(image via wolfgangsvault)
"Good Times," which is legendary television, had an interesting bunch of writers. Jay Leno was actually one of them. IMDB confirms it. "What's funnier than for a white guy from Andover writing for an urban (sit com)," was how Jay Leno opened his recent interview with Tavis Smiley:
"Tavis Smiley: How did that happen, Jay?
"Jay Leno: I was friends with Jimmy Walker, I used to write jokes for Jimmy Walker -- actually Dave and I used to write jokes for Jimmy Walker .. punch things up."
Leno, aside from his writing duties, starred in a "Good Times" episode called "J.J. In Trouble." Hal Erickson of "All Movie Guide" writes in synopsis, "J.J. (Jimmie Walker) is informed by a former girlfriend that she has contracted VD -- and that he is the carrier. With his parents out of town, J.J. heads to the local free clinic, hoping to be checked out and 'cured' without his mom and dad ever finding out. Future Tonight Show host Jay Leno appears as another of the clinic's anxious clients."
You learn something new every day.
4 comments:
I actually remember seeing a Good Times episode w/Leno in it. If I remember correctly, the scene was taking place at some emergency room...and Leno was a character asking for drugs (pharmaceuticals) or something. I"m sure someone can dig that up on youtube.
And there ya go; I should read you all the way to the bottom. Nice.
Great episode. I think -- although I am not sure -- that Gary Shandling was also an occasional writer on the show. Wild. That show is mythic among African-ASmericans as depicting life in the mid 70s inner city. Which goes to show, methinks, that a joke is a joke and not limited to race or background.
Ever watch the production credits for "Sanford and Son?"
Seems Redd Foxx was the only non-Jew on the set.
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