I was wondering how come Mable King who played Rag and Dee Mom on What Happening never Guest Started on What's Happening Now.

My guess is that she wanted nothing to do with WHN as much as she didn't want anything to do with WH.

Wasn't her health already starting to play a factor in her life at that point?

I did not know that Mable was in Failing Health I know in one episode of What's Happening Now They said that Roger was visting Mable King.

I tend to agree with the idea that she wasn't interested in doing the show. What's Happening Now ran from 85-88 and according to IMDB she died in 1999 from complications from diabetes.

Being a diabetic since '99, I can attest that sometimes it takes years for some of the damage to take hold, so perhaps that is the case, comedyfreak :)

If you want to know why Mabel King left What's Happening!! by the third season, read this review of a new book and buy the book:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/blog/2008/05/sitcom-book-review-close-ups.html

If you want to know why Mabel King left What's Happening!! by the third season, read this review of a new book and buy the book:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/blog/2008/05/sitcom-book-review-close-ups.html


I read on TV Party or Ebony that it was because she wasn't used enough on the show

can you send me the site where you read this.

I read on TV Party or Ebony that it was because she wasn't used enough on the show
I thought I read on this board that same information. She wasn't happy with how her character was being used. Why would she appear on WHN if she wasn't happy with WH? I can totally understand her point of view, if that was the case.

I thought I read on this board that same information. She wasn't happy with how her character was being used. Why would she appear on WHN if she wasn't happy with WH? I can totally understand her point of view, if that was the case.


Exactly, almost the same reasons why there were problems on WH, were the same as on WHN.

Well the show was't going to involve her that much since she didn't have a husband

Well the show was't going to involve her that much since she didn't have a husband


That makes no sense

That makes no sense
Definitely makes no sense.


Solomon, you are making some weird posts tonight. :lol:

Definitely makes no sense.


Solomon, you are making some weird posts tonight. :lol:


TRUE DAT!

I don't get what that means?

TRUE DAT!

I don't get what that means?
:rofl:

Neither do I. Seriously.

As if having a husband made her character worthwhile. :crazy:

What i mean is since the Mabel character was a single mother and her son had 2 friends always at the house, they probably felt it would be better to use her in small doses and focus more on the kids. Like on Family matters, we saw a lot of harriet because she had carl, on Good times we saw a lot of Florida because she had james and they did things as an entire family.


On that's my mama we saw more of the kids instead of MAMA because she was also a single parent.

Mabel not having a husband doesn't stop the character from having interactions with her son and her daughter. It is not like that in real-life, so why would that be on a television show?

Well the show was't going to involve her that much since she didn't have a husband

So do you think she really needed Bill Thomas to make her character shine?! Stop hating her because she was fat and single, and least she had stability, Bill Thomas didn't even have that. She had a whole house and she earned her owned bread. You need to stop putting character and people down. Not everyone is born rich and married, just to let you know. You sound like you are rich and very conservative, you may be the latter, but you definitely is not the previous.

What i mean is since the Mabel character was a single mother and her son had 2 friends always at the house, they probably felt it would be better to use her in small doses and focus more on the kids. Like on Family matters, we saw a lot of harriet because she had carl, on Good times we saw a lot of Florida because she had james and they did things as an entire family.


On that's my mama we saw more of the kids instead of MAMA because she was also a single parent.


I guess I see your point somewhat, but keep in mind, the producers wanted to focus on the kids, not because she was single, but because that was the core of the show.

Mabel not having a husband doesn't stop the character from having interactions with her son and her daughter. It is not like that in real-life, so why would that be on a television show?


We saw her interact with her son and daughter but how much of it would viewers would have wanted to keep seeing of it? Atleast if she had a husband they could have had eps like her going on a romantic getaway or her and the husband going out to dinner with the kids or her and her husband in a heated argument

:rofl:

Neither do I. Seriously.

As if having a husband made her character worthwhile. :crazy:

:rofl:

This is too much!

In the words of Mrs. Mabel Thomas: "This is true". :lol:

We saw her interact with her son and daughter but how much of it would viewers would have wanted to keep seeing of it? Atleast if she had a husband they could have had eps like her going on a romantic getaway or her and the husband going out to dinner with the kids or her and her husband in a heated argument


I disagree with you there. I mean, having her be a single mom, they could've had her go out on dates, show her at work, etc.

I disagree with you there. I mean, having her be a single mom, they could've had her go out on dates, show her at work, etc.
Exactly. She has a life with or without a husband. If we don't see a single mother interact and have a life on t.v., what message does that send?

