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The Norman Lear-produced sitcom Good Times featured the cast of Esther Rolle as matriarch Florida Evans, John Amos as her husband James Evans, Jimmie Walker in the role of J.J. Evans, Bern Nadette Stanis playing Thelma Evans, and 12-year-old Ralph Carter as youngest sibling Michael Evans.

Debuting in 1974, the series tackled some heavy topics in its six-season run on CBS. But there was one episode that was particularly serious; so serious, in fact, that it required an advisory be shown before its airing.

Good Times star John Amos with his arm around co-star Esther Rolle
John Amos and Esther Rolle | CBS via Getty Images

‘Good Times’ was a pioneer in its own way

Good Times was a spin-off from the 1972 Norman Lear sitcom Maude and as well, the first two-parent Black family situation comedy on television.

Lear in his memoir Even This I Get to Experience noted how the comedy decided to include both parents.

“On one episode [of Maude], we introduced her husband, James, and cast John Amos to play him. Florida and James clicked loudly together and CBS saw as quickly as we did that — add children and stir slowly — we had the potential for another very funny family show,” Lear wrote.

Esther Rolle standing behind John Amos for a 'Good Times' promo
John Amos and Esther Rolle for ‘Good Times’ | Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

The sitcom shed light on many pressing issues

From prejudice to drug abuse to poverty, Good Times could be counted on to delve into topics other programs didn’t have the stomach to confront.

Lear wrote: “The Evans family lived, as marginally as possible, in the Cabrini-Green project [in Chicago]. James held down three jobs if he had to.

“Still, we were determined that a) the family would never go on welfare; b) they would deal with the reality of their world – gangs, drugs, crime, poverty, etc; and c) despite that, the kids would not fail to get an education.”

A portrait of the cast of 'Good Times': Pictured are, front row, American actors John Amos as James Evans (left) and Jimmie Walker as J.J. Evans; back row, from left, Ralph Carter as Michael Evans, Bern Nadette Stanis as Thelma Evans, Ja'net DuBois as neighbor Willona Woods, and Esther Rolle as Florida Evans
A portrait of the cast of ‘Good Times’: Pictured are, front row, American actors John Amos as James Evans (left) and Jimmie Walker as J.J. Evans; back row, from left, Ralph Carter as Michael Evans, Bern Nadette Stanis as Thelma Evans, Ja’net DuBois as neighbor Willona Woods, and Esther Rolle as Florida Evans | CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images

The advisory 1 episode needed

Despite the many weighty topics that Good Times took on, it also was at its heart a funny program, evidenced by its strong ratings and viewer support, the latter of which was seen in the strong audience response to one particular episode.

Broaching the important topic of increased high blood pressure incidence “in Black men than whites,” the show “did an episode on the subject that involved John [Amos].”

Ralph Carter, Ja'net DuBois, and Bern Nadette Stanis in a scene from 'Good Times'
Ralph Carter, Ja’net DuBois, and Bern Nadette Stanis in a scene from ‘Good Times’ | CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images
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When the episode, called “The Check Up,” ran the first time Lear wrote, “the next day, thousands of Black men phoned their doctors and medical centers for more information.”

Once it re-ran, CBS at that time included a viewer warning to the episode, Lear said. “When the episode was rerun, the network attached an advisory for which it was lauded by the medical establishment.”

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