The Terrible Catsafterme

SEASON 1 – CBS

Created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans

Theme song: “Good Times” written by Dave Grusin, Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman. Performed by Jim Gilstrap and Blinky Williams

NOTE: This series is a spin-off of the sitcom “Maude”

• 001. Too Old Blues – 2/8/1974
  • James (John Amos) and Florida Evans (Esther Rolle) live in an inner-city housing project in a black neighborhood in Chicago. with their three children James Jr. “J.J” (Jimmie Walker), Thelma (BernNadette Stanis) and Michael (Ralph Carter). After a long series of odd jobs, James takes a test and gets a letter indicating he is accepted into a government union apprentice program and foresees a bright future for him and the family. James asks Florida to throw an expensive party to celebrate the new job. However, when he shows up at the interview, he is told by the interviewer (Woodrow Parfrey) that there was a mistake and that he is too old for the job. James returns home in the middle of the party, on which Florida has spent the rent money. Florida comforts him by telling them that they’ve made it so far being broke. James continues with his odd jobs, this time working at a car wash. NOTE: This was actually the third episode filmed but was the first to air in order to add more exposition to the show. Ja’Net Dubois is the family friend Willona Woods. Matthew “Stymie” Beard is James’ friend Monty. 5/2/2015

• 002. Black Jesus – 2/15/1974
  • J.J. is working on a painting of street hustler Sweet Daddy Williams to enter into an art show. Michael is celebrating the beginning of Black History Week and hangs up J.J.’s old painting of Black Jesus, whom he modeled after Ned the wino. Florida doesn’t like it hanging in place of the Jesus painting she grew up with but allows it to hang during Black History week. The family starts to experience a run of good luck – James getting a tax refund and winning at the races, Willona getting invited to an Isaac Hayes concert, Michael getting bribed $5 from two motorists who just had an accident, and Thelma gets a second date from the owner of a gas station – which they attribute to the painting. James wants to keep the painting up for his job interview, but ultimately allows J.J. to enter it into the contest when too many other contestants have a painting of the hustler. J.J. loses the contest, so James loses his faith in it as a good luck charm… but Florida changes her mind and lets it hang next to her Jesus, thinking the family can uses all the help they can get. Eric Monte is the runner. 3/28/15
• 003. Getting Up the Rent (aka Pilot) – 2/22/1974
  • The Evans family have fallen on hard times and are short $70 for their rent. Florida has just gotten out of the hospital after having her appendix removed and the bills have eaten up their money. After receiving their third eviction notice, this time men named Tom (Hal Williams) and Eddie (Ernie Lee Banks) have come to clear out the family’s possessions. James talks them into giving the family until 5pm to come up with the money, during which time he heads to the pool hall, J.J., Willona, and Michael try to come up with a way to hustle money, and Florida and Thelma try the welfare office, where they are turned down because James made $100 too much the year before. Florida finds their activities respectively immoral, illegal, and embarrassing. After she berates the kids for hustling money out of the movers, Florida prays to her painting of Jesus. James returns from the pool hall with the money that he made by using his three-cushion shot, but in order to hide the fact that he had won it from gambling, he has Monty pretend to give him the money. Privately Florida thanks Jesus for the three-cushion shot. Carl M. Craig plays a hustler at the welfare office. NOTE: Although this was the pilot, it was aired as the third episode in order to provide further exposition. 3/24/15
• 004. God’s Business Is Good Business – 3/1/1974
  • James’ old Army-buddy, now known as Reverend Sam (Roscoe Lee Browne) shows up offering James a job in his congregation since Sam knows him to be an honest man and won’t skim off the top of the offerings. Florida is very skeptical of Sam, thinking that he cons people out of money. The pay is $100 a day, and although Florida is against it, James is ready to go on his traveling crusade. But when J.J. gets overzealous about wanting to play the role of a wheelchair-bound man who gets healed, James realizes that he needs to set the example and declines the job. Later while watching Reverend Sam on TV, their television catches on fire. 5/23/15
• 005. Michael Gets Suspended (aka The Midget Strikes Back) – 3/8/1974
  • James and Florida are both livid when Michael gets suspended from school for calling George Washington a racist because he owned slaves. James adamantly insists that Michael return to school and apologize to the teacher, but he flatly refuses stating that everything he said was true. James plans to give him a whipping if he doesn’t change his mind, and Michael is ready to take it for his cause. But when Michael starts talking about black heroes that weren’t in the history books, James becomes more interested. James ends up apologizing for wanting to give him a whipping, while Florida convinces him that it is okay to learn in school and also study independently. Michael agrees to apologize to the teacher. 7/10/15
• 006. Sex and the Evans Family – 3/15/1974
  • Florida is beside herself when she finds a notebook called Sexual Behavior in the Ghetto, and immediately accuses J.J., who has been recently going on lots of dates with different women. J.J. denies that the book is his, but when Michael also denies it, Florida assumes it must belong to J.J. and pleads for James to talk with him. James however is proud of J.J.’s prowess as it reminds him of his old days as a woman chaser. But when James finds out that the book actually belongs to Thelma, he feels quite differently and forbids her to go on a date with a 21-year-old college student named Eddie Conroy (Philip Michael Thomas), who is five years her senior. When Eddie comes to pick up Thelma, James and Florida find out that it was actually Eddie who wrote the thesis for college and had interviewed Thelma for portions of it. James is livid until he finds out that the section that he wrote about Thelma concerned how teens with a strong family unit and male at the head of the family were less like to be promiscuous. James happily sends Thelma out with Eddie. 9/7/15
• 007. Junior Gets a Patron – 3/22/1974
  • At first Florida is concerned that J.J. is stealing his art supplies, until he informs her that he now has a patron who is helping to fund and sell and his artwork. Unfortunately, the patron is Leroy Jackson (Ed Cambridge), a former friend of James who borrowed $250 to go into business together and then blew it at the racetrack. James forbids J.J. from associating with Jackson, but J.J. stands firm and ends up leaving home and moving into one of Jackson’s spare rooms. Florida is beside herself and pleads with James to retrieve him. When she goes to visit J.J., she finds that he is lonely for his family. Soon James does in fact show up but is still just as cold to J.J. and Leroy… until Leroy finally tells James what he has wanted to for years: that he is sorry for what he did. James has no choice but to forgive him and invite his son to return home. 7/11/15
• 008. Junior the Senior – 3/29/1974
  • It’s time for the Evans children to receive their report cards that will tell them if they have graduated to the next grade. Everyone is concerned that J.J. will not pass, but he makes a bet with Thelma that he will advance to his Senior year. Michael gets all A’s, while Thelma gets mostly A’s… but J.J. comes home downtrodden. However he is just kidding and has passed all classes with C’s, plus an A in Art. Everyone is proud until his parents realize that he really hasn’t learned a thing all year. They both go in to talk to the school principal Mr. Kirkwood (Frank Campanella) and find out that he is under pressure to pass a certain number of students. J.J.’s parents think that he should repeat the 11th grade so that he is better equipped to handle the real world, but ultimately, they all agree to leave it up to J.J…. who decides to advance to being a Senior. However, when James comes home reporting that he couldn’t get a job as a foreman because he couldn’t properly fill out an essay question on the application, J.J. makes a vow to take his Senior year more seriously. 9/8/15
• 009. The Visitor – 4/5/1974
  • Everything in the apartment is falling apart including the elevator, causing them to have to walk up 17 floors. They do not have heat, water, or a refrigerator that works. Michael writes a letter to the Chicago Defender condemning the living conditions in the Projects. When the letter gets published, the housing authority sends their agent William Stonehurst (Richard B. Shull) over to discuss the letter and ask that they do not give them such poor publicity. Stonehurst is forced to stay for dinner at the apartment when a rumble breaks out between the Warlords and the Dukes gangs outside. During the visit he comes to sympathize with the family’s deplorable living conditions and vows to do something about it. However, the minute the gang fight ends, he takes off, but still vows to get things done the following Monday… changes which will take 13 to 14 months. It doesn’t take long though before the water starts flowing again. 12/6/15
• 010. Springtime in the Ghetto – 4/19/1974
