Why Did WH Get Cancelled So Fast ?

[EccentricGenius]

Originally Posted by mets82

What's Happening could've been one of the most well known shows had it not been cancelled. It kind of reminds me of Welcome Back Kotter. Remember the 4th season?

Yes, I remember "Kotter's" fourth season, mets82. It's unfortunate that the Sweathogs never graduated from Buchanan High and transitioned into adulthood. Gabe Kaplan and John Travolta were both occasionally--but not completely--absent during season four...Kaplan had walked out due to disagreements with "Kotter's" executive producer, James Komack (Kaplan was also filming the basketball comedy "Fastbreak" around the same time); while Travolta had blossomed into a Hollywood heavyweight, thanks to his roles as Brooklyn disco king Tony Manero in "Saturday Night Fever" (for which he received his first Academy Award nomination, for Best Actor) and Rydell High School greaser Danny Zucco in "Grease." The addition of Stephen Shortridge as naive Southerner Beau De LaBarre was an unsuccessful attempt to rejuvenate "Kotter's" rapidly declining ratings.

As for "What's Happening!!," it might've lasted longer than it ultimately did (three seasons and 65 episodes) had Fred "Rerun" Berry not feuded with the producers of "What's Happening!!"--Saul Turteltaub, Bernie Orenstein, and Bud Yorkin--during seasons two and three. Berry's well-publicised disputes with Turteltaub, Orenstein, and Yorkin were the primary reason why ABC canceled "What's Happening!!" in the spring of 1979.

[mets82]

What did Rerun feud about?

[EccentricGenius]

Originally Posted by mets82

What did Rerun feud about?

During "What's Happening!!'s" second season, Fred Berry demanded a higher salary and better studio accommodations (cleaner dressing rooms, for instance) from the producers of "What's Happening!!" due to his newfound success as Rerun. Berry claimed that he was the sole reason that "What's Happening!!" was successful. Ernest Thomas (Raj) joined Berry in a walkout during season two's "If I'm Elected" (only Haywood Nelson appeared in the episode, with Shirley Hemphill in a larger supporting role as Shirley); both Berry and Thomas returned to work the following episode after their dispute between the show's producers (Saul Turteltaub, Bernie Orenstein, and Bud Yorkin) was settled.

Berry and Thomas once again threatened to strike during season three over their salaries; this time, Turteltaub, Orenstein, and Yorkin decided to turn the tables on both Berry and Thomas by canceling "What's Happening!!" outright in the spring of 1979 (after three seasons and 65 episodes) instead of trying to negotiate with Berry and Thomas.

Thanks for commenting, mets82! Enjoy your evening!

[Schmo]

It’s plausible to me that the actors on WH were treated shabbily compared to white actors with similar acting experience.

[MIKEPR]

Originally Posted by MikeL

hey why did this show get cancelled so fast it only lasted 3 years fastest show i ever seen

Are you not ware that some show get canceled after 1 season?

That could have been the case with the show.

Anything that lasts more that 1 season is fine as far as I'm concerned.