Today notable for being the show which gave Lenny Henry regular television exposure, 'The Fosters' was the first British sitcom to feature an all black cast. Written by Jon Watkins, it was a British adaptation of the American sitcom 'Good Times'. Unlike the earlier American model, 'The Fosters' was standard ITV sitcom fare, nothing untoward happened but it was highly amusing and very well acted.
The patriarch of the Foster family was Samuel ( played to the hilt by the late Norman Beaton ), a well meaning yet hot headed man who cannot seem to keep his precocious children - self loving artist Sonny ( Lenny Henry ), fiery Shirley ( Sharon Rosita ) and smart thinking Benjamin ( Lawrie Mark ) - in check. The matriarch of the family is Pearl ( the late isabelle Lucas ), a good intentioned, god fearing woman with a sharp tongue. Often on the scene is their friend and neighbour Vilma, who always keeps the family posted with the latest gossip.
'Good Times' tended to go very near the knuckle in regards to storylines ( as posted in another review, one of the characters one week caught a sexually transmitted disease ), however 'The Fosters' was more gentle, probably about the only daring scene featured Benjamin punching Sonny in the face. One rather funny episode had Sonny painting a picture of a black version of Jesus, believing that it may bring the family luck, and indeed it does, much to Pearl's chagrin! Another had Pearl and Samuel going on a caravan holiday in an attempt to reignite the flame of their marriage, however when they arrive at the caravan, they find it already occupied by a couple who are also intent on the pleasures of the flesh. Rudolph Walker from 'Love Thy Neighbour' had a memorable guest role in one episode as a shady door to door salesman.
Despite its popularity, the show came to an end after two series. Lenny Henry was said to have became disillusioned by the quality of the scripts and decided he would not be returning. He later went on to find great acclaim in the 1980's with 'Three Of A Kind' and 'The Lenny Henry Show', as well as becoming heavily involved with 'Comic Relief'. Norman Beaton and Carmen Munroe ( who played Vilma ) later went on to star in Channel 4's hugely popular 'Desmond's'. Sadly, Beaton died in 1994 of a heart attack, aged only 60.
The patriarch of the Foster family was Samuel ( played to the hilt by the late Norman Beaton ), a well meaning yet hot headed man who cannot seem to keep his precocious children - self loving artist Sonny ( Lenny Henry ), fiery Shirley ( Sharon Rosita ) and smart thinking Benjamin ( Lawrie Mark ) - in check. The matriarch of the family is Pearl ( the late isabelle Lucas ), a good intentioned, god fearing woman with a sharp tongue. Often on the scene is their friend and neighbour Vilma, who always keeps the family posted with the latest gossip.
'Good Times' tended to go very near the knuckle in regards to storylines ( as posted in another review, one of the characters one week caught a sexually transmitted disease ), however 'The Fosters' was more gentle, probably about the only daring scene featured Benjamin punching Sonny in the face. One rather funny episode had Sonny painting a picture of a black version of Jesus, believing that it may bring the family luck, and indeed it does, much to Pearl's chagrin! Another had Pearl and Samuel going on a caravan holiday in an attempt to reignite the flame of their marriage, however when they arrive at the caravan, they find it already occupied by a couple who are also intent on the pleasures of the flesh. Rudolph Walker from 'Love Thy Neighbour' had a memorable guest role in one episode as a shady door to door salesman.
Despite its popularity, the show came to an end after two series. Lenny Henry was said to have became disillusioned by the quality of the scripts and decided he would not be returning. He later went on to find great acclaim in the 1980's with 'Three Of A Kind' and 'The Lenny Henry Show', as well as becoming heavily involved with 'Comic Relief'. Norman Beaton and Carmen Munroe ( who played Vilma ) later went on to star in Channel 4's hugely popular 'Desmond's'. Sadly, Beaton died in 1994 of a heart attack, aged only 60.