The Fosters (1976 TV series) The Fosters (1976 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. 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
The Fosters (1976 TV series) incarnations). 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