"The Last Page" has to be by FAR...

[Jrog]

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

I didn't like the Benefit show.

This, I agree with. While the last page was bad this episode seemed bad and as if they just weren't trying. Let's forget how they could have gotten sued for saying Sammie Davis Jr. was going to be at an event - even printing and distributing flyers saying as much if I'm not mistaken - you're telling me having met some of the people that they had over the course of three seasons (the Doobie Bros, etc) Rerun's first reaction was to pull the name of Sammie Davis Jr out of thin air. Oh, and Little Earl doing his Steve Martin thing - just the thought of it - still brings my blood to a boil.

[ThomasE]

Originally Posted by Jrog

This, I agree with. While the last page was bad this episode seemed bad and as if they just weren't trying. Let's forget how they could have gotten sued for saying Sammie Davis Jr. was going to be at an event - even printing and distributing flyers saying as much if I'm not mistaken - you're telling me having met some of the people that they had over the course of three seasons (the Doobie Bros, etc) Rerun's first reaction was to pull the name of Sammie Davis Jr out of thin air. Oh, and Little Earl doing his Steve Martin thing - just the thought of it - still brings my blood to a boil.

Well excuuuuuuuzze meeeee!

While I do like this episode, it really was low quality. I'm sorry, but it was. The funniest one in this episode was Shirley and the way she was interacting with the audience by giving them attitude.

[comedyfreak]

Originally Posted by ThomasE

Well excuuuuuuuzze meeeee!

The funniest one in this episode was Shirley and the way she was interacting with the audience by giving them attitude.

That was the only bright spot in the whole episode.

[Lee G]

I'm thinking of buying the complete series DVD, but the packaging is poor and the 3rd season is weak compared to seasons 1 and 2. So I'm leaning towards buying seasons 1 and 2 only and forget season 3.

[ThomasE]

Originally Posted by Lee G

I'm thinking of buying the complete series DVD, but the packaging is poor and the 3rd season is weak compared to seasons 1 and 2. So I'm leaning towards buying seasons 1 and 2 only and forget season 3.

Season 3 to me would have been better had Mrs. Thomas been there. She was always at work, still in bed or away visiting which made it easier to film segments at the house. No pun but she helped to keep a balance in the show.

I liked the "The last page" episode though.

[TV_on_the_Porch]

I'm pretty sure it was a closed set for most if not all of the episodes of the 78-79 season. No audience, just a laugh track.

[EccentricGenius]

I think the third (and, sadly, final) season--in its entirety, natch--is the nadir of "What's Happening!!" Eliminating Mabel King (and the character of Mama as a whole) and adding John Welsh and David Hollander (as Big Earl and Little Earl, respectively) to the cast were definitely a deathblow to the series. Despite the cast changes, "What's Happening!!" ranked 29th for the 1978-79 season (primarily due to having the smash hit of the 1978-79 season, "Mork and Mindy," as its lead-in on Thursday nights; it also preceded "Barney Miller" on the same night ["Barney Miller" ranked 15th]).

If I had to choose the worst episode of "What's Happening!!" (difficult choice, by the way--there are so many!), I'd select "The Benefit Show," which (unfortunately) also served as the final (de facto) episode of the series. I guess the cast and crew had hoped that ABC would renew the series; alas, it was not to be.

[GSU2004]

Originally Posted by EccentricGenius

I think the third (and, sadly, final) season--in its entirety, natch--is the nadir of "What's Happening!!" Eliminating Mabel King (and the character of Mama as a whole) and adding John Welsh and David Hollander (as Big Earl and Little Earl, respectively) to the cast were definitely a deathblow to the series. Despite the cast changes, "What's Happening!!" ranked 29th for the 1978-79 season (primarily due to having the smash hit of the 1978-79 season, "Mork and Mindy," as its lead-in on Thursday nights; it also preceded "Barney Miller" on the same night ["Barney Miller" ranked 15th]).

If I had to choose the worst episode of "What's Happening!!" (difficult choice, by the way--there are so many!), I'd select "The Benefit Show," which (unfortunately) also served as the final (de facto) episode of the series. I guess the cast and crew had hoped that ABC would renew the series; alas, it was not to be.

Surprisingly enough ABC wanted a 4th season of the show but producers were done with the cast (Haywood, Ernest and Fred) by that time. With the walkouts and demands, the producers decided not to continue. I am sure this probably played a big role in the production of this season given the quality issues of it.