History YMMV / GoodTimes

* AuthorsSavingThrow: The season 5 episode, "No More Mr. Nice Guy", in which JJ punishes Michael for joyriding in a stolen car with a friend, was likely a response to the viewers who believed that JJ's character [[UncleTomFoolery wasn't a good role model for young African Americans with his buffoonish behavior]] throughout the series. This ultimately led to Esther Rolle, who played Florida, JJ and Michael's mother, to leave the show prior to the fifth season. JJ even explains to Michael that he didn't set a good example for him when he was his age few years earlier.

* HarsherInHindsight : During the season 5 episode "Breaker Breaker," Willona says to a depressed Michael, "You've been moping around like you're Creator/FarrahFawcett and you found a bald spot on the top of your head." Fawcett died in 2009, after a battle with cancer, including chemotherapy.

** In an episode where Florida is out of town, Thelma is overwhelmed with trying to do all the household chores by herself. Her two brothers sit back and watch her scramble, making fun of her for how badly she's doing and complaining about her cooking. At no point do any of them act like the boys could or should help out with the chores -- it seems to be accepted by everyone that housework is for women only. (While James does tell the boys to stop making fun, he doesn't tell them to start helping, nor does he help out himself.)

** JJ's denim cap

* NarmCharm While Florida yelling "Daaamn... DAAAMN... ''DAAAAAAAMN!''" has been ripe for parody, it doesn't make her breakdown over James's death any less heartbreaking.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: The season 5 episode, "No More Mr. Nice Guy", in which JJ punishes Michael for joyriding in a stolen car with a friend, was likely a response to the viewers who believed that JJ's character [[UncleTomFoolery wasn't a good role model for young African Americans with his buffoonish behavior]] throughout the series. This ultimately lead to Esther Rolle, who played Florida, JJ and Michael's mother, to leave the show prior to the fifth season. JJ even explains to Michael that he didn't set a good example for him when he was his age few years earlier.

* NarmCharm While Florida yelling "Daaamn... DAAAMN... ''DAAAAAAAMN!''" has been rite for parody, it doesn't make her breakdown over James's death any less heartbreaking.

* FrigdeBrilliance: The ending of "The Gang part 2" when James, who was eagerly waiting to confront the hoodlum who shot JJ, has a change of heart after witnessing him and his mother falling out and him berating his absentee father. Even James himself can't figure out why he would suddenly have sympathy for the guy. The following season's episode "The Family Tree" reveals that James's own father abandoned him when he was a boy. Perhaps James subconsciously saw himself in the hoodlum.

%%* MemeticMutation: "Daaamn... DAAAMN... ''DAAAAAAAMN!''"
%% How is this a meme?

* MST3KMantra: Where did JJ keep getting his art supplies?
** Sometimes they were given to JJ by the people who wanted artwork done (Alderman Davis, Sweet Daddy Williams, the bank president in that one episode, to name a few.)
** In the first season, it's indicated that JJ sometimes stole his art supplies.
* MemeticMutation: "Daaamn... DAAAMN... ''DAAAAAAAMN!''"

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped:
** Poverty, wellness, and mental health were the biggest issues addressed. The episode wherein James is diagnosed with hypertension was especially important, as many health problems were almost never spoken of in black communities at the time.
** A classic example was the topic of sex education. The show handled it pretty well, and avoided {{Anvilicious}} commentary.

* HilariousInHindsight: In one episode, Thelma dates an African named...[[Website/Ebay Ebay]].

* HilariousInHindsight: In one episode, Thelma dates an African named...Ebay.

* HeartwarmingInHindsight: Michael once mentioned that someday there might be a black U.S. president. In 2008, we finally did get a [[UsefulNotes/BarackObama black U.S. president]].

* ValuesDissonance: In an episode where Florida is out of town, Thelma is overwhelmed with trying to do all the household chores by herself. Her two brothers sit back and watch her scramble, making fun of her for how badly she's doing and complaining about her cooking. At no point do any of them act like the boys could or should help out with the chores -- it seems to be accepted by everyone that housework is for women only. (While James does tell the boys to stop making fun, he doesn't tell them to start helping, nor does he help out himself.)

* HollywoodPudgy : Comments are sometimes made about Florida's weight. While she's thicker than Willona or Thelma, she's about a size 16 and looks like a middle-aged mom.

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: Poverty, wellness, and mental health were the biggest issues addressed. The episode wherein James is diagnosed with hypertension was especially important, as many health problems were almost never spoken of in black communities at the time.

* HarsherInHindsight : During the season 5 episode "Breaker Breaker," Willona says to a depressed Michael, "You've been moping around like you're Farrah Fawcett and you found a bald spot on the top of your head." Fawcett died in 2009, after a battle with cancer, including chemotherapy.

* EarWorm: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFKHg5CP7pk The theme song]]. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo6caNX1e84 I DEFY you to deny it]].

* TearJerker:
** Season 3's "J.J.'s Fiancée" leaves the fate of, well, J.J.'s fiancée, Diana (who is revealed to be a heroin addict, unknown to J.J.), to the imagination of the viewer when she fails to answer his calling for her during the closing scene. [[note]](J.J. had given Diana Thelma's purse by mistake, and it (of course) did not contain the drugs or other things needed to get her quick high. She realizes the mistake and, coming down from her high, panics and becomes sick, going into the bathroom of their hotel. While he has James, Florida and Diana's parents on the phone, he calls for her, but she fails to answer; when he investigates, what he sees makes him literally look like he has seen a ghost ... did she climb out the bathroom window so she could find a quick high, or did she die in any number of possible ways (pass out from the drugs, committed suicide)?[[/note]]
** James' death in the Season 4 premiere is probably one of the more jarring ones for a 70s sitcom.

* BaseBreaker: The early episode where James finds a stash of money robbed from a supermarket chain, but is compelled to return it by Florida. While her stance is both moral and admirable, some fans wondered why she would do this when the family faces the street or empty stomachs on a regular basis. The conflict is not helped by the reaction of people around them, who almost all want something, or to chastise them, or by the market chain, which gives James a piddling gift certificate for a reward.

** Season 3's "J.J.'s Fiancee" leaves the fate of, well, J.J.'s fiancée, Diana (who is revealed to be a heroin addict, unknown to J.J.), to the imagination of the viewer when she fails to answer his calling for her during the closing scene. [[note]](J.J. had given Diana Thelma's purse by mistake, and it (of course) did not contain the drugs or other things needed to get her quick high. She realizes the mistake and, coming down from her high, panics and becomes sick, going into the bathroom of their hotel. While he has James, Florida and Diana's parents on the phone, he calls for her, but she fails to answer; when he investigates, what he sees makes him literally look like he has seen a ghost ... did she climb out the bathroom window so she could find a quick high, or did she die in any number of possible ways (pass out from the drugs, committed suicide)?[[/note]]

* UglyCute: J.J.'s appearance. The opinion varies from episode to episode. While he's attractive enough (KavorkaMan) to pick up women, most characters--namely Michael, Thelma and even Florida--comments otherwise. It's PlayedForLaughs when addressed and doesn't seem to bother him.