When did Ernest Thomas become ERNEST LEE THOMAS? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Ireneparalegal · 01-22-2006, 11:59 PM

I noticed the opening credits of What's Happening the seasons without Mabel King, that his name changed...anyone know why?

msladysoul · 01-23-2006, 02:26 AM

I guess he felt he become a big star now and he wanted to add his middle name to seem more important.

seventies_sitcoms · 01-23-2006, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msladysoul

I guess he felt he become a big star now and he wanted to add his middle name.

Didn't Fred Berry and Ernest Thomas want more $$$ and ABC just cancelled the show on them because they were being so difficult with negotiating???

msladysoul · 01-23-2006, 08:23 PM

Yeah, that's what I heard, but it was just as well, the show seem to be running out of ideas anyway, what it kept it going was the loyal fans.
I could think of good stories like Dwayne graduating.

Dr. Thong · 01-23-2006, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msladysoul

Yeah, that's what I heard, but it was just as well, the show seem to be running out of ideas anyway, what it kept it going was the loyal fans.
I could think of good stories like Dwayne graduating.

I don't think What's Happening ever had huge ratings and I think the third season ratings dipped a bit. Besides, without Mrs. Thomas it wasn't the same.

I think it would have been funny if Mrs. Thomas had dropped in on the boys in their new apartment to see how they're doing - or maybe to walk in on them in a...ahem, "embarrassing moment."

CindyRoxiesLair2006 · 01-23-2006, 09:52 PM

That's an interesting query you bring up about the Ernest Lee Thomas bit, Irene-girl...I've always wondered about why that was so significant in the opening credits of WH, during all of Season 3.
Anyhow, the name itself rings pretty well! Let's give it to the brother...

Ireneparalegal · 01-23-2006, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

I don't think What's Happening ever had huge ratings and I think the third season ratings dipped a bit. Besides, without Mrs. Thomas it wasn't the same.

I think it would have been funny if Mrs. Thomas had dropped in on the boys in their new apartment to see how they're doing - or maybe to walk in on them in a...ahem, "embarrassing moment."

She did walk in on them many many times when the guys did get their apt. Rerun was pissed and wanted her to stay away. Raj got mad abt it.

Cindy girlfriend, I am glad that you mentioned my post, it seems the question got lost in the other stuff posted here. Ernest Lee has a good ring to it for sure. I just wonder, does he still go by that name? or did he cut out the "Lee"?

Dr. Thong · 01-24-2006, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

She did walk in on them many many times when the guys did get their apt. Rerun was pissed and wanted her to stay away. Raj got mad abt it.

Uhh, I'm talking about the final season, when Rerun and Raj were in college and Mabel King wasn't in the cast. I don't remember Mrs. Thomas being in any of those episodes.

comedyfreak · 01-24-2006, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

Uhh, I'm talking about the final season, when Rerun and Raj were in college and Mabel King wasn't in the cast. I don't remember Mrs. Thomas being in any of those episodes.

That's because she wasn't. She wanted out of the show, she was unhappy with the direction the show had taken her role had been reduced and Dee stole the show. Plus she missed doing theatre.

Ireneparalegal · 01-24-2006, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

Uhh, I'm talking about the final season, when Rerun and Raj were in college and Mabel King wasn't in the cast. I don't remember Mrs. Thomas being in any of those episodes.

She was no longer part of the cast. Which, to me, made the show less interesting. It was not convincing seeing Dee living in a home without a mother, but she had Shirley living there??? weird

SO DOES ANYONE KNOW OR HAVE INFO ON ERNEST LEE?????? lol

CindyRoxiesLair2006 · 01-24-2006, 08:31 PM

When Mabel left the show, it did kind of drop in an overall-interest-in-show aspect.
She added her share of occasional humor to WH.

And Ernest Lee Thomas...the name itself sounds a world more official than it would be, without his middle name, ya know?
Almost like a business card-type scenario...

Ireneparalegal · 01-24-2006, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CindyRoxiesLair2006

When Mabel left the show, it did kind of drop in an overall-interest-in-show aspect.
She added her share of occasional humor to WH.

And Ernest Lee Thomas...the name itself sounds a world more official than it would be, without his middle name, ya know?
Almost like a business card-type scenario...

