TