In 1971, there were no network television programs with all-African American casts. In 1976, there were six, including such hits as Good Times, Sanford and Son, and The Jeffersons. But only What's Happening!! featured teenagers (yes, two exclamation points in the title).
It began as Cooley High, four-episode summer series about the exploits of Shirley (Shirley Hemphill), a sassy waitress in a diner in a poor African-American neighborhood. If you complained about your hamburger, she took a bite and said "It tastes fine to me." This was supposed to be endearing rather than cringy.
The regular series began in 1976, in the the ABC Thursday night lineup of hip sitcoms aimed at young people: Welcome Back Kotter, Barney Miller, Three's Company. The geezers were watching The Waltons
The focus character was now on the bookish high schooler Raj (Ernest L. Thompson, right). His partners in hijinks were the Kramer of the series, rotund schemer Rerun (Fred Berry); and Duane (Haywood Nelson, center), a shy younger boy who was happy that they let him hang around. Filling out the cast was Raj's imposing, no-nonsense Mama (Mabel King) and his little sister Dee, whose catchphrase "I'm telling Mama" enjoyed a brief popularity.
What's Happening!! featured simple morality plays, such as about Mama being accused of stealing; Rerun getting a job on a dance team, unaware that they want to use him for fat jokes; and Raj having a script rejected, only to find the plot stolen. But there immediate complaints about the simplistic plotlines and the cultural stereotypes. Weren't Raj and Rerun just a teenage Amos and Andy? And Mama just a new version of Aunt Jemima? Mabel King wondered why her character had to be a maid. Why not have her go back to school, get a better job, start a business? It wasn't happening, and at the end of the second season she left. The show was moved to Friday nights, dead time for young people, then to Saturday, as a nonsensical lead-in to the oldster favorites Love Boat and Fantasy Island, then cancelled.
Without Mama as a moral center, the series limped along with low ratings and was finally cancelled.
But there was a lot for gay kids to like in What's Happening!!
1. Minimal heterosexual interest. During the first two seasons, no episodes involved Raj and Rerun liking girls or getting girlfriends (two involved Duane).
2. Homoromantic buddy bonding between Raj and Rerun. In the third season, they even move into an apartment together.
3. Duane was shy, soft, passive, pretty -- gay-vague. Maybe he had so many "winning the Girl" plotlines, because audiences need reassuring that he was straight.
5. No shirtless shots, but lots of bulging. Duane looked good coming and going.
A sequel, What's Happening Now!!, aired from 1985 to 1988. The gang was now young adults. Raj, newly married, was a writer. Rerun sold used cars. Duane was a computer programmer with a spectacular bodybuilder's physique (but he took off his shirt in just one episode). They also added a couple of teenage best friends (Martin Lawrence, Ken Sagoes). The homoromantic subtexts were all but forgotten.
1. Minimal heterosexual interest. During the first two seasons, no episodes involved Raj and Rerun liking girls or getting girlfriends (two involved Duane).
2. Homoromantic buddy bonding between Raj and Rerun. In the third season, they even move into an apartment together.
3. Duane was shy, soft, passive, pretty -- gay-vague. Maybe he had so many "winning the Girl" plotlines, because audiences need reassuring that he was straight.
5. No shirtless shots, but lots of bulging. Duane looked good coming and going.
A sequel, What's Happening Now!!, aired from 1985 to 1988. The gang was now young adults. Raj, newly married, was a writer. Rerun sold used cars. Duane was a computer programmer with a spectacular bodybuilder's physique (but he took off his shirt in just one episode). They also added a couple of teenage best friends (Martin Lawrence, Ken Sagoes). The homoromantic subtexts were all but forgotten.
More after the break
