The WORST episodes of Good Times

Every episode of Good Times ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst 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: 12/4/2024Network: CBSStatus: Ended
Sometimes There's No Bottom in the Bottle
star
5.74
62 votes

#1 - 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.

Directors: Herbert Kenwith
Watch Now:Apple TV
Thelma's Young Man
star
6.00
57 votes

#2 - Thelma's Young Man

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/15/1974

Thelma's mysterious boyfriend is too old for her parents' liking.

Directors: Herbert Kenwith
Florida, the Matchmaker
star
6.04
52 votes

#3 - 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'.

Directors: Herbert Kenwith
The Gang (2)
star
6.49
53 votes

#4 - 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.

Directors: Herbert Kenwith
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Art Contest
star
6.56
9 votes

#5 - The Art Contest

Season 6 - Episode 23 - Aired 12/13/1979

J.J. is named winner of an art contest, but with his student's painting.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Boarder
star
6.57
14 votes

#6 - The Boarder

Season 5 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/6/1978

The Evanses fear that their new boarder may become the target of a hitman.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Writer: Don Segall
Florida's Rich Cousin
star
6.59
56 votes

#7 - Florida's Rich Cousin

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/7/1975

Needing financial help, Florida asks her formerly affluent cousin for a loan.

Directors: Herbert Kenwith
Watch Now:Apple TV
Write On, Thelma
star
6.67
12 votes

#8 - Write On, Thelma

Season 5 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/27/1978

Thelma's play is selected as the community theater's latest production, but not without a flurry of changes demanded by the theater's director.

Directors: Gerren Keith
The Man I Most Admire
star
6.68
53 votes

#9 - 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.

Directors: Herbert Kenwith
Watch Now:Apple TV
Love in the Ghetto
star
6.75
59 votes

#10 - Love in the Ghetto

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/30/1975

Thelma's engagement plans aren't well received by James and Florida.

Directors: Herbert Kenwith
Watch Now:Apple TV
I Had a Dream
star
6.80
10 votes

#11 - I Had a Dream

Season 5 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/30/1978

Afraid he will be passed over for a promotion in favor of a white man, J.J. has a crazy dream in which he experiences being white.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Writer: Jim Rogers
The Politicians
star
6.80
56 votes

#12 - The Politicians

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/4/1975

The family members choose sides in the election for district alderman.

Directors: Herbert Kenwith
Watch Now:Apple TV
Willona, the Other Woman
star
6.82
11 votes

#13 - Willona, the Other Woman

Season 5 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/27/1978

Already suspected of infidelity by his wife, Bookman is caught with Willona in a compromising situation.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Writer: Michael Moye
Love Has a Spot on His Lung (1)
star
6.82
11 votes

#14 - Love Has a Spot on His Lung (1)

Season 4 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/23/1977

After telling the kids he plans to marry their mother, Carl suddenly dumps Florida because he has been told he has cancer.

Directors: Gerren Keith
The Snow Storm
star
6.83
12 votes

#15 - The Snow Storm

Season 6 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/13/1978

Stuck in a blizzard, Florida and her school bus passengers take refuge in an abandoned building.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Weekend
star
6.86
58 votes

#16 - The Weekend

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/14/1975

James and Florida celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary in a cabin, but Florida can't stop worrying about the kids.

Directors: Herbert Kenwith
The Evans' Dilemma
star
6.89
9 votes

#17 - The Evans' Dilemma

Season 6 - Episode 22 - Aired 9/18/1979

Keith's sudden mood swings are the result of his dependence on alcohol.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Stomach Mumps
star
6.89
9 votes

#18 - Stomach Mumps

Season 6 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/14/1978

When Penny's 13-year-old friend becomes pregnant, Willona tells Penny that the friend has "stomach mumps".

Writer: Michael Moye
Watch Now:Apple TV
Sex and the Evans Family
star
6.96
74 votes

#19 - Sex and the Evans Family

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/15/1974

Florida tries to discover the owner of a dirty article that belongs to Thelma's boyfriend.

Directors: Herbert Kenwith
Watch Now:Apple TV
The TV Commercial
star
6.97
65 votes

#20 - The TV Commercial

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 4/26/1974

Florida is offered a role in a TV commercial but has second thoughts when she learns more about the product.

Directors: Herbert Kenwith
J.J. and T.C.
star
7.00
11 votes

#21 - J.J. and T.C.

Season 6 - Episode 18 - Aired 6/20/1979

J.J. gets romantic with Bookman's female assistant.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Watch Now:Apple TV
Thelma Moves Out
star
7.00
15 votes

#22 - Thelma Moves Out

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/12/1977

Fed up with her brothers and her lack of privacy, Thelma moves in with three roommates.

Directors: Gerren Keith
J.J. in Business
star
7.00
14 votes

#23 - J.J. in Business

Season 4 - Episode 22 - Aired 3/9/1977

J.J.'s fledgling greeting-card business struggles to survive.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Writer: Bob Peete
J.J.'s Condition
star
7.08
13 votes

#24 - J.J.'s Condition

Season 5 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/13/1978

J.J.'s relationship with a married woman gives him an ulcer.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Watch Now:Apple TV
Michael's Big Fall
star
7.09
54 votes

#25 - Michael's Big Fall

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/28/1975

With James out of town, Florida takes action when Michael starts misbehaving.

Directors: Herbert Kenwith
Writer: Bob Peete