Yes, the overall interest in the show wasn't the same. Some may say Mabel wasn't an important part of the cast, but as long as the Thomas home was still being shown, with Dee, then Mabel being gone makes the show less interesting. If they had begun the show with just the guys at school, the soda shop and other outside activities, then it could have had a different aspect to the overall show. But don't show me a mother, a daughter and a son and then yank the home aspect away from us...

Dr. Thong · 01-25-2006, 07:18 PM

I think older characters in family sitcoms provide a sense of balance and contrast. They can be the voices of reason or the voices of overreaction. They also provide conflict when the younger characters are determined to do something that go against the parents' (or parent's) wishes.

After Mork & Mindy's first season, which was a smash success, they got rid of Mindy's Father and Grandmother and the show was never the same afterwards, even when they brought the Father back.

It's too bad they couldn't have worked out a deal where Mabel King could have appeared in some of the season's shows. Even if she'd done only a few, it would have been better than nothing.

Ireneparalegal · 01-25-2006, 07:21 PM

so true Dr. Thong. I recall that abt Mork and Mindy also. It wasn't the same. I liked the grandmother, she was so funny.

Dr. Thong · 01-26-2006, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

so true Dr. Thong. I recall that abt Mork and Mindy also. It wasn't the same. I liked the grandmother, she was so funny.

Not only that, but they were replaced with mediocre characters. I guess ABC felt they should have younger characters. Demographics and all that crap.

I say "If it aint broke, don't fix it."

01-22-2006, 11:59 PM	#1
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	When did Ernest Thomas become ERNEST LEE THOMAS? I noticed the opening credits of What's Happening the seasons without Mabel King, that his name changed...anyone know why?
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

01-23-2006, 02:26 AM	#2
msladysoul Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 06, 2005 Posts: 62	I guess he felt he become a big star now and he wanted to add his middle name to seem more important.
	Last edited by msladysoul; 01-23-2006 at 08:26 PM.

01-23-2006, 09:52 PM	#6
CindyRoxiesLair2006 Dee Thomas' Advocate Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 03, 2005 Location: Happily travelin' back & forth across the USA (on business), in my '05 Liberty Sport! Posts: 392	I wonder about that also...HMMM... That's an interesting query you bring up about the Ernest Lee Thomas bit, Irene-girl...I've always wondered about why that was so significant in the opening credits of WH, during all of Season 3. Anyhow, the name itself rings pretty well! Let's give it to the brother...
	__________________ ACCORDING TO MISS DEE THOMAS... Want a secret kept? Just slip me a few dollar bills, and it *will* be! (Just before I tell Mama, or worse yet, just before I tell *yours...) From one of my T-shirts by Spencer's World* brand: I'm Spoiled & Expensive... But WELL WORTH IT!

01-24-2006, 08:31 PM	#11
CindyRoxiesLair2006 Dee Thomas' Advocate Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 03, 2005 Location: Happily travelin' back & forth across the USA (on business), in my '05 Liberty Sport! Posts: 392	Irene is right...as always. ;>) When Mabel left the show, it did kind of drop in an overall-interest-in-show aspect. She added her share of occasional humor to WH. And Ernest Lee Thomas...the name itself sounds a world more official than it would be, without his middle name, ya know? Almost like a business card-type scenario...

01-23-2006, 08:23 PM	#4
msladysoul Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 06, 2005 Posts: 62	Yeah, that's what I heard, but it was just as well, the show seem to be running out of ideas anyway, what it kept it going was the loyal fans. I could think of good stories like Dwayne graduating.

01-25-2006, 07:18 PM	#13
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	I think older characters in family sitcoms provide a sense of balance and contrast. They can be the voices of reason or the voices of overreaction. They also provide conflict when the younger characters are determined to do something that go against the parents' (or parent's) wishes. After Mork & Mindy's first season, which was a smash success, they got rid of Mindy's Father and Grandmother and the show was never the same afterwards, even when they brought the Father back. It's too bad they couldn't have worked out a deal where Mabel King could have appeared in some of the season's shows. Even if she'd done only a few, it would have been better than nothing.

01-25-2006, 07:21 PM	#14
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	so true Dr. Thong. I recall that abt Mork and Mindy also. It wasn't the same. I liked the grandmother, she was so funny.