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.
| The Fosters | |
|---|---|
.jpg) The Fosters cast | |
| Created by | Jon Watkins |
| Based on | Good Times |
| Developed by | Jon Watkins (adaption) Based on Good Times (created by Mike Evans and Eric Monte) |
| Starring | Norman Beaton Isabelle Lucas Carmen Munroe Sharon Rosita Lawrie Mark Lenny Henry |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 27 |
| Production | |
| Production location(s) | South London, London, England |
| Running time | 30 Minutes |
| Production company(s) | London Weekend Television |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV |
| Original release | 9 April 1976 – 9 July 1977 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Good Times |
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 one of the first British television programmes to have an entirely black cast. It was the predecessor to many future British television programmes that featured a predominantly black cast: (The Real McCoy, No Problem!, Desmond's, 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 multi-storey council flat. The Samuel character was based on the fictional character James Evans Sr. (portrayed by John Amos) in Good Times. Alongside Beaton was Isabelle Lucas, portraying Samuel's wife, Pearl Foster (Florida Evans in the original Good Times series, portrayed by Esther Rolle), who gossips with her best friend, Vilma, played by Carmen Munroe. Vilma was originally the character Willona Woods (portrayed by Ja'Net DuBois), who in the American version, gossips with Florida on every one inside (and outside) the housing projects, much to James' dismay. Munroe and Beaton would later star in Desmond's as married couple Shirley and Desmond Ambrose.
Including in the show's cast was teenager Lenny Henry, in his first regular series, playing Sonny Foster, Pearl and Samuel's oldest child and son, a painter. J.J. Evans (portrayed by Jimmie Walker) was the American equivalent.
Sharon Rosita played Sonny's younger sister, Shirley Foster (in the US: Thelma Evans, portrayed by Bern Nadette Stanis), 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 (portrayed by Ralph Carter) was Benjamin's double.
The series' episodes (and titles) were derived from scripts from the original Good Times episodes. The series produced 27 episodes and two series, ending its year-long run on 9 July 1977.
Cast
- Norman Beaton as Samuel Foster
- Isabelle Lucas as Pearl Foster
- Carmen Munroe as Vilma
- Lenny Henry as Sonny Foster
- Sharon Rosita as Shirley Foster
- Lawrie Mark as Benjamin Foster
DVD Release
| DVD | Release date |
|---|---|
| The Complete Series 1 | 5 July 2010 |
| The Complete Series 2 | 5 September 2011 |