What's Happening!! - The Complete Second Season

Rating:
Summary: HEY,HEY,HEY!!!
Review: In the second year of 'What's Happening' the show got
even BETTER!Not only do we get to see Rerun almost end up bootlegging a Doobie Brothers concert but also almost end up with a head of lettuce (named Roger?????)as his personal savior!
And who can forget Ma Mabel's hilerious turn as 'mother nature' at the end of that episode.What's so cool is that TV now is so politically correct that I doubt a religious cult could even be HINTED AT let alone explored this way today,especially Raj's speech about kooky cults that are 'only out for the dollar'.And what else is there?Well in the end the gang end up sharing an apartment but that's all I'll say now.WHEN IS THE THIRD AND FINAL SEASON COMING OUT??????

Rating:
Summary: SIDE SPLITTING HILLARIOUS!
Review: I STUMBLED ON TO THE SECOND SEASON JUST RECENTLY AND WATCHED MOST OF THE EPISODES WITH MY THREE KIDS (13,9 & 7) AND THEY ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. THEY SAID IT IT THE FUNNIEST TV SHOW THEY HAVE EVER SEEN. I RUN OUT IMMEDIATELY TO BUY THE FIRST SEASON. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE THIRD SEASON AND ALSO THE SPIN OFF TO COME OUT ON DVD. IT'S LIKE RELIVING YOUR CHILDHOOD.

Rating:
Summary: Love this show!!!!!!!!!
Review: Here is a list of episodes for season 2...


1. Rerun Gets Married

2. It's All in Your Head
A reluctant friend of Dee's is having problems at home and is too shy to talk to the school counselor, so Dee goes in her place but this leads the counselor to believe that Dee is the one with the problems.

3. Trial and Error
Raj has just gotten a new delivery bike for his job at the supermarket but just as he's leaving Rob's Place he becomes involved in a car accident that totals his new bike and leads to a lawsuit.

4. Raj Goes to Press
When most of his articles are rejected from being in the school newspaper, an outraged, Raj decides to begin an underground newspaper with Rerun and Dwayne helping him. However, when school officials discover what he's doing, Raj is threatened with expulsion.

5. Nothing Personal
Shirley applies for a job as a secretary at a balloon company and quickly finds herself coming face to face with racial discrimination when the president hires both her, who has a lack of qualifications and another woman who just happens to be white and has plenty of secretarial skills.

6. If I'm Elected
Dwayne's father is running for city councilman and has a great deal of support from the community including a man, Ted, who's been a friend of the family for years. However, Dwayne is infuriated when his dad unexpectedly fires Ted.

7. The Play's the Big Thing

8. Give Me Odds
Dwayne is in a lucky streak with the system he uses to make bets. This leads Rerun to pass along Dwayne's tips to his brother-in-law, Ike, who bets $500 on a football game. It's only after he's made the bet that everyone discovers just what kind of system Dwayne uses.


9. Bill Gets Married
Bill has become serious with his latest girlfriend and announces that they plan on getting married. Almost everyone is happy for the couple including Mama who even lets them have the ceremony in her house. However, it's Dee who refuses to accept their marriage and refuses to be the flowergirl in the wedding.

10. Mama, the School Girl
Mama begins taking courses at Raj's school and even gets his teacher, Miss Collins. A fellow classmate takes an instant liking to Mama and she falls head over heels for him, unknown to her he's only using her to write his term paper for him.

11. One Strike and You're Out
Rerun being fired from the supermarket is the last straw for Raj who rallies the rest of the workers to take some action against their boss Mr. Pronson. However, when the staff goes on strike, Raj finds himself in a jam, since Mama has lost her job and the family now has no source of income.

12. The Testimonial
Miss Collins is being honored for 25 years of teaching and this prompts Raj to play a trick on her after she gives him detention for being tardy. However, he soon finds his trick is totally inappropriate and sets out to right his wrong.

13. Black and White Blues
While watching a football game at Raj's house, the black and white set goes beserk and Rerun suggests that they "borrow" the new color TV set that is being offered as a prize at a church raffle. However, once they get it to Raj's house, Rerun and Dwayne accidentally drop it.

14. Going, Going, Gong
Raj has become the manager of a kid's song and dance group and believes that they're so good that they may have a chance to get on The Gong Show. However, once at tryouts, Raj discovers he has some competition, from Rerun.

