The BEST episodes of Good Times

Every episode of Good Times ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Good Times!

The Evans family scratches and survives in their tough South Side Chicago ghetto. Esther Rolle and John Amos star as parents Florida and James, with "dyn-o-mite" breakout comedy star Jimmie Walker as J.J., the oldest of the three Evans children.

Last Updated: 12/24/2023Network: CBSStatus: Ended
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Crosstown Buses Run All Day, Doodah, Doodah
star
8.52
58 votes

#1 - Crosstown Buses Run All Day, Doodah, Doodah

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/1/1974

To avoid being bused to a white neighborhood, Michael forges his parents' names on a questionnaire.

Directors: Herbert Kenwith
The Encyclopedia Hustle
star
8.45
49 votes

#2 - The Encyclopedia Hustle

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/29/1974

An encyclopedia salesman is the last person James wants to see when he comes home from work. However, he softens when he learns the man is blind. This leads James to sign a contract and reads the fine print only after the man leaves.

Directors: Herbert Kenwith
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Big Move (2)
star
8.42
31 votes

#3 - The Big Move (2)

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/29/1976

Florida's stoic reaction to James' death has the kids upset by her lack of emotion.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Watch Now:Amazon
The Family Gun
star
8.39
61 votes

#4 - The Family Gun

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/16/1975

James brings a gun home to protect his family.

Directors: Herbert Kenwith
Writer: Bob Peete
Watch Now:Amazon
Thelma's Scholarship
star
8.36
50 votes

#5 - Thelma's Scholarship

Season 2 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/11/1975

Thelma has a chance at winning a scholarship to an exclusive boarding school in Michigan. However, even before she knows she won, a snobby girl from a fraternity comes around wanting Thelma to join and quickly discovers they just want her because she's black.

Directors: Herbert Kenwith
Watch Now:Amazon
Too Old Blues
star
8.27
128 votes

#6 - Too Old Blues

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/8/1974

When James misses out on a good job because of his age, the family's celebration party turns sour.

Writer: Bob Peete
Watch Now:Amazon
Michael Gets Suspended
star
8.23
84 votes

#7 - Michael Gets Suspended

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/8/1974

Michael is suspended from school after proclaiming that George Washington was a racist.

Writer: Eric Monte
Watch Now:Amazon
The I.Q. Test
star
8.16
58 votes

#8 - The I.Q. Test

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/22/1974

Michael, one of the brightest boys in his class, comes home with the news that he scored the lowest out of his whole class on an I.Q. test.

Directors: Herbert Kenwith
Watch Now:Amazon
Black Jesus
star
8.13
141 votes

#9 - Black Jesus

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 2/15/1974

J.J.'s painting of a black Jesus coincides with good fortune coming to each family member.

Watch Now:Amazon
Evans Versus Davis
star
8.13
15 votes

#10 - Evans Versus Davis

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/27/1976

When J.J. refuses to speak on Alderman Davis' behalf at a fundraiser, the family is threatened with eviction.

Watch Now:Amazon
J.J. Becomes a Man (1)
star
8.13
61 votes

#11 - J.J. Becomes a Man (1)

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/17/1974

After his birthday party, J.J. is arrested on suspicion of robbing a liquor store.

Directors: Herbert Kenwith
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Springtime in the Ghetto
star
8.10
62 votes

#12 - Springtime in the Ghetto

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 4/19/1974

When Michael brings a local wino home, Florida's chances of being named as having the cleanest apartment in the projects are dimmed.

Directors: Herbert Kenwith
Watch Now:Amazon
Florida Flips
star
8.08
75 votes

#13 - Florida Flips

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/10/1974

Florida's strange behavior has everyone wondering what the problem might be.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Florida's Night Out
star
8.07
14 votes

#14 - Florida's Night Out

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/15/1976

Florida meets a charming widower when Willona takes her out for the evening.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Watch Now:Amazon
J.J. in Trouble
star
8.00
20 votes

#15 - J.J. in Trouble

Season 3 - Episode 21 - Aired 2/3/1976

After his ex-girlfriend tells him he has V.D., and embarrassed J.J. visits the local clinic.

Directors: Herbert Kenwith
Watch Now:Amazon
Willona's Dilemma
star
7.98
52 votes

#16 - Willona's Dilemma

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/11/1975

Willona fears her new relationship with a deaf man is moving too fast.

Directors: Herbert Kenwith
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Evans Get Involved (1)
star
7.95
22 votes

#17 - The Evans Get Involved (1)

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/21/1977

When young Penny Gordon follows J.J. home, she tells the Evanses tall tales about her life without mentioning her abusive mother (Chip Fields). But when Penny changes into a dress, a stunned Willona and Thelma discover the girl's badly bruised back.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Watch Now:Amazon
The Visitor
star
7.95
63 votes

#18 - The Visitor

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 4/5/1974

Michael's angry letter about the conditions in the ghetto prompts a visit from the city housing commission.

Watch Now:Amazon
Florida and Carl
star
7.91
11 votes

#19 - Florida and Carl

Season 4 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/23/1977

A reluctant Florida agrees to go out with Carl, but the date doesn't go as planned.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Watch Now:Amazon
The Check Up
star
7.86
59 votes

#20 - The Check Up

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 5/3/1974

The Evanses become concerned about James's possible hypertension.

Directors: Herbert Kenwith
Watch Now:Amazon
The Evans Get Involved (2)
star
7.85
20 votes

#21 - The Evans Get Involved (2)

Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/21/1977

Willona and the Evans children are convinced that Penny is being abused and discover that she has an injured arm, caused by her abusive mother, but the doctor who treats Penny refuses to believe that she is a victim of child abuse.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Writer: Sid Dorfman
Watch Now:Amazon
The Big Move (1)
star
7.84
32 votes

#22 - The Big Move (1)

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/22/1976

While celebrating a move to Mississippi and out of the ghetto, the family receives the shocking news that James has been killed in a car accident.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Watch Now:Amazon
J.J.'s Fiancee (2)
star
7.84
19 votes

#23 - J.J.'s Fiancee (2)

Season 3 - Episode 18 - Aired 1/13/1976

J.J.'s elopement plans are dashed when his girlfriend finds herself needing a fix but without dope.

Watch Now:Amazon
Cousin Raymond
star
7.84
19 votes

#24 - Cousin Raymond

Season 6 - Episode 24 - Aired 1/30/1980

Florida's cousin Raymond is a gambler who wants to lease the family an upscale apartment.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Operation Florida
star
7.84
56 votes

#25 - Operation Florida

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/23/1975

James insists on a level of care he can't afford when Florida needs a gallbladder operation.

Directors: Herbert Kenwith
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV