the show was not in the top ten. They wanted to be paid like the other white actors on other shows but they were not in position to demand anything because the show was not in the top 5

Carroll O' Connor was able to demand more money because All in the Family was number 1

Suzanne Somers was able to demand more money because Three's company was number 1


The highest What's happening was rated was #25 and they was demanding more money???? LOL

the show was not in the top ten. They wanted to be paid like the other white actors on other shows but they were not in position to demand anything because the show was not in the top 5

Carroll O' Connor was able to demand more money because All in the Family was number 1

Suzanne Somers was able to demand more money because Three's company was number 1


The highest What's happening was rated was #25 and they was demanding more money???? LOL

The fame and sucess probably went to their heads. In addtion, they probably were drugging to some degree, I have a feeling.

The fame and sucess probably went to their heads. In addtion, they probably were drugging to some degree, I have a feeling.


Had to be drugs because you don't ask for a raise when the show is not in the top 5 :lol: :lol: :lol:

???? You only start negotiating and questioning your salary is if you are in the Top 5? Who set that benchmark. What's Happening was in the top 15 and climbing fast after the first season. And remember, they were a mid-season replacement. They didn't get a major push nor a high budget by ABC. The second season, they climbed a few more spots. At the time, Earnest and Fred took issue with their salaries, all signs pointed to the show continuing to climb. They took the opportunity to negotiate at exactly the right time.

There is no question that What's Happening cast and crew were not given the same royal treatment as other shows at the time. Smaller budget, horrible sets, cheap production value, shorter rehearsal schedules, smaller salaries. There is no question that there was a racial component to the treatment of this show compared to its peer shows at the time. But I'll save that argument for another tread and another time.

???? You only start negotiating and questioning your salary is if you are in the Top 5? Who set that benchmark. What's Happening was in the top 15 and climbing fast after the first season. And remember, they were a mid-season replacement. They didn't get a major push nor a high budget by ABC. The second season, they climbed a few more spots. At the time, Earnest and Fred took issue with their salaries, all signs pointed to the show continuing to climb. They took the opportunity to negotiate at exactly the right time.

There is no question that What's Happening cast and crew were not given the same royal treatment as other shows at the time. Smaller budget, horrible sets, cheap production value, shorter rehearsal schedules, smaller salaries. There is no question that there was a racial component to the treatment of this show compared to its peer shows at the time. But I'll save that argument for another tread and another time.


Can you ask for a raise at your job if they are not doing well financially? ??

http://i.imgur.com/AbXEFOr.gif (http://lunapic.com)

You can't blame them for trying. They had the fame and for that brief moment in time they were entitled to the FORTUNE.

the show was not in the top ten. They wanted to be paid like the other white actors on other shows but they were not in position to demand anything because the show was not in the top 5

Carroll O' Connor was able to demand more money because All in the Family was number 1

Suzanne Somers was able to demand more money because Three's company was number 1


The highest What's happening was rated was #25 and they was demanding more money???? LOL
I'll bet they weren't paid as well as Sherman Hemsley or Redd Foxx either... probably not even Demond Wilson or Jimmie Walker.

http://i.imgur.com/AbXEFOr.gif (http://lunapic.com)

You can't blame them for trying. They had the fame and for that brief moment in time they were entitled to the FORTUNE.


You not entitled to sh*t if the show is not doing well for the network

You not entitled to sh*t if the show is not doing well for the network
I agree with you 100%. Ernest Thomas and Fred Berry were average actors. They were funny and whatnot, but they weren't brilliant black sitcom actors like John Amos. And their show certainly wasn't as highly acclaimed as Carroll O'Connor's show AITF.

I agree with you 100%. Ernest Thomas and Fred Berry were average actors. They were funny and whatnot, but they weren't brilliant black sitcom actors like John Amos. And their show certainly wasn't as highly acclaimed as Carroll O'Connor's show AITF.


I don't think the show was ever in the top ten. Lol

The show became more popular when it went into reruns.

You not entitled to sh*t if the show is not doing well for the network

Let me say this is the most polite and non-offensive way I can. The chances of ever being the star of any television show are like a billion to one. Who's to say if this chance will ever come again? Both Rog and Rerun had a right to ask for more money because of the fact that they were on a national television show being watched by millions and making millions for their bosses. "What's Happening" was NOT losing money or it would have been canceled the very first season. Therefore all 3 stars of the show had every right to strike while the iron was hot because if they waited too long, ratings would drop and the window of opportunity would close.

Let me say this is the most polite and non-offensive way I can. The chances of ever being the star of any television show are like a billion to one. Who's to say if this chance will ever come again? Both Rog and Rerun had a right to ask for more money because of the fact that they were on a national television show being watched by millions and making millions for their bosses. "What's Happening" was NOT losing money or it would have been canceled the very first season. Therefore all 3 stars of the show had every right to strike while the iron was hot because if they waited too long, ratings would drop and the window of opportunity would close.


The two actors who asked for money was part of a hit show which was All in the family and three's company

The show became more popular when it went into reruns.