  • Everyone in the apartment is busy sprucing up the apartment for a springtime contest for the nicest apartment… including adding foliage and a new pair of goldfish named Ozzie & Harriet. The plans are nearly derailed with Michael brings home Ned the Wino (Raymond Allen), who is trying to rehabilitate and give up alcohol. Florida’s Christian values will not allow her to turn him away. The men get him cleaned up, although he is in a mostly catatonic state, and introduce him to the judges Mrs. Vinson (Robin Braxton), Mr. Johnson (Simeon Holloway), and Mrs. Hines (Betty Cole) as James’s cousin. Despite Ned’s presence, the judges award the first prize to their apartment. Mrs. Vinson returns to tell the family that the thing that tipped the scales for their decision was the way they cleaned up Ned, who happens to be her husband. Ozzie & Harriet give birth to “Susan, Brenda, David, and Ricky.” 12/6/15
• 011. The TV Commercial – 4/26/1974
  • James is laboring over the bills and J.J. is asking for barbells, when Florida comes home with news that an advertiser spotted her in the grocery store and thought she would be great in a TV commercial. Speculating that she might make as much as $100, James and J.J. have ideas how to spend the money. When the advertiser calls and tells her that she got the job advertising Vita Brite and that she could make up to $5000, she is ecstatic… until she realizes she doesn’t know how to act. The family coaches her, but when the messenger (Ernest “Sunshine Sammy” Morrison) brings her the script, she realizes that she will have to lie about actually using the project. Everyone convinces her that it is only acting, and when they try the project, everyone actually likes it… but then they realize that it is 18% alcohol, and that Michael is now drunk, Florida refuses to do the commercial, now with James’s support. 2/4/16
• 012. The Check Up (aka James Goes Down) – 5/3/1974
  • The family is noticing that James has been very temperamental, so much so that Thelma is afraid to tell her father that she’s got a job at McDonald’s. When James comes home from a hard day’s work and reports that he didn’t get a window washing job, he blows up at the whole family. Thelma and Michael suspect that he might have hypertension, but any attempt to bring it up causes him to throw a fit, and in anger he breaks a chair against the wall. The next morning Florida is forced to tell him that he got laid off from another job, and his temper flares again when he finds out that Florida has applied for a job of her own. Eventually she talks him into visiting the free clinic, where the doctor (Dean Santoro) reports that he does not in fact have hypertension… but warns him about his high cholesterol. 2/4/16
• 013. My Son, the Lover (aka I Love Marcy) – 5/10/1974
  • J.J. is ecstatic because he is finally hooking up with the object of his affection Marcy (Ta-Tanisha). He goes all out to get a new flashy set of clothes, agrees to paint her portrait, and buys her a ‘slave key’, fully intending to ask her to go steady. James is charmed by her, but Florida and Thelma are rather skeptical. When J.J. presents her with the finished portrait, Marcy announces how much her boyfriend George will love it. J.J. is crestfallen and swears off women… but soon has a date lined up with a girl named Charlotte and has given the slave key to her. 5/2/16

SEASON 2

• 014. Florida Flips – 9/10/1974
  • Florida has been in a horrible mood, snapping at everyone in the family. Michael thinks it might be menopause, but Thelma rejects the notion. James has no idea how to handle her mood swings, and the two find themselves constantly bickering. When Michael tries to come between his parents to get them to stop fighting, Florida smacks Michael in the face, leading her to break down even further. She attends a women’s empowerment group with Willona but finds the women to be whiny complainers and storms out of the meeting, heading home and telling her family how much she loves them, and apologizing for her behavior. James gets angry when he finds out that she went to such a meeting and insists that a woman’s place is in the kitchen and the bedroom. This leads to another fight, and Florida confesses that she feels unfulfilled after years of taking care of her family, and all that she wants now is to walk next to her husband, not behind him, and James finally agrees. Helen Martin is Wanda. Rosanna Carter is Cora. Sylvia Soares is Bernadine. 5/2/16
• 015. J.J. Becomes a Man: Part 1 (aka J.J. Is Arrested: Part 1)- 9/17/1974
  • It is J.J.’s 18th birthday, and James and Florida are excited to give him $75 worth of art supplies and monogrammed leather case for them. However, James is embarrassed when Willona is unable to get the gift because James’ credit has been brought into question now that the department store is doing a check by computer. James is irate, and Florida ends deciding to give J.J. a sweater instead. When J.J. opens his gifts – all of which he knows what they are – he is clearly disappointed not to get his art supplies. When he realizes how embarrassed his parents are, he tells them that he is okay about it and heads out on a supposed date. As J.J. and Florida bask in their memories, Monty comes by and delivers the news that he just saw J.J. get arrested for holding up a liquor stores. NOTE: This is the first of a two-part episode. 8/7/16
• 016. J.J. Is Arrested: Part 2 (aka J.J. Becomes a Man: Part 2) – 9/24/1974
  • The Evans family heads to the police station and speaks to the Desk Sergeant (James Greene) and finds out that it will cost $500 to get him out on bail. J.J. is questioned by Officers Davis (Mel Stewart) and Sloane (Ron Masak), to whom J.J. swears he was just running from the store to go on his date. The officers cannot find the gun used nor the money stolen on J.J. but keep him in custody. James and Florida refuse to leave the station until he is released, while J.J. contends with a tough cellmate (Stan Haze) who steals his food. Just when Florida is considering borrowing money from a loan shark (Cal Wilson), Detective Davis informs her that they have caught the actual thief. However, Thelma is unable to convince the personnel lady (Connie Sawyer) at J.J.’s job to let him keep it. The Evans family fears that J.J.’s arrest record is now in the computers, and he’ll have a harder time than ever trying to work. When they see the actual thief, they are even more aghast since he is short and fat. Lil Henderson is the woman James falls asleep on. 10/17/16
• 017. Crosstown Buses Run All Day, Doodah, Doodah – 10/1/1974
  • Michael has been picketing the Board of Education meeting at City Hall because the boiler at the grade school is broken and therefore, he has had no school for two days. He feels that Harding Elementary’s school is generally terrible, but when Michael’s principal Mr. Pearson (Ron Glass) visits, his parents find out that Michael has forged their names on a survey indicating that they wouldn’t be willing to let him bus to a better – but whiter – school in Rogers Park. His parents want him to take the opportunity for a better education, but Michael feels he doesn’t belong there. Eventually they convince him that to not go, Michael would be indicating that he is ashamed that he is black. Michael then changes his mind but makes sure that his parents know that he was on to their manipulation. 8/7/16
• 018. The Man I Most Admire – 10/8/1974
  • Michael works on a school assignment to write about the man he most admires. At first, he thinks of black leaders like Jesse Jackson, but then after seeing the dress that his mother made for Thelma, he decides to write about her. Florida convinces him that the person who really holds the family together is James, who has left to go look for a job. Michael agrees and begins to write the paper, but James comes home in a foul mood, having skipped the interview because he so tired of rejection. Michael goes into the other room to re-write the paper. Florida gives James a massage, while J.J. and Thelma plot to try and make their father feel useful by asking advice about their careers. When J.J. lets it slip what their plan was, James blows his top, which is made worse when he finds the beginning of Michael’s paper and thinks it is phony as well. After he yells at Michael for trying to trick him, Florida reads the paper out loud, which is a truthful and sincere appreciation of his father, even with his faults and occasional anger at the world. James apologizes to Michael, and later reports that he got the job he set out for… but it didn’t matter because the company went bankrupt. 10/17/16
• 019. Thelma’s Young Man – 10/15/1974
  • James is up in arms when it becomes obvious that Donald Knight (Louis Gossett Jr.), the boy whom Thelma has been dating for weeks, has not yet met anyone in the family. When she finally shows them the engagement ring that he has given her, Florida becomes distressed too, realizing that this is something she would expect Thelma to share with her. When they demand to meet him, they learn that he is 42 years old, 25 years her senior. James hits the ceiling but is able to compose himself and have a talk with Donald who tries to assure James that he has the best intentions and is in love with Thelma. While the men are talking, Florida has a talk with Thelma and finally asks her point blank if she is pregnant, receiving a response that she’d have to love him to do something like that. At that point they both realize that Thelma doesn’t actually love him, and when she can’t say it back to Donald, she returns his ring to everyone’s relief. 1/17/17
• 020. The I.Q. Test – 10/22/1974
  • The family is getting ready to celebrate Michael’s graduation from grade school, but are disappointed when, despite great grades, he brings home low scores on his aptitude test which indicate that he is best suited for manual labor. Michael tells his parents that he walked out on the exam because the questions were all geared at white people. After he explains that many blacks wouldn’t understand the questions because of living a different lifestyle, Florida and James go down to see the Testing Board administrator Donald Hargrove (Austin Pendleton) and present him with questions from a black intelligence test that was created by a black psychologist. When Hargrove, who is much more interested in number crunching than real-life scenarios, can’t answer most of the questions on this test, they walk on him and say they’re going to pursue a degree in law for Michael, putting no faith in his calculator, which ends up blowing up since he’s typing into it so fast and furiously. Kay Dingle is Hargrove’s secretary. 1/17/17
