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"A Friend in Need"
Season 4, Episode 18
Number (#79) in series (133 episodes)
Good Times episode - A Friend in Need
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
IMDb logo IMDB 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
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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[]

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