why did john amos leave good times
John Amos left the series immediately following the third season of Good Times. "Good Times" was one of the first African American family sitcoms to air. A real true cut of reality, and it' cuts deep, which carries more weight, than many other black themed comedies, making this one especial, where the lives of the Evans, demand your attentiveness, as does the shows title song's lyrics. Amos worked with Murphy on the 1988 classic Coming to America, in which he played Cleo McDowell, a businessman who owned a fast-food restaurant that too hilariously and closely resembled McDonalds. This was a good show for the first three seasons. GT is very family themed, illustrating how family is so important, amidst difficulties and hardships, especially when they lose one of their own, and such a great actor too. My husband and I enjoy this movie so much, we began our wedding ceremony with quotes from this movie. I think the episode with the black Jesus was my favorite. Sad part though: the guy who played Micheal(Ralph Carter) recently passed away.but his character was a symbol of black pride and black progress towards black success,and against racial intolerence in with he quoted that the word "boy" is a white racist word. He depicted a strong father figure-something likely missing in many people's lives. They argued all the time, but they loved the hell out of each other. It centered on the poor Chicago-based Evans family and their struggles to make ends meet. In the season finale, Esther Rolle returned; did he do the same? Most of the early episodes focused on the parents, James and Florida Evans, and their struggle to provide for the family. Rolle quit when her contract concluded. Esther Rolle's departure from the show during the 19771978 season, the reason why she left was because she was unhappy that the success of Jimmie Walker's character J.J. Evans took the show in what she thought was a frivolous direction. Created by Norman Lear as a spin off from "Maude" (Which itself was a spin off from "All In The Family"), the show focused on the Evans Family, consisting of Florida (Esther Rolle)and James (John Amos), the heads of the household, trying to survive in the projects of Chicago. Headed by two parents who realized there own shortcomings (lack of education, money), but didn't they try to lead by example by teaching their kids values, strong work ethic and didn't they try to IMPROVE the lives of THEIR children? Print fond memoriesThis pocket Bluetooth printer lets you print your precious memories before they hit Instagram. His departure so soon caught everyone off guard. Another Norman Lear hit detailing the problems that African Americans had to go through in the turbulent 1960s and 1970s. | She is known to throw a good party, and doesn't hesitate to offer whatever she has to those in need. Q: Why did John Amos leave Good Times? John Amos Reveals How His Departure From 'Good Times' Went And it made me laugh! We all know that happened throughout the decade, but Good Times revolved around the 70's style. Web"Good Times" was one of the first African American family sitcoms to air. They make The Jefferson's look really sickly rich. I ad-libbed quite a bit, and John Landis, the director, was very receptive to my ad-libs, Amos concludes proudly. There were a lot of behind the scenes issues, which led to cast members leaving the show. He was out of town, got hit by a car, and died. It was the sort of family white viewers had read about in their own magazines with their slanted perceptions. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Is Our TV Pick Of The Week, Small Town Horror Story: The Racist Attack Of A FedEx Worker. Why was his character abruptly killed off? She did, however, make a return in Season 6 under one condition. It seemed as if every other season, fiesty neighbor and friend Willona, always received the same promotion on her job. Yes, we are referring to the sitcom and his unexpected exit. Running from 1974 to 1979, Good Times followed the Evans family as they navigate the daily woes of life in addition to their own particular family dynamics and the hardships of poverty. We have a low bullst threshold in New Jersey. I had innumerable arguments with the writers on the set in regards to my characters demeanor, or what he would say in certain given situations. On the Maude series, the Findlays up there in Tuckahoe had a maid played by Esther Rolle named Florida Evans. To receive additional updates, you can follow John on Instagram. Yet why? The show wasnt as good after he left. They find humor and have strong family values and morals. Seems to me nowadays, the projects or ghetto life is romanticized (see BET videos or MTV videos), whereas the Evans family in "Good Times" was trying to get out and onto something better. Good Times Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. The truth of it is, when I started acting, I never thought I would live this long, much less be an actor, the 82-year-old tells TVLine with a