I wonder Why The Cast of 'What's Happening' Didn't Get Much Work After the Show Ended - Page 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Flying Dutchman · 09-09-2016, 03:39 PM

I think there was still some type casting going on back then too. But, let's not forget that Fred and Ernest sang in a group at the end of Movie Dickie Roberts Former Child Star.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y7WWJGsKVA

GSU2004 · 09-23-2016, 11:51 AM

Haywood Nelson and Danielle Spencer went to pursue their educational endeavors after What's Happening ended. She finished high school and they both graduated from college. Haywood has worked behind the scenes on many projects as a director and other production roles whereas Danielle retired from acting (like many child stars often do) and started her vet practice. She had some health problems that plagued her as well from that tragic accident that killed her father.

Mabel King was offered to do What's Happening Now but they didn't meet her salary demands. I am sure she probably wanted more to do in the new series as well especially since everyone was grown. The dynamic worked out as Raj was married and Dee was in college. It would have been nice to see her in some holiday episodes like Thanksgiving or Christmas. Or during the first season of WHN to have the issue of Roger and Dee dealing with the fact their mother was planning to remarry. It would have been a good closure to her role. They did it for the father where apparently, Roger and him had some tension that they later resolved on I think a 2nd season episode.

Sonny Carson · 10-15-2016, 05:16 PM

It would have been great to have Mabel King guest star on What's Happening Now!

GSU2004 · 02-26-2020, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonny Carson

It would have been great to have Mabel King guest star on What's Happening Now!

Yep, I would have loved that as well as it made sense given that everyone was grown and 'mama' really needed to be off doing something else. It would be odd for a newlywed couple to be living with Mabel so they had to get creative with it. I'm sure Mabel also wanted to be more significant in the new series something she didn't get in the original one such as being married and having a life not just being a struggling blue collar black woman.

TVFactFan · 02-26-2020, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSU2004

Yep, I would have loved that as well as it made sense given that everyone was grown and 'mama' really needed to be off doing something else. It would be odd for a newlywed couple to be living with Mabel so they had to get creative with it. I'm sure Mabel also wanted to be more significant in the new series something she didn't get in the original one such as being married and having a life not just being a struggling blue collar black woman.

Her character was useless in WH situation for obvious reasons

kids and teens tuned into to watch raj and his friends not his irritable overweight mother lol

BTW: she ended up making an appearance on the Jeffersons in the 80's

MIKEPR · 02-27-2020, 03:51 PM

There's a lot of people who star in TV shows that either don't get much work or don't get anything major when it ends.

09-09-2016, 03:39 PM	#16
Flying Dutchman Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 16, 2004 Location: New York Posts: 1,266	I think there was still some type casting going on back then too. But, let's not forget that Fred and Ernest sang in a group at the end of Movie Dickie Roberts Former Child Star. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y7WWJGsKVA
	__________________ Does anybody know the way to Atlantis?

09-23-2016, 11:51 AM	#17
GSU2004 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 28, 2005 Posts: 764	Haywood Nelson and Danielle Spencer went to pursue their educational endeavors after What's Happening ended. She finished high school and they both graduated from college. Haywood has worked behind the scenes on many projects as a director and other production roles whereas Danielle retired from acting (like many child stars often do) and started her vet practice. She had some health problems that plagued her as well from that tragic accident that killed her father. Mabel King was offered to do What's Happening Now but they didn't meet her salary demands. I am sure she probably wanted more to do in the new series as well especially since everyone was grown. The dynamic worked out as Raj was married and Dee was in college. It would have been nice to see her in some holiday episodes like Thanksgiving or Christmas. Or during the first season of WHN to have the issue of Roger and Dee dealing with the fact their mother was planning to remarry. It would have been a good closure to her role. They did it for the father where apparently, Roger and him had some tension that they later resolved on I think a 2nd season episode.

10-15-2016, 05:16 PM	#18
Sonny Carson Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 26, 2012 Location: Southfield, Michigan Posts: 395	It would have been great to have Mabel King guest star on What's Happening Now!

02-27-2020, 03:51 PM	#21
MIKEPR Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 29, 2019 Posts: 368	There's a lot of people who star in TV shows that either don't get much work or don't get anything major when it ends.