Did they phase out Mabel King on purpose? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

seventies_sitcoms · 01-09-2005, 07:03 PM

I've just recently checked out What's Happening Season 1 from the public library.
Anyway after seeing this show again after many years I thought Mabel King was pretty funny. I think my favorite episode was Puppy Love (I think that was the name). I found her more entertaining than Shirley and the kids. I heard they kind of phased her character out on Season 2 and she isn't even in Season 3. Did she want out or did they just slowly want to get rid of her? I know she wasn't exactly thrilled with the show. It is too bad they wanted to focus more on the kids and wanted to kick Mama Thomas out.

TJL · 01-09-2005, 08:52 PM

I guess since Roger and the boys were out of High School, they figured they could have more fun with them living on thier own. I agree with you, Mabel King was very funny on the show, and it was a loss when she left.

While I don't know the official reason Mabel King was phased out of the show, here's something I found on IMDB:

"Mabel King wanted the Thomas family to have a mother and a father (on the air Roger and Dee's parents were divorced, and their father remarried in 1977 and was not seen again). The producers' refusal contributed to her decision to quit her role in 1978."

MikeLutton · 01-11-2005, 02:39 AM

But where did she go did they explain her absence how she left.she couldnt just disappear

GARFIELDKOOL · 01-11-2005, 12:02 PM

From what I read, Mabel king was upset because Danielle Spencer got the best lines.

Brian Damage · 01-11-2005, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeL

But where did she go did they explain her absence how she left.she couldnt just disappear

I think they said that she was visiting a sick relative.

TJL · 01-13-2005, 05:59 AM

Didn't Shirley become a boarder at the Thomas house? I think I remember they explained that she moved in becasue she needed a room and to look after Dee becasue Mrs. Thomas was away or something.

hoosierelvisfan · 01-25-2005, 09:26 AM

I always thought that Mabel King passed away in real life while the show was on the air. Even if she didn't actually pass away while the show was still on, she could have been ill. That may explain why she wasn't on the show any longer. When did she pass away? Anyone know? All these years, I thougt she passed away while the show was still on tv.

Signed,
Respectfully,
Dutch

GARFIELDKOOL · 01-25-2005, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoosierelvisfan

I always thought that Mabel King passed away in real life while the show was on the air. Even if she didn't actually pass away while the show was still on, she could have been ill. That may explain why she wasn't on the show any longer. When did she pass away? Anyone know? All these years, I thougt she passed away while the show was still on tv.

Signed,
Respectfully,
Dutch

Mabel King passed away around late 1999, about a month less than Shirley Hemphill.

hoosierelvisfan · 01-25-2005, 10:02 AM

Yeah, I was just doing a Google search hoping to find out when she died. You're correct, she passed away in 1999. All these years, I thought she passed away back when the show was on. According to one website I just read, she had lost her legs and also an arm to diabetes complications and did not lead a very good life in her final years. That's a real pity.

Signed,
Respectfully,
Dutch

Brian Damage · 01-25-2005, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJL

Didn't Shirley become a boarder at the Thomas house? I think I remember they explained that she moved in becasue she needed a room and to look after Dee becasue Mrs. Thomas was away or something.

yes that happened

Dwaynew · 02-19-2005, 10:36 PM

I don't think it was a fact of phasing-out, but the focus on the show were the three youths in high school.

There were other adults, but they revolved around the three. I think it would have been interesting if Dwayne's and Rerun's family would have been included.

01-09-2005, 07:03 PM	#1
seventies_sitcoms * Senior Member Join Date: Jan 09, 2005 Posts: 2,244	Did they phase out Mabel King on purpose? I've just recently checked out What's Happening Season 1 from the public library. Anyway after seeing this show again after many years I thought Mabel King was pretty funny. I think my favorite episode was Puppy Love (I think that was the name). I found her more entertaining than Shirley and the kids. I heard they kind of phased her character out on Season 2 and she isn't even in Season 3. Did she want out or did they just slowly want to get rid of her? I know she wasn't exactly thrilled with the show. It is too bad they wanted to focus more on the kids and wanted to kick Mama Thomas out.

01-09-2005, 08:52 PM	#2
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,591	I guess since Roger and the boys were out of High School, they figured they could have more fun with them living on thier own. I agree with you, Mabel King was very funny on the show, and it was a loss when she left. While I don't know the official reason Mabel King was phased out of the show, here's something I found on IMDB: "Mabel King wanted the Thomas family to have a mother and a father (on the air Roger and Dee's parents were divorced, and their father remarried in 1977 and was not seen again). The producers' refusal contributed to her decision to quit her role in 1978."
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01-11-2005, 02:39 AM	#3
MikeLutton Mike Lutton DVD Legend! Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 05, 2005 Location: usa pennsyvania Posts: 6,884	reply But where did she go did they explain her absence how she left.she couldnt just disappear

01-25-2005, 09:26 AM	#7
hoosierelvisfan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 16, 2003 Location: I do not like TV Land any longer!!!!! Posts: 467	I always thought that Mabel King passed away in real life while the show was on the air. Even if she didn't actually pass away while the show was still on, she could have been ill. That may explain why she wasn't on the show any longer. When did she pass away? Anyone know? All these years, I thougt she passed away while the show was still on tv. Signed, Respectfully, Dutch
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01-11-2005, 12:02 PM	#4
GARFIELDKOOL Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 02, 2004 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 7,204	From what I read, Mabel king was upset because Danielle Spencer got the best lines.

01-13-2005, 05:59 AM	#6
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,591	Didn't Shirley become a boarder at the Thomas house? I think I remember they explained that she moved in becasue she needed a room and to look after Dee becasue Mrs. Thomas was away or something.

01-25-2005, 10:02 AM	#9
hoosierelvisfan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 16, 2003 Location: I do not like TV Land any longer!!!!! Posts: 467	Yeah, I was just doing a Google search hoping to find out when she died. You're correct, she passed away in 1999. All these years, I thought she passed away back when the show was on. According to one website I just read, she had lost her legs and also an arm to diabetes complications and did not lead a very good life in her final years. That's a real pity. Signed, Respectfully, Dutch

02-19-2005, 10:36 PM	#11
Dwaynew Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 19, 2005 Posts: 108	I don't think it was a fact of phasing-out, but the focus on the show were the three youths in high school. There were other adults, but they revolved around the three. I think it would have been interesting if Dwayne's and Rerun's family would have been included.