chuckle. Will Downing on New Song Following Daughters Suicide, Advice to Parents, TikTok Food Critic Regrets Houston Hot Chicken Review | Watch, Issa Rae and Shameik Moore Would Unalive Spiders Matthew Lawrence Opens Up About Hollywood Casting Couch & More | PicVideos. I think JJ was a precursor to characters such as Horshack, Screech, Urkel, Rerun, etc. In any case, James Evans was portrayed by John Amos. Famous words by Jimmie Walker as JJ the breakout character and due to providing over in very bad role model for African-American teens there led both the parents on the TV show, the late Esther Rolle and John Amos to leave the show with the latter's character dying in a car wreck. Michael, involved in legal/justice. He is doing an excellent job in his roles, even at this young age. So does JJ. Amos and Lear have since made amends, and Amos appeared in Lears 2019 special Live in Front of a Studio Audience: All in the Family and Good Times. Common, Chicago wasn't all black! You get to learn a lot about the hardships of life. A movie career? By the way, did they ever make it out of the ghetto? He stuck to his guns, and it eventually got him fired. That theme got a little over done at times, but it was the 70's and blacks were still seeking equality. Aids wiped him out not long ago. Pay Property Tax Before April 30; You Can Receive a $5,000 Rebate: GCC. The sitcom Good Times, created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans, premiered on CBS in 1974. Esther Rolle has played her role of her. I think good times was a very good show, a lot of us African Americans could relate. Speaking of theme songs, Ja'net DuBois (neighbor Willona) co-wrote and sang another truly memorable one during this time. Once Amos left the show, there was definitely a missing element. I liked many things about this show. In an interview with the American Archive of Television, Amos discussed why he received the boot from the show: I felt that with two other younger children, one of whom aspired to become a Supreme Court justicethat would be Ralph Carter, or Michaeland the other, BernNadette Stanis she aspired to become a surgeon. The Real Reason John Amos Was Fired From Good Times. John also revealed that he had shared creatively divergent ideas with the Good Times shows founders and producers. Personally, even while watching repeats when I was younger, I seem to remember asking myself what happened with James Evans, and eventually I stopped watching altogether. During the daytime so people can actually stay up to watch. Fascinatingly enough, Good Times Season 4B premiered mere weeks before the Roots miniseries debuted in January 1977 on competing network ABC and changed television as we know it forever because of the grippingly personalized way it portrayed enslaved Black Americans. In a new interview with The gospelish theme song and title sequences shown over inner-city Chicago only added to the realism. The Evans were a real family with real problems, but they also truly loved each other. JJ wanted to be an artists. I think the critics of this show miss the point of the show. Christine Paduch, a teacher, is detained on suspicion of abusing a student with special needs. Florida Evans (later Florida Evans-Dixon) is the protagonist of Good Times in Seasons 1-4 and 6. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); WHO WE AREThe news you want unfiltered.The Electronic Urban Report/EUR puts the most buzz worthy African American news at your fingertips. But Good Times corrected that imagery with its crazy teenage kids, a studious son Michael, as portrayed by Ralph Carter, and a beautiful young daughter with unlimited mental potential, as portrayed by BernNadette Stanis as Thelma.. They tried to show their kids to strive for more in life, DESPITE obstacles. Good Times was just that: It was a show that was very depicted in the everyday situations of the African American family growing up in the dangerous streets of Chicago. A great show! Amos left show after not so Good Times with writers 2020-02-11 - By Rich Heldenfels Tribune News Service Q: Why did John Amos leave Good Times? Because of his offensive remarks about the brawls behind the scenes, John Amos was fired. Although the Evans family was poor and lived in the projects, they had each other. She played his wife, matriarch Florida Evans, despite being 20 years his senior in real life. This is not gonna work. I just didnt do it in the most diplomatic terms.. What do you want to hear first? Amos said Lear asked him. Will Downing on New Song Following Daughters Suicide, Advice Kandi Burruss Hustles Up KFC Ad Based on Scene Dr. Phil Calls Professors $350,000-Per-Person Reparations Idea an Absolute Four Tops Singer to Sue Racist Hospital: They Told Suge Knight Says Snoop Dogg and Harry-Os Death Row Barbies Racial Justice Dolls Continue Mattels Path Toward Representation Daveed Diggs Planned Twister Sequel with All-Black and Brown Laura Coates Unlikely to Host CNNs 11 p.m. I had to make a commitment, he said. Having recently