MovieChat Forums > Good Times (1974) Discussion > What was so great about JJ??!

What was so great about JJ??!

posted 9 years ago by fiatlux-1
12 replies | jump to latest

JJ was OK, as far as teenage sons go.

He often came off as literally cartoonish though.

But the way the show portrayed him as this *stud* with women was completely ridiculous.
He was about 95 pounds soaking wet, had no musculature whatsoever, and when he grinned he resembled a deranged zombie.

So he said 'Dy-no-MITE!' over & over. That got old too.

I can understand why John Amos & Esther Rolle got upset with this (although I will NEVER understand why they left a steady show & a steady paychecks!
No one ever really heard from them again).

Anyone else not understand JJ's appeal?

I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus.
Didn't he discover America?
Penfold, shush.

[–] Donniesmith1975-868-620903 9 years ago

John Amos went on to big fame and success as adult Kunte Kinte in Roots the year James Evans died. Florida/Esther made a joke referring to James Amos's success and fame as Kunte Kinte in Season 6 saying "Kunte Kinte is making more money than all of us." The audience chuckled heartily, and I remembered thinking the joke was kind of stupid, as I was born years after Good Times originally aired and would not have gotten the joke as a child/teen. As an adult, I got the joke.

[–] SmokyBrownEyes 9 years ago

JJ was talented as an artist and non-threatening. He wasn't cute nor funny but he had potential and a career is something a woman looks for in a man. JJ was going places. Still ugly though.

[–] hifijohn 8 years ago

and he hasnt gotten better looking with age.

[–] Nevadalonghorn 9 years ago

I thought JJ was funny and talented. As long as he treated me well, I'd date him.

[–] Tresix 9 years ago

That J.J. was a ladies man was the joke.

"There will be blood. Oh, yes, there WILL be blood."-Jigsaw; "Saw II"

[–] cataclysm1071 9 years ago

Well, that's the way his character was written...a studly ladies man. But that aside, I think just the way he carried himself, his sense of humor, and self confidence was probably a turn on for women. In real life as well...confident, outgoing personalities, even if they are not conventionally attractive or have average to below average looks...tend to do well socially.

[–] lrdcharlton 9 years ago

He was written that way, that was the joke. He acted like a buffoon and looked like embodiment of a racist stereotype. In real life he would be viewed the same, and there would be no way in hell he would realistically get the women he did on the show unless they were groupies after money. Any person with an ounce of self respect would wouldn't want to be caught dead with the likes of him.

[–] snelling 9 years ago

"Chelloooooo?" was a great way to answer the phone.

"I will not go down in history as the greatest mass-murderer since Adolf Hitler!" - Merkin Muffley

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jayme_franklin 9 years ago

I agree with you. I never liked how the show focused so much on the character of JJ. He became annoying very quickly. I prefer episodes where James and/or Florida are predominantly featured. I guess most viewers at the time really found the JJ character funny, so the producer and writers gave him more screen time. Which I find to be a shame, wasting the acting talents of both Rolle and Amos.

[–] rceditor2 (5) 5 years ago

There was an episode where JJ confessed that the women he went out with were undesirable ("Delightful Delilah is really Delilah the Dog!") Perhaps he dated often because he went out with girls that no one else liked.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Tall, dark and handsome.