Netflix Orders Animated Good Times Series Based On Classic Show

Forum 3 years ago

Netflix Orders Animated Good Times Series Based On Classic Show

Netflix ordered an animation adaption of the hit 70's sitcom Good Times. The sitcom ran for an impressive six seasons from 1974 to 1979. The series featured a family that lived in the Chicago projects. Even though they didn't have a lot of money, they made up for that in love and survived through the strength of their strong familial bond. The sitcom starred Esther Rolle, John Amos, Ja'net Dubois, Ralph Carter, Jimmie Walker, Bern Nadette Stanis, Johnny Brown, Janet Jackson, and Ben Powers. While the show was light-hearted and comedic, it tackled serious social issues going on at the time.

Good Times was revived in 2019 for ABC's Live in Front of a Studio Audience. The special starred Viola Davis, Andre Braugher, Jay Pharaoh, Asante Blackk, Corinne Foxx, Tiffany Haddish, and Jharrel Jerome. While the cast was revamped, they performed an episode from the original sitcom, "The Politician," exactly as written. They did give a warning at the beginning of the episode that it might not meet today's standard of political correctness.

Netflix officially ordered an animated adaption of Good Times. The animated series will once again follow the Evans family and adhere to the same themes of the strength of familial love. Creator Carl Jones also plans on challenging social issues and the other struggles of living in today's society the same way the 70's sitcom did back in its day. Norman Lear will serve as an executive producer once again along with Brent Miller for Act III Productions, Stephen Curry, Erick Peyton, and Jeron Smith for Unanimous, Seth MacFarlane, and Erica Huggins for Fuzzy Door.

"We can’t think of anything better, at this time in our culture, than a reimagining of Good Times animated. In a year filled with darkness, this is one bright light we won’t soon forget. Thank you, Sony. Thank you, Netflix. Bless us all."

The team of executive producers has full confidence in the upcoming series. All of them agreed it's an honor to be working with Jones. Huggins and McFarlane, who has ample experience with animation, agree that animation is the perfect format for this show to return in. The remake, reboot, revival trend is getting old, but some of these remakes stand out because they are being done innovatively. That appears to be the case for the Good Times animated series. Even though it will have the same message as the original series, the animation will give the remake a wholly new and unique tone. Additionally, having a new creator will also allow the show to be told from a different lens, perhaps with a different style of comedy. Jones, Lear, and Miller all agree that it is the exact right time to reboot the series.

The revival of the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of George Floyd's death has surfaced some underlying injustices that have persisted over the decades. The animated revival of Good Times will likely address the issues the movement has been following, such as police violence against unarmed Black people.