Longtime comedian Jimmie Walker was a regular at the legendary Stardust Race and Sports Book in Las Vegas.
The 74-year-old former star of the popular television show Good Times achieved success early in his career as the older son of Florida and James Evans, Sr. on television's first-ever two-parent sitcom featuring African-Americans.
Good Times aired on CBS for six seasons from 1974 to 1979.
Jimmie was 26 when he landed the role to play 17-year-old J.J. Evans.
"Dyn-O-Mite!" was the catchphrase assigned to J.J. by the show's group of creative writers.
The signature line was both a blessing and a curse for Jimmie Walker, a budding television celebrity in the late 1970's.
Producers of Good Times insisted on Walker delivering the classic line at least once an episode.
It seemed the more Walker engaged in tomfoolery as the family buffoon, the higher the Nielsen ratings for Good Times.
In the 1990's, Walker held court at the Stardust Hotel and Casino, treating local sports bettors to his steady stream of consciousness with no cover charge.
Walker Monologues, if you will.
Topics ran the gamut from sports news to political views, and everything in between.
"People don't look at me as talented," Walker once said.
"They look at me as the J.J. guy."
Jimmie's talent was his overblown delivery, not so much the value of his comedic content.
Every word from Walker's mouth was punched with force.
When he would talk about Major League Baseball totals, Jimmie replaced "over and under" with his comedic version of "ovaries and underwear."
As referenced earlier, it was Jimmie's unique delivery that made him funny.
When Las Vegas tourists inevitably spotted "J.J." sitting in the race and sports book at the Stardust, they would quickly and enthusiastically approach the reluctant Walker for an autograph.
The request and recognition were rarely appreciated.
Walker would oblige by scribbling chicken scratch on a small sheet of light blue paper the Stardust provided for bet requests.
Jimmie loved to work but he hated being on stage 24/7/365.
And he would never utter the line -- "Dyn-O-Mite!"-- on demand.
"What am I, a caged animal?" snapped Walker with an exaggerated savage look on his face.
Fast forward 30 years.
I spotted Jimmie on television this past weekend, hence today's blog entry.
He was working as a pitchman in commercial spots for the 2021 Medicare Helpline.
The contrast between the surly personality at the Stardust and the friendly, well-preserved spokesperson was obvious.
There was Jimmie crying out "Dyn-O-Mite!"
Much of life is about cash and considerations.
People, at times, are forced to lower their standards, sacrifice their beliefs, bend the rules or worse yet, break the law in the name of the almighty dollar.
Despite Jimmie's conflicts, I still honor the man who Time magazine named "Comedian of the Decade" for the 1970's.
Walker's commentary always came from a place of deep experience, the only real source of knowledge.
Walker's straight-talking ways and common-sense approach ("I'm a realist," he always says) are desperately needed in a world where logic and reason are too often hijacked by delusion and derangement.
Wish I would have bet the underwear in last Tuesday's MLB All-Star game.
The 74-year-old former star of the popular television show Good Times achieved success early in his career as the older son of Florida and James Evans, Sr. on television's first-ever two-parent sitcom featuring African-Americans.
Good Times aired on CBS for six seasons from 1974 to 1979.
Jimmie was 26 when he landed the role to play 17-year-old J.J. Evans.
"Dyn-O-Mite!" was the catchphrase assigned to J.J. by the show's group of creative writers.
The signature line was both a blessing and a curse for Jimmie Walker, a budding television celebrity in the late 1970's.
Producers of Good Times insisted on Walker delivering the classic line at least once an episode.
It seemed the more Walker engaged in tomfoolery as the family buffoon, the higher the Nielsen ratings for Good Times.
In the 1990's, Walker held court at the Stardust Hotel and Casino, treating local sports bettors to his steady stream of consciousness with no cover charge.
Walker Monologues, if you will.
Topics ran the gamut from sports news to political views, and everything in between.
"People don't look at me as talented," Walker once said.
"They look at me as the J.J. guy."
Jimmie's talent was his overblown delivery, not so much the value of his comedic content.
Every word from Walker's mouth was punched with force.
When he would talk about Major League Baseball totals, Jimmie replaced "over and under" with his comedic version of "ovaries and underwear."
As referenced earlier, it was Jimmie's unique delivery that made him funny.
When Las Vegas tourists inevitably spotted "J.J." sitting in the race and sports book at the Stardust, they would quickly and enthusiastically approach the reluctant Walker for an autograph.
The request and recognition were rarely appreciated.
Walker would oblige by scribbling chicken scratch on a small sheet of light blue paper the Stardust provided for bet requests.
Jimmie loved to work but he hated being on stage 24/7/365.
And he would never utter the line -- "Dyn-O-Mite!"-- on demand.
"What am I, a caged animal?" snapped Walker with an exaggerated savage look on his face.
Fast forward 30 years.
I spotted Jimmie on television this past weekend, hence today's blog entry.
He was working as a pitchman in commercial spots for the 2021 Medicare Helpline.
The contrast between the surly personality at the Stardust and the friendly, well-preserved spokesperson was obvious.
There was Jimmie crying out "Dyn-O-Mite!"
Much of life is about cash and considerations.
People, at times, are forced to lower their standards, sacrifice their beliefs, bend the rules or worse yet, break the law in the name of the almighty dollar.
Despite Jimmie's conflicts, I still honor the man who Time magazine named "Comedian of the Decade" for the 1970's.
Walker's commentary always came from a place of deep experience, the only real source of knowledge.
Walker's straight-talking ways and common-sense approach ("I'm a realist," he always says) are desperately needed in a world where logic and reason are too often hijacked by delusion and derangement.
Wish I would have bet the underwear in last Tuesday's MLB All-Star game.
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