watched a few episodes, I was happy to see that it still holds up after all these years. Stimulus Check Proposal Could Give Americans Monthly $1,200 Checks. That's when I got hooked!!! The entertainer admits that he wasnt the most diplomatic guy back then. A: Amos was fired from the show and his character killed off after he often complained about the shows writing. She and JJ have one last hassle. What I liked about this show over Sanford and Son was that whites weren't portrayed as idiots, like some stupid attack against shows in the past that put blacks in an Aunt Jemima mode, please! America and the world got to see what life could be like within a Black family on Good You have entered an incorrect email address! He was tough, but loving and kind. John Amos, though, how about him? Regarding John Amos, he has acted in many movies and TV shows, including Me Time, Maude, Shadowboxing, The Ranch, All About The Andersons, The Righteous Gemstones, and many others. But despite all the fights behind the scenes, Good Times was a show about a family. When many people think about the most memorable moments in black television history, the first storyline to pop into their minds is when Florida Evans read a letter informing her that her husband, James Evans, had died. But they don't dwell on it. The best episodes were the first few years with James Evans, the father. Humperdink! It could be more genuine, he thought. Man, I can't remember ever seeing a white guy in that show! The show was a huge success since it was a spinoff of Maude in which Florida was the Maude's housekeeper,and it ran on CBS from 1974-1979. My favorite moment in the series is Thelma's wedding day. As of 15 January 2018, Amos was still with us and posting on social media: While the news about Amos alleged demise originated on a disreputable web site, many viewers may have readily accepted it as true at the time due to a perceived increase in celebrity deaths during 2016. I was very sadden when James Evans was killed in an auto accident,and that was the show's very best episode and an emotional one as well in what the family was going through without a father figure for the children,but they continued on with J.J. stepping from a kid into manhood and the fatherly role after John Amos' character left the show. But the remaining Esther Role was very good, Ralph Carter too, as the younger son, Michael, who sadly, and very disappointingly, didn't pursue the acting after his stint here. Because he was always butting heads with producers, his character was killed off which came as a shock to him. Floridas Damn, damn, damn is still relevant in todays pop culture and memes. What makes Good Times so awesome is that it defined the decade. While he was eventually let go, he went on to bounce back with memorable roles in the original Roots miniseries, and later Coming to America. He took no bull from any of the kids. She never had the chance to finish high school, because she wanted to help support her parents and she started working minimum wage jobs. But he did return to Good Times in a way in 2019, when he made a surprise appearance during a live re-creation of a Good Times episode on ABC. Amos stated that during the shows hiatus, Lear called him. Princr Humperdink! . John Amos Says He Was Kicked Off 'Good Times' Because He Didn't Agree With The Shucking And Jiving. Despite the fact that I've never seen every episode, I still enjoy it. We all loved JJ's dynamite and his antics. And with Roots, I dont think any of us involved in the production, particularly the network, were aware audiences would tune in to the extent that they did.. The little brother "Michael" was Mr. Militant black pride. As a young adult, she met her childhood sweetheart and the love of her life, James Evans, Sr., and eventually married him. Who Is UAE's Astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi Wife. JJ has to be the unlikeliest playa in the history of television but he always had a lot of girls, which is funny to me. Due to proximate causes. Returning to the thrilling Good Times, in which John Amos stars as the main character, has astounded the audience. Although the series continued without her for the fifth season, she returned to reprise her role as Florida in the show's final season, with the explanation that the shop owner whom she wed at the end of Season 4, Rolle's most memorable moment from the show is in the episode. Good Times was a groundbreaking comedy about the first nuclear black family living in the Chicago projects. Webhttps://comedyhype.com/ - In 1974 Good Times would premiere showcasing black family life like never before. Her children(who were shocked she hadn't grieved in front of others but was laughing) then ran from their rooms and comforted her with a family hug. This is America, Jack. We got to see them experience a few good times. When many people think about the most memorable Amos, 80, recalls that one of the best perks of his West Wing tenure was meeting former Secretary of State Colin Powell. James