No doubt about it, there were a lot of problems on the WH set. Mable King quit, Fred Berry had drug issues and the cast held out for more money, all of which led to the show's premature cancellation. Do you think the predominantly white Hollywood decided to stop producing quality mostly black led sitcoms for years and years after that? We all know that it really wasn't until the Cosby show in the mid 80's that the black sitcom made a huge comeback. Agree? Disagree?

http://www.sfgate.com/blogs/images/sfgate/parenting/2008/08/22/rerun200x187.jpg

It's hard to say. Ernest Thomas also did his fair share of drugs (he admitted as much on ET), but I think he was more of a recreational user and not an addict. Also during WH's run (in 1977), Danielle Spencer was seriously injured in a car accident that took the life of her stepfather. But she turned out just fine - she became a veterinarian!! :cat: :kitties: :dog:

I'm going to say no to that question. Living Single was produced in the 80's and probably other I can't think of right now.

I'm going to say no to that question. Living Single was produced in the 80's and probably other I can't think of right now.


I thought that "Living Single" was produced in the nineties. Quite some time after the "Cosby Show".

I thought that "Living Single" was produced in the nineties. Quite some time after the "Cosby Show".
Yea it was. It's even mentioned in the theme song.

Living Single debuted in 1993, if I'm not mistaken.

i don't think it did, there was just a hiatus that took place after what's happening for black sitcoms, and plus the follow-up, what's happening now did arrive after that.

besides i think the black sitcom became big in the 90s with shows such as living single etc. and then because of reality tv, the genre of black and white sitcoms have died out.

How about "Good Times" and "The Jeffersons"? They were both made around the same time that "What's Happening" was on.

I think that one of the issues that led to cancellation was the fact that Mabel King left, and she and Shirley Hemphill were the only two cast members who could act. Fred Berry was entertaining, but only in short bursts.

How about "Good Times" and "The Jeffersons"? They were both made around the same time that "What's Happening" was on.

I think that one of the issues that led to cancellation was the fact that Mabel King left, and she and Shirley Hemphill were the only two cast members who could act. Fred Berry was entertaining, but only in short bursts.


The Jeffersons was a show with black characters as the lead but it wasnt a all black show

The Jeffersons was a show with black characters as the lead but it wasnt a all black show

With the exception of Tom, Ralph the Doorman, and Mr. Bentley, the rest of the cast was African American. It would count.

With the exception of Tom, Ralph the Doorman, and Mr. Bentley, the rest of the cast was African American. It would count.

If the show had 3 white characters then its not a black sitcom

The Black sitcoms flourished on UPN in the 90's. To the original question I'd still say no because it's all in the casting, if there's no chemistry between the cast a show won't work. Look at Baby I'm Back which came out after Sanford and Son it flopped, as well as The New Odd Couple.

Yea it was. It's even mentioned in the theme song.


The fact that is was mentioned in the theme song was the first thing that I thought of when I read the post that you responded to! Just shows how great minds think alike!

Living Single debuted in 1993, if I'm not mistaken.


The same year that "Cheers" went off of the air and the book "Flavor of the Month" was published! Can anyone read any connections between these three realities?

i don't think it did, there was just a hiatus that took place after what's happening for black sitcoms, and plus the follow-up, what's happening now did arrive after that.

besides i think the black sitcom became big in the 90s with shows such as living single etc. and then because of reality tv, the genre of black and white sitcoms have died out.


I can see by the information included with your pen name that you live in England. Was "What's Happening!!" syndicated there?

And then in the early eighties, we have "Gimme a Break!". Although the cast of that was far from being all black, they did deal with a lot of black issues and included a lot of black humor. That lasted for six seasons. On a side not, I would just like to say that I had the biggest crush on Julie from that show! I was devestated when her character was terminated after the fifth season!

How about "Good Times" and "The Jeffersons"? They were both made around the same time that "What's Happening" was on.

I think that one of the issues that led to cancellation was the fact that Mabel King left, and she and Shirley Hemphill were the only two cast members who could act. Fred Berry was entertaining, but only in short bursts.
I actually thought Ernest Thomas was a good actor. Now Dewayne, Rerun, and especially Dee were another story. I think in alot of 70's casting director's went more for personality than acting ability!

I actually thought Ernest Thomas was a good actor. Now Dewayne, Rerun, and especially Dee were another story. I think in alot of 70's casting director's went more for personality than acting ability!


The Highlights of the show were Raj, Rerun, and Shirley


the Mom, Dee, and Dwayne were the worst

What's Happening = My favorite '70s show!

With the exception of Tom, Ralph the Doorman, and Mr. Bentley, the rest of the cast was African American. It would count.
And don't forget Alan Willis. He's white.

I'm not sure The Jeffersons could be called a black show since there are quite a few white cast members.

And don't forget Alan Willis. He's white.

I'm not sure The Jeffersons could be called a black show since there are quite a few white cast members.


