After Bookman returns, Willona angrily shoves the cake she brought from the store in his face as Michael roars with laughter. Dobbs then accuses Willona of trying to deceive the department of children and family services and warns this lie (although she's not at fault) will weigh heavily against her in her quest to adopt and she leaves, leaving Willona fuming. Dobbs is convinced that Willona could provide a stable and loving environment for a child and that she has a loving, affectionate husband until Michael (Ralph Carter) blurts out that Willona is not married. Dobbs then asks Willona if she has a nickname for Bookman, to which she replies 'Buffalo Butt' before shoving him off into the bathroom to 'check the leaky faucet'. Shortly, Willona arrives, with a cake she bought from the store, and orders Bookman out of her apartment but he convinces his 'Kissy Face' to go along with the script as Mrs.

Dobbs waits outside Willona's apartment when Bookman, who's changed into a suit, shows up and eagerly introduces himself as Willona's husband and lets Mrs. Dobbs from the Department of Children and Family Services arrives to meet with Willona as the Evans siblings eagerly and passionately plead Willona's case, exclaiming that she will make a wonderful mother. After Bookman leaves, the Evans children get a call from Florida down in Arizona, checking in with them but they're saddened to learn that Florida and Carl are extending their stay in Arizona to possibly a year as the climate is good for Carl's health.Ī lady named Mrs. Shortly after Willona leaves, Bookman (Johnny Brown) comes rushing into the apartment asking why Willona is being investigated by the CIA's to which the Evans kids reply that she is trying to become Penny's legal guardian but it's more difficult because she is a single woman, to which Bookman then offers his support in Willona's quest to becoming Penny's adoptive mother. The two siblings bicker and chastise one another, they don't even see Willona (Ja'net DuBois), dressed in athletic wear, jogging in and out of the apartment.Ī short time later, Willona returns to the apartment as she confesses to the Evans children that she's going crazy with worry on whether or not she'll be able to adopt Penny (Janet Jackson) and that she has to go through one final interview but the Evans children tell her not to worry. (Jimmie Walker) comes home from work while Thelma (Bern Nadette Stanis) is cleaning while dancing away to the Emotions' 'Best of My Love' on the stereo. In the concluding episode of Good Times' fifth-season opener 'The Evans Get Involved,' an exhausted J.J. After hearing this, Bookman wants to help and does so by posing as her husband.but he may have taken things a bit too far. Willona wants to become Penny's adoptive mother but her hopes are dashed after she finds out that she can't because she is single. The audience response is loud and dedicated throughout, a shocking situation to be depicted in the late 70s.Willona worries that her chances of becoming Penny's legal guardian are bleak because she's unmarried, so Bookman pretends to be her husband for the interview with the social worker. Both Thelma and Willona are quick to defend him to the unapologetic Barbara, who is content to continue seeing JJ without committing to an exclusive relationship. JJ's understandable jealousy and stomach trouble requires a trip to the doctor, who diagnoses an ulcer. JJ's new girlfriend is gorgeous Barbara (Fay Hauser), who claims to be separated from husband Ernie (Justin Lord), though according to Willona not enough! Penny believes that married people aren't supposed to date others: 'honey, that's just what I was trying to tell my ex-husband!' Barbara literally proves to be painful for JJ, who learns that her husband still lives and showers in her apartment, his prerogative since he pays the $400 rent.

'JJ's Condition' is another stunning episode, a frank adult look at an open marriage.

Goodtimes season 5