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The Best Episodes of Good Times

Every episode of Good Times ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Good Times!

Binge this in 2d 17h•Peaking at 8.6/10

Good Times is an American sitcom that originally aired from February 8, 1974, until August 1, 1979, on the CBS television network. It was created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans, and developed by Norman

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Good Times Season 5 Episode 1 - The Evans Get Involved (1)
    8.6/10(143 votes)

    #1 - The Evans Get Involved (1)

    S5:E1

    When a young girl, Penny Gordon follows J.J. home, she quickly insinuates herself into the Evans household and makes up stories about her life, including forgetting to mention she has an abusive mother.

    Director:Gerren Keith
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Good Times Season 4 Episode 2 - The Big Move (2)
    8.4/10(135 votes)

    #2 - The Big Move (2)

    S4:E2

    The death of James has J.J., Thelma and Michael overcome with grief and also leaves them wondering what is wrong with Florida, who hasn't cried once since she found out the news of James' death. During a get-together at the apartment after James' funeral, the kids plan to confront Florida, who is seen laughing and having a great time.

    Director:Gerren Keith
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Good Times Season 5 Episode 2 - The Evans Get Involved (2)
    8.4/10(123 votes)

    #3 - The Evans Get Involved (2)

    S5:E2

    Willona and the Evans children are convinced that Penny is being abused, but when Willona takes Penny to see a doctor about a broken arm, he refuses to believe she's being abused.

    Director:Gerren Keith
    Writer:Sid Dorfman

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  4. Good Times Season 2 Episode 10 - The Gang (2)
    8.3/10(121 votes)

    #4 - The Gang (2)

    S2:E10

    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.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Eric Monte

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  5. Good Times Season 3 Episode 15 - The Family Tree
    8.3/10(113 votes)

    #5 - The Family Tree

    S3:E15

    Thelma researches her family tree for a school project and discovers James's father is very much alive and living in the Chicago area. However, when James learns that Thelma has invited him as a surprise for his birthday, he refuses to see him.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Good Times Season 4 Episode 1 - The Big Move (1)
    8.3/10(115 votes)

    #6 - The Big Move (1)

    S4:E1

    The family is getting ready to move to Mississippi which is where James has gotten a promising new job. However, the family is waiting for the right time to tell Bookman the news. Later, Willona throws a going-away party but the happiness is interrupted by heartbreaking news that James has been killed in a car accident.

    Director:Gerren Keith
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Good Times

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  7. Good Times Season 5 Episode 3 - The Evans Get Involved (3)
    8.3/10(103 votes)

    #7 - The Evans Get Involved (3)

    S5:E3

    Willona and the Evans kids are stunned to discover that Penny and her mother have moved. They are equally stunned when they discover Penny hiding the Evans apartment. Later, Penny's abusive mother abandons her leaving Willona to ponder adopting the battered youth.

    Director:Gerren Keith
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Good Times Season 2 Episode 19 - The Dinner Party
    8.2/10(141 votes)

    #8 - The Dinner Party

    S2:E19

    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.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Allan Manings

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  9. Good Times Season 3 Episode 11 - Florida's Protest
    8.2/10(113 votes)

    #9 - Florida's Protest

    S3:E11

    Florida and James become outraged when the kids get a touch of food poisoning after eating meat from the local supermarket. She organizes a group of concerned citizens and they boycott the market. The protest gets effective results, but not before Florida experiences her first trip to jail.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Allan Manings

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  10. Good Times Season 5 Episode 4 - The Evans Get Involved (4)
    8.2/10(101 votes)

    #10 - The Evans Get Involved (4)

    S5:E4

    Willona worries over whether or not she will be able to adopt Penny. Meanwhile, a well meaning, Bookman, tries to help out by telling the social worker, that he's married to Willona, this only makes things worse when the social worker learns the truth.