It wasn't a black show, it was a comedy with two black leads. Just like how Benson was, The Lead character was black but the show was mostly white

It wasn't a black show, it was a comedy with two black leads. Just like how Benson was, The Lead character was black but the show was mostly white
Right, I never considered The Jeffersons a black show like Sanford & Son, Good Times or What's Happening. Those are black shows.

Right, I never considered The Jeffersons a black show like Sanford & Son, Good Times or What's Happening. Those are black shows.


That's why it took so long for TV One to pick up the Jeffersons because it wasn't all black like Good Times and Sanford and Son

That's why it took so long for TV One to pick up the Jeffersons because it wasn't all black like Good Times and Sanford and Son
I wouldn't call Diff'rent Strokes a black show either, but BET airs it sometimes. They used to air it before Fresh Price, Sister Sister and The Steve Harvey Show. I don't understand that, because those shows are all black '90s shows, yet Diff'rent Strokes is more of a mixed cast '80s show. Actually, I think it debuted in 1979.

No doubt about it, there were a lot of problems on the WH set. Mable King quit, Fred Berry had drug issues and the cast held out for more money, all of which led to the show's premature cancellation. Do you think the predominantly white Hollywood decided to stop producing quality mostly black led sitcoms for years and years after that? We all know that it really wasn't until the Cosby show in the mid 80's that the black sitcom made a huge comeback. Agree? Disagree?

http://www.sfgate.com/blogs/images/sfgate/parenting/2008/08/22/rerun200x187.jpg

Many black actors were tired of the conditions of television. Redd Foxx and his issues with NBC were fought publicly. It led to the early demise of Sanford and Son in 1977. It was revived as Sanford in 1980 when NBC and Foxx were desperate to make somethings happen. I like the revival but unfortunately, most didn't hence the cancellation after two seasons.

On Good Times, John Amos and Esther Rolle got tired. Amos was fired, Rolle left and returned after major changes were made.

With Clifton Davis and Melba Moore, they almost had a show but their personal problems led to its early demise.

That's My Mama was never a mainstream hit but has developed quite a cult following over the years.

Baby, I'm Back was funny was I was kid watching it in the early 90's on BET but I don't think it had the staying power that people wanted. It seemed like they were trying to cash in Demond since he was done with Sanford at that time.

Redd Foxx had a variety show on ABC that flopped. Richard Pryor and NBC had their creative disagreements about his variety show.

So, it was much turmoil for black actors and actresses back then. To see us accept ghetto roles after all this fighting for equality is sickening today.

I notice now that there are not any "black sitcoms". They were popular in the 1970's with black and white audiences. Around 1973, Sanford and Son was the #2 show behind All In the Family.

I think 1980's shows were black families who were successful and the whole Norman Lear like shows that were race political were dropped. The Cosby Show and A Different World were two examples.

Then in the 1990's and early 00's, networks like UPN were mainly showing "black shows". UPN did not do well and no longer exists (unless it does, I live in China now). Besides Star Trek Voyager, there was nothing on UPN worth watching. Seems that the majority African American casted TV show were put (pardon the saying) in a "ghetto" with the network trying for an inner city demographic.

Concerning, "What's Happening". "What's Happening" was very popular with white viewers and it was a very good show. I did not really see them as black first and foremost, basically they were middle class teenagers who went to school and hung out at a malt shop. It was sort of a 1970's inner city Happy Days more than anything, with a mix of Welcome Back Kotter. I also watched the syndicated "What's Happening Now!", and enjoyed it almost as much (because it had almost everyone in the cast minus Mabel King).

Rerun and I have the same birthday on March 13th. Rerun got greedy and thought he was the star of the show. Redd Foxx was also greedy, although he probably had some legitimate beefs against NBC and thought he could do better and he didn't. Little known fact is that both Foxx and Demond Wilson were cokeheads at the time, with Wilson once chasing someone at NBC with a gun while high. He turned himself around and became a Christian and a minister.

I wouldn't call Diff'rent Strokes a black show either, but BET airs it sometimes. They used to air it before Fresh Price, Sister Sister and The Steve Harvey Show. I don't understand that, because those shows are all black '90s shows, yet Diff'rent Strokes is more of a mixed cast '80s show. Actually, I think it debuted in 1979.

1978

Little known fact is that both Foxx and Demond Wilson were cokeheads at the time, with Wilson once chasing someone at NBC with a gun while high. He turned himself around and became a Christian and a minister.

The rumor was that Wilson had once chased Norman Lear down a hallway with a gun. Wilson denies that this ever happened.

Ernest Thomas also did his fair share of drugs (he admitted as much on ET), but I think he was more of a recreational user and not an addict.

I may be wrong, but I don't think Ernest got into drugs until after What's Happening was cancelled.

