Mabel King wanted the Thomas family to have a mother and a father (on the air Roger and Dee's parents were divorced, and their father remarried in 1977 and was not seen again). The producers' refusal contributed to her decision to quit her role in 1978.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074071/trivia

I think they should have had Bill on as a regular but kept them divorced. It would have been nice to see a portrayal of a healthy divorce, where both parents put the kids first while also remaining good friends. Not to say that they needed to be BFFs or anything, but a type of relationship where they could beat up on each other often but still know that they cared for one another.

I think they should have had Bill on as a regular but kept them divorced. It would have been nice to see a portrayal of a healthy divorce, where both parents put the kids first while also remaining good friends. Not to say that they needed to be BFFs or anything, but a type of relationship where they could beat up on each other often but still know that they cared for one another.


well said, I liked the Bill character a lot. I also would've liked to see more of him.

No because she was too big to play a lead. There has never been a lead character who has been that big

No because she was too big to play a lead. There has never been a lead character who has been that big

You're forgetting Roseanne, who had a husband, three children (ultimately four) and had a healthy sex life despite being "fat and unattractive." But because she was basically in charge on that show, she could have a fat woman in a stable romantic relationship.

You're forgetting Roseanne, who had a husband, three children (ultimately four) and had a healthy sex life despite being "fat and unattractive." But because she was basically in charge on that show, she could have a fat woman in a stable romantic relationship.

Roseanne was no where as fat as mabel thomas

I think they should have had Bill on as a regular but kept them divorced. It would have been nice to see a portrayal of a healthy divorce, where both parents put the kids first while also remaining good friends. Not to say that they needed to be BFFs or anything, but a type of relationship where they could beat up on each other often but still know that they cared for one another.


Why?


There was too much divorce going on in the 70's and I'm sure it's worse now.


Plus some in the back community including Ms. King but there were too many black kids without a dad in the home.

Was it too much of a coincidence to suggest that What's Happening!! was actually a similar show to One Day at a Time, which premiered roughly a season prior? Basically, Bud Yorkin split from Norman Lear to start his own company and make this show right around the time Lear paired with Jerry Perenchio and made One Day at a Time.

Mabel served no purpose on the show since she was single. Maybe the show would have been better if she had a husband

It would have been an even better show as the series could have shown the full African American family dynamic at the time on television. Could have had a lot of better episodes with the father still in the house married to Mable and supporting his family helping to raise his children.

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/6a/07/9d/6a079d803a03a89e8b7075b5b86944ce.jpg

It would have been an even better show as the series could have shown the full African American family dynamic at the time on television. Could have had a lot of better episodes with the father still in the house married to Mable and supporting his family helping to raise his children.

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/6a/07/9d/6a079d803a03a89e8b7075b5b86944ce.jpg

The mother acted and talk like Raj and his friends were 9 years old