• 021. The Encyclopedia Hustle – 10/29/1974
  • A blind salesman named Henry Anderson (Ron Glass) comes to the Evans house selling black history encyclopedias. He quickly wins over Florida, but when John comes home, he nearly throws Henry out until he realizes he is blind. James ends up giving him a down payment and signing a contract… but it isn’t until after he leaves that he reads the fine print with extra charges, and a list of penalties. When Henry returns with the books, they question him, and Henry calls his boss to stick up for the Evans. However, he doesn’t realize that the phone has been disconnected, so it is obvious that he is faking the call. Florida on the other hand fakes calling the police, which causes Henry to return their money, rip up the contract, and leave. 5/3/17
• 022. The Gang: Part 1 – 11/12/1974
  • J.J. has become involved with a school gang called the Satan’s Knights with his classmates Tyrone “Sweet Pea” (Douglas Grant), Sylvester “Neck Bone” (Michael D. Roberts), and the real bad seed Cleon “Mad Dog” Edwards (Oscar DeGruy). They all put pressure on J.J. to join them in a rumble with the rival gang the Warlords. J.J. wants out of it, but peer pressure and threats from the other Knights forces him to go along. He manages to get his parents out of the house to the movies, but then pretends to be sick… until Mad Dog pulls a gun on him. As they head to the rumble, they run into James and Florida. James tries to get J.J. away from them and in the process, Mad Dog pulls his gun and shoots J.J. NOTE: This is the first of a two-part episode. 5/3/17
• 023. The Gang: Part 2 – 11/19/1974
  • J.J. returns from the hospital the day after being shot, and although he milks it for all it’s worth, he escaped with only a minor flesh wound in the shoulder. Although Florida tries to convince James to follow the Bible and turn the other cheek, James is hellbent on revenge against Mad Dog and the gang. James goes to court after pressing charges against Mad Dog, fully planning to break his fingers. In court, Mad Dog is rude to Judge Daniels (Richard Stahl), but he throws himself at the mercy of the court after his mother (Lynn Hamilton) shows up. The Judge dismisses James who vows to wait for Mad Dog outside. The Judge sentences Mad Dog to reform school until he is 21, but Mad Dog’s probation officer Mr. Connors (Roger Aaron Brown) informs the judge that both the reform school and the state prison are full. The Judge puts him on probation, threatening if he ever sees him back, he’ll spend his time in the county jail. Outside the courtroom James witness Mad Dog’s frustrated mother disown and slap him, and learns that his father abandoned them. Florida shows up to try and stop James from hurting him, but James doesn’t have it in him to take revenge, telling Florida he feels guilty for feeling sorry for the man who shot his son. James Wheaton is the bailiff. NOTE: This is the second of a two-part episode. 12/27/17
• 024. Florida, the Matchmaker – 11/26/1974
  • Florida and James plan to attend the wedding of their friends Lorraine and Eddie and discuss how Willona is not their last single friend. Willona refuses to go to the wedding because she wants to avoid being badgered about being single. When James’s friend Duane Poole (Lloyd Hollar) offers to drive them to the wedding, Florida gets the idea that he would make a great match for Willona. The next morning, James tells the story how Florida talked Willona into going to the wedding, then spent the evening making sure they sat together and built them up to each other. Florida accepts her attempt as a failure since Duane left the wedding early, and Willona later left as well. But they are surprised when Duane and Willona show up together after having spent the evening together after they left. Willona however lays down the law with Florida to not try and plan out their lives together, and to not look down on her for not wanting to be married. Florida agrees, and Willona and Duane head out for an afternoon together. Florida later tells the family that Duane proposed, and she said no, which irks James, who starts brainstorming who he can set Duane up with. 12/27/17
• 025. The Windfall – 12/3/1974
  • In the aftermath of James finding a bag containing $27,000 and returning it to the Bargain grocery store, he goes on television where he is interviewed as a hero and personally thanked by Bargain president Mr. Borgen (David Lewis). The family watches on TV and hopes he will get a sizable reward, but when James returns home as the interview is airing, he tells them he only received a $50 gift certificate to the grocery store. Adding insult to injury, people begin calling and visiting to mock him for doing the right thing, an act heavily influenced by Florida. James then tells the family that the mockery only is solidifying that what he did was the right thing: skimming $2000 for himself off of what was actually $29,000 when he found it. The family bickers over whether what he did was the right thing, with only J.J. taking his father’s side. J.J. is attacked by two of his friends Vern and Fred (Willie Trotter, Walter Pittman) who want to borrow money that he assumes they have, and he is rescued by James. They also receive a visit from Reverend Gordon (Alvin Childress), who will only commit that it was ‘perhaps’ wrong of James to take the money, depending on how much good he does with it. Finally when Florida starts telling the kids that it will be okay for them to commit petty crimes to get ahead, James sees her point and agrees to return the money. The family is inundated with letter, with a minority of them praising them for their act. 8/27/18
• 026. Sometimes There’s No Bottom in the Bottle – 12/10/1974
  • With Christmas approaching, Florida’s giggly teenage niece Naomi Wilson (Bonnie Banfield) comes to stay with the family. She is spending a lot of her time in the bathroom, and unbeknownst to the family, it is because she is drinking continuously. Thelma catches her in the act, which helps to explain her giddy behavior. James uses his $25 bonus from the car wash, and brings home a bottle of Jack Daniels, and when the adults have a toast, Thelma has a fit about all of the drinking in the house. They also discover that all of the booze has been completely watered down. Initially they all suspect J.J., but he denies it. Naomi’s parents Oscar (Albert Reed) and Millie (Marguerite Ray) show up to join in the festivities, while Thelma warns Naomi about the dangers of alcoholism. Naomi joins the family at the Christmas turkey dinner, where Oscar tries to share his wine with the kids. When Florida objects, Oscar brags about how he always lets his daughter drink… just as Naomi passes out in front of everyone. Oscar confesses thankfully that he was worried that she was on drugs. On Christmas morning, James presents them with a package from Santa Claus that asks them all to make a wish for the year. Thelma wishes for Naomi to get the help she needs. 8/27/18
• 027. Florida’s Big Gig – 12/31/1974
  • With inflation reaching 11% among the black population, Florida is optimistic that James will be promoted as a salesman at a department store, and that she will get a job as a seamstress at the boutique where Willona works. Unfortunately, Willona brings her the bad news that her boss has hired his mother since he can’t afford extra help. James head out to his interview and suggests that Florida come work with him at the store. The interviewer Ms. Rogers (Charlotte Rae) is thrilled with James and pleased to offer him the job but has no open positions for Florida. However her boss Len Bridges (Dick O’Neill) instructs her to hire Florida for the salesperson position, as this will cover two minorities at once: blacks and women. James is furious and disappointed but tells Florida to take the job and he will return to part time at the car wash. A few days later Florida comes home with a celebratory cake, but James is beside himself and humiliated and expresses his frustration to Florida. She reveals however that she only bought the cake to bring them some happiness since she was laid off from the job already. They express their fear about the future but are confident they’ll make it. 5/24/19
• 028. Florida Goes to School – 1/7/1975
  • James has some good news when he gets a job as assistant foreman of shipping and receiving at the Brady Manufacturing Company, but his news is overshadowed by Florida’s news that she has enrolled in night school to get her degree. Despite the support of the kids, James doesn’t like the idea and forbids her to go. They argue, and James finally throws up his arms and tells her to do what she wants. When Florida begins correcting James’ grammar and parenting techniques based on what she learned in her classes, he gets angry and storms out. At the bar he visits with his friend Willie Jay Washington (Hal Williams) from the car wash, who agrees that a woman’s place is in the home and not in school. In fact, his own wife had left him after going to see a psychologist, which shakes up James. Florida meanwhile has decided to quit school to save the marriage and simply read her textbooks out of school. When James comes home, he brings Florida a book bag and apologizes for his behavior and encourages her to stay in school… and announces he is going to sign up for classes as well. 5/24/19 
• 029. The Nude – 1/14/1975