15. Dee's First Date
Dee's is going out on her first date with a boy who's sister Raj has made into the object of his affection. His plan is to buddy up to Dee's boyfriend to get close to his sister. However, he quickly finds he has another thing coming.

16. Doobie or Not Doobie (pt. 1)
The Doobie Brothers are set to put on a concert at the guys' high school and they leave Rerun to get the tickets. However, by the time Rerun gets to the ticket booth, they're sold out. Later, two shady characters offer Rerun free tickets if he just tape records the concert. It is only later that Rerun learns that they are bootleggers and they threaten Rerun, Raj and Dwayne if they don't comply.

17. Doobie or Not Doobie (pt.2)
The bootleggers force the guys into tape recording the concert but while everyone is jumping around, the tape recorder falls out from under Rerun's coat and right in full view of the Doobie Brothers. After some explanations, the guys and the Doobie Brothers set up a trap to catch the bootleggers.

18. Rerun Sees the Light
Rerun encounters a strange woman on the street who goes by the name of Love-is-Life and she lures him into attending one of her cult gatherings. Rerun enjoys his new found faith and how it makes him feel but Dwayne and Raj are a bit leery about a group that worships a head of lettuce.

19. Raj and the Older Woman
When Raj goes down to a photographer to get his yearbook picture taken, he is instantly smitten with a beautiful model. Raj lies about his age and says he's 21 and that he's a movie star and the girl is instantly taken by him. That is until, she learns the truth.

20. Diplomatic Immunity
Rerun borrows a car so the guys can get to a Lakers game but after the game Rerun becomes the victim of a hit and run driver. Dee surprises everyone by coming forward with news that she was a witness and saw the driver, which turns out to be the son of a foreign diplomat.

21. Shirley is a Mother
With Mama out of town, Raj gets Shirley to babysit Dee who gets Shirley thinking about her past. Meanwhile, Raj and Rerun's graduation is approaching but right at the last minute Rerun gets himself in trouble by cheating on a final exam which prompts Shirley to give him some guidance.

22. The Apartment
On graduation day, Raj gives a speech riddled with hints to Mama about his plans on moving in to an apartment with Rerun but after some conversation, Mama finally agrees to let him move out. However, Rerun and Raj quickly find themselves with little privacy with Mama constantly coming over.

I hope this is complete...I checked my sources and it should be...

Rating:
Summary: What ever happened to the Bubblin' Brown Sugar Kids??
Review: I have loved What's Happening since I was a kid, I'm so glad it's out on DVD now! And the second season really showcases Shirley Hemphill who I think was one of the funniest on the show! BUT, I had totally forgotten about the Givens Family and their Bubblin' Brown Sugar! Did they ever record, or does anyone know where to get old LP's of them. They were dang good! I hope they put out the third season as quickly as they got the second one out!

Rating:
Summary: What it gonna be...?
Review: I used to see the reruns of this on a local station back in the 90s, and haven't seen it since. These are worth every penny and then some!

I hope they release ALL seasons PLUS start a release of the 1985 return of What's Happening NOW, where they all return after Raj is married, and goes into partnership with Shirley running Rob's place. The only place where the customer has a choice between paying his tab or getting his face ripped off!

Rating:
Summary: Praise Ralph! Omm Shack a loom-shak shak!
Review: If you get this title, then you KNOW what the great second season of WH was all about! This show really hit it's stride around 1977-78.

My title refers to the classic episode where Rerun joins a ridiculous cult where he worships a head of lettuce named "ralph." Lots of laughs before he sees the light. (Sadly, this came out shortly before the infamous Jim Jones murders). This also includes a great knee-slapper where Dwayne does a HORRENDOUS version of "Handyman"(Unnnhhh-Get back!). You will fall down on the floor with this one. Then there of course is the Givens Kids, who not only do "Bubbling Brown Sugar" (as most of the posters mention),but also a stirring rendition of "God Bless The Child."

WH was not great art, but it certainly made a lot of families able to sit down together and get some good hearty laughs, minus the embarrassment of the UPN, Def Comedy Jam, and "Soul Plane" trash of recent times.

