John Amos, known for playing legendary TV dad James Evans in 1970s sitcom “Good Times,” recently sat down for an interview with the American Archive of Television. In the interview, Amos revealed why he so mysteriously disappeared from the show early in its run, citing “differences” he had with the producers.
“I felt that with two other younger children, one of whom aspired to become a Supreme Court justice—that would be Ralph Carter, or Michael—and the other, BernNadette Stanis … she aspired to become a surgeon. And the differences I had with the producers of the show was that I felt too much emphasis was being put on J.J. and his chicken hat and saying ‘dy-no-mite’ every third page, when just as much emphasis and mileage could have been gotten out of my other two children … ,”
Amos also went on to say that he wasn’t “the most diplomatic guy” in those days and that the producers were “tired of having their lives threatened over jokes.” He explains how one day he got a call from the show’s creator, Norman Lear, informing him that he would not be a part of the next season.
Watch the video above to hear what John Amos had to say about the conversation.