  • J.J. debates how to tell his parents that he has been offered a $50 commission to do a nude painting of their neighbor Charlene Brooks (Betty Bridges), who has been dubbed ‘The Wiggler’ by others in the building. When J.J. tells Thelma first, she is all too eager to see him break the news to their parents. Both are dumbfounded, but James is more willing to let him go forward with it,  and manages to talk Florida into giving her blessing as well, in the interest of keeping J.J. interested in art. However, both parents agree that they do not want J.J. painting her in their apartment if she is going to be nude. Florida eventually talks her into posing in her bathing suit. J.J. can’t remain vertical when he sees her in the suit, as he faints dead away. After a few days, he eventually gets the painting done, but then has to contend with her husband Calvin (Carl Weathers) when he finds her in the apartment in her bathing suit. He attacks J.J., but James and Florida come home just in time to stop it. Once they show Calvin the painting, he is most pleased with how it came out and bears no grudge against J.J. 2/8/20
• 030. The Family Business – 1/21/1975
  • When James fixes Willona’s radio, his family talks him into starting his own electronics repair business, thinking in the current economic climate, people would be more apt to have their old appliances repaired. James and Florida visit the bank, but the loan officer D.A. Dawson (Morris Buchanan) turns down their request for a $2000 loan. Although dejected, James decides to work out of the apartment until they can afford their own shop but are concerned about keeping a secret from their landlord Nathan Bookman (Johnny Brown), who occasionally extorts food and drinks from the tenants using thinly veiled threats about throwing people out for lease violations. Unfortunately, Bookman does indeed find out and extorts free repairs in exchange for not evicting them, giving James so many items to repair that James has to stay up all night to complete the work between his other customers and regular job. James has finally had enough and refuses to do any more work for Bookman, and when Bookman threatens to throw them out, Michael informs him that he has a receipt that Bookman signed for the repairs. Since they are at a standoff, Bookman tells them he will drop the issue, if James stops doing repairs in the apartment. They agree, and James sends him on his way with his TV that he had repaired… minus the tubes. 2/10/20
• 031. The Debutante Ball – 2/4/1975
  • JJ is living the high life, as he has a new job as an usher in a swanky theater, and he’s blown off is girl Henrietta in favor of a very wealthy girl named Clarissa Robinson (Rosanne Katon). James contends that there is something irresistible about the Evans men, and it appears he is right when Clarissa calls and invites him to go to the swanky Debutante Ball, which is typically only for the black elite. JJ is so excited that he is willing to rent his own tuxedo and take waltz lessons from his mother. However, on the afternoon of the ball, Clarissa comes over to the house to announce that she is unable to take JJ to the ball as her parents have objected. James is furious at her parents, and Clarissa has walked out on them and refuses to go back home. JJ is good-natured and doesn’t want her to quarrel with them on his account. Her folks Gene (Santiago Gonzalez) and Betty (Ann Weldon) come to retrieve her and are forced to take the brunt of James’s insults toward them. Finally Gene loses his cool and tells them that they too came from the slums and worked their way up, and now only want what is best for their daughter. James shows them JJ’s paintings and indicates that this gives JJ a fighting chance to become successful. Although Gene offers $100 for one, James refuses to let him buy it. Finally Clarissa’s parents agree that she can continue to see JJ, but privately tell James that she is going to college in a couple of weeks, and although he thought JJ’s paintings might be good as investment, he cares nothing about JJ. James keeps his cool, but throws him out of the apartment. 5/19/20
• 032. The Dinner Party – 2/11/1975
  • After settling the bills for the month, James discovers that thanks to the kids’ part-time work, they have an excess of $35. Florida suggests that they use the money to get Thelma some singing lessons with their neighbor Gertie Vinson (Frances Foster), but she declines to do any further teaching as she considers herself now retired. The family later finds out from Willona that Gertie is only making $200 a month with her social security and that for every two dollars she makes working, they take one dollar away from her social security payment. Michael also discloses that while taking out her garbage, he noticed she has plenty of dog food cans in the bags… and she doesn’t have a dog. Deducing that she’s been eating dog food, they tell her that it is JJ’s birthday and invite her over for a chicken dinner. Wanting to contribute, she brings along a meatloaf, but the family is too afraid to eat it, thinking it may contain dog food as well. When it becomes obvious they don’t want to eat it, and JJ’s dinner prayer mentions that the Lord is his German Shepherd, she figures out what they think. Although she admits that she sometimes eats dog food, she would never serve it to her friends. She also decides to try and help herself out of her situation by assembling with other who are getting short-changed on the social security and try and make difference. 5/20/20
• 033. The Houseguest – 2/18/1975
  • The Evans household is visited by an old childhood friend of James named Ernie “Duckfoot” Harris (Thalmus Rasulala). Ernie’s parents had owned a grocery store in James’ old neighborhood and had given food to his family during the rough times, and later gave James and Florida their most valuable possession, solid silver salt and pepper shakers. Ernie says he has done well in his business, and after a ham dinner is ready to leave to check in his hotel. James and Florida insist that he stay with them and take their room, but are puzzled when he leaves for a late night meeting. James struggles to share the couch with the boys, and then they are visited by two hoodlums (Ernie Barnes, Ernie Wheelwright) who have come to look for Ernie, claiming he owes a $5000 gambling debt to their boss in Cleveland. They tell the thugs that Ernie had been there earlier but had already split. Ernie comes home at 4am and James is up to confront him, telling him that he needs help but must leave the next morning. Before Ernie departs, Willona comes over to borrow the salt and pepper shakers for a fancy dinner she is throwing, and Florida finds that they are gone. James searches Ernie’s suitcase and finds them inside. Both James and Florida again try to convince him that he needs to find help for his addiction. He refuses to admit he has a problem, but James tell him that he can take the shakers knowing how much they mean to them, but if he does, he can’t possibly walk out of there saying he has no problem. Ernie leaves the apartment, taking the shakers with him. 9/2/20 
• 034. My Girl Henrietta – 2/25/1975
  • When J.J.’s new 16-year old girlfriend Henrietta (Tina Andrews) phones for him, Florida takes the opportunity to invite her over for dinner so they can meet her. J.J. isn’t home yet, and Florida plans this to be a surprise for him. When he comes home, he is frantically scouring old newspapers to find a full time job. Florida and James find this curious, and start to worry, especially when he mentions that he might want to marry Henrietta. When J.J. finds out that she is coming over, he panics and tries to cancel the visit, but when she shows up, it becomes apparent why he doesn’t want them to meet her: she is pregnant. Florida and James asks Thelma to take Henrietta to her room to listen to records, and there they discuss the the pregnancy, how it happened, and the fears that go with it. James tries to convince J.J. that in the current day, he is not responsible for taking care of her and the baby, but Florida disagrees that it is the man’s responsibility to help. They are having trouble being consistent with their advice, but J.J. relives them both when he tells them that the baby is not his. The parents then chat with Henrietta and tell her how much of a challenge she faces, particularly since her own parents are alcoholics. They advise adoption because it wouldn’t be fair to the baby either, but she says she will find a way to keep the baby because she needs someone to love. They make it clear that J.J. will not act as the father and that they will not allow him to marry her since he is only eighteen. Henrietta says she isn’t ready to be married anyway, and she is willing to take the chance on raising the baby on her own. Henrietta leaves on her own, and Florida tells her that they will help if she ever needs them. Thelma feels terrible because all she can think of is that she’s grateful it’s not her in that situation. 9/2/20
• 035. The Enlistment – 3/4/1975
  • Florida has gone to Cleveland for her Aunt Clara’s funeral, leaving Thelma to take care of the household. She is struggling after burning the oatmeal and using too much starch in her father’s shirt, not to mention having to contend with her brothers. James comes home that evening and announces he has been temporarily laid off from his job. J.J. thinks he will be able to pick up the slack when his boss Mr. Carter (Bill Walker) calls him to come in early. He thinks he will be promoted, but Mr. Carter is actually telling the cashier Edna (Maidie Norman) and him that the theater is closing. Now that he has no job, J.J. returns home to tell the family that he enlisted in the army. James is aghast, and tell him that he won’t be able to handle it, but J.J. is adamant and heads to the enlistment office for his physical. After he leaves, James gets a call that his layoff was a mistake, and he is told to report back to work. James frantically searches the enlistment offices to stop J.J. from joining the army. J.J. has met with the sergeant (Cal Wilson), and is in the process of getting his physical. The doctor (William Christopher) has gotten a phone call and accidentally left J.J. running up and down a small set of stairs. James arrives in time to tell J.J. the good news, leaving an exhausted J.J. happy to be able to un-enlist. 12/20/20