was the father figure everyone like,and he was always providing something for his family even though they was struggling through tough times,but they came through. His departure so soon caught everyone off guard. I realize everyone has their own opinion, but, I don't know . As a child,this show was mandatory when me and my brother saw the show each week. All posters in there rooms were black people, furniture pieces were African. He also adds that two of his favorite comedians Eddie Murphy and Dave Chappelle are able to use humor to communicate in a way he wishes he could have at their age. What was it? Which of his works do you like, if youre a fan? "Dynomite"! Because of his offensive remarks about the brawls behind the scenes, John Amos was fired. It was too often for Norman and the other writers to accept. There's Michael (Ralph Carter), who is intelligent beyond his years and very outspoken (He is often heard saying that "Boy is a white racist word. Thelma, a dancer. Claim: Actor John Amos died from a heart attack on 28 December 2016. Not only is Florida the superwoman of the Evans household, but for many - including her good friend and neighbor, Willona - she's the superhero of her housing project on the North Side of Chicago. Smart-TV Maker Vizio Launches Branded Content Studio, Building, Bruins' Historic Loss Wasn't the Week's Biggest Upset: DataViz, Patti LuPone Didn't Know Marvel Before 'Agatha: Coven of Chaos', 'Beef' Breakout Young Mazino Signs With M88 (EXCLUSIVE), Editor's Choice: I Purchased This TikTok-Viral Walking Pad and I, TVLine is a part of Penske Media Corporation. I couldn't relate to everything, but sometimes they hit home with the problems they were facing. It was one of the most realistic shows ever about the black experience in America,and a product of 1970's TV culture of what the black family was going through. She starts to cry. It made history as the first African American show with two parents and gathered a following of avid fans countrywide, so if Good Times had such a good reputation and following, why did one of the lead actors, John Amos, famous for playing James Evans Sr suddenly stop doing the show? Dave Chappelle gets his message across but doesnt offend people who dont need to be offended, Amos opines. something they didn't have very often. The actor was never afraid to express his thoughts on writing. John Amos left the series immediately following the third season of Good Times. Life for the Evans family is not easy, especially when trying to keep their 3 children on the straight and narrow. Why? During a trip to Mississippi, his character James Evans was fatally injured in a vehicle accident. When asked by Lear if he wanted to say something, he simply said no and hung up. J.J. (the eldest brother) was the tall comic relief in this show, and always fought with his sister Thelma (the curvacious beauty). Well, John Amos played the character of Television Images: My Favorite TV Characters of All-Time: (1970s edition). It spawned some dy-no-mite catchphrases and Forever FLOTUS Michelle Obama Jams w/Bruce Springsteen Will Smith Posts BTS of Emancipation & More | WATCH, Lil Meech Calls Cap on 2-Year-Old Pic w/Groupie Doctor Says Oral Sex Causes Throat Cancer & More | PicsVideos, Ne-Yo Says Celebs Are Weirdos-Hes Willing to Love Down A Plain Jane + Ime Udoka Publicly Apologizes for Affair & More | PicsVideos. Esther Rolle and John Amos on set of Good Times Ms. Rolle was finally fed ALL the way up with the coonery: In 1977 Esther walked out of the still high-rated Good Times series because she felt the popular character J.J., played by Jimmy Walker, was tailored into a buffoon. If you like TVLine, you'll LOVE our email news alerts! Web2 2.Why Esther Rolle Quit Good Times Heres Why YouTube; 3 3.45 Years Ago: Esther Rolle Takes a Stand by Leaving Good Times 4 4.John Amos Reveals How Departure From Good Times Went Down; 5 5.Did John Amos Leave Good Times Because of J.J. Evans? You must have realised from the title alone that the sitcom only spreads good vibes to its audience. Also, I really love the theme song. February 25 2022, 6:52 PM PST. STEVE HARVEYS STEVE IS DONE DAYTIME TALKER OFFICIALLY CANCELED, KENYA BARRIS ANNOUNCES FIRST NETFLIX SERIES (WITH RASHIDA JONES): BLACK EXCELLENCE, Blac Chyna Accused of Pulling Knife Hair Stylist who Defended Her Self with Soda Cans: Report, Polish Instagram Influencer Denies Accusations of Blackfishing for Clout, Gladys Knights Farewell Tour Continues This Summer in US. What many dont realize is that John Amos was just about as shocked as Florida when he learned that he was no longer on the show. The parents loved their children more than anything, were always there for them , and wanted the best for them. John Amos departure from Good Times appears to have much to do with his African-American cultural values. Thank God for reruns! But Good Times creator Norman Lear gave him a call to let him know that he would also be absent from Season 4. All Rights Reserved. James tried to work several