Good Times: Thelma's African Romance: Part 1


5:00 pm - 5:30 pm, Monday, November 24 on WKOW Catchy Comedy (27.2)

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About this Broadcast
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Thelma's African Romance: Part 1

Season 4, Episode 15

Thelma falls for an African exchange student. First of two parts.

repeat 1977 English
Comedy Sitcom Spin-off

Cast & Crew
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Esther Rolle (Actor) .. Florida Evans
Jimmie Walker (Actor) .. James `J.J.' Evans Jr.
Ja'net Dubois (Actor) .. Willona Woods
BernNadette Stanis (Actor) .. Thelma Evans
Johnny Sekka (Actor) .. Ibe Wubila
Vernee Watson (Actor) .. Valerie
Bob Harcum (Actor) .. Richard

More Information
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Did You Know..
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Esther Rolle (Actor) .. Florida Evans
Born: November 08, 1920
Died: November 17, 1998
Birthplace: Pompano Beach, Florida, United States
Trivia: The ninth in a family of 18 children, Esther Rolle left her family's Florida home for New York once she came of age. She worked her way through Hunter College, Spellman College and the New School for Social Research. Even after her 1962 New York stage debut in The Blacks, Esther was compelled to hold down a day job in the city's garment district. She appeared in such Broadway productions as The Crucible and Blues for Mr. Charlie, and toured extensively with Robert Hooks' Negro Ensemble Company. Her breakthrough role was Florida the maid in the 1972 Norman Lear sitcom Maude. Though she balked at playing a domestic, Rolle was impressed by Florida's independence and pugnaciousness. In February of 1973, the Florida character was spun off into her own series, Good Times, the saga of a tightly-knit black family surviving in the Chicago projects. Rolle welcomed the series as an opportunity to depict a poor but proud African-American family with a strong father figure (played by John Amos) at the center. But when Amos, upset that co-star Jimmie "J.J." Walker was dominating the series, left Good Times in 1974, Rolle echoed the words of such groups as the National Black Media Coalition in chastising the renovated series, wherein an irresponsible, wisecracking teenaged cut-up was now "head" of the household. When her contract ran out in 1977, Esther joined John Amos in bolting Good Times. After a year of pursuing other projects -- one of which, the made-for-TV film Summer of My German Soldier, won Rolle an Emmy -- she was back on Good Times, having been assured that she would be given full script approval and that the J.J. character had matured. But by this time, audiences had wearied of Good Times, and the series was cancelled in 1979. Since that time, Rolle has hardly wanted for work: her most recent credits include the strong role of Idella in the 1989 Oscar-winner Driving Miss Daisy, the starring part of the black owner of a Jewish deli in the 1990 sitcom Singer and Son, and a guest appearance as the dying Mammy in the 1994 Gone with the Wind sequel Scarlet. In addition, Esther Rolle has been nominated honorary chairperson of the President's Committee on the Employment of the Handicapped, and has been honored with several Image Awards from the NAACP.
Jimmie Walker (Actor) .. James `J.J.' Evans Jr.
Born: June 25, 1947
Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States
Trivia: Thin, jug-eared, and rubber-faced black comedian Jimmie Walker is best remembered for playing J.J. on the sitcom Good Times (1974-1979). His exuberant "Dyno-mite!!" was briefly a popular catch phrase back then. Walker made his feature film debut in Sing Thanksgiving (1974). Following the demise of his show, Walker embarked upon a modest film career and carried on with his standup career. He occasionally showed up on television talk shows and in 70's retrospectives, not afraid to poke fun at his '70s persona.
Ja'net Dubois (Actor) .. Willona Woods
Born: August 05, 1938
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Trivia: Black supporting actress Ja'net DuBois first appeared onscreen in 1970.
BernNadette Stanis (Actor) .. Thelma Evans
Born: December 22, 1953
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Trivia: Entered Miss Black America pageants as a teen, and as Miss Brooklyn eventually won first runner-up in the Miss New York State contest. Auditioned for role of Thelma Evans on the CBS comedy series Good Times while still in college. Won the part and made her TV-series debut when it premiered in 1974. In the late 1990s, appeared in a hip-hop music video for Camp Lo with former Good Times costar Jimmie Walker. Produced several plays, including Whatever Happened to Black Love. In 2006 released first book, Situations 101: Relationships The Good, The Bad & The Ugly.
Johnny Sekka (Actor) .. Ibe Wubila
Born: January 01, 1934
Died: September 14, 2006
Trivia: Senegalese actor Johnny Sekka spent most of his career on the London stage. Sekka's inaugural film appearance was as Peter Lincoln in 1961's Flame in the Street. Fairly well-served in his British films, Sekka often had to settle for minor roles in his American endeavors. Among Johnny Sekka's more recent credits is the role of Dr. Benjamin Kyle on the TV sci-fier Babylon 5.
Vernee Watson (Actor) .. Valerie
Born: January 14, 1954
Birthplace: North Trenton, New Jersey, United States
Trivia: Enrolled into dancing school when he was 4-years-old.Decided to pursue a career in acting while she was still in high school.At the age of 17, joined the renowned Al Fann Theatrical Ensemble.Made her debut as an actress on screens in tv commercials.Has provided her voice to several animations over the years for Warner Bros and Hanna-Barbera Productions.Is an acting coach.
Gerren Keith (Actor)
Born: March 18, 1941
Birthplace: Kansas City, Missouri
Bob Harcum (Actor) .. Richard

Before / After
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Good Times
5:30 pm