"What's Happening!!" (1976) TV series 1976-1979

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Creator:

Eric Monte
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

5 August 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

What's Happening is loosely based on the 1975 movie Cooley High written by Eric Monte. Monte created What's Happening and was also a co-creator and writer for the TV series Good Times.

Plot Keywords:

High School | Mother | Sister | Waitress | Sitcom

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Haywood Nelson	...	Dwayne Nelson (65 episodes, 1976-1979)
Ernest Thomas	...	Roger 'Raj' Thomas (64 episodes, 1976-1979)
Danielle Spencer	...	Dee Thomas (63 episodes, 1976-1979)
Fred Berry	...	Freddie 'Rerun' Stubbs (62 episodes, 1976-1979)
Shirley Hemphill	...	Shirley Wilson (56 episodes, 1976-1979)
Mabel King	...	Mabel 'Mama' Thomas (37 episodes, 1976-1978)

(more)

Series Directed by
Mark Warren		(44 episodes, 1976-1979)
Lee Bernhardi		(5 episodes, 1977-1979)
Dick Harwood		(4 episodes, 1976-1977)
Hal Alexander		(2 episodes, 1976)
Tony Csiki		(1 episode, 1976)
Alan Rafkin		(1 episode, 1976)
Jack Shea		(1 episode, 1976)
Dennis Steinmetz		(1 episode, 1976)
Bud Yorkin		(1 episode, 1976)
Ron Richards		(1 episode, 1977)
Bill Foster		(1 episode, 1978)
Mary Hardwick		(1 episode, 1979)
Joseph L. Scanlan		(1 episode, 1979)
Danny Simon		(1 episode, 1979)

Series Writing credits
Alan Eisenstock		(8 episodes, 1976-1978)
Larry Mintz		(8 episodes, 1976-1978)
Sally Wade		(8 episodes, 1978-1979)
Bernie Orenstein		(5 episodes, 1976-1978)
Saul Turteltaub		(5 episodes, 1976-1978)
Rick Mittleman		(4 episodes, 1977)
Joanne Pagliaro		(4 episodes, 1979)
Tom Moore		(3 episodes, 1978-1979)
Jeremy Stevens		(3 episodes, 1978-1979)
Ted Bergmann		(3 episodes, 1978)
Bob Illes		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Gene Perret		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Bill Richmond		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)
James R. Stein		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Carol Gary		(2 episodes, 1977)
Bill Box		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
Dick Westerschulte		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
Thad Mumford		(2 episodes, 1978)
Eric Monte		(1 episode, 1976)

Series Produced by
Bob Illes	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Bernie Orenstein	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Saul Turteltaub	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Bud Yorkin	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Henry Mancini		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Cassius Weathersby	....	production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Walter Glover	....	lighting director (65 episodes, 1976-1979)
Don McCuaig	....	camera operator (9 episodes, 1977)
Dave Heckman	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Mattie Caruthers	....	script supervisor (65 episodes, 1976-1979)
James R. Stein	....	story editor (unknown episodes, 1976-1977)

Production Companies

• Turteltaub-Orenstein-Yorkin Productions (TOY)

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
• Columbia Pictures Television
• Columbia TriStar Domestic Television (2001)
• Columbia TriStar Television
• Sony Pictures Television (2002-)
• The Program Exchange (2005-) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• ABC Television Center  taping location
• ShowBiz Enterprises  draperies

Runtime:

30 min (79 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Glendale Studios - 1239 S. Glendale Avenue, Glendale, California, USA

Company:

Turteltaub-Orenstein-Yorkin Productions (TOY)

Trivia:

According to writer Eric Monte, ABC had originally planned to do a TV version of Cooley High (1975). After a poorly received pilot, ABC retooled it completely; "What's Happening!!" was the result.

Quotes:

Dwayne Nelson: [enters and slams door] "Hay HAY Hay!"
Dee Thomas: Don't you see me studying? Why can't you come in like a gentleman?
Dwayne Nelson: [exits, returns, checks clothes and hair. Marches over like a 'gentleman'] "Hay... hay... hay."

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Roll Bounce (2005)

One of the greatest shows of the late 70's

What's Happening!! was one of the greatest shows of the late 70's. What I really liked about the show was that every episode seemed to have a different plot line to it. I gave it a 9 and not a 10 because it was canceled and did not go out on top. The reason why I gave it a 9 was because it captured positive late 70's black culture. It did not have to use " black exploitation" to make it a great show. In the entire run of the show (3 seasons) their never was a violent scene and they never had to use the "N" word to make it funny. My favorite character of the show was Rerun (Fred Berry) because he seemed to play the personality of the "loveable loser" to perfection which made him a great actor. Also, I liked Dee (Danielle Spencer) a lot because she handled the role of childhood star with grace. After her childhood acting days ended she didn't use the money for bad reasons. She went on to become a veterinarian. Which can show people that you can be a childhood star and still live a normal adult life (contatary to popular belief).