What's Happening Now!! is an American sitcom sequel to the original ABC 1976–1979 sitcom What's Happening!! 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.

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 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)

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.

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 nameEp #Release date The Complete First Season22 June 12, 2007

References

External links