jobs, just so Florida could stay home and tend to the needs of the house/family. The lives and times of the Evans family living the projects of Chicago. Good Times is a spin-off of Maude, which itself is a spin-off of All in the Family, arguably They used to live in the South Side of Chicago in a cold water flat where they had their two oldest children, James "J.J." Evans, Jr. and Thelma. I certainly hope that the phrase "Kid Dynamite" will come back into common usage some day. You probably had no idea that John Amos, who portrayed Glenn Johnson in King of the Hill, also amassed enormous popularity. Some of the people who star in the series like cast regulars Jimmie Walker(J.J. This show was excellent. In Amos eyes, Good Times had too much shucking and jiving, which was something he couldnt take anymore. All guests were black people. The way he was written out of the show was very abrupt. Yes, we are talking about the sitcom and his sudden departure. They were terrific actors and had great chemistry as James and Florida Evans. Yet why? The explanation for John Amos dismissal from Good Times is revealed. The end of James Evans Sr. Here are the explanations for John Amos departure from Good Times. Actor John Amos died from a heart attack on 28 December 2016. On 28 December 2016, the web site Headline NewsNetwork published an article reporting that actor John Amos, best known for his role on the 1970s TV sitcom Good Times, had passed away from a heart attack at the age of 77: There was no truth to this article. It's not an overly funny show, but does has some good hearty chuckle moments. It was actually quite funny> All references in the show had to be "black". In that way, Amos observes, Good Times and Roots had more in common than him. I liked Good Times. This pocket Bluetooth printer lets you print your precious memories before they hit Instagram. Heres Everything We Know About Him. After repeated disagreements with the production staff, Amos was fired from the show. Much to the chagrin of the shows supporters, James Evans was killed during the height of Good Times popularity. Many wondered why the shows producers would make such a decision and, over the years, rumors surfaced that they and Amos could not reach an agreement in their contractual negotiations. John, who was born in 1939, is now 82 years old. So when I was being fed a line that was bullst, I wasnt apprehensive at all about saying, Uh-uh. User Ratings The secret is to be happy! Now you say one more word about Lisa, and Ill break my foot off in your royal ass., I have to take credit for that. Good Times was originally great, thanks to John Amos. Humperdink! WebJohn Amos discusses why he stopped doing Good Times - EMMYTVLEGENDS.ORG - YouTube 0:00 / 2:54 John Amos discusses why he stopped doing Good Times - The show revolves around a blue collar family, making the best of it, in the dangerous projects, where you should always pray the elevator doesn't break down. There is no more complete source for urban news than the Electronic Urban Report. We may say that John did not want to leave the Good Times. They were actually trying to do everything they could to get out of the projects. It appears to be comparable. John Amos and Esther Rolle were the best part of the show. Are you curious as to why John Amos left Good Times? Ester Rolle was handling the death all well untill the end. FAQ America and the world got to see what life could be like within a Black family on Good Times, Amos shares. After decades of The reason I like the show is that of John Amos'character of James Evans. The show ended. She is the beautiful mother of J.J., Thelma, and Michael Evans, and the widow of James Evans and Carl Dixon after the untimely death of James, who died in a automobile accident while preparing his family to move to Mississippi. Devastated, the now-widowed Florida had to support herself and their three children alone. This is one of the few shows that became just as big as its presider's. When questioned about it, John Amos responded that the reason for his departure was that Good Times higher-ups informed him that his contributions were no longer required at the time. Has Tension risen Between President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris? In an interview with the American Archive of Television. Especially without the original cast. It is a crime that John Amos never received an Emmy nomination for his role on this show. This affected the quality in later years. It's hard to say which one is my favorite. How did things turn out for John Amos in the movie Good Times? Issa Rae and Shameik Moore Would Unalive Spiders Matthew Lawrence Shaquille ONeal Releasing New Hip-Hop Track to Celebrate NBA Playoffs, Elon Musk Announces Charging Option for Publishers on Twitter. He referred to himself as the disruptive element as well. An explanation of the cause of death of the former mayor of EL Cerrito, California, Gut-wrenching: Rep. Quentin Williams, a rising political star, killed in wrong-way accident. He claimed