What's Happening Now!!
American sitcom (1985–1988)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
What's Happening Now!! is an American sitcom sequel to the original ABC 1976–1979 sitcom What's Happening!![1] focusing on its main characters living on their own (after appearing as students in its predecessor series). It aired in first-run broadcast syndication from September 7, 1985 until March 26, 1988.
David Silverman
Stephen Sustaric
Michael S. Baser
Kim Weiskopf
Tony Singletary
Gary Shimokawa
Tony Csiki
Joey Rosenzweig
Robert M. Priest
M. Neema Barnette
Arlando Smith
Phil Olsman
Art Washington
Judy Elterman
Mike Milligan
Ginger Grigg
Pat Fischer-Doak
Gail L. Bergmann
| What's Happening Now!! | |
|---|---|
Opening titles from 1985 | |
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Created by | Eric Monte |
| Written by | Eric Monte David Silverman Stephen Sustaric Michael S. Baser Kim Weiskopf |
| Directed by | Gary Brown Tony Singletary Gary Shimokawa Tony Csiki Joey Rosenzweig Robert M. Priest M. Neema Barnette Arlando Smith Phil Olsman Art Washington Judy Elterman Mike Milligan Ginger Grigg Pat Fischer-Doak Gail L. Bergmann |
| Starring | |
| Composers | Henry Mancini Bruce Miller |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 66 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Michael S. Baser Mike Milligan Kim Weiskopf |
| Producers | Larry Balmagia Bob Peete Michael S. Baser Kim Weiskopf |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | First-run syndication |
| Release | September 7, 1985 – March 26, 1988 |
| Related | |
Premise
Roger "Raj" Thomas (Ernest Thomas) has graduated from the University of Southern California, and become a fledgling writer. He and his new wife Nadine (Anne-Marie Johnson), a social worker, move in to his old home in Watts (given to him by his mother, Mabel Thomas (Mabel King), now remarried and living in Phoenix, Arizona). His sister Dee (Danielle Spencer) is away at college. Childhood friend Dwayne Nelson (Haywood Nelson) has become a computer programmer, while Freddie "Rerun" Stubbs (Fred Berry) is now a used-car salesman. The old soda shop hangout, Rob's Place, has gone out of business and has been left abandoned. Reminded of his youth, and seeing an opportunity, Raj and Shirley Wilson (Shirley Hemphill), who used to wait tables there, decide to buy the business together, renaming it "Rob's."
Episodes
Cast
- Ernest Thomas as Roger "Raj" Thomas
- Anne-Marie Johnson as Nadine Hudson-Thomas[1]
- Haywood Nelson as Dwayne Nelson
- Fred Berry as Fred "Rerun" Stubbs (season 1)
- Shirley Hemphill as Shirley Wilson
- Reina King as Carolyn Williams (season 1)
- Martin Lawrence as Maurice Warfield (season 3)
- Ken Sagoes as Darryl (season 3)
- Danielle Spencer as Dee Thomas (recurring)[2]
Recurring guests
- Meshach Taylor as Buddy Carlton (2 episodes, seasons 1–2)
Cast change
After the first successful season, as he had done during the original What's Happening series, Fred Berry attempted to negotiate a salary increase based on what he perceived as the popularity of the "Rerun" character. In response, producers fired Berry from the series.[3]
Home media
On June 12, 2007, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released the first season of What's Happening Now!! on DVD in Region 1.
| DVD name | Ep # | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| The Complete First Season | 22 | June 12, 2007 |