    Director:Gerren Keith
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Good Times Season 2 Episode 9 - The Gang (1)
    8.1/10(140 votes)

    #11 - The Gang (1)

    S2:E9

    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.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Eric Monte

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  12. Good Times Season 3 Episode 17 - J.J.'s Fiancee (1)
    8.1/10(114 votes)

    #12 - J.J.'s Fiancee (1)

    S3:E17

    J.J. and his girlfriend, Diana, are getting serious and the topic of marriage comes up, something which both J.J. and Diana both want. However, both of their parents are totally against the notion. Meanwhile, Diana is secretly hiding a drug problem.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:John Baskin

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  13. Good Times Season 3 Episode 19 - Sweet Daddy Williams
    8.1/10(123 votes)

    #13 - Sweet Daddy Williams

    S3:E19

    J.J. has been commissioned by a number's runner, Sweet Daddy Williams, to paint the portrait of his girlfriend, Savannah. In return, J.J. will get his own art display.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Good Times Season 1 Episode 10 - Springtime in the Ghetto
    8.0/10(123 votes)

    #14 - Springtime in the Ghetto

    S1:E10

    Florida is running in a cleanest apartment competition and is sure she will win. However, her chances are dashed when Michael tries to help someone in need and brings home Ned the Wino.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Good Times Season 3 Episode 10 - Willona's Dilemma
    8.0/10(89 votes)

    #15 - Willona's Dilemma

    S3:E10

    When J.J. brings home Walter, a man from his art class, he hits it off with Willona. Despite the fact that he's deaf, him and Willona begin a relationship one that Willona thinks is headed for the alter.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:John Baskin

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  16. Good Times Season 3 Episode 14 - Cleatus
    8.0/10(108 votes)

    #16 - Cleatus

    S3:E14

    A bank robbery in Atlanta has the FBI showing up at the Evans' apartment to question Florida since her nephew, Cleatus is the prime suspect. Things get tense, when Cleatus arrives at the apartment with a briefcase full of money and wanting a place to stay.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Good Times Season 4 Episode 4 - Michael the Warlord
    8.0/10(100 votes)

    #17 - Michael the Warlord

    S4:E4

    Widespread violence has been running rampant in the neighborhood and a large part of it is due to the street gang, the Warlords. While Florida and some concerned citizens discuss the problem, Michael does his best to conceal a secret from his mother, he himself is a member of the gang.

    Director:Gerren Keith
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Good Times Season 2 Episode 24 - The Lunch Money Ripoff
    7.9/10(128 votes)

    #18 - The Lunch Money Ripoff

    S2:E24

    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.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:John Baskin

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  19. Good Times Season 3 Episode 12 - The Mural
    7.9/10(93 votes)

    #19 - The Mural

    S3:E12

    J.J. is commissioned by a bank to paint a mural and in return will receive $250 needed for Thelma's college education whom recently won a scholarship and found herself $200 short. However, the bank is reluctant to pay after seeing the finished product.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Good Times Season 3 Episode 18 - J.J.'s Fiancee (2)
    7.9/10(118 votes)

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

    S3:E18

    On the night of her senior prom, Diana decides to run off to Indiana and elope with J.J. Meanwhile, back in Chicago, switched purses leads the Evans family to discover Diana's drug problem and her supplier.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:John Baskin

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  21. Good Times Season 3 Episode 24 - The Rent Party
    7.9/10(102 votes)

    #21 - The Rent Party

    S3:E24

    The Evans family decides to hold a rent party to help out a neighbor in the building whose electricity has just been turned off. However, the party may come to a quick halt when the heartless building superintendent catches wind of it.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:John Baskin

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  22. Good Times Season 1 Episode 2 - Black Jesus
    7.8/10(180 votes)

    #22 - Black Jesus

    S1:E2

    J.J.'s painting of a Black Jesus, becomes the family's good luck charm after a string of success hits each family member. However, Florida refuses to entertain the notion that the painting had anything to do with the recent string of ""good times"".

    Director:John Rich
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Good Times Season 1 Episode 6 - Sex and the Evans Family
    7.8/10(124 votes)

    #23 - Sex and the Evans Family

    S1:E6

    Florida finds what she believes to be a dirty story called, ""Sexual Behavior in the Ghetto"". Assuming it to be J.J.'s, Florida confronts him, but she's in for a surprise when Thelma claims it and has an even bigger surprise when she learns it belongs to Thelma's latest boyfriend.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Good Times Season 1 Episode 11 - The TV Commercial
    7.8/10(114 votes)

    #24 - The TV Commercial

    S1:E11

    Florida comes home from the supermarket with great news, she's been offered a role in a TV commercial. What's even better is the pay she will get, $5,000. However, once she reads the script and tests the product, Florida has second thoughts.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Good Times Season 2 Episode 12 - The Windfall
    7.8/10(103 votes)

    #25 - The Windfall

    S2:E12

    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.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Allan Manings

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Evans Get Involved (1)" is the best rated episode of "Good Times". It scored 8.6/10 based on 143 votes. Directed by Gerren Keith and written by Unknown, it aired on 9/21/1977. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Big Move (2)".