that the sitcoms creative team demanded his departure because they could not stand that. "); Thelma, their only daughter (BernNadette Stanis)who is a disaster in the kitchen, but who had hopes,dreams and intelligence. It was great. Did the actor and the cast have a falling out? On Good Times, she appears in 109 of the 133 episodes in Seasons 1 through 4 and then returns in Season 6 after Carl died of lung cancer at the end of Season 4, in the episode "Love Has a Spot on His Lung: Part 2", the season finale. I don't think a movie or a new show would work. Issues such as gun control, teen pregnancy, v.d., gangs and teen suicide. These were the words the producers used to describe John, as opinionated and troublesome as he was for them, they believed they didnt need such a person on set, so Mr. Evans died and in real life, John Amos discovered just how unimportant he was. Wi Election Results: Wisconsin Supreme Court Election Results: Who Won? When Florida was pregnant with their third child, Michael, they moved to the North Side of Chicago in the Housing Projects. Mekeisha Madden Toby / Good Times embraces the reality of what hard living in the ghetto is like, and what one must do, to overcome many hindrances, and the Evan's really have it tough. I wish they would bring the show back. The Real Reason John Amos Was Fired From Good Times Aaron Homer The 1970s represented a period of drastic changes in the TV landscape. He loved his wife. Although the producer wanted to get some words out of him, he didnt budge, he simply hung up and remained his same old recalcitrant self to the very end. | Despite the story behind the scenes, this show was worth keeping on the air except I didn't like them killing off the father which I agreed with Esther Rolle who fought hard to keep the family together. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now! due to the scripts' lack of authenticity in portraying the African-American experience. Amos thought that JJ was stereotyped as a stupid guy. The Evans family had both parents providing stabilty and shelter for them. Because of his strong beliefs, John Amos was fired from Good Times. Many other stars have faced similar situations with producers who simply want to be blindly obeyed, but with actors and actresses getting a stronger voice these days, we can only hope that the same fate that befell the character of Mr. James Evans, does not happen to some of our current unproblematic and beloved TV stars. He was let go. It concluded with Season 6, [] Dont Miss A Story. But while the show would air for an additional three years without Amos, his career would hardly stop there. The show wasnt as good after he left. . When "Good Times" premiered in 1974, it was one the first black family sitcoms. The original lineup could've easily gone on a few more years. Tulsa Library Shooting: Two People Died, Others Injured At Convenience Store, Phoenix Bar Shooting, Several People Injured, How Did Elizabeth Santos Die? Copyright 2021 The republic Monitor All Right Reserved, The explanation for John Amos dismissal from Good Times is revealed. It really suffered the year that Esther Rolle was off. He was let go. He reportedly left the show, after 3 seasons, because he disapproved of Jimmie Walker's character. In an interview, Amos said that he felt the show was giving too much attention to one of his children on the show who was more interested in fooling around in a chicken hat when more emphasis could have been placed on his other two children who had ambitions of becoming a surgeon and Supreme Court Justice respectively. "GOOD TIMES," in my opinion, is a must-see CBS hit! No. in 1985, where before then, it played in the late 70's. Some may find that chauvinistic by today's standards, but, I'm not so sure about that. Being a white guy from a white city, it was one of my first glimpses into black culture. With her stern, but loving disposition, Florida does her best to to give her often unemployed husband emotional support and be a good mother and role model for their three children. Despite their many financial issues, Florida is the quintessential hostess and is possessed of a generous spirit. Some folks need bracing, as my uncle used to say. (on which he guest-starred) have Black writers and showrunners. Like The Jeffersons, Good Times was one of the those classic American sitcoms which was never aired in the UK, not to mention it came out in the 1970s- a decade where of which I wasn't born yet. Getting fired from Good Times is one of the best things that could have ever happened to John Amos. From 1974 to 1976, John Amos touched millions of lives as the iconic patriarch James Evans, Sr., on Good Times until he was unceremoniously dumped from the cast midway through its run. Most importantly it had a black family that stuck together through thick and thin. Big John, I got some good news and some bad news. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, 17C at 963 N.Gilbert Ave Housing Projects Chicago.
why did john amos leave good times