• 036. Thelma’s Scholarship – 3/11/1975
  • J.J. comes home from school and can’t wait to deliver the news that Thelma was called into the vice principal’s office. He gets his parents all worked up, but once she comes home, she tells them that she is a finalist for scholarship at a renowned boarding school called the Alliston School for Girls in Michigan. Her parents are very proud of her, and Willona promises to help her build up a wardrobe for the school. Although Thelma questions her ability to be successful, James waits on edge by the phone until Thelma gets the call that she has been awarded the scholarship. Everyone is ecstatic, until Florida suddenly remembers that her baby girl is going away. James tries to cheer her up by looking through the family album, but then he gets upset too. J.J and Michael admit they’ll miss her, but begins to argue about who gets her bedroom. Eventually the parents realize this will be the best for her and are happy with the opportunity. It doesn’t take long before she gets a visit from a girl named Cindy Bradford (Randi Kallan) from Alliston’s Zeta Gamma’s sorority and she invites Thelma to join their sorority before she can join the Rho Kappas. She lets it slip that they need her because both sororities need a black girl, and she was hoping to beat the Kappas to the punch. The family doesn’t take kindly to Thelma being a ‘token black’ and they throw her out of the apartment. Thelma decides she doesn’t want to attend a school that would allow a sorority like that, and decides to find other opportunities for her education. J.J. laments the end of his dream of getting her bedroom. 12/20/20
• 037. The Lunch Money Ripoff – 3/18/1975
  • Michael’s bully classmate Eddie (Douglas Grant) is stealing Michael’s lunch and milk money every day before he can even leave his apartment building. When James and Florida realize he’s been eating them out of house and home every day when he gets home from school, they question him and finally get it out of him that he’s having his lunch and money stolen. James and J.J. think he should learn to fight back, while Florida and Michael think there is a better, more peaceful solution. The next day Michael is late coming home, and when he finally arrives, he has brought Eddie with him and asks if he can stay for the weekend. He deduces that if he helps Eddie with his homework, he will no longer steal from him. James is adamantly against it, but Florida talks him into giving him a chance, as it is obvious that Eddie’s home life is wrecked. They have a nice dinner together, and Eddie scarfs down his meal, then decides he doesn’t want to study with Michael. When he refuses to study even on James’ order, James take him to the bedroom and gives him a whipping with his belt. Eddie is ready to leave after that, but Florida tells him that he got punished because they care about him, and James even admits that he cares a little for him. Eddie decides to stick around, and he and Michael dive into the text books. 4/14/21

SEASON 3

• 038. A Real Cool Job – 9/9/1975
  • The family plans a surprise congratulatory party for James, as he has just graduated from trade school, which opens the door for better job opportunities. Willona stops by with a new hard hat as a gift, and the adults celebrate with champagne. Later family gets a visitor from a salesman (David Moses) selling funeral plots. James returns angrily, as he has no luck in finding a viable job, and he throws him out. As he’s looking through the want ads, lamenting how the new diploma did nothing for him, he gets a call from his union and he is offered a $500 per week job… but it is in Alaska. They get ready to go out to celebrate, but James is reluctant to tell the family that he’ll be gone for a year. His family tires to convince him that they can’t live without him, and Florida is most adamant that he can’t leave his children. James says he’s doing it for his family, but Florida gets even more worried when Willona tells her that one of her exes worked in a remote area, and that the company would bus in female entertainment for them. The kids all try to get part-time jobs in order to supplement their income so he won’t have to leave. When James snaps at Florida, and she runs back to her room crying, they have a heart-to-heart talk. Florida pulls out a letter from early in their relationship when James left town overnight looking for work, in which he said it hurts him too much to take a job out of town. James still can’t get past passing up that much money. However when Michael comes home beaten up after his Black Action club was attacked by a gang, and then vows revenge against them, James realizes that he can’t leave his children. He tells Florida she should have never considered letting him leave his family, and he goes off to look for a local job, giving her wink as he departs. 4/14/21
• 039. The Family Gun – 9/16/1975
  • Crime seems to be getting worse and worse all of the time. Florida was recently mugged and had her purse stolen, the family is afraid to go downstairs to do laundry without bringing a whistle, and when they do, they find that the washer and dryer have been stolen. All of this has prompted James to buy a gun to keep in the house, much to the worry of Florida. Although James has warned the kids not to touch it, Florida fears for the worst. Nearly a week after the purse was stolen, Officer Wigmore (Dave Turner) finally stops by the apartment to take her report. He gets their names wrong, and continually states that she had lost a bicycle. While he is there, Thelma comes home crying because a man grabbed her in the street, and again, the officer claims nothing much can be done. James has had enough and goes to get the gun to go down and look for the perpetrator… only to find that the gun is missing. Florida, J.J., and Thelma all say that they didn’t touch it, but James goes on a rampage through the entire apartment looking for it. His demeanor changes drastically when Willona stops over to tell them that a five-year old in the building shot himself with a gun he got hold of. James suddenly becomes scared to death that the kid got hold of his gun. J.J. finds out that the kid is going to recover, but James is still beside himself. Michael then comes home and admits that he hid the gun because he was afraid that his father might lose his temper and kill someone. Although James is thankful that the gun never left the apartment, and Florida agrees with Michael’s concern and wants to get rid of the gun, James tells Michael he’ll have to be punished for touching the gun he told them not to. Michael says he knows how to handle it, and that he’d removed the bullets, but then proceeds to fire it at the ceiling and it goes off. 8/9/21
• 040. Operation Florida – 9/23/1975
  • The kids are fighting over the TV, but they become concerned when their mother doesn’t even notice them. She admits she’s not feeling very well, but she insists that they don’t tell their father. When James gets home, he has great news: he’s gotten a $15 raise… but Florida is feeling to sick to celebrate. When James finds out she’s felt sick for two weeks, he hits the ceiling and rushes her off to the county hospital. When they return, he is furious for the treatment she got there, but she does find out that she has gall stones and requires an operation. James insists that he’s putting her up in a private hospital rather than the free one. She winds up in a semi-private room with a well-to-do roommate named Mrs. Andrews (Hilda Haynes). James tries to impress her by pretending they have money also, but when he hears another patient yelling at the hospital cashier (Helen Stenorg) about the costs, he realizes that this stay could cost well over $600. James decides that he’s going to have to move Florida to the county hospital, a decision solidified when he finds out that Florida’s Dr. Alcott (Rai Saunders) is going to perform an operation at the county hospital. He tries to tell Florida that they can’t afford to stay there, but Florida has been put on a sedative and can only slowly ramble on about how much she loves the place. He lets her drift off to sleep, and she stays there for the entire week. When they get home, James tells her the rest, but she makes the mistake of telling everyone that she can do the same things she did before… so everyone starts loading the chores onto her. 8/8/21
• 041. Love in the Ghetto – 9/30/1975
  • Thelma brings her boyfriend Larry Walters (Carl Franklin) home after a date, and J.J. sees them kissing in the hallway and is disgusted. He also realizes that she has a new ring, and figures out that they are going to announce their engagement. He is excited to see the fireworks when their father finds out. Sure enough, when they make the announcement, the fireworks do indeed go off, as both Florida and James tell them they aren’t ready. James is more adamant, and insists that they are too young, don’t have enough money, and have no idea what they’re getting into. Larry is twenty and is working as a gas station attendant, but plans to go to school and become a mechanic in the next six years, and own his own gas station in the next ten. James still won’t hear of it, and Thelma becomes increasingly upset. They suggest that Larry go for a fifteen-minute walk while they discuss it as a family. Surprisingly, J.J. suddenly changes his tune and tells his father that he is wrong, and that Larry is a good guy and Thelma loves him, so they should have a chance at marriage. James threatens him repeatedly, but J.J. won’t change his opinion. He goes back to check on Thelma in her room, and she lets him now how much she appreciates him siding with her, and gives him a big hug and tells him that he’s beautiful in his own way. Florida reminds James of their struggles when they first got engaged, but also of the good times they had during that time. James accuses Florida of getting him onto other subjects, and adamantly refuses to accept Thelma’s engagement. When Larry returns, James slams the door in his face. Finally, Thelma gives Larry back his ring and tells her father that she isn’t getting engaged after all, but adds that she’ll be spending more nights with Larry and spending more time with Larry’s family since James doesn’t like him. James finally gives up, and suggests that they get engaged. He also tells J.J. that he is proud of him for sticking up for his little sister, and embraces him as well. 6/16/22
