After Careful Deliberation, I Decided 'What's Happening Now' Was A Big Failure! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 08-24-2010, 12:42 AM

I use to watch this show and originally, was happy when the old gang reunited for an updated version of the 70's classic. However, thinking about it, the show was more fail than pass for me. Here are my reasons why I think it failed...

1. Raj was back living in his old house and now part owner of Rob's Place along with Shirley.

2. Rerun still didn't grow up at all.

3. No Mabel

4. Dwayne should've been married to Dee

5. Fred Berry left the show

catlover79 · 08-24-2010, 01:24 AM

I still haven't seen WHN. I'll have to see if I can find the DVD set through the library system. I wonder why Mabel King didn't even do any guest appearances.

Marvo301 · 08-24-2010, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I still haven't seen WHN. I'll have to see if I can find the DVD set through the library system. I wonder why Mabel King didn't even do any guest appearances.

She wasn't even in any episodes of the third and final season of the original series. I think whatever reasons she chose to leave the series hadn't yet been resolved. And since the character had already been written out of the show it was probably easier just to leave her out.

catlover79 · 08-24-2010, 02:02 AM

Hmmmm.

Adamantium · 08-24-2010, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

She wasn't even in any episodes of the third and final season of the original series. I think whatever reasons she chose to leave the series hadn't yet been resolved. And since the character had already been written out of the show it was probably easier just to leave her out.

Of course technically, "Mabel" wasn't written out of the show. I mean she was absent, but her character still lived in the house. She just wasn't seen by the viewers. It's when they did "Now!!" that they made up a reason why she was gone.

Brian Damage · 08-24-2010, 09:04 AM

It just seems like the cast had no growth, they basically tried to recreate the original show with most of the origainal cast and it just didn't click.

waichingliu81 · 08-24-2010, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I still haven't seen WHN. I'll have to see if I can find the DVD set through the library system. I wonder why Mabel King didn't even do any guest appearances.

monika, visit this guy's account on you tube- he has a few episodes of what's happening now, as well as good times and the jeffersons!

http://www.youtube.com/user/Belgusto1#p/u

catlover79 · 08-24-2010, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waichingliu81

monika, visit this guy's account on you tube- he has a few episodes of what's happening now, as well as good times and the jeffersons!

http://www.youtube.com/user/Belgusto1#p/u

Thanks!!

GSU2004 · 11-19-2010, 09:57 AM

I would agree with you. The original version was still going strong in syndication and to this day, you can still find it in local syndication. The 1980's version had potential but missed out on several opportunities.

1. The Dwayne and Dee storyline could have been developed more. It was time to give other characters some romance interests. If Rerun could have stayed, him pursuing a woman could have matured him.

2. The adoptive kid was just not needed. She was there briefly and then gone by the end of the season. It was no point. She could been used as an employee of Rob's Place.

3. Mabel should have at least came by to visit the house or came by and cooked for a holiday or something. It was her house and for them not to mention anything about her left a void.

4. Based off the article links that have been posted here, the actors morale definitely went down as this series progressed. Fred walked off during season one. Haywood reports their was less creative freedom. At least during other revivals (mamas family, sanford, charles in charge), actors reported they got to make script changes and propose storylines.

TVFactFan · 11-28-2010, 07:32 PM

The Mother was needed on the original show so you know she wasn;t going to be needed on the revival series-lol

Maybe they should have been living somehere else besides Mabel's House

catlover79 · 11-28-2010, 08:09 PM

Does anyone know for sure why Mabel King left the first show and why she didn't appear in the revival? Contract/money issues? Health? Other obligations?

As good an actress as Mabel King was, if she wasn't going to be part of the show - the producers should've just recast her part. That's just my opinion, but I think it would've made more sense in the long run.

TVFactFan · 11-28-2010, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Does anyone know for sure why Mabel King left the first show and why she didn't appear in the revival? Contract/money issues? Health? Other obligations?

