"What's Happening Now!" (1985) TV series 1985-1988

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Directors:

Neema Barnette
Gary Brown
(more)

Writers:

Larry Balmagia (writer) (7 episodes)
Mike Milligan (writer) (6 episodes)
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

"What's Happening Now!" is a sequel to "What's Happening!," a TV series about the adult main characters (Raj, Dwayne, Rerun, Shirley, and Dee) as teenagers/children.

Plot Keywords:

Sitcom

Cast

Anne-Marie Johnson	...	Nadine Hudson Thomas / ... (31 episodes, 1985-1988)
Ernest Thomas	...	Roger 'Raj' Thomas / ... (30 episodes, 1985-1988)
Haywood Nelson	...	Dwayne Nelson (30 episodes, 1985-1988)
Shirley Hemphill	...	Shirley Wilson (30 episodes, 1985-1988)
Fred Berry	...	Freddie 'Rerun' Stubbs / ... (21 episodes, 1985-1986)
Reina King	...	Carolyn (15 episodes, 1985-1986)

(more)

Series Directed by
Tony Singletary		(5 episodes, 1985-1986)
Gary Shimokawa		(4 episodes, 1985-1988)
Tony Csiki		(4 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bob Priest		(4 episodes, 1986)
Gary Brown		(3 episodes, 1986)
Arlando Smith		(3 episodes, 1987)
Art Washington		(2 episodes, 1986-1988)
Pat Fischer-Doak		(2 episodes, 1987-1988)
Mike Milligan		(2 episodes, 1987-1988)
Ginger Grigg		(2 episodes, 1987)
Joel Rosenzweig		(1 episode, 1985)
Neema Barnette		(1 episode, 1986)
Judi Elterman		(1 episode, 1986)
Gail Liberti-Kennedy		(1 episode, 1988)

Series Writing credits
Migdia Chinea-Varela		(5 episodes, 1985-1986)
Mike Milligan		(4 episodes, 1985-1987)
Jay Moriarty		(4 episodes, 1985-1987)
Stephen Sustarsic		(4 episodes, 1985-1987)
Bob Peete		(3 episodes, 1985-1988)
Sam Greenbaum		(3 episodes, 1985-1987)
David Silverman		(3 episodes, 1985-1986)
David Braff		(2 episodes, 1985-1988)
Larry Balmagia		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Ted Bergmann		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Barry Gurstein		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
David Pitlik		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Kurt Taylor		(2 episodes, 1985)
Stephen Langford		(2 episodes, 1986)
Michael S. Baser		(1 episode, 1986)
Kim Weiskopf		(1 episode, 1986)
Marley Clark		(1 episode, 1987)

Series Produced by
Larry Balmagia	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Michael S. Baser	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Mike Milligan	....	supervising producer (unknown episodes)
Jay Moriarty	....	supervising producer (unknown episodes)
Bob Peete	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Kim Weiskopf	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Fran Bascom		(unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Bruce Miller	....	conductor / music arranger (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Bernard F. Basley	....	associate director / stage manager (unknown episodes, 1985)
Dan Harary	....	unit publicist (unknown episodes)
Bob Priest	....	associate director (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Television
• LBS Communications

Distributors

• Coca-Cola Telecommunications
• Columbia Pictures Television
• Columbia TriStar Domestic Television (2001)
• Columbia TriStar Television
• LBS Communications
• Sony Pictures Television (2002-)
• The Program Exchange (2005-) (USA) (TV)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Columbia Pictures Television

Trivia:

The whereabouts of several minor characters on the original series are never mentioned in this revival: Rob, who founded the diner, Marvin, a former school mate of the gang, Big Earl and Little Earl, and the college basketball player "The Snake".

Quotes:

[peeking through a window he just broke with his new boomerang]
Dwayne Nelson: [nervous laugh] G'day, mates?
[Shirley and Raj chase, Dwayne runs]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "How I Met Your Mother: The Fight (#4.10)" (2008)

Not As Good As the Original

Even though this was a pretty decent series, it was not as good as the original. You do get to see how Roger, Rerun and Dwayne turned out as the reached adulthood, but unfortunately they do not get into as much mischief as they used to. Also, Dee is a more mature young lady and is not the spoiled brat she was when she was younger. But perhaps the main thing that was missing was Mabel King, who played Roger's mother. She was pretty much the centering influence who was there with advice for Roger and the guys.