked my objections."

Amos' departure did not sit well with Esther Rolle, the actress who played his wife. She had insisted from the beginning of the show that her TV family should include a father figure, even in the midst of adversity.

“I introduced the concept of a black father to this nation,” Rolle said. “It had never been done before and I took a stance saying I won't do it unless there is a husband for my children.”

Rolle eventually left the series, but instead of killing off her character, she was sent on an extended honeymoon with a new romantic interest.

Despite Rolle's eventual return, the damage had already been done. The essence of “Good Times” had dissipated, along with its audience.

When “Good Times” premiered in 1975, it was a pioneering portrait of a two-parent African-American household. Audiences of all backgrounds tuned in to witness the resilience of the Evans family in the midst of adversity.

So for producers, including the Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry, to associate their project with this TV classic is the height of disrespect.

For those who can't understand the meaning, imagine if a talentless pirate desecrated “Seinfeld” or “Sex and the City.” That's the level of reverence that “Good Times” has in the black community.

Whats Next? Will “The Jeffersons” abandon their luxury apartment for a rat-infested project home? Will "Sanford and Son" sell ghost guns in their junkyard?

Netflix could have released the new show independently without sullying the legacy of “Good Times.” But based on the trailer, the show faces a bigger problem: it simply lacks humor.

All ten episodes of “Good Times” will be available on Netflix starting April 12.

Before subjecting myself to this parody, I'd rather relive J.J.'s infectious "Dy-No-Mite" catchphrase over and over again.

Watch Good Times 2024 Tv Series Trailer