As good an actress as Mabel King was, if she wasn't going to be part of the show - the producers should've just recast her part. That's just my opinion, but I think it would've made more sense in the long run.

She had problems with her decreased role on the show

catlover79 · 11-28-2010, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

She had problems with her decreased role on the show

Thanks, Sol!!!

Marvo301 · 11-29-2010, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

She had problems with her decreased role on the show

I read somewhere that she was unhappy because her character had so little to do on the show. She would have a few lines at the beginning of the show and then her character would go to work and we wouldn't see her again until the final scene where she would have a few more lines. The show just began to revolve more and more around the kids and Mrs. Thomas got pushed more and more into the background. She did also have health issues later in life. She had her legs amputated as a result of diabetes and eventually passed away as the result of that disease.

Sonny Carson · 02-27-2013, 08:51 PM

The thing about What's Happening Now is that even though I didn't like the show all that much, I can't say it was a failure. It lasted 3 years the same as the first series(though it wasn't as good or successful) and had high ratings during it's first two seasons as a syndicated show. It wasn't good but their are show's from the mid eighties that I don't like even more(227, Benson, and Full House).

08-24-2010, 12:42 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	After Careful Deliberation, I Decided 'What's Happening Now' Was A Big Failure! I use to watch this show and originally, was happy when the old gang reunited for an updated version of the 70's classic. However, thinking about it, the show was more fail than pass for me. Here are my reasons why I think it failed... 1. Raj was back living in his old house and now part owner of Rob's Place along with Shirley. 2. Rerun still didn't grow up at all. 3. No Mabel 4. Dwayne should've been married to Dee 5. Fred Berry left the show
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

08-24-2010, 01:24 AM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I still haven't seen WHN. I'll have to see if I can find the DVD set through the library system. I wonder why Mabel King didn't even do any guest appearances.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

08-24-2010, 02:02 AM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Hmmmm.

08-24-2010, 09:04 AM	#6
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	It just seems like the cast had no growth, they basically tried to recreate the original show with most of the origainal cast and it just didn't click.

11-19-2010, 09:57 AM	#9
GSU2004 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 28, 2005 Posts: 764	I would agree with you. The original version was still going strong in syndication and to this day, you can still find it in local syndication. The 1980's version had potential but missed out on several opportunities. 1. The Dwayne and Dee storyline could have been developed more. It was time to give other characters some romance interests. If Rerun could have stayed, him pursuing a woman could have matured him. 2. The adoptive kid was just not needed. She was there briefly and then gone by the end of the season. It was no point. She could been used as an employee of Rob's Place. 3. Mabel should have at least came by to visit the house or came by and cooked for a holiday or something. It was her house and for them not to mention anything about her left a void. 4. Based off the article links that have been posted here, the actors morale definitely went down as this series progressed. Fred walked off during season one. Haywood reports their was less creative freedom. At least during other revivals (mamas family, sanford, charles in charge), actors reported they got to make script changes and propose storylines.

11-28-2010, 07:32 PM	#10
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,951	The Mother was needed on the original show so you know she wasn;t going to be needed on the revival series-lol Maybe they should have been living somehere else besides Mabel's House

11-28-2010, 08:09 PM	#11
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Does anyone know for sure why Mabel King left the first show and why she didn't appear in the revival? Contract/money issues? Health? Other obligations? As good an actress as Mabel King was, if she wasn't going to be part of the show - the producers should've just recast her part. That's just my opinion, but I think it would've made more sense in the long run.

02-27-2013, 08:51 PM	#15
Sonny Carson Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 26, 2012 Location: Southfield, Michigan Posts: 395	The thing about What's Happening Now is that even though I didn't like the show all that much, I can't say it was a failure. It lasted 3 years the same as the first series(though it wasn't as good or successful) and had high ratings during it's first two seasons as a syndicated show. It wasn't good but their are show's from the mid eighties that I don't like even more(227, Benson, and Full House).