Did The Cast Of 'What's Happening' Indirectly Set Back "Black Sitcoms" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 03-29-2011, 09:20 PM

No doubt about it, there were a lot of problems on the WH set. Mable King quit, Fred Berry had drug issues and the cast held out for more money, all of which led to the show's premature cancellation. Do you think the predominantly white Hollywood decided to stop producing quality mostly black led sitcoms for years and years after that? We all know that it really wasn't until the Cosby show in the mid 80's that the black sitcom made a huge comeback. Agree? Disagree?

catlover79 · 03-29-2011, 09:50 PM

It's hard to say. Ernest Thomas also did his fair share of drugs (he admitted as much on ET), but I think he was more of a recreational user and not an addict. Also during WH's run (in 1977), Danielle Spencer was seriously injured in a car accident that took the life of her stepfather. But she turned out just fine - she became a veterinarian!!

comedyfreak · 03-30-2011, 08:45 AM

I'm going to say no to that question. Living Single was produced in the 80's and probably other I can't think of right now.

Smartboy · 03-30-2011, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

I'm going to say no to that question. Living Single was produced in the 80's and probably other I can't think of right now.

I thought that "Living Single" was produced in the nineties. Quite some time after the "Cosby Show".

Mr. Television · 03-30-2011, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smartboy

I thought that "Living Single" was produced in the nineties. Quite some time after the "Cosby Show".

Yea it was. It's even mentioned in the theme song.

catlover79 · 03-30-2011, 09:17 PM

Living Single debuted in 1993, if I'm not mistaken.

waichingliu81 · 06-04-2011, 08:33 PM

i don't think it did, there was just a hiatus that took place after what's happening for black sitcoms, and plus the follow-up, what's happening now did arrive after that.

besides i think the black sitcom became big in the 90s with shows such as living single etc. and then because of reality tv, the genre of black and white sitcoms have died out.

shotzette · 06-05-2011, 03:07 PM

How about "Good Times" and "The Jeffersons"? They were both made around the same time that "What's Happening" was on.

I think that one of the issues that led to cancellation was the fact that Mabel King left, and she and Shirley Hemphill were the only two cast members who could act. Fred Berry was entertaining, but only in short bursts.

TVFactFan · 06-05-2011, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shotzette

How about "Good Times" and "The Jeffersons"? They were both made around the same time that "What's Happening" was on.

I think that one of the issues that led to cancellation was the fact that Mabel King left, and she and Shirley Hemphill were the only two cast members who could act. Fred Berry was entertaining, but only in short bursts.

The Jeffersons was a show with black characters as the lead but it wasnt a all black show

shotzette · 06-06-2011, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

The Jeffersons was a show with black characters as the lead but it wasnt a all black show

With the exception of Tom, Ralph the Doorman, and Mr. Bentley, the rest of the cast was African American. It would count.

TVFactFan · 06-06-2011, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shotzette

With the exception of Tom, Ralph the Doorman, and Mr. Bentley, the rest of the cast was African American. It would count.

If the show had 3 white characters then its not a black sitcom

comedyfreak · 06-10-2011, 03:54 AM

The Black sitcoms flourished on UPN in the 90's. To the original question I'd still say no because it's all in the casting, if there's no chemistry between the cast a show won't work. Look at Baby I'm Back which came out after Sanford and Son it flopped, as well as The New Odd Couple.

Smartboy · 06-12-2011, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

Yea it was. It's even mentioned in the theme song.

The fact that is was mentioned in the theme song was the first thing that I thought of when I read the post that you responded to! Just shows how great minds think alike!

Smartboy · 06-12-2011, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Living Single debuted in 1993, if I'm not mistaken.

The same year that "Cheers" went off of the air and the book "Flavor of the Month" was published! Can anyone read any connections between these three realities?

Smartboy · 06-12-2011, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waichingliu81

i don't think it did, there was just a hiatus that took place after what's happening for black sitcoms, and plus the follow-up, what's happening now did arrive after that.

besides i think the black sitcom became big in the 90s with shows such as living single etc. and then because of reality tv, the genre of black and white sitcoms have died out.

I can see by the information included with your pen name that you live in England. Was "What's Happening!!" syndicated there?

03-29-2011, 09:20 PM	#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	Did The Cast Of 'What's Happening' Indirectly Set Back "Black Sitcoms" No doubt about it, there were a lot of problems on the WH set. Mable King quit, Fred Berry had drug issues and the cast held out for more money, all of which led to the show's premature cancellation. Do you think the predominantly white Hollywood decided to stop producing quality mostly black led sitcoms for years and years after that? We all know that it really wasn't until the Cosby show in the mid 80's that the black sitcom made a huge comeback. Agree? Disagree?
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03-29-2011, 09:50 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	It's hard to say. Ernest Thomas also did his fair share of drugs (he admitted as much on ET), but I think he was more of a recreational user and not an addict. Also during WH's run (in 1977), Danielle Spencer was seriously injured in a car accident that took the life of her stepfather. But she turned out just fine - she became a veterinarian!! Attached Images
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03-30-2011, 08:45 AM	#3
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,058	I'm going to say no to that question. Living Single was produced in the 80's and probably other I can't think of right now.
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03-30-2011, 09:17 PM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Living Single debuted in 1993, if I'm not mistaken.

06-04-2011, 08:33 PM	#7
waichingliu81 debbie allen Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2006 Location: london, england, UK Posts: 4,347	i don't think it did, there was just a hiatus that took place after what's happening for black sitcoms, and plus the follow-up, what's happening now did arrive after that. besides i think the black sitcom became big in the 90s with shows such as living single etc. and then because of reality tv, the genre of black and white sitcoms have died out.

06-05-2011, 03:07 PM	#8
shotzette Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 30, 2004 Posts: 1,782	How about "Good Times" and "The Jeffersons"? They were both made around the same time that "What's Happening" was on. I think that one of the issues that led to cancellation was the fact that Mabel King left, and she and Shirley Hemphill were the only two cast members who could act. Fred Berry was entertaining, but only in short bursts.

06-10-2011, 03:54 AM	#12
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,058	The Black sitcoms flourished on UPN in the 90's. To the original question I'd still say no because it's all in the casting, if there's no chemistry between the cast a show won't work. Look at Baby I'm Back which came out after Sanford and Son it flopped, as well as The New Odd Couple.