An
American TV show starting in
1974 (a
spin-off of
Maude), featuring the Evans family living in the black
ghetto of some large city (I forget which one). The family consisted of
mother Florida,
father James (who died after about two years when
actor John Amos was fired for supposedly being a disruptive influence; Amos says this was for fighting what the writers wanted to do with the show), youngest child Michael,
teenage Thelma, and 18-year-old son J.J., who unexpectedly became the most popular character because of
comedian Jimmie Walker's outrageous reactions and catchphrase "Dyn-O-Mite!"
The show was one of the first to bring up serious issues such as busing, gangs, racial prejudice and other things of concern to the U.S. in the 70s; some episodes (such as one where the family questions the appropriateness of questions on standardized tests like "cup and ___(saucer)" for lower-income children who wouldn't have cups and saucers to use together) were not shown by some stations. The comedy made it palatable, but the show's black actors and white writers had many tug-of-wars over which was the most important. The show lasted until a final episode in April 1979.