The BEST episodes of Good Times season 2
Every episode of Good Times season 2, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Good Times season 2!
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.
#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.
#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.
#3 - 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.
#4 - 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.
#5 - 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.
#6 - Florida Flips
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/10/1974
Florida's strange behavior has everyone wondering what the problem might be.
#7 - The Houseguest
Season 2 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/18/1975
A childhood friend of James' arrives for a visit and quickly his gambling problem becomes an Evans family problem when two hoods show up looking for him to pay off a $5000 debt.
#8 - The Lunch Money Ripoff
Season 2 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/18/1975
A bully has been stealing Michael's lunches which prompts James to give him some tips on how to handle the situation. However, Michael surprises everyone with his own tactic, he invites the bully home for the weekend.
#9 - The Debutante Ball
Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/4/1975
J.J. is enchanted with his new girlfriend, Clarissa, and is all set to take her to a ritzy debutante ball. However, Clarissa has come to the Evans' apartment with some bad news, her parents won't let her go with J.J., citing that they think she's too good for him.
#10 - My Girl Henrietta
Season 2 - Episode 21 - Aired 2/25/1975
The Evans family's joy at finally getting to meet J.J.'s girl Henrietta is shrouded by J.J.'s declaration that his immediate future could include Henrietta and matrimony.
#11 - J.J. Becomes a Man (2)
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/24/1974
Desperate to raise bail to free J.J., the family considers taking money from a loan shark.
#12 - The Family Business
Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/21/1975
Realizing his mechanical skills, Florida suggests that James open a fix-it shop but when they go to the bank, they're turned down for a loan. This leads James to set up shop right in the apartment, despite a clause in the lease.
#13 - The Enlistment
Season 2 - Episode 22 - Aired 3/4/1975
The Evans' family is hit with a double dose of unemployment blues after both James and J.J. lose their jobs. Wanting to support his family, J.J. decides to join the U.S. army.
#14 - Florida Goes to School
Season 2 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/7/1975
Florida is going to night school hoping to achieve a High School Equivalency diploma, but her working in the daytime and going to school at night puts a strain on her relationship with James.
#15 - The Gang (1)
Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/12/1974
J.J. secretly has become a member of the Satan's Knights, a gang who are in the midst of a gang war with the Warlords. Two members and the leader of the Satan's Knights arrive at the Evan's home to escort a scared J.J. to a meeting place where the two gangs are to tangle. However, on the way there they run into James and Florida and a scuffle ensues leaving J.J. shot.
#16 - The Windfall
Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/3/1974
James finds a bag of robbery loot adding up to $27,000. After some coaxing from Florida, James decides to turn it in. However, what Florida doesn't know is that there was $29,000 in the bag and James kept the other $2000.
#17 - The Dinner Party
Season 2 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/11/1975
An elderly resident of the projects appears to be living on pet food after Michael takes out her garbage. The Evans family's attempt to do something for her is complicated when she brings a meat loaf to dinner and the kids suspect it is made from dog food.
#18 - The Nude
Season 2 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/14/1975
A woman aks J.J. to paint a nude portrait of her as a birthday gift for her husband. However, Florida has a hard time understanding why a woman would pose in the nude and why she has to pose in the Evans' apartment.
#19 - Florida's Big Gig
Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/31/1974
James is sure he's going to get a sales position at a department store but when he brings Florida along on the interview he is in for a big surprise, the supervisor would rather hire Florida rather than him.
#20 - The Man I Most Admire
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/8/1974
Michael must write an essay on the person whom he most admires and selects his father as the subject.
#21 - The Gang (2)
Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/19/1974
J.J. is recovering after being shot by Mad Dog, which only turned out to be a flesh wound. Meanwhile, a vengeful James presses charges against Mad Dog but a worried Florida is afraid James's anger will take over before the law does.
#22 - Florida, the Matchmaker
Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/26/1974
A wedding has Florida realizing that Willona is the only friend of hers left that isn't married. So this leads Florida to try her hand at matchmaking, and matches her with a friend of James'.
#23 - Thelma's Young Man
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/15/1974
Thelma's mysterious boyfriend is too old for her parents' liking.
#24 - Sometimes There's No Bottom in the Bottle
Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/10/1974
Cousin Naomi is visiting the Evans' for the Christmas season. However, her visit is not a happy one for Thelma, who discovers that Naomi is hiding a serious drinking problem.