Good Times isn’t watchable, either, at least the episodes after JJ became the breakout character aren’t. I don’t blame John Amos for leaving the show.
I read once that the makers of Joe were surprised with how many Americans actually identified with Joe, who was only in the story as an example of what Americans should not be.
I thought the purpose of the show was to show a positive, non-stereotype of a gay male. Considering that Nixon viewed homosexuality as something bad, it makes sense that he would view any positive portrayal of a gay person as “glorifying.” In the show Meathead’s friend comes off as sensitive and a bit of a dandy, so Archie naturally calls him a fag. But it turns out that Achie’s friend, all-American former football player Steve, is the gay.
I thought that that was what Nixon was referring to. Nixon says on the tape that after he saw that scene, that’s when he turned off the television.