I can see why Mabel King was reduced to a smaller role - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 02-01-2017, 09:39 PM

No one tuned in every week to see the MOM especially since she didn't have a love interest. People wanted to see the guys at the soda shop with Shirley and that's why the mom was never seen.

She really didn't add nothing to the show

hatwink · 02-02-2017, 01:26 PM

Maybe they should've added a love interest. Hated to see her give Raj a couple of beatings, or intended beatings.

TVFactFan · 02-02-2017, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hatwink

Maybe they should've added a love interest. Hated to see her give Raj a couple of beatings, or intended beatings.

Her character was useless

Bonniegirl · 02-02-2017, 04:10 PM

I liked Mama! She was a sweet lady!

But the show was about Raj and his friends! And the other females in the show Dee and Shirley got the funny lines.

Mama was just there, but I liked her, she made the show family-ish!!!

TVFactFan · 02-02-2017, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

I liked Mama! She was a sweet lady!

But the show was about Raj and his friends! And the other females in the show Dee and Shirley got the funny lines.

Mama was just there, but I liked her, she made the show family-ish!!!

Mama on.the jeffersons was Charlie the bartender

Mama on three's company was mike the bartender

Mama on 227 was the mailman

Lmao

Sonny Carson · 02-17-2017, 11:00 PM

She had her moments like the "Puppy Love episode", when she thinks Raj got a girl pregnant, and keeps falling down after she thinks he's gloating about it. She gave good advice, but the show was about Raj, his two friends, Shirley, and Dee. She was still a very good actress and the best one on the show. The third season suffered without her!

Alex Cooper · 02-28-2017, 12:27 AM

I could be totally mistaken, but I remember hearing somewhere that Mabel wasn't in the third season due to health reasons, not that Mama was considered a superfluous character.

Sonny Carson · 03-01-2017, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Cooper

I could be totally mistaken, but I remember hearing somewhere that Mabel wasn't in the third season due to health reasons, not that Mama was considered a superfluous character.

Mabel King was not in bad health in the late 70s. She was well enough to do The Wiz and the Steve Martin movie The Jerk. She left because of lack of storylines for her self on the show. She wasn't in bad health until the late 80s early 90s.

julian bozo · 03-12-2017, 01:03 PM

I liked Mama. She was needed. I like how Dee said, "I'm telling Mama!"

MIKEPR · 10-29-2019, 02:51 PM

I think What's Happening was pretty much focused on Roger and his friends more so that Dee and their mom and probably was supposed to be that way from the beginning.

As for Mabel King leaving my understanding she was completely unhappy with being a divorced mom. Now I don't know why she even bother to audition and sign a contract, maybe she didn't look into the show enough and probably remained until her contract was up.

There was a similar situation involving Good Times where Esther Role refused to do the show because original it was supposed to be a single mom and see objected and that's when they brought in John Amos.

Wawwie · 10-29-2019, 08:24 PM

I liked Mama. She was really good in the "Rerun Sees the Light" episode when she fools those cons as "Mother Nature." She was also really good in the episode when Rerun is hired as a dancer just because he's fat. The only time Mama annoyed me was when Roger and Rerun got that apartment and she made a pest out of herself.

TV Guy · 10-29-2019, 08:40 PM

For the final season, they only offered Mabel King two guest appearances, as opposed to being a series regular. She turned down the offer.

Sonny Carson · 10-29-2019, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Guy

For the final season, they only offered Mabel King two guest appearances, as opposed to being a series regular. She turned down the offer.

Wow those ABC execs were trash for this. The third season was very average without her on the show!

TVFactFan · 10-29-2019, 10:33 PM

Since the character didnt have a man or any friends she always seemed like she was in the way.

MIKEPR · 10-30-2019, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonny Carson

Wow those ABC execs were trash for this. The third season was very average without her on the show!

I don't see the reason for you hostility.

02-01-2017, 09:39 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,153	I can see why Mabel King was reduced to a smaller role No one tuned in every week to see the MOM especially since she didn't have a love interest. People wanted to see the guys at the soda shop with Shirley and that's why the mom was never seen. She really didn't add nothing to the show

02-02-2017, 01:26 PM	#2
hatwink Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 19, 2004 Posts: 773	Maybe they should've added a love interest. Hated to see her give Raj a couple of beatings, or intended beatings.

02-02-2017, 04:10 PM	#4
Bonniegirl AKA Hazel Horvath Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 10, 2014 Posts: 66,232	I liked Mama! She was a sweet lady! But the show was about Raj and his friends! And the other females in the show Dee and Shirley got the funny lines. Mama was just there, but I liked her, she made the show family-ish!!!

02-17-2017, 11:00 PM	#6
Sonny Carson Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 26, 2012 Location: Southfield, Michigan Posts: 395	She had her moments like the "Puppy Love episode", when she thinks Raj got a girl pregnant, and keeps falling down after she thinks he's gloating about it. She gave good advice, but the show was about Raj, his two friends, Shirley, and Dee. She was still a very good actress and the best one on the show. The third season suffered without her!

02-28-2017, 12:27 AM	#7
Alex Cooper Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 16, 2016 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,705	I could be totally mistaken, but I remember hearing somewhere that Mabel wasn't in the third season due to health reasons, not that Mama was considered a superfluous character.

03-12-2017, 01:03 PM	#9
julian bozo Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 30, 2001 Location: Cullman,Al,United States Posts: 1,534	I liked Mama. She was needed. I like how Dee said, "I'm telling Mama!"

10-29-2019, 02:51 PM	#10
MIKEPR Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 29, 2019 Posts: 368	I think What's Happening was pretty much focused on Roger and his friends more so that Dee and their mom and probably was supposed to be that way from the beginning. As for Mabel King leaving my understanding she was completely unhappy with being a divorced mom. Now I don't know why she even bother to audition and sign a contract, maybe she didn't look into the show enough and probably remained until her contract was up. There was a similar situation involving Good Times where Esther Role refused to do the show because original it was supposed to be a single mom and see objected and that's when they brought in John Amos.

10-29-2019, 08:24 PM	#11
Wawwie Member Forum Star Join Date: Jul 26, 2006 Location: New York Posts: 14,376	I liked Mama. She was really good in the "Rerun Sees the Light" episode when she fools those cons as "Mother Nature." She was also really good in the episode when Rerun is hired as a dancer just because he's fat. The only time Mama annoyed me was when Roger and Rerun got that apartment and she made a pest out of herself.

10-29-2019, 08:40 PM	#12
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	For the final season, they only offered Mabel King two guest appearances, as opposed to being a series regular. She turned down the offer.

10-29-2019, 10:33 PM	#14
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,153	Since the character didnt have a man or any friends she always seemed like she was in the way.