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Despite 'Good Times' Rift, Stars Reunited
26 Sep
Summary
- John Amos and Norman Lear had a creative disagreement on 'Good Times'.
- Their personal relationship remained strong despite industry friction.
- Amos later collaborated with Lear again on the '90s show '704 Hauser'.
John Amos and Norman Lear initially clashed during the production of the hit 1970s sitcom "Good Times." Amos, who passed away in 2024 at age 84, expressed concerns about the portrayal of Black characters, citing a lack of Black writers on the show.
Despite their creative differences on "Good Times," Lear and Amos maintained a strong personal friendship. This bond allowed Amos to return to Lear's television universe in the 1990s for the series "704 Hauser."
"704 Hauser," which centered on a Black family moving into Archie Bunker's former home, unfortunately, only had five of its six ordered episodes aired before its cancellation by CBS. The working relationship on this later show, however, was significantly better.
Amos commented at the time that their conflicts from "Good Times" were absent from "704 Hauser." Both he and Lear had mellowed, leading to a more collaborative and enjoyable working environment.
