The Fosters
Encyclopedia
The Fosters is a British
sitcom
, produced by London Weekend Television
which aired on ITV
from 9 April 1976, until 9 July 1977.
It was created and developed by Jon Watkins, who adapted the American
sitcom, Good Times
, developed by Norman Lear
, and created by Eric Monte
and Mike Evans
. It was the first British sitcom to have an entirely Black cast
.
as Samuel Foster, a hard-working man trying to support his family in a South London
multi-storey council flat. The Samuel character was based on the fictional character
James Evans Sr. in Good Times. Alongside Beaton, was Canadian actress Isabelle Lucas
, portraying Samuel's wife, Pearl Foster (Florida Evans
in the original), who gossips with her best friend, Vilma, played by Carmen Munroe
. Vilma was originally the character Willona Woods, who in the American
version, gossips with Florida on every one inside (and outside) the housing projects, much to James' dismay.
Including in the show's cast was comedian
Lenny Henry
, in his first regular series, playing Sonny Foster, Pearl and Samuel's oldest child and son, a painter
. J.J. Evans was the American equivalent.
Sharon Rosita played Sonny's younger sister, Shirley Foster (in the US: Thelma Evans
), the only daughter in the family, and the second oldest. Samuel and Pearl's younger son, Benjamin, was played by Lawrie Mark. In the American series, Michael Evans
was Benjamin's double.
The series' episodes (and titles) were derived from transcripts originally from the Good Times
episodes. The series produced 27 episodes and two series, ending its year-long run on 9 July 1977.
, The second series is scheduled for 5th September 2011.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
sitcom
British sitcom
A British sitcom tends, as it does in most other countries, to be based on a family, workplace or other institution, where the same group of contrasting characters is brought together in each episode. Unlike American sitcoms, where twenty or more episodes in a season is the norm, British sitcoms...
, produced by London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television was the name of the ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties including south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Warwickshire, east Dorset and...
which aired on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
from 9 April 1976, until 9 July 1977.
It was created and developed by Jon Watkins, who adapted the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sitcom, Good Times
Good Times
Good Times is an American sitcom that originally aired from February 8, 1974, until August 1, 1979, on the CBS television network. It was created by Eric Monte and Michael Evans, and developed by Norman Lear, the series' primary executive producer...
, developed by Norman Lear
Norman Lear
Norman Milton Lear is an American television writer and producer who produced such 1970s sitcoms as All in the Family, Sanford and Son, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, Good Times and Maude...
, and created by Eric Monte
Eric Monte
Eric Monte is an American screenwriter who has written for and created notable shows depicting 1970s African American culture.-Early life and career:...
and Mike Evans
Mike Evans (actor)
Michael Jonas Evans , was an American actor and, with Eric Monte, was co-creator of the show Good Times. Ralph Carter's character Michael Evans was named after him....
. It was the first British sitcom to have an entirely Black cast
Black British
Black British is a term used to describe British people of Black African descent, especially those of Afro-Caribbean background. The term has been used from the 1950s to refer to Black people from former British colonies in the West Indies and Africa, who are residents of the United Kingdom and...
.
Overview
The series starred Norman BeatonNorman Beaton
Norman Lugard Beaton was a Guyanese actor long resident in the United Kingdom....
as Samuel Foster, a hard-working man trying to support his family in a South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
multi-storey council flat. The Samuel character was based on the fictional character
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
James Evans Sr. in Good Times. Alongside Beaton, was Canadian actress Isabelle Lucas
Isabelle Lucas
Isabelle Harriet Lucas was a Canadian-born British actress and singer.Lucas was born in Toronto, Canada, to a chef from Barbados who worked on the Canadian Pacific Railway. Lucas acted in amateur productions as a teenager in Toronto.-Career:Isabelle Lucas moved to London in 1954 after performing...
, portraying Samuel's wife, Pearl Foster (Florida Evans
Florida Evans
Florida Evans Dixon was the fictional supporting character on the sitcom Maude and the lead character in its spin-off, Good Times. She was the hard-working mother of the Evans family...
in the original), who gossips with her best friend, Vilma, played by Carmen Munroe
Carmen Munroe
Carmen Munroe OBE is a British actress, born in Berbice, Guyana. Since the early 1950s she has been a resident of the UK. She made her West End stage debut in 1962 and has since played an instrumental role in the development of black British theatre and representation on small screen...
. Vilma was originally the character Willona Woods, who in the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
version, gossips with Florida on every one inside (and outside) the housing projects, much to James' dismay.
Including in the show's cast was comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
Lenny Henry
Lenny Henry
Lenworth George "Lenny" Henry, is a British actor, writer, comedian and occasional television presenter.- Early life :...
, in his first regular series, playing Sonny Foster, Pearl and Samuel's oldest child and son, a painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
. J.J. Evans was the American equivalent.
Sharon Rosita played Sonny's younger sister, Shirley Foster (in the US: Thelma Evans
Thelma Evans
Thelma Evans Anderson is a supporting character of the 1970s family sitcom Good Times. She was portrayed by Bern Nadette Stanis. She was the middle child of the Evans family....
), the only daughter in the family, and the second oldest. Samuel and Pearl's younger son, Benjamin, was played by Lawrie Mark. In the American series, Michael Evans
Michael Evans (Good Times)
Michael Evans is an American supporting character from the 1970s American sitcom Good Times. The character was apparently named after Good Times co-creator Michael Evans. He was portrayed by Ralph Carter....
was Benjamin's double.
The series' episodes (and titles) were derived from transcripts originally from the Good Times
Good Times
Good Times is an American sitcom that originally aired from February 8, 1974, until August 1, 1979, on the CBS television network. It was created by Eric Monte and Michael Evans, and developed by Norman Lear, the series' primary executive producer...
episodes. The series produced 27 episodes and two series, ending its year-long run on 9 July 1977.
Cast
- Norman BeatonNorman BeatonNorman Lugard Beaton was a Guyanese actor long resident in the United Kingdom....
as Samuel Foster - Isabelle LucasIsabelle LucasIsabelle Harriet Lucas was a Canadian-born British actress and singer.Lucas was born in Toronto, Canada, to a chef from Barbados who worked on the Canadian Pacific Railway. Lucas acted in amateur productions as a teenager in Toronto.-Career:Isabelle Lucas moved to London in 1954 after performing...
as Pearl Foster - Carmen MunroeCarmen MunroeCarmen Munroe OBE is a British actress, born in Berbice, Guyana. Since the early 1950s she has been a resident of the UK. She made her West End stage debut in 1962 and has since played an instrumental role in the development of black British theatre and representation on small screen...
as Vilma - Lenny HenryLenny HenryLenworth George "Lenny" Henry, is a British actor, writer, comedian and occasional television presenter.- Early life :...
as Sonny Foster - Sharon Rosita as Shirley Foster
- Lawrie Mark as Benjamin Foster
DVD Release
The first series of The Fosters was released on DVD in 2010 by NetworkNetwork DVD
Network DVD is a DVD publishing company that specialises in classic British television. In particular, it has the rights to a number of well-known ITV programmes...
, The second series is scheduled for 5th September 2011.