• 042. Florida’s Rich Cousin – 10/7/1975
  • J.J. and Thelma are doing their usual bickering, and Florida warns them that they better cool it due to James’s unusually grumpy demeanor. The source of his irritation is the fact that J.J. just had 8 cavities that cost $350 to get fixed. That and Florida’s gall bladder operation has run their bills up to $500. Florida mentions asking her cousin Edgar Edwards (Percy Rodrigues) to borrow the money like they’ve done often in the past. James is fed up with always owing Edgar, who, even though he is nice about it, always seems to be looking down on him. Florida is scared to tell him that she’s invited Edgar and his wife Betty (Kim Hamilton) over for dinner. When she does, James throws a fit and leaves the house and heads to the bar, where he tells the bartender (Randy Harris) his situation, while a drunk (Rozelle Gayle) can talk about nothing but sports. Back home, Florida comes clean and admits why James left. Edgar and Betty are both quick to suggest that they not offer the money if it is a sore spot. James returns and starts yelling about not accepting a handout this time, not knowing that Betty has already confessed that Edgar lost his job and that they are struggling. Betty tries to go overboard to make a point that they will do okay, as Edgar has many prospects open to him. But Edgar keeps getting angrier while asking her to stop talking about it, because the truth is that he has no prospects, and only gets about one interview a week. The rest of the time, he has been going to the movie theater all day. After they leave without eating, James and Florida confess that it is nice that they never had so far to fall as Edgar and Betty. 2/7/22
• 043. The Weekend – 10/14/1975
  • James and Florida’s 20th anniversary is coming up, and Thelma and Michael are scrounging to buy a them a serving dish from Sears, while J.J. won’t contribute to the fund because he is going to use the money he hid in a sock in the living room drawer to buy more paint and create a portrait of his parents. When the folks get home, they both tell the kids that they don’t want them to spend their hard-earned money on any gifts for them, and Florida adds that they are the greatest gift of all. James tells Florida that he intends to give her the only gift she’ll need, a two-day getaway with him in a cabin that his foreman Charlie is lending to him. Florida puts Thelma in charge because she knows how to run a house better, but as soon as the folks are gone, J.J. asserts a coup and starts barking orders. When Thelma sees this, she says she refuses to cook. Meanwhile, James and Florida arrive at the cabin which is perfect for their needs. However, Florida can’t think of anything but calling the kids, and since the cabin doesn’t have a phone, she hikes to the nearest phone booth. She doesn’t get much out of the conversation, because most of it consists of Thelma and Michael telling on J.J. Nevertheless, she determines that they are just fine. While she is at, one of Charlie’s girlfriends, Gloria Jackson (Judy Pace), who happens to be Miss December in the calendar they have at work, shows up looking for Charlie. She flirts mercilessly with James, who can hardly resist her wiles, but ultimately tells her that he is married and his wife is on her way back. She is still there when Florida returns, and she sees James’ goo-goo eyes. After she’s gone, she’s irritated with James, but he assures her that Gloria may be Miss December, but Florida is his all year around. The two get comfortable, pop some champagne, and recall their wonderful twenty years together, vowing that the next two days will be the best yet. 6/17/22
• 044. The Baby – 10/21/1975
  • The Evans family is hosting a surprise baby shower for family friend Loretta Simpson (Mary Alice), whose husband Fred has passed away before he got to meet the baby, which will be her third child. J.J. is bossing his siblings to get the house ready before she arrives. Willona comes over, followed by friends Alice (Estelle Evans) and Cora (Vivian Bonnell). When Loretta arrives, she is indeed surprised, but tries to tell them all that if she had known they were doing that, she wouldn’t have come. They try to convince her that they all care about her and want to help. She explains that with her husband gone, she can barely take care of the two kids she has, and doesn’t want another child to grow up on welfare, so she has decided to give up the baby for adoption. They all try to convince her that they will help her with the baby, even the Evans kids offering to contribute. They say that once she sees the baby, she will want to keep it, but Loretta responds that she has instructed the nurses to take the baby away the minute it is born. She tells them all she appreciates the party and the gifts, but wants the party to end and take back the gifts. They tell her they’re leaving them with her in case she changes her mind. After the guests have gone, Florida insists that she stay for dinner, and she and Willona head out to the market. While they are gone, J.J. looks after, but goes into an immediate panic when Loretta starts having contractions and tells J.J. she needs to get to the hospital. Michael leaves to find his mother, while J.J. tries to get through to the hospital, a taxi company who refuses to drive into their neighborhood, and the police who can’t understand what J.J. wants. Finally, Michael returns with Florida and Willona, and they realize they will have to deliver the baby. Willona is very little help because she goes into panic mode, but eventually the baby calls. Florida does what Loretta asks and calls the adoption agency, while Thelma holds the baby so Loretta can’t see her. However, once Florida gets hold of the agency, Thelma runs out and tells her mother to get off the phone because Loretta may want to keep the baby. Thelma admits that she ‘accidentally’ brought the crying baby boy near Loretta to see if the baby was going to wake her up, and then ‘accidentally’ tripped and had to lay the baby into Loretta’s arms. 10/7/22
• 045. Michael’s Big Fall – 10/28/1975
  • Florida is worried about Michael, as he has been coming home late and seems to be in a bad mood. Meanwhile, her brother Wilbert comes to stay with them while James is out of town for a while, so that he can be the man of the house. Florida hears from Willona that she though she saw Michael sitting on the street corner during school hours, but decides it was probably just a kid who looked like him. When Michael gets home that evening, he is clearly hiding his report card, and when his mother asks him when they are coming so his proud Uncle Wilbert can see it, Michael tells them he doesn’t know. Michael goes off to study, and J.J. follows to see if Michael’s problem is a girl, and Michael denies it. The family then gets a visit from Mr. (Joe ‘Flash’ Riley) and Mrs. Jenkins (Kathryn Jackson) and their son Bobby (Ronnie Cox), who claim that Michael hit Bobby in school. Florida doesn’t care for the accusation, and Wilbert gets downright nasty and defensive. They call Michael out to see what is really going on, and Michael admits that he did in fact hit him without Bobby striking him first. It turns out that Bobby got all A’s on the report card. Florida demands to see Michael’s report card, and his grades have suffered terribly since switching to the gifted classes at the Upper Grade Center. Everyone apologizes to the Jenkins except for Michael, who tries to attack Bobby again for being a snitch. Florida makes an appointment to see Michael’s principal Mrs. Baker (Norma Donaldson). Florida wants to go herself, but Wilbert wants to come along as well. Florida thinks his temper is too bad to get involved, but he finally talks her into going. He does in fact go to the meeting with guns blazing, telling her how smart Michael is, how he would never get anything less than an A, and how he will one day be a Supreme Court Justice. Michael tells them all that he was at the top of his classes in elementary school, but now there are kids as smart or smarter than him in the gifted classes, and that it is too much pressure to try and be what his parents want him to be. Mrs. Baker concurs with this, and says that parents who put too much pressure on their kids could push them to run away, join gangs… or worse. Florida and Wilbert immediately back off and tell him that they are proud of him and support him in whatever he wants to be. Michael thinks he might want to try boxing, now that he’s beaten up Bobby. Wilbert immediately wants to lead him down a path to go to the Olympics and be Heavyweight Champion of the World, then comes back to earth and apologizes for jumping the gun. 10/7/22
• 046. The Politicians – 11/4/1975
