http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3jotAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cb4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2507,5909476&dq=shirley+hemphill+interview&hl=en

The interview above was conducted on February 26th 1980. In in, Shirley Hemphill reveals her first speaking role was on Good Times as Rozzie. Norman Lear was so impressed with her performance, he wanted to spinoff the character on to her own show. Shirley turned it down to co star on What's Happening! Interesting info, I never knew that.

I wonder how different her career would have been if she'd choosen to work with Norman Lear instead?

I wonder how different her career would have been if she'd choosen to work with Norman Lear instead?


I do find it odd that she chose playing second banana on What's Happening! over her own series where she would be the star!?

and she chose a series that was produced by Norman Lear's ex-partner Bud Yorkin. lol

Well, she did eventually have her own series with the What's Happening spin-off One In a Million. This turned out to be a short-lived series. She may have had fore sight that she would be better off as part of an essemble cast.

I do find it odd that she chose playing second banana on What's Happening! over her own series where she would be the star!?

Well, it's not that unique, you know. When The Ropers was in development, it took Norman Fell a long time to be convinced into leaving Three's Company in order to star in the spin-off.

Well, it's not that unique, you know. When The Ropers was in development, it took Norman Fell a long time to be convinced into leaving Three's Company in order to star in the spin-off.
Yea but the difference was that he was in a hit show already. Nobody knew who Shirley Hemphill was at that time.

Well, she did eventually have her own series with the What's Happening spin-off One In a Million. This turned out to be a short-lived series. She may have had fore sight that she would be better off as part of an essemble cast.

This was not a spinoff.

and I think she made the right decision.....Rozzie was kinda ignorant....how would that play as a series lead?

A spinoff of another character living in the projects??????????????

A spinoff of another character living in the projects??????????????


Sure, why not?!?

A Dimwitted Black woman living in the Projects with inclinations to stealing and robbing other people in the projects wouldn't really play too well to middle America. No?

A Dimwitted Black woman living in the Projects with inclinations to stealing and robbing other people in the projects wouldn't really play too well to middle America. No?

:clap :brent :rofl:

That about sums it up. Can you imagine Maude trying to turn her and her sister around? Maude would look at the sister and say "I feel like I've met you before". Did you hop on my coffee table and start dancing like a monkey on Valentine's Day 1974? LOL.

I am a fan of "Reno 911!" which is a live action comedy similar to COPS but with dimwitted sheriff deputies.

One of the funniest moments of the entire series was when Raineesha Williams (played by Niecy Nash), an African American woman is called to a guy selling fireworks in the back of a car. The perp (played by regular Carlos Azarraqui who plays Officer Garcia) opines that Raineesha "looks like Shirley Hemphill from 'What's Happening!'" Raineesha sprays him with mace and while the guy is writhing in pain, she makes some remark about being insulted and ended with....

"Hey, hey Hey!"

Classic.