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Season 4, Episode 18 Number (#79) in series (133 episodes) | ||||
![]() J.J. tries to keep old high school buddy Robert Simpson, the former star on their school's basketball team, who's flunked out of college, from committing suicide after he's taken some sleeping pills in "A Friend in Need" in Season 4. | ||||
Tape date | January 13, 1977 | |||
Air date: | February 2, 1977 | |||
Network/Country: | CBS-TV | |||
Written by: | John Baskin & Roger Shulman | |||
Directed by: | Gerren Keith | |||
Production code: | 418 | |||
A Friend in Need | ||||
Cast Information | ||||
Starring: | Esther Rolle Jimmie Walker Ja'net Dubois Bern Nadette Stanis Ralph Carter | |||
Guest starring: | Ta-Ronce Allen Rana Ford Jeff Hollis Debbi Morgan Ralph Wilcox | |||
Episode guide | ||||
Episode chronology | ||||
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"Willona's Surprise" (a.k.a. "Dinner with My Ex") |
"A Stormy Relationship" | |||
List of Good Times seasons/episodes |
A Friend in Need is the eighteenth episode of Season 4 of Good Times, and also the seventy-ninth series episode overall. Written by John Baksin and Roger Shulman, the episode, which was directed by Gerren Keith, premiered on CBS-TV, originally airing on February 2, 1977.
Synopsis[]
While Florida's away, the kids throw a rowdy party that gets out of hand when one of the guests takes an overdose and J.J. plays hero.
Storyline[]
A house party at the Evans' apartment takes an unexpected turn when J.J.'s down-on-his-luck buddy Robert tries to commit suicide.
Plot summary[]
In Florida's absence, the Evans kids throw a wild party. Among the guests is J.J.'s old high school chum Robert Simpson (Ralph Wilcox), a once-promising athlete and scholar who has just flunked out of college and been subsequently released from the school's basketball team, as Ellen, his girlfriend (Debbie Morgan) also dumps him. Things take an even grimmer turn when Robert OD's on sleeping pills, transforming J.J. (Jimmie Walker) into a literal lifesaver.
Guest starring[]
- Ta-Ronce Allen as Yvonne
- Rana Ford as Marcia
- Jeff Hollis as Cool Dude (as Jeffrey Hollis)
- Debbi Morgan as Ellen
- Ralph Wilcox as Robert Simpson