The Fosters (British TV series)

The Fosters is a British television programme, produced by London Weekend Television, which aired on ITV from 9 April 1976 until 9 July 1977.

This article is about the 1970s British series. For the 2010s US series, see The Fosters (American TV series).

The Fosters
The Fosters cast
Created byJon Watkins
Based onGood Times
Developed byJon Watkins (adaption)
Based on Good Times (created by Mike Evans and Eric Monte)
StarringNorman Beaton
Isabelle Lucas
Carmen Munroe
Sharon Rosita
Lawrie Mark
Lenny Henry
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes27
Production
Production locationsSouth London, London, England
Running time30 Minutes
Production companyLondon Weekend Television
Release
Original networkITV
Original release9 April 1976 (1976-04-09) –
9 July 1977 (1977-07-09)
Chronology
Related showsGood Times

It was created and developed by Jon Watkins, who adapted the American sitcom Good Times created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans, and developed by Norman Lear. It was one of the first British television programmes to have an entirely black cast, and was a predecessor to future series such as The Real McCoy, No Problem!, Desmond's and The Lenny Henry Show (and its subsequent incarnations).

Overview

The series starred Norman Beaton as Samuel Foster, a hard-working man trying to support his family in a South London council flat. The character of Samuel was based on James Evans Sr. (portrayed by John Amos) in Good Times. Alongside Beaton was Isabelle Lucas, portraying Samuel's wife, Pearl Foster (based on Florida Evans in Good Times, portrayed by Esther Rolle), who gossips with her best friend, Vilma, played by Carmen Munroe and based on Willona Woods (portrayed by Ja'Net DuBois) from the US series. Munroe and Beaton would later star in Desmond's as married couple Shirley and Desmond Ambrose.

Included in the show's cast was teenager Lenny Henry, in his first regular TV role, playing Sonny Foster, Pearl and Samuel's eldest child, a painter. J.J. Evans (portrayed by Jimmie Walker) was the American equivalent.

Sharon Rosita played Sonny's younger sister, Shirley Foster (Thelma Evans, portrayed by Bern Nadette Stanis, in the US version), the couple's only daughter, and their second-oldest child. Samuel and Pearl's younger son, Benjamin, was played by Lawrie Mark. In the American series, Michael Evans (portrayed by Ralph Carter) was Benjamin's counterpart.

Episodes (and their titles) of The Fosters were derived from scripts from those of Good Times episodes. Overall, two series and a total of 27 episodes were produced, with the final episode broadcast on 9 July 1977.

Cast

DVD release
DVDRelease date
The Complete Series 15 July 2010
The Complete Series 25 September 2011


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