And there was enough demand for it that it was revived with the follow-up syndicated series, What's Happening Now! The second series ran just as long as the first (three years) and produced basically the same number of episodes as the first (66 versus 65).

[QUOTE=ramled]???? You only start negotiating and questioning your salary is if you are in the Top 5? Who set that benchmark. What's Happening was in the top 15 and climbing fast after the first season. /QUOTE]

First Season: #25
Second Season: #45
Third Season: #29

It was never in the top 15. By the third season, it was airing on Thursday nights and was losing viewers from its lead-in show, Mork & Mindy, which was #3. In early February, What's Happening!!was yanked from the Thursday time slot and replaced in that half hour by Angie, which did manage to hold onto the Mork viewers and was #5 for the season. What's Happening!!, meanwhile, was put on Friday nights until the end of March, then moved to Saturday for the last four weeks of the season. It didn't fare too well in those time slots, so didn't return for a fourth season.

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19790613&id=3B5OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NRMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7237,2631830&hl=en

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19790424&id=XnYUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hAIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7041,782016&hl=en

[QUOTE=ramled]???? You only start negotiating and questioning your salary is if you are in the Top 5? Who set that benchmark. What's Happening was in the top 15 and climbing fast after the first season. /QUOTE]

First Season: #25
Second Season: #45
Third Season: #29

It was never in the top 15. By the third season, it was airing on Thursday nights and was losing viewers from its lead-in show, Mork & Mindy, which was #3. In early February, What's Happening!!was yanked from the Thursday time slot and replaced in that half hour by Angie, which did manage to hold onto the Mork viewers and was #5 for the season. What's Happening!!, meanwhile, was put on Friday nights until the end of March, then moved to Saturday for the last four weeks of the season. It didn't fare too well in those time slots, so didn't return for a fourth season.

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19790613&id=3B5OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NRMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7237,2631830&hl=en

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19790424&id=XnYUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hAIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7041,782016&hl=en



tell me a actor who asked for more money and the show was not doing well and he got it????


Redd Foxx........Hit show

Suzanne Somers.......Hit show

Carrol O' Connor......Hit Show

^^^ Did John Amos or Jimmie Walker ever ask for more money?

^^^ Did John Amos or Jimmie Walker ever ask for more money?


No Amos complained about the JJ character. Jimmie walker never asked for more money because he was doing things outside good times

[QUOTE=LittleRickyII]
tell me a actor who asked for more money and the show was not doing well and he got it????


Redd Foxx........Hit show

Suzanne Somers.......Hit show

Carrol O' Connor......Hit Show

Those were hit shows, yes, but Suzanne? She got the door. :)

As for What's Happening!, it really went down fast, like a lead balloon. It didn't do so well in its 2nd season (45th place for the season). Its ratings were back up during the first half of the third season, but apparently only because it followed Mork & Mindy. But once the show got moved to another time slot, it was unable to survive on its own. Here are the ratings from late in the third season. It was ranked 65th out of 68 shows. ABC probably knew the show was vulnerable, and anyone expecting a raise was delusional.

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19790411&id=OrNPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_QUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3687,3710412&hl=en

No Amos complained about the JJ character. Jimmie walker never asked for more money because he was doing things outside good times

And Esther Rolle complained about the JJ character and ultimately got her way.

[QUOTE=TVFactFan]

Those were hit shows, yes, but Suzanne? She got the door. :)

As for What's Happening!, it really went down fast, like a lead balloon. It didn't do so well in its 2nd season (45th place for the season). Its ratings were back up during the first half of the third season, but apparently only because it followed Mork & Mindy. But once the show got moved to another time slot, it was unable to survive on its own. Here are the ratings from late in the third season. It was ranked 65th out of 68 shows. ABC probably knew the show was vulnerable, and anyone expecting a raise was delusional.

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19790411&id=OrNPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_QUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3687,3710412&hl=en



I believe it because the 3rd season was

1. too much Dee

2. Too much Big and Little Earl

All Suzane Summers got was fired, but we all know what happened to her, especially when she invented the thy master and made millions and went on to do other great things. So she showed them!

Jon Amos complained about the JJ character and he also got the door.

Tobacco heir Joshua Reynolds invented the
fitness product,and then made it a 90's hit by recruiting
Suzanne to demonstrate it in TV
ads. It was first called the ''V-Toner'',
but he struggled bringing it to market.It wasn't until
marketing guru Peter Bieler got his hands on it that
the world came to know it.He started one of the first
infomercial companies,and started looking for
products to market.He ended up licensing the product,
which meant he had exclusive rights to sell it
and pay Joshua royalities.
Peter Bieler knew he needed a good-looking celebrity and thought of
Suzanne right away.He had shot another video with her in
the past and had her number.
Suzanne was really excited.Peter Bieler sent her the product and
then traveled out to her house in Palm Springs.After
agreeing on a contract,she whispered in Peters ear,as he was leaving her house,'This is going to be big.I'm going to make you so
much money'. And she was right.The product was
launched in summer 1991 and within 18 months it
sold six million units.
The secret to the success was given to Suzanne. She was said to be a master of public relations.Every time she was on a talk show she would
chat about the product.She treated it as a
Joke,but it ended up helping sales tremendously.
But after the 18 months,the product seemed to run its course.
Peter Bieler sold his infomercial company in 1993.
Suzanne ended up subsequently
buying the rights to the product. Although she did not invent it,
Peter Bieler thinks she
owns them now