Rating:
Summary: When Sitcoms Were Actually Funny and Well Written!!!!!!!
Review: Needless to say I was absolutely thrilled when the second season of What's Happening was released! I grew up on sitcoms from the 70's, so I could really appreciate how well written this show was compared to the utter crap of sitcoms today. It's been wonderful to revisit these charaters, especially the late Fred Berry. He was my favorite character,because he possessed so much self confidence despite being overweight. I also have to admit that I have watched the episode when the Doobie Brothers guest-starred about 20 times!!! I fell in love with their music all over again and Michael McDonald has the most gorgeous blue eyes!!! I can hardly wait for the third season to be released! I can think of alot of other classic sitcoms that are long overdue to be released on DVD like, Maude,Alice,and in honor of Tony Randall the Odd Couple!!! In the meantime I'll continue to enjoy the gang from What's Happening!!! Tamra Gibson of Los Angeles,CA.

Rating:
Summary: Remember when sit-coms were actually funny?
Review: The 1970s was the true hey-day of television, and What's Happening!! was one of the real gems of that era; it is one of the funniest sit-coms of all time. This show was a staple of my after-school afternoons when I was growing up. I've seen every episode more times than I can count, but it had been years since my last trip to the soda shop and Mama's house. Watching these shows again now, I have to say they are funnier than ever. Season Two was probably the best season of them all, filled with one memorable show after another.

Just look at all the things that happen in Season Two: Rerun gets married - almost - to a pretty little foreigner played by Irene Cara; Tim Reid shows up to counsel Dee about "her friend's problem." Raj ends up in small claims court (with Dwayne as his key witness) when he wrecks his delivery bike; Raj almost gets expelled when he starts an underground school newspaper; Dwayne's dad gets elected to the city council; Raj's and Dee's father gets married - in their house; Mama goes back to school; Raj organizes (then tries to disorganize) a strike at the market where he works; Raj wins a spot on The Gong Show for a quartet of singers in Dee's class; Dee goes on her first date; Rerun messes up big-time and finds himself illegally taping a Doobie Brothers concert; Rerun joins a cult that worships a head of lettuce called Ralph (one of the stupidest but funniest TV episodes ever); and Rerun finally - finally - graduates from high school.

The characters of Dee and Shirley (my two favorites) really grow during this second season of the show. We watch Shirley take a secretarial job, only to learn she was only hired because she was black, then later see her take on a motherly role with Raj and Dee. Dee's mouth is bigger than ever (is there a better, funnier smart aleck to be found in television land?), but we actually see a little bit of Dee's soft side emerge late in the season.

Several other reviewers have mentioned Dwayne's "Handyman" song and dance as, going and away, the funniest scene of the whole season. I wholeheartedly agree - that performance is one of the funniest things I have ever seen in my life. All of the episodes are hilarious, though - every single one of them. You spend your hard-earned money on a lot of DVD season sets and never watch the episodes a second time; with What's Happening!! you can watch the same old DVDs over and over again because the comedy never grows old. It would have been nice to see some extra features included here, but this is a true bargain at any price. If you have great memories of this show, get this DVD and rediscover the good old days spent with Raj, Rerun, and Dwayne. If you've never seen this show, you have no idea what you're missing - they don't make shows like this anymore.

Rating:
Summary: The Second Season
Review: They are all good. but my favorite show was when they had the talent show at school and Dwayne performed and sang the song "Hanyman". Oh God!!!!! LOL!!!! I literally start crying everytime I watch that episode!!!!!

This has got to be the funniest sitcom ever made. I can't wait for the third season to come out.

Rating:
Summary: Black Television is Back!
Review: What happened to Black television? Shows like What's Happening, Sanford and Son, Good Times and Martin were top-notch and hilarious for their time. Now you have to tune in to the WB or UPN Network for black-starring shows that are sometimes good, but don't stand up to the quality writing and production values of the 70's shows now coming out on DVD.

I watched What's Happening during its original run and enjoyed it thoroughly. It's great to see it on DVD, thoughtfully packaged and crystal-clear. It's a wholesome, family-orientated show with sometimes corny laughs, but always with a light pace, occasional moral message, and genuine relaxed performances...Shirley Hemphill is a natural and featured in season two more prominently.

This is a show for everybody - the cast just happens to be black. It stands up well nearly thirty years later and entertains without resorting to sexual innuendo or the 'party' lifestyle like 'The Parkers' does. Play this for your kids, nieces or grandsons, who doesn't love nerdy Rog', Re-Run's dancing or the irrepressible Dee. This is TV before it became segregated...sadly, a show like this would probably not survive today, but luckily, for a fair price, you can enjoy it anytime you want!