MovieChat Forums > Good Times (1974) Discussion > The Only Sitcom Set In "The Projects"?

The Only Sitcom Set In "The Projects"?

posted 8 years ago by Camelot_2000
21 replies | jump to latest

I can't recall any other sitcom with that setting. It was presumed to be at Cabrini–Green Homes in Chicago even though nobody mentioned the name. I think it perfectly captured that environment with comments about muggings and topics like drug gangs etc.. The only difference is that they didn't lock their door during the day in an area with such a high crime rate. It's a wonder they never got robbed blind by that.

I admit the location of the show is something I found really interesting as well as the money and social problems common to areas like that. It perfectly captured a family struggling to make ends meet and in a humorous way. I admit that's one of the major things I liked about this show.

It definitely lost it's momentum though when there was no longer a Daddy Evans, but a single ma tolerating J.J's constant goofy theatrics while she's trying to maintain the household. The authoritative punch of having James Evans there was a major good quality to the show. It totally went downhill after he was gone.

I don't know what Normal Lear was thinking of when he let him go. The show had long lasting potential with the main cast and probably would have lasted way longer than the other shows in the Norman Learn Universe. Just saying.

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[–] McGannahanSkjellyfetti 8 years ago

What about the Honeymooners?

[–] abajasds 8 years ago

Ralph and Alice Kramden didn't live in the projects. They lived in a 1 bedroom apartment in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Never mentioned of it being a housing project.

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[–] Tresix 8 years ago

There was also the animated sitcom "The PJs" with Eddie Murphy and Loretta Devine.

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[–] cataclysm1071 8 years ago

"Chico and the man", and "Sanford and Son"... both from the same era, were set in rough parts of L.A.

Although these two sitcoms were more about blue collar bachelors, and not really centered on a nuclear family living in poverty.

The whole concept of featuring a family sitcom in the ghetto was fairly alien in the 1970s. Especially since most tv families were well....white, mid to upper middle class, and living in some uber sanitized suburban utopia, in a two story home.

[–] Tresix 8 years ago

But "Chico..." and "Sanford..." weren't set in projects.

Annoying the world since 1960!

[–] McGannahanSkjellyfetti 8 years ago

Maybe so, but the apartment that the Evans' family lived in was the Conrad Hilton compared to the Kramden's place...

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] SmokyBrownEyes 8 years ago

I'm guessing Welcome Back Kotter was set in "the projects"? At least the Sweathogs were and the opening credits? I admit I haven't seen the reruns since the '90s though.

[–] Tresix 8 years ago

I don't know if any of the Sweathogs lived in the projects. The only one they showed at home was Horshak and it looked like just a regular house.

Annoying the world since 1960!

[–] pioneergrrrl (2390) 6 years ago

It was supposed to be about a 'remedial' (aka special ed) class. Federal special ed laws had just been passed requiring students w disabilities be given access to public education....so Hollywood figured why not make sitcom about it.

But they were supposed to be 'rough' because they had not gotten good education....now being in high school and this being mid 1970's

It is odd to watch from our vantage point with early interventions. It shows how our expectations re all children have radically changed.

[–] mistersparkle 8 years ago

I wonder why they never ran into Candyman living at Cabrini–Green.

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[–] McGannahanSkjellyfetti 8 years ago

I never seen the series, but I heard that Till Death Do Us Part takes place in "The Projects"...

[–] hifijohn 8 years ago

you're right about it being the cabrini green projects in the opening(or closing credits) you can see the hancock building in the distance.

[–] MrBlondNYC 7 years ago

It's obvious that people in this thread do not know what "projects" means. Camelot_2000 is talking about housing projects. The projects doesn't just mean a ghetto or a rough area or a rundown building. The projects are public housing buildings provided by the government for low-income people. The Evans lived in a housing project. None of the other shows mentioned - except the PJ's - took place in a project. The Sweathogs could have possibly lived in projects but it was never stated that they did.

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[–] eatpastry 7 years ago

There was a short lives series called South Central that starred Lorenz tate back in the 90's that was set in the hood---Im not sure it was in a project but i know they were living in a small apt so maybe it was.

[–] Tresix 7 years ago

I thought the "South Central" characters lived in a house. Then again, before they were torn down, some of the projects in Chicago had townhouses that were separated from the big apartment buildings.

Annoying the world since 1960!

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Sanford and Son was kind of set in the projects.

[–] wrlord (1085) 5 years ago

You don't seem to know what a project is.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Diffrent Strokes was set in the rich white projects.

[–] pioneergrrrl (2390) 5 years ago

no Mr Drummond never had to worry about making rent, his utilities getting shut off or how to pay for food. He sent his children to private schools and had a house keeper. Florida Evans works as the housekeeper. It's a condo/apartment complex.