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 as independent people. It aired in first-run broadcast syndication from September 7, 1985 until March 26, 1988.
Premise
In the series, 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
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 22 | September 7, 1985 | March 16, 1986 | |
| 2 | 22 | September 27, 1986 | March 28, 1987 | |
| 3 | 22 | September 26, 1987 | March 26, 1988 | |
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 |
References
- ^ a b "NBC's 'The InBetween' Series Premiere: How You Know The Cast". International Business Times. May 29, 2019. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
- ^ "'What's Happening!!' co-star Danielle Spencer is ailing". Pix11. October 12, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
- ^ "What's Happening!!: Up From the Ashes". TVparty.com. Retrieved June 9, 2010.