BernNadette Stanis Reveals Jimmie Walker Pitched Cartoon Version of ‘Good Times’ Before Sony’s So-Called ‘Progressive’ Remake

“Jimmy Walker uh did contact Norman’s workplace in 2020, and um he pitched a ‘Good Occasions’ cartoon, which would come with each — all of us aside from Esther Rolle,” stated Stanis. Rolle, who performed mom Florida Evans, handed away in 1998.

“We didn’t hear something again from them, however a couple of months later, or I believe six months later, they got here up and stated they’ve a cartoon — Sony stated had a cartoon coming,” she continued. “So, my supervisor known as up Norman’s workplace to see if it’s, if we, if we have been included. I imply if, if you happen to’re going to try this, you understand, tell us. So, uh, they stated, ‘Oh no. It’s going to be generations later and it’s going to be like progressive or no matter.’”

Stanis added that she was informed she’d have a small function within the reboot however famous that the brand new model doesn’t appear “progressive” as she was informed.

“If you see one thing that, that really will not be progressive, it form of brings you again into the tasks two generations later? Um so, Thelma had a child. What occurred to that child? Um, I needed to be a surgeon,” she continued. “I suppose I used to be J.J. was a well-known artist, so you have got constructive photographs generations earlier than that, after which swiftly you see this, you understand?”

“I’m not knocking it, as a result of I don’t know what the entire present goes to be,” added Stanis. “Possibly they’ll deliver it, lean it extra again … to a extra constructive state of affairs. However when you have got the identify ‘Good Occasions’ on prime of that, our viewers of 40 or 50 years have been actually in our nook, you understand. They’ve all the time supported us, so that they have been disillusioned that they didn’t have it extra progressive as the way in which I used to be informed it will be.”

Stanis added that she was at Lear’s 100 celebration in 2022, the place she requested him in regards to the reboot, and he appeared to not perceive her. Lear handed away in 2023 on the age of 101.

“I like Norman, and I do consider that he perhaps was informed the identical factor I used to be informed,” she added. “I don’t know, however you understand … Hey, as a result of he solely produced high quality work, so, I received to say on his behalf.”

She stated, “I don’t know if he actually understood what it was going to be about, or he simply knew it was going to be a cartoon for ‘Good Occasions,’ as a result of like everybody else, you consider ‘Good Occasions,’ you assume you have got the title on there, you robotically consider us.”

Dyn-O-Mite! The Solid of Good Occasions 1974 #backintheday pic.twitter.com/RHdP4SJr6x

— Sluts and Guts (@sluts_guts) Could 31, 2023

The animated model of the present options voiceovers from actors Yvette Nicole Brown, J.B. Smoove, Jay Pharoah, Marsai Martin, and Gerald “Slink” Johnson. Stephen Curry and Seth MacFarlane government produced the present, and Ranada Shepard is the showrunner.