A childhood friend of James comes to the house to visit, claiming to be a successful businessman.A childhood friend of James comes to the house to visit, claiming to be a successful businessman.A childhood friend of James comes to the house to visit, claiming to be a successful businessman.
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Ja'net DuBois
- Willona Woods
- (as Ja'net Du Bois)
Jimmie 'JJ' Walker
- James 'J.J.' Evans, Jr.
- (as Jimmie Walker)
BernNadette Stanis
- Thelma Evans
- (as Bernnadette Stanis)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe real artist who does J.J's paintings for the show, Ernie Barnes, has a bit role as Hoodlum #1.
- GoofsJJ answers the door and the two thugs start roughing him up. When James comes to his rescue, someone wearing blue can be seen in the background quickly passing from the left --where the bedrooms are, into the bathroom and closing the door --despite all the noise and commotion in the doorway and hallway.
- Quotes
James 'J.J.' Evans, Jr.: Hey, uh, Dad, ain't you gonna say your prayers?
James Evans, Sr.: Junior, if I had said my prayers I swear you wouldn't be here right now.
- Crazy creditsRalph Carter courtesy of the Broadway musical "Raisin". (Closing credits. This original Broadway production ran from October 1973 to December 1975.)
- ConnectionsReferences Let's Make a Deal (1963)
- SoundtracksGood Times
Music by Dave Grusin
Lyrics by Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman
Performed by James Gilstrap and Blinky (as Blinky Williams)
Featured review
Thalmus Rasulala and Raymond Allen
"The Houseguest" turns out to be Ernie Harris (Thalmus Rasulala), James' boyhood pal from Mississippi, invited to stay with the Evans family for a short time. Ernie has apparently made a success of himself since his parents died, working all hours in public relations. Going out his first night, James receives an unexpected visit from two gun wielding hoodlums looking for Ernie, to collect on a debt over a recent crap game. At that moment, Ned the Wino (Raymond Allen, second of four) shows up to lament not being invited to the pajama party! Confronting his old friend about his heavy gambling losses, James tells Ernie to clear out in the morning because he won't have his family threatened. The climax is one of the show's most tense, with JJ admitting what he's learned from the experience: "two to one I'll never place a bet in my life!" Thalmus Rasulala later appeared as Oscar Harris in "Florida the Woman," going on to play Omoro, father of Kunta Kinte in ROOTS.
helpful•50
- kevinolzak
- Jan 4, 2017
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