  • James is supporting Alderman candidate Fred Davis (Albert Reed), and is pushing for the support of his kids. Michael and Thelma, however, are more keen on his competition, the young politician Jimmy Pearson (Stanley Clay). While James has the house adorned with Davis posters, and is stuffing envelopes, Florida is also is more impressed by Jimmy Pearson and has invited him over to the house. Davis stops by and is disappointed by the lack of support from everyone in the family and Willona, except for James and J.J., citing all he did to get James a job at one point, and to get the family into the projects. They think that Pearson is more progressive and should expect more than life in the projects, equal rights for women, and walking with dignity. James simply thinks he is too idealistic, too young, and too inexperienced. Pearson stops by the apartment while Davis is there, and confronts him on why he won’t publicly debate him. Davis talks in circles, and speaks in rhyming flow, which frustrates and angers Jimmy. Later at Jimmy’s campaign headquarters, Florida and Willona get the bad news that Jimmy has been beaten rather badly at the polls, only getting three votes in their district. James and J.J. come over from Davis’s headquarters to see his family and gloat. James tells Jimmy that he has a lot of good ideas, but he doesn’t yet know how to reach the people, being too haughty to do the flow with Davis and James. Jimmy realizes that James is right and tells him that he’ll be back in the next election doing whatever he can to connect with the people. James says he thinks Jimmy is getting the idea, and that he may even consider voting for him next time around. 2/7/22
• 047. Willona’s Dilemma – 11/11/1975
  • J.J. has been running ragged between his job at the Chicken Shack and going to art school in the evenings. One night he tells his parents that he is going to bring home a fellow student, and older gentleman named Walter Ingles (J.A. Preston). Since Willona has just had a disappointing blind date, Florida gets her hopes up that Walter might be a good match for her. When they get there, he seems very attractive, and he runs his own successful machine shop. As J.J. shows Walter his artwork, Walter can barely take his eyes off of Willona. He invites her out to dinner that night, and she agrees to go. As they are leaving, Willona confesses that she is allergic to seafood, and Walter in turn confesses that he is actually deaf. Everyone is shocked, as he is proficient in reading lips and can easily carry on a conversation without his hearing. The family has lots of questions ranging from how he wakes up in the morning without being able to hear an alarm to how he manages his folks at the machine shop. Willona and Walter keep dating and getting closer over the next several weeks, but one night as they are waiting for Walter to meet them at Florida and James’s apartment so they can all go to dinner together, Willona confesses that she is worried that Walter is getting to attached. She fears he is going to ask her to marry him, and she isn’t in love with him. She’s also afraid to turn him down because she thinks he’ll think it is because he is deaf. When Walter arrives, he and Willona have a private talk in the bedroom. He won’t let her get in a word edgewise while he talks about how they are getting closer, and often that leads to marriage talk. Before she can tell him that she’s not interested, he tells her that he’s not ready for marriage. He says he likes being a bachelor but is enjoying dating her. She takes offense, but then lightens up and admits that she was going to tell him the same things. Happy that they are on the same page, they all head out to dinner. 2/2/23
• 048. Florida’s Protest – 11/25/1975
  • Florida decides to treat her family and Willona to a $12 prime roast beef dinner that she purchased at Borgen’s Supermarket. Everyone is excited and wholeheartedly digs in, but the next morning, everyone who at the roast has an upset stomach except for J.J. James is forced to miss a day of work and feels so bad that he can’t get out of bed. Florida and Willona mention that their women’s club has been complaining about Borgen’s, and now that they’ve run all of the little guys out of business, they are the only option. They decide this is a good time to stage a protest. J.J. wheels in the TV for James while he is sick, and they see Florida and the others on TV protesting Borgen’s. They also see the police arrest them and drag them off. They are thrown into the slammer along with a prostitute known as the Princess (Bhetty Waldron) and an old lady (Nedra Volz) who was caught trampling on her husband’s mistress. The prison matron (Adrian Ricard) tells Florida that she and Willona have been bailed out by James. He wants to go directly to the supermarket and read the riot act to the manager, Mr. Gage (Lester Wilson). He is surprisingly nice and cooperative, offers a refund, and tells them that he hasn’t been at the store long but plans to clean it up. James maintains his harsh tone with Gage, while Florida is more forgiving. However, when Florida goes back in to apologize for James’ behavior, she overhears Gage talking to Mr. Borgen, telling him how he got rid of a couple, and that if they start protesting again, he’ll call the police again. Instead of beating him up, James agrees to Florida’s idea to return with an agent named Mr. Coggins (Fred D. Scott) and a plate of the roast beef they had for dinner. James apologizes for his behavior, and they offer him this ‘home-cooked’ meal. Before he eats it, they tell him that it is the meat they bought from his store, and suddenly he refuses to eat it. When Coggins says that he’ll eat it, Gage immediately beats him to the punch and starts stuffing his facw with it. As soon as Coggins leaves, Gage hightails it for the bathroom. Mr. Coggins reveals himself to be a James’ friend Warren, who works in the garage. Florida remarks that it is doubtful that Gage will make any changes at the supermarket, but James concedes that it is just nice to get even for once. 2/3/23
• 049. The Mural – 12/2/1975
  • J.J. and Michael come home excited because J.J. has sold one of his paintings at a sidewalk sale, but unfortunately, he bid himself out of getting $30 for it and had to settle for the next customer who pays $5. Thelma comes home with some good news of her own: she is presented with a $1000 scholarship to go to Chicago University. However, she will need to come up with an additional $200 for tuition. Her mother tells her that they should have that much in the bank, as they started a college account for her when she was born. Unfortunately, James has had to dip into it over the years during emergencies and as a result, she now only has a little over $8. Meanwhile, a banker named P.J. Hewitt (James Wheaton), president of Hewitt Trust and Savings Bank, stops by the apartment looking for J.J., and tells him that he has seen some of J.J.’s artwork and wants to commission J.J. to paint a mural in his bank that shares the happier side of black ghetto life. He offers J.J. $250 to complete the job and full control over what he paints. J.J. vows to put the money into the family fund, and James and Florida promise that the money will go toward Thelma’s college fund. Thelma is grateful to everyone, especially J.J. James, however, thanks God for the blessing of the money, but tells Him that something about it doesn’t sit well. As J.J. has a restless night thinking about how he will achieve great works of art and make enough money to take care of his family, James has dreams that he is stuck in a hole where he is threatened by crocodiles, and it is J.J. who saves him. Florida suggests that his dreams are related to J.J. bailing the family out of the current financial stress. Out loud he disagrees but tells God that this is exactly what he was thinking. After J.J. puts in long hours of creating the mural, Mr. Hewitt hosts an unveiling, where the reveal the painting to be of a black pool hall. Everyone seems to like the mural except Hewitt himself. He tells J.J. that it is too crude for a bank and refuses to give J.J. the money. James comes to his rescue and threatens to stuff Hewitt in the night deposit box if he doesn’t pay J.J. Hewitt has a change of heart and decides that the mural does have some merit and gives J.J. his check. J.J. tells his father that he’ll never be the man that he is, and thanks him for standing up for what is right all of the time. James has a sidebar with God and tells him that his son is proud of him. Rani DuBois appears uncredited as the girl who tries to hug J.J. at the unveiling. 7/13/23
• 050. A Loss of Confidence – 12/9/1975
  • J.J. is getting ready for a date with Gorgeous Gertrude after having recently broken up with Delightful Delilah. J.J. likes to brag about all of the girls he dates, and the fact that they even pay their own way. James thinks he is a chip off the old block, but also finds J.J. egomaniacal attitude about his harem of women. When Thelma brings home her friend, Homecoming Queen Jo Ann Taylor (Catherine Lee Smith) to study French, J.J. abandons his date in order to hang around with Jo Ann. She digs his artwork and seems to get a kick out of his crush on her. J.J. tries to visit with her, but Thelma keeps kicking J.J. out of her room so that they can study. When Jo Ann gets ready to leave, J.J. offers to take her to an O’Jay’s concert on Saturday, and when she turns that down, to the Isley Brothers on Saturday. She also declines to see him later in the week, telling him she is too busy. After being turned down, J.J. starts moping around the apartment, having lost his interest in girls. He laments that everyone in the family is good-looking except for him. He summons the energy to go to his art class, and as he is leaving, Jo Ann comes over again to study with Thelma. He quickly blows her off and tells her that he’s going to class, but she asks if she can speak to him privately. As the entire family sits nearby to eavesdrop, she explains to J.J. that she was intimidated by him. Even though she has dated a lot of big, jock-types, she was nervous about dating someone arty and intellectual. He suggests that they go out that night, but since he has art school and she is studying, they agree they can hang out at McDonald’s after they’re done since it is open until 11pm. J.J. mutters some French words as he heads to school. Jo Ann tells his parents that J.J. really has class. 7/13/23
