Thelma's engaged in almost every season

[TV_Fan]

I mean really, couldn't the writer's come up with something new? Seasons 2-5 all have episodes where Thelmas is engaged or married. Half the time the men only appear in one episode. Just a complaint I have about this show.

[jamesanthony]

I mean really, couldn't the writer's come up with something new? Seasons 2-5 all have episodes where Thelmas is engaged or married. Half the time the men only appear in one episode. Just a complaint I have about this show.
Thelma was an underwritten character. Other than get engaged, they couldn't think of anything more for her character to do with herself. Once she gets married, she seems to have no other real goals in life. Bernadette Stanis complained about this in an article in Ebony magazine ("Bad Times on the Good Times set'). I can't go hunting for a link to that article, but I remember reading it in print version in the 70s. People remark more about Thelma's looks than anything else- her personality was rather lacking and her ambitions seemingly underdeveloped.

[catlover79]

She fell in love more often than Marcia Brady. :lol:

[TV_Fan]

She fell in love more often than Marcia Brady. :lol:

LOL her and JJ both.

[TV_Fan]

Thelma was an underwritten character. Other than get engaged, they couldn't think of anything more for her character to do with herself. Once she gets married, she seems to have no other real goals in life. Bernadette Stanis complained about this in an article in Ebony magazine ("Bad Times on the Good Times set'). I can't go hunting for a link to that article, but I remember reading it in print version in the 70s. People remark more about Thelma's looks than anything else- her personality was rather lacking and her ambitions seemingly underdeveloped.

Definitely underwritten. Most of her best lines were simply reponses to JJ.

[catlover79]

Definitely underwritten. Most of her best lines were simply reponses to JJ.
Well, I think the moment she TRULY shined is when she lashed back at Keith after he slapped her while drunk. That scene was nothing short of amazing. Bernadette Stanis and Ben Powers both played the heck out of that scene. Heck, I felt like applauding at the end of that episode!! :clap

[TV_Fan]

Well, I think the moment she TRULY shined is when she lashed back at Keith after he slapped her while drunk. That scene was nothing short of amazing. Bernadette Stanis and Ben Powers both played the heck out of that scene. Heck, I felt like applauding at the end of that episode!! :clap

I'm not sure I remember that episode. That was from the final season, right? I'm going to have to watch that one again.

[catlover79]

I'm not sure I remember that episode. That was from the final season, right? I'm going to have to watch that one again.
Yeah, that was in the last season. The episode was entitled "The Evans' Dilemma".

[ThomasE]

I loved it too. She did portray a strong afro american woman. I will say that.

[catlover79]

I mean really, couldn't the writer's come up with something new? Seasons 2-5 all have episodes where Thelmas is engaged or married. Half the time the men only appear in one episode. Just a complaint I have about this show.
Bern Nadette even acknowledged how often she fell in love as Thelma when I emailed her recently. Underwritten as Thelma was, she was still strong, loyal and warm. She was a good role model for teenage girls - regardless of race!! That's nothing to sneeze at. :D