I had a great life when I was single. I interacted with my children and so forth. Being married or not doesn't make you less of a person or parent. There was so much we could have seen Mabel do. We could have seen her have friends over, play cards, go out with them, go out on dates, go out to dinner, we saw her going to night school remember? Mabel was a great character.

I disagree with you there. I mean, having her be a single mom, they could've had her go out on dates, show her at work, etc.


Very good point there. There are so many ways of working with a storyline such as that. :D

Well I'm glad they didn't use her more because the show would have been DULL.

Well I'm glad they didn't use her more because the show would have been DULL.


I disagree again, Mabel King was a very underrated character.

How would she have been dull Solomon? I think that having her would have made the show more complete.

How would she have been dull Solomon? I think that having her would have made the show more complete.


Agreed, the show just wasn't the same without her.

Agreed, the show just wasn't the same without her.


Sometimes, its not always about the comedy. There are different areas that help make a perfected piece. Remember that Esther Rolle was not the funniest on Good Times but with her being the main character there was a balance and J.J. provided some laughs but they were not big enough to keep the show going.

Sometimes, its not always about the comedy. There are different areas that help make a perfected piece. Remember that Esther Rolle was not the funniest on Good Times but with her being the main character there was a balance and J.J. provided some laughs but they were not big enough to keep the show going.


Agreed!

Sometimes, its not always about the comedy. There are different areas that help make a perfected piece. Remember that Esther Rolle was not the funniest on Good Times but with her being the main character there was a balance and J.J. provided some laughs but they were not big enough to keep the show going.

Don't argue with Solomon, he is just doing this for effect. He hates Mabel because she was fat and single. And he calls himself the research king?

How would she have been dull Solomon? I think that having her would have made the show more complete.


When you went to hang out with your friends as a teen was their mother hanging around with them? See part of what attracted me to the show was Raj and the guys and I was able to see that when she was in certain scenes I became bored. So when i looked at the show and the guys was at the soda shop I was really into it but when the mom was around I was like-OH BOY.

When you went to hang out with your friends as a teen was their mother hanging around with them? See part of what attracted me to the show was Raj and the guys and I was able to see that when she was in certain scenes I became bored. So when i looked at the show and the guys was at the soda shop I was really into it but when the mom was around I was like-OH BOY.

Mrs C on Happy Days did the same thing at times, so you got it twisted.

Don't argue with Solomon, he is just doing this for effect. He hates Mabel because she was fat and single. And he calls himself the research king?


It don't have anything to do with Size, it's your acting

When you went to hang out with your friends as a teen was their mother hanging around with them? See part of what attracted me to the show was Raj and the guys and I was able to see that when she was in certain scenes I became bored. So when i looked at the show and the guys was at the soda shop I was really into it but when the mom was around I was like-OH BOY.
We needed to see that at least the main boy had a mother. She put him in check and it was done quite well. Mabel being single proved that a head strong mother can take care of a son and put a belt to his behind just as good as a father. Mabel was a loving mother and she reminded us that Roger had some sort of stability in his life despite the fact his parents were divorced.

But Solomon, when she left the show, wasn't it weird? I mean Shirley as a live in babysitter? C'mon now! lol

When you went to hang out with your friends as a teen was their mother hanging around with them? See part of what attracted me to the show was Raj and the guys and I was able to see that when she was in certain scenes I became bored. So when i looked at the show and the guys was at the soda shop I was really into it but when the mom was around I was like-OH BOY.

Solomon, you have look at the situation from all different angles. They could have still made it work. Season three is one of my faves but it was watered down a bit.

It don't have anything to do with Size, it's your acting


Mabel King was a very accomplished actress before WH.

It don't have anything to do with Size, it's your acting

Naw, it's too late to clean that up bro, you once admitted you hated to see large women on TV. Mabel was a better actress that Ernest, Fred, and Haywood IMO.

Wow! I forgot that Solomon said that. LOL. Mabel's character had depth to her like Esther Rolle's character on Good Times. Solomon has got to think out of the box.

But Solomon, when she left the show, wasn't it weird? I mean Shirley as a live in babysitter? C'mon now! lol


It wasn't weird having her GONE, it was just weird for Shirley to move in.

Wow! I forgot that Solomon said that. LOL. Mabel's character had depth to her like Esther Rolle's character on Good Times. Solomon has got to think out of the box.
I never forgot that Sol said that. He said it more than once. :lol:

Anyways, it was just weird how they could have a waitress have more lines than the mother of Roger. :crazy:

It wasn't weird having her GONE, it was just weird for Shirley to move in.


