Not sure why Fred Berry and Ernest Thomas was asking for more money if............... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 03-23-2014, 03:10 PM

the show was not in the top ten. They wanted to be paid like the other white actors on other shows but they were not in position to demand anything because the show was not in the top 5

Carroll O' Connor was able to demand more money because All in the Family was number 1

Suzanne Somers was able to demand more money because Three's company was number 1

The highest What's happening was rated was #25 and they was demanding more money???? LOL

hatwink · 08-27-2014, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

the show was not in the top ten. They wanted to be paid like the other white actors on other shows but they were not in position to demand anything because the show was not in the top 5

Carroll O' Connor was able to demand more money because All in the Family was number 1

Suzanne Somers was able to demand more money because Three's company was number 1

The highest What's happening was rated was #25 and they was demanding more money???? LOL

The fame and sucess probably went to their heads. In addtion, they probably were drugging to some degree, I have a feeling.

TVFactFan · 08-27-2014, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hatwink

The fame and sucess probably went to their heads. In addtion, they probably were drugging to some degree, I have a feeling.

Had to be drugs because you don't ask for a raise when the show is not in the top 5

ramled · 04-20-2015, 03:57 AM

???? You only start negotiating and questioning your salary is if you are in the Top 5? Who set that benchmark. What's Happening was in the top 15 and climbing fast after the first season. And remember, they were a mid-season replacement. They didn't get a major push nor a high budget by ABC. The second season, they climbed a few more spots. At the time, Earnest and Fred took issue with their salaries, all signs pointed to the show continuing to climb. They took the opportunity to negotiate at exactly the right time.

There is no question that What's Happening cast and crew were not given the same royal treatment as other shows at the time. Smaller budget, horrible sets, cheap production value, shorter rehearsal schedules, smaller salaries. There is no question that there was a racial component to the treatment of this show compared to its peer shows at the time. But I'll save that argument for another tread and another time.

TVFactFan · 04-20-2015, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramled

???? You only start negotiating and questioning your salary is if you are in the Top 5? Who set that benchmark. What's Happening was in the top 15 and climbing fast after the first season. And remember, they were a mid-season replacement. They didn't get a major push nor a high budget by ABC. The second season, they climbed a few more spots. At the time, Earnest and Fred took issue with their salaries, all signs pointed to the show continuing to climb. They took the opportunity to negotiate at exactly the right time.

There is no question that What's Happening cast and crew were not given the same royal treatment as other shows at the time. Smaller budget, horrible sets, cheap production value, shorter rehearsal schedules, smaller salaries. There is no question that there was a racial component to the treatment of this show compared to its peer shows at the time. But I'll save that argument for another tread and another time.

Can you ask for a raise at your job if they are not doing well financially? ??

cleverfun3000 · 04-20-2015, 03:48 PM

You can't blame them for trying. They had the fame and for that brief moment in time they were entitled to the FORTUNE.

Wawwie · 04-20-2015, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

the show was not in the top ten. They wanted to be paid like the other white actors on other shows but they were not in position to demand anything because the show was not in the top 5

Carroll O' Connor was able to demand more money because All in the Family was number 1

Suzanne Somers was able to demand more money because Three's company was number 1

The highest What's happening was rated was #25 and they was demanding more money???? LOL

I'll bet they weren't paid as well as Sherman Hemsley or Redd Foxx either... probably not even Demond Wilson or Jimmie Walker.

TVFactFan · 04-20-2015, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cleverfun3000

You can't blame them for trying. They had the fame and for that brief moment in time they were entitled to the FORTUNE.

You not entitled to sh*t if the show is not doing well for the network

Wawwie · 04-20-2015, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

You not entitled to sh*t if the show is not doing well for the network

I agree with you 100%. Ernest Thomas and Fred Berry were average actors. They were funny and whatnot, but they weren't brilliant black sitcom actors like John Amos. And their show certainly wasn't as highly acclaimed as Carroll O'Connor's show AITF.

TVFactFan · 04-20-2015, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wawwie

I agree with you 100%. Ernest Thomas and Fred Berry were average actors. They were funny and whatnot, but they weren't brilliant black sitcom actors like John Amos. And their show certainly wasn't as highly acclaimed as Carroll O'Connor's show AITF.

I don't think the show was ever in the top ten. Lol

Mr. Television · 04-20-2015, 05:20 PM

The show became more popular when it went into reruns.

cleverfun3000 · 04-22-2015, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

You not entitled to sh*t if the show is not doing well for the network

Let me say this is the most polite and non-offensive way I can. The chances of ever being the star of any television show are like a billion to one. Who's to say if this chance will ever come again? Both Rog and Rerun had a right to ask for more money because of the fact that they were on a national television show being watched by millions and making millions for their bosses. "What's Happening" was NOT losing money or it would have been canceled the very first season. Therefore all 3 stars of the show had every right to strike while the iron was hot because if they waited too long, ratings would drop and the window of opportunity would close.