[QUOTE=TVFactFan]

Those were hit shows, yes, but Suzanne? She got the door. :)

As for What's Happening!, it really went down fast, like a lead balloon. It didn't do so well in its 2nd season (45th place for the season). Its ratings were back up during the first half of the third season, but apparently only because it followed Mork & Mindy. But once the show got moved to another time slot, it was unable to survive on its own. Here are the ratings from late in the third season. It was ranked 65th out of 68 shows. ABC probably knew the show was vulnerable, and anyone expecting a raise was delusional.

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19790411&id=OrNPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_QUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3687,3710412&hl=en
During the first half of the second season, I believe the show was in the top 20, but ABC kept moving it. I don't think ABC wanted the show ever. They were probaly upset it was in the top 25 it's first season!

Probably so, it was a good show.Even if Raj had that messed up 'fro.

I think Berry and Thomas were just plain greedy...especially Berry, since he envisioned himself as the next Jimmie "J.J." Walker or Henry "Fonzie" Winkler. Berry actually thought he was the reason viewers tuned in every week. Sadly, it didn't turn out that way.

An interesting note is that "What's Happening!!" was sandwiched between "Welcome Back, Kotter" and "Barney Miller" throughout much of its run on Thursday nights (at 8:30 pm). You'd think "Happening!!'s" would've been much higher, considering the fact that "Mork and Mindy" was its lead-in (in the 8 pm slot) during season three in 1978. That's like "Family Ties" being scheduled (in the coveted 8:30 pm slot) between "The Cosby Show" and "Cheers" on Thursday nights in the mid-'80s!

I think Berry and Thomas were just plain greedy...especially Berry, since he envisioned himself as the next Jimmie "J.J." Walker or Henry "Fonzie" Winkler. Berry actually thought he was the reason viewers tuned in every week. Sadly, it didn't turn out that way.

An interesting note is that "What's Happening!!" was sandwiched between "Welcome Back, Kotter" and "Barney Miller" throughout much of its run on Thursday nights (at 8:30 pm). You'd think "Happening!!'s" would've been much higher, considering the fact that "Mork and Mindy" was its lead-in (in the 8 pm slot) during season three in 1978. That's like "Family Ties" being scheduled (in the coveted 8:30 pm slot) between "The Cosby Show" and "Cheers" on Thursday nights in the mid-'80s!


Rerun was the appeal of the show


I damm sure didn't watch it to see nerdy raj, gay dwayne, ugly dee or the dull ass mom:lol:

Rerun was the star

Rerun was the star

Yeah, Fred Berry had a big ego (or overestimated his worth) to go along with his drug habit (in fairness, Ernest Thomas was dealing with substance abuse at the time also) at the time. I'm guessing that Fred figured that "Rerun" was the breakout star of WH!! (while Raj was the defacto lead character, like Richie on Happy Days to Rerun's Fonzie) and was thus, really irreplaceable.

Fred Berry had a drug problem?!! I never knew that. Sad.

About What's Happening!! following Mork & Mindy during the 1978-79 season: What's Happening!! lost so many viewers from its Mork & Mindy lead-in, even though Mork & Mindy was a freshman show and What's Happening!! had already ran for two seasons up to that point. Couldn't it have made more sense to have WH!! at 8:00 PM and Mork & Mindy follow it at 8:30 PM? A factor working against this scenario is the fact that ABC never liked WH!! all that much. That could also be a reason that WH!! was put on an X:30 PM slot after a new show, and WH!! ends up losing too much of that new show's audience.

About What's Happening!! following Mork & Mindy during the 1978-79 season: What's Happening!! lost so many viewers from its Mork & Mindy lead-in, even though Mork & Mindy was a freshman show and What's Happening!! had already ran for two seasons up to that point. Couldn't it have made more sense to have WH!! at 8:00 PM and Mork & Mindy follow it at 8:30 PM? A factor working against this scenario is the fact that ABC never liked WH!! all that much. That could also be a reason that WH!! was put on an X:30 PM slot after a new show, and WH!! ends up losing too much of that new show's audience.


Yeah even thoiugh it was a top 30 show it still lost too many viewers from M&M which was a top 5 show that season

Yeah even thoiugh it was a top 30 show it still lost too many viewers from M&M which was a top 5 show that season

Yeah, I also didn't think that Mork & Mindy and What's Happening!! were compatible with each other, either. That is probably why WH!! was moved to a different timeslot at midseason to make room for Angie, which ended up having much better viewer retention from M&M than WH!!, and surpassed the ratings of Barney Miller, which aired at 9:00 PM. (Both M&M and Angie were produced by Paramount Television.)