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.
#1 - Breaker, Breaker
Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/9/1977
While using a CB radio, Michael makes a connection with a teenage paraplegic girl.
#2 - Love Has a Spot on His Lung (2)
Season 4 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/30/1977
After revealing the truth about his lung cancer, Carl proposes to Florida and she happily accepts.
#3 - 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.
#4 - 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.
#5 - The Evans Get Involved (3)
Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/28/1977
Willona and the Evanses are stunned to discover that Penny and her mother have moved, but soon find the girl hiding in the Evans apartment. Later, Penny's abusive mother abandons her, leaving Willona to ponder adopting the battered youth.
#6 - The Evans Get Involved (4)
Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/5/1977
While Willona worries about the adoption, Bookman tries to help by telling the social worker that he is Willona's husband.
#7 - 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.
#8 - Willona, the Fuzz
Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/19/1977
Willona's new job in department-store security requires that she spy on changing rooms through a one-way mirror.
#9 - Wheels
Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/2/1977
J.J. and his friends buy Bookman's beat-up old car and argue over who gets to drive it.
#10 - 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.
#11 - Bye-Bye Bookman
Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/16/1977
Fed up with Bookman's incompetence, Willona, Penny and the Evans kids start a petition that gets him fired.
#12 - Thelma's Brief Encounter
Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/7/1977
J.J., Willona and Michael suspect that Thelma's new boyfriend is married, but find that he is a former bigamist doing time in a halfway house.
#13 - Requiem for a Wino
Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/14/1977
When local wino Fishbone is mistakenly believed to have been killed, he attends his own wake dressed in drag as a mourner.
#14 - Penny's Christmas
Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/21/1977
When Penny steals a necklace from a department store, Willona faces the possibility of losing custody of the girl.
#15 - No More Mr. Nice Guy
Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/4/1978
J.J. assumes the role of father figure when Michael starts to slack off, prohibiting his brother from attending an awards dinner.
#16 - Willona's Mr. Right
Season 5 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/11/1978
When Willona rejects an old boyfriend's proposal, Penny thinks she's holding Willona back and tries to run away.
#17 - J.J. and the Boss' Daughter
Season 5 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/18/1978
J.J. dates his sexy new assistant, who is also the boss's daughter.
#18 - The Hustle
Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/12/1977
The kids sell underwear out of the apartment to raise money to send Florida on vacation.
#19 - 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.
#20 - J.J.'s New Career (1)
Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/10/1976
With the family once again short on funds, J.J. takes a job with a group of criminals.
#21 - J.J.'s New Career (2)
Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/17/1976
J.J.'s new employers are into more than he knew, and he narrowly escapes being arrested when the cops come calling.
#22 - Grandpa's Visit
Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/24/1976
Grandpa Evans' Thanksgiving visit causes trouble for Florida when he brings along his girlfriend.
#23 - Rich Is Better Than Poor...Maybe
Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/8/1976
After winning the lottery, the Evans are robbed at gunpoint by Thelma's tutoring student.
#24 - 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.
#25 - The Judy Cohen Story
Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/22/1976
J.J. takes on management of a plump but talented white songstress.