Many black actors were tired of the conditions of television. Redd Foxx and his issues with NBC were fought publicly. It led to the early demise of Sanford and Son in 1977. It was revived as Sanford in 1980 when NBC and Foxx were desperate to make somethings happen. I like the revival but unfortunately, most didn't hence the cancellation after two seasons.

On Good Times, John Amos and Esther Rolle got tired. Amos was fired, Rolle left and returned after major changes were made.

With Clifton Davis and Melba Moore, they almost had a show but their personal problems led to its early demise.

That's My Mama was never a mainstream hit but has developed quite a cult following over the years.

Baby, I'm Back was funny was I was kid watching it in the early 90's on BET but I don't think it had the staying power that people wanted. It seemed like they were trying to cash in Demond since he was done with Sanford at that time.

Redd Foxx had a variety show on ABC that flopped. Richard Pryor and NBC had their creative disagreements about his variety show.

So, it was much turmoil for black actors and actresses back then. To see us accept ghetto roles after all this fighting for equality is sickening today.



I disagree, I think Baby I;m Back was a very good show and a great cast except for the nerdy bald headed boyfriend

I notice now that there are not any "black sitcoms". They were popular in the 1970's with black and white audiences. Around 1973, Sanford and Son was the #2 show behind All In the Family.

I think 1980's shows were black families who were successful and the whole Norman Lear like shows that were race political were dropped. The Cosby Show and A Different World were two examples.

Then in the 1990's and early 00's, networks like UPN were mainly showing "black shows". UPN did not do well and no longer exists (unless it does, I live in China now). Besides Star Trek Voyager, there was nothing on UPN worth watching. Seems that the majority African American casted TV show were put (pardon the saying) in a "ghetto" with the network trying for an inner city demographic.

Concerning, "What's Happening". "What's Happening" was very popular with white viewers and it was a very good show. I did not really see them as black first and foremost, basically they were middle class teenagers who went to school and hung out at a malt shop. It was sort of a 1970's inner city Happy Days more than anything, with a mix of Welcome Back Kotter. I also watched the syndicated "What's Happening Now!", and enjoyed it almost as much (because it had almost everyone in the cast minus Mabel King).

Rerun and I have the same birthday on March 13th. Rerun got greedy and thought he was the star of the show. Redd Foxx was also greedy, although he probably had some legitimate beefs against NBC and thought he could do better and he didn't. Little known fact is that both Foxx and Demond Wilson were cokeheads at the time, with Wilson once chasing someone at NBC with a gun while high. He turned himself around and became a Christian and a minister.



Come on, there are 5 black national TV stations and 2 of them air new black programming.

I can see by the information included with your pen name that you live in England. Was "What's Happening!!" syndicated there?

no, i just watch the episodes on youtube. that's where i discovered the show. what's happening!!! never aired in the U.K.

When I brought this subject over to IMDb:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074071/board/flat/204168380?d=204420628#204420628

Networks only care about money. There was turmoil on the sets of Sanford and Son and Good Times as well. But those shows stayed on the air because they were top 10 hit shows. The What's Happening guys overstated their importance to the network. It was a hit but never higher than 20-something on the Nielsen chart. In the beginning of its last season, it came on after Mork and Mindy so the ratings were high. But ABC moved it during the season so the ratings plummeted. If they were a top 10 show the network might have tried harder to keep it on. ABC figured they could replace it with a show that made more money.

But, yes, by 1979, all those shows were gone except The Jeffersons was still a hit. (Diff'rent Strokes can't really be called a "black sitcom".) Good Times's ratings plummeted and Redd Foxx quit Sanford and Son which was also dying in the ratings by that time. There were other black sitcoms but none of them were hits. Unfortunately, black people are considered a "trend" in television. The wave had died down and didn't pick up again until the early 90's after The Cosby Show cleaned up for years.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074071/board/flat/204168380?d=210770853#210770853

For the most part, "What's Happening" didn't focus on racial or social issues during its run. Sure, they lived in the ghetto, and Raj and Dee lived in a single parent home, but most of the episodes were about simply being teenagers. Raj getting expelled, Dee's mouthing off, Dwayne's shyness with girls. It was a pretty innocent show.

I agree with the previous comments about what led to its cancellation. The hold out for more money was what did it, and according to articles I've read previously, Fred Berry was the master mind of it all, getting Ernest Thomas and Haywood Nelson to go along with him.

How about "Good Times" and "The Jeffersons"? They were both made around the same time that "What's Happening" was on.

I think that one of the issues that led to cancellation was the fact that Mabel King left, and she and Shirley Hemphill were the only two cast members who could act. Fred Berry was entertaining, but only in short bursts.

Just about all of the "Big 4" black sitcoms of the '70s (Sanford & Son, Good Times, The Jeffersons, and What's Happening!!) had backstage turmoil. Well, maybe not The Jeffersons other than the network abruptly canceling it in 1985 w/o informing the cast and crew ahead of time.