• 051. Cousin Cleatus – 12/16/1975
  • The Evans family is excited because Florida has won a new stereo in a church raffle. Unfortunately, as they start to enjoy playing dance records, the electric draw from the stereo is too great and it keeps knocking their power out, necessitating that they throw the breaker switch. The family is then visited by two F.B.I. special agents named Reardon (Beeson Carroll) and Monroe (Laurence Haddon) who are looking for Florida’s nephew Cleatus Jackson (John-Anthony Bailey aka Jack Baker), the son of her sister Clara, who they think robbed a bank in Atlanta and got $25,000. The entire family truthfully tells them that they haven’t seen him, and Florida doesn’t think that he could possibly have committed the crime since he is such a nice boy. Michael thinks he is being unjustly accused because he is member of the Black Falcons. Willona stops by and has already heard about the accusation in the newspaper, where a camera at the bank has taken a photo of the robber. They can all see the resemblance to Cletus, still can’t believe he would commit the crime. After the agents leave, they quickly return because their wheels are stolen off of their car. They call a cab, but everyone thinks it is hilarious that they believe a cab will pick them up in this area of town. After they leave again, a little boy (Edward Crawford) comes to the door to see if the agents are still there. When he sees it is all clear, he tells Cleatus, who then comes to the door. He swears that he did not commit the robbery and wants to stay overnight until he can get hold of a lawyer. He also believes he is being persecuted because of his association with the Black Falcons. James is reluctant to let him stay because he doesn’t want any trouble from the law, but eventually tells him that he can sleep there for one night. As J.J. is helping him with his suitcase, it opens and spills out wads of money. Florida demands that he leaves the apartment immediately, but Cleatus pulls out a gun and says he is taking Michael to prevent them from calling the cops on him. Willona returns, and Cleatus forces her to stay in the apartment as well. Cleatus says that the apartment is too quiet and tells them to turn on the music while they are making an escape. When the music starts, the lights go out, and Michael is able to get away from Cleatus, while James tackles him and holds on to him and Willona retrieves the gun. The two agents return again since a cab has not shown up, and the Evans family turn Cleatus over to them. Michael apologizes for refusing to believe that Cleatus could have been guilty and tells his father that he’s his true hero. 11/11/23
• 052. The Family Tree – 12/23/1975
  • The Evans family is planning a surprise birthday party for James’ 4oth. J.J. and Michael are stuck with all of the cleaning to get ready because Thelma is working on research for a school paper on the Evans family tree. James heads off to work and asks what time his surprise birthday party is happening. Thelma comes home full of excitement because she has discovered that her father’s father is alive and well, although James had said that his father died many years ago. She tracked him through a cousin who knew that her grandfather Henry (Richard Ward) is a cook on a ship called the Meridian. Since the ship was docking at the local pier, she went down and met him. He knew everything about the family and had a picture of James as a little boy. He also told Thelma that he had left so many years ago, he couldn’t blame James for thinking that he was dead. When James gets home to his party, Florida and the kids tell him that they have a great surprise for him that is going to make him very happy. However, when J.J. lets it slip that the Waltons aren’t going to be the only family with a grandfather, James gets the hit. Unfortunately, he has always known that his father is alive but has no wanted to see him in years, considering Henry to be dead to him since he walked out on the family 35 years earlier. James storms back to his room to sulk. Florida goes back to talk to James, who tells her that he had looked for him for years, but finally gave up and began to hate him. When Henry shows up, the family tries to keep him busy as he meets his two grandsons for the first time. When James doesn’t come out, and the kids start to clearly beat around the bush, Henry realizes that James doesn’t want to see him. He says he understands and says he will leave. Florida tells him that there may never be another chance, so Henry agrees to go back and talk to him. James is very cold to him and tells him that he can’t understand how he could never look him up. He says that they were struggling so badly in Mississippi, and he was just one more mouth to feed. He struggled to find work, and then once he was able to send money home, the family had moved, and he couldn’t find them. James tells him how his family struggles too, but he never considered leaving his family. Henry tells James that it was all 35 years ago and he is now a changed man. James invites him to stay at the party for cake. The family is thrilled to have him there, and James makes his wish that he has enough life left in him to make up for lost time, finally breaking down and giving his father a huge hug. 11/11/23
• 053. A Place to Die – 12/30/1975
  • It is two days before New Year’s and James is out of town picking up extra work but calls Florida and tells her that he’ll be home the afternoon of New Years Eve. Meanwhile, J.J. is working tirelessly to find the cheapest tuxedo possible to wear on his New Years date. A man shows up at the door out of the blue and tells everyone his name is Hubert Johnson (Arnold Johnson), and he claims to know everyone in the household. He tells them that their place will be a perfect place for him to die. It turns out he knows Michael, who frequently stops and chats with him when he is sitting outside the nursing home. Hubert’s kids live out of town, and he hasn’t seen them in fifteen years. Feeling that his time is nearly up, he wants to be with someone he loves and a family he admires when he goes. Florida thinks the burden is too great for her to handle, but Hubert tells her that if he doesn’t die by the New Year, he will return to the nursing home. A delivery man shows up at the apartment with a rental bed for him as well. Florida discusses this with the kids and Willona, and they all agree to let him stay. The next morning, J.J. thinks he is already dead when he finds him lying still in his suit, but it turns out he was just seeing how he would look being buried in the suit. James calls and tells Florida that he is stranded because of a snowstorm and won’t be home in time for the New Year, meaning this would be the first New Years Eve that he and Florida weren’t together for New Years Eve. All of the kids and Willona decide to relocate their dates to the apartment so that they can have a party with Florida. Hubert also agrees to attend the party… if he is still alive. That night they have the party as planned, but Hubert looks rather sad because he hasn’t died yet. He starts to think he’ll have to go back to the nursing home. He also pontificates about how boring his life was. Willona then sings him a rousing eulogy about him and the work he did for his family during his life. She punctuates the song with a version of When Hubie J. Goes Marching In, as they all dance and march around the apartment. Exhausted, Hubie sits in a chair and dies just as Auld Lang Sine plays on the TV. Michael can’t help but cry, while Florida tells him that he died just as he wanted… surrounded by family and friends. 3/21/24
• 054. J.J.’s Fiancée: Part 1 – 1/6/1976
  • As Michael is arguing with his parents about staying up late to watch the horror movie, and Willona is sharing the latest gossip about other tenants, J.J. is trying to find an affordable tuxedo over the phone that he can wear to the senior prom. He has been dating a girl named Diana Buchanan (Debbie Allen) for the last couple of months, and he’s starting to get serious about her. Thelma thinks she is a nice girl but is moody at times. J.J. claims he is ready to settle down with her, and then tells everyone that he has asked her to marry him, and she has accepted. His parents tell him that he is too young to get married, and in the state of Illinois, they will need parental approval until they are 21 years old. J.J. tells them that he has invited their parents Fred (Sonny Jim Gaines) and Lucille (Marie Moore) and hopes they can all discuss it before they reach a decision. James hasn’t forgotten that Fred still owes him $20 for a prior debt but agrees not to talk about it. Once they arrive, James brings up the marriage topic right away, and Fred agrees with him that they are too young to get married, noting that J.J. is not husband material. This offends James and he brings up the $20. Diana gets upset goes to get their coats from the bedroom where she digs into someone’s purse and steals some money. The next day, J.J. takes Diana to a jewelry shop to buy her an engagement ring. J.J. wants to elope after he buys her ring for $185, but she still hopes to get her parents’ approval. When the salesman (Mel Bryant) walks away, Diana steals some jewelry from the shop. Just before the prom, the Evans invite the Buchanans over for pictures before the dance. J.J. announces that they plan to run away to get married, even if they won’t give their permission. Both parents flatly refuse to allow it to happen, causing J.J. to stand up to his father for the first time. Diana runs off to the other room again, and this time she ties off her arm to shoot up. NOTE: This is the first of a two-part episode. 3/22/24

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