It was weird having Mabel King gone. Shirley probably would not have moved in had Mabel not left the show.

I never forgot that Sol said that. He said it more than once. :lol:

Anyways, it was just weird how they could have a waitress have more lines than the mother of Roger. :crazy:


Because that waitress worked at the Place the show focused on the most

Because that waitress worked at the Place the show focused on the most
I am talking abt her having more focus by having her move into Raj's home. If they could have her move in and give her more lines, they could have done that for Mabel.

I am talking abt her having more focus by having her move into Raj's home. If they could have her move in and give her more lines, they could have done that for Mabel.


Exactly!

Shirley Hemphill's character generated more laughs

Shirley Hemphill's character generated more laughs
Well they gave her mama's lines. If mama had said the same lines, she'd be getting the laughs too.

Well they gave her mama's lines. If mama had said the same lines, she'd be getting the laughs too.


Hard to say, maybe Hemphill had a better delivery

Hard to say, maybe Hemphill had a better delivery
This was a sitcom not an epic movie.

Lines are lines when it comes to saying, "Good morning Roger" or "What are your plans today?"

This was a sitcom not an epic movie.

Lines are lines when it comes to saying, "Good morning Roger" or "What are your plans today?"


Come on now Irene, you know it's all about the delivery-lol

Come on now Irene, you know it's all about the delivery-lol
It is definitely all about the delivery. Now what are you guys talking about? I know what I mean. j/k ;)

LOL. Now I also want to mention that in the beginning that a lot of the action did not happen at the soda shop. It happened in other places and Shirley was not featured as much. So I know that the writers could have written more for Mrs. Thomas.

Hard to say, maybe Hemphill had a better delivery


Shirley had a better delivery, because she was a stand up comic. She had the experience, while Mable was an actress.

Hard to say, maybe Hemphill had a better delivery

Mabel King wasn't meant to be funny, nor was I expected her to be. Her role was to be a mother. She was good in her role. Stop making her to be something that was probably way beyond her control. The show featured 3 teens. The main teen has to have his mother shown, and that's where Mabel came in at. If the show had centered around Mabel, she would get more lines and be a good set up person for a comic actor. You act like she was suppose to be Roseanne or something.

I sure do miss Mable King and she is in my prayers every night when I go to bed

Mabel King wasn't meant to be funny, nor was I expected her to be. Her role was to be a mother. She was good in her role. Stop making her to be something that was probably way beyond her control. The show featured 3 teens. The main teen has to have his mother shown, and that's where Mabel came in at. If the show had centered around Mabel, she would get more lines and be a good set up person for a comic actor. You act like she was suppose to be Roseanne or something.


No you mean that's how MABEL KING was acting when she complained her role was too small

Come on now Irene, you know it's all about the delivery-lol
Mabel gave some good delivery and had some funny lines.

Mabel gave some good delivery and had some funny lines.


yeah she did like the one when she asked for a BELT to whip roger and when rerun gave her his belt she said-

"good lord rerun, I want to whip him not hang him"-

lol

yeah she did like the one when she asked for a BELT to whip roger and when rerun gave her his belt she said-

"good lord rerun, I want to whip him not hang him"-

lol
Exactly. And that was in the first episode. So much they could have done with Mabel and they didn't. That is sad.

All I know is that Mabel King was a major reason I enjoyed the first two seasons of WH!!.....when she left, a lot of the joy went with her. That Christmas episode is one of my all time faves of any TV christmas episodes.

All I know is that Mabel King was a major reason I enjoyed the first two seasons of WH!!.....when she left, a lot of the joy went with her. That Christmas episode is one of my all time faves of any TV christmas episodes.
You and I have much in common. Very well said. I agree with you wholeheartedly. I wonder if I mentioned that Christmas episode on that thread abt the best sitcom Christmas episodes ever? :confused:

You and I have much in common. Very well said. I agree with you wholeheartedly. I wonder if I mentioned that Christmas episode on that thread abt the best sitcom Christmas episodes ever? :confused:


What did you enjoy about it? I don't remember it

The kids were going to spend the holiday with their dad. Mabel was going to work. At the last minute her employer gave her the holiday off. Mabel did not want to tell the kids because she did not want to ruin the time they were going to be with their dad. Mabel was feeling lonely.

It was a very genuine heartfelt episode...something that rarely happens on TV these days.

I always seem to pay attention to the christmas music that plays in the background while this episode plays out. The first time this episode aired, I thought Mama was playing the music on the record player or something. I realized it was just there for the effect. Kinda cheesy but still, made for a very heartfelt episode. It was almost a tearjerker.

How long has miss King been Gone