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In the words of Florida Evans, “Damn, damn, damn!”
That was Black Twitter’s first few reactions to seeing the trailer for Netflix’s new animated reboot of “Good Times.”
Premiering Friday, April 12, the series follows a new generation of the Evans family as they thrive and survive in a housing project in Chicago. The star-studded voice cast includes J.B. Smoove as patriarch, cab driver Reggie Evans; Yvette Nicole Brown as his wife Beverly; Jay Pharoah as their artist son Junior; Marsai Martin as activist daughter Grey; and Gerald “Slink” Johnson as drug-dealing baby Dalvin.
Why yes, I did say drug-dealing baby. And now you know why Black Twitter is hot as fish grease about this reboot.
If this were just another adult animated comedy that subverted expectations and took a satirical tone, it wouldn’t be so egregious. However, it fails at its most basic requirement, which is to be funny.
Since the trailer elicits literally no laughs, its exploitative nature feels more pronounced. Producers and writers could’ve made this show without using the familiar name of a TV classic to pop a number. Connecting this to “Good Times” was unnecessary and unwanted, according to many on social media.
And as you’d expect, using a groundbreaking piece of Black culture in this manner got Black Twitter riled up, and no punches were pulled.
Many viewers took issue with the family’s portrayal, with one person writing on X, “This is disrespectful & distasteful. They took a show that was based on a solid hardworking family into a cartoon caricature of Black America. Tried to guise it under the show ‘Good Times’ smmfh.”
Another user pointed out how the family’s presentation goes against everything the original stars wanted the Evans to be, writing on X, “Esther Rolle literally fought for a Black father representation in ‘Good Times.’ She risked everything, and when they killed John Amos off, she literally left the show—we can’t keep spitting in their faces like this.”
One user is ready to skip this nonsense and bring back the animated series we’ve really been waiting for, posting, “Nah just give me the ‘Boondocks’ because they warned us about this.”
Another person didn’t bother beating around the bush, explaining exactly how they felt about the series’ “jokes,” writing on X, “I’m not even shocked. When they first announced they were making a cartoon version of a ‘Good Times’ reboot, it was a hard no. This shit is an animated minstrel show trying to fit in as many stereotypes as they can about Black people.”
Bad shows come and go all the time, and it’s usually not that big of deal. But when you use “Good Times” to put this nonsense out in the world, it has to be called out.
Nothing in this trailer uplifts or celebrates Black families. So far, the show is looking like a not-so good time.
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