TVFactFan · 04-22-2015, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cleverfun3000

Let me say this is the most polite and non-offensive way I can. The chances of ever being the star of any television show are like a billion to one. Who's to say if this chance will ever come again? Both Rog and Rerun had a right to ask for more money because of the fact that they were on a national television show being watched by millions and making millions for their bosses. "What's Happening" was NOT losing money or it would have been canceled the very first season. Therefore all 3 stars of the show had every right to strike while the iron was hot because if they waited too long, ratings would drop and the window of opportunity would close.

The two actors who asked for money was part of a hit show which was All in the family and three's company

LittleRickyII · 04-22-2015, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

The show became more popular when it went into reruns.

And there was enough demand for it that it was revived with the follow-up syndicated series, What's Happening Now! The second series ran just as long as the first (three years) and produced basically the same number of episodes as the first (66 versus 65).

LittleRickyII · 04-22-2015, 07:43 PM

[QUOTE=ramled]???? You only start negotiating and questioning your salary is if you are in the Top 5? Who set that benchmark. What's Happening was in the top 15 and climbing fast after the first season. /QUOTE]

First Season: #25
Second Season: #45
Third Season: #29

It was never in the top 15. By the third season, it was airing on Thursday nights and was losing viewers from its lead-in show, Mork & Mindy, which was #3. In early February, What's Happening!!was yanked from the Thursday time slot and replaced in that half hour by Angie, which did manage to hold onto the Mork viewers and was #5 for the season. What's Happening!!, meanwhile, was put on Friday nights until the end of March, then moved to Saturday for the last four weeks of the season. It didn't fare too well in those time slots, so didn't return for a fourth season.

https://news.google.com/newspapers?n...,2631830&hl=en

https://news.google.com/newspapers?n...1,782016&hl=en

03-23-2014, 03:10 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,950	Not sure why Fred Berry and Ernest Thomas was asking for more money if............... the show was not in the top ten. They wanted to be paid like the other white actors on other shows but they were not in position to demand anything because the show was not in the top 5 Carroll O' Connor was able to demand more money because All in the Family was number 1 Suzanne Somers was able to demand more money because Three's company was number 1 The highest What's happening was rated was #25 and they was demanding more money???? LOL

04-20-2015, 03:48 PM	#6
cleverfun3000 Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 18, 2008 Location: Manhattan Posts: 1,685	You can't blame them for trying. They had the fame and for that brief moment in time they were entitled to the FORTUNE.
	__________________ I'm not speaking for everyone. Just myself and those that agree with me.

04-20-2015, 05:20 PM	#11
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	The show became more popular when it went into reruns.
	__________________ Sonny

04-20-2015, 03:57 AM	#4
ramled Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 20, 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 44	???? You only start negotiating and questioning your salary is if you are in the Top 5? Who set that benchmark. What's Happening was in the top 15 and climbing fast after the first season. And remember, they were a mid-season replacement. They didn't get a major push nor a high budget by ABC. The second season, they climbed a few more spots. At the time, Earnest and Fred took issue with their salaries, all signs pointed to the show continuing to climb. They took the opportunity to negotiate at exactly the right time. There is no question that What's Happening cast and crew were not given the same royal treatment as other shows at the time. Smaller budget, horrible sets, cheap production value, shorter rehearsal schedules, smaller salaries. There is no question that there was a racial component to the treatment of this show compared to its peer shows at the time. But I'll save that argument for another tread and another time.

04-22-2015, 07:43 PM	#15
LittleRickyII Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 22, 2009 Location: California Posts: 2,246	[QUOTE=ramled]???? You only start negotiating and questioning your salary is if you are in the Top 5? Who set that benchmark. What's Happening was in the top 15 and climbing fast after the first season. /QUOTE] First Season: #25 Second Season: #45 Third Season: #29 It was never in the top 15. By the third season, it was airing on Thursday nights and was losing viewers from its lead-in show, Mork & Mindy, which was #3. In early February, What's Happening!!was yanked from the Thursday time slot and replaced in that half hour by Angie, which did manage to hold onto the Mork viewers and was #5 for the season. What's Happening!!, meanwhile, was put on Friday nights until the end of March, then moved to Saturday for the last four weeks of the season. It didn't fare too well in those time slots, so didn't return for a fourth season. https://news.google.com/newspapers?n...,2631830&hl=en https://news.google.com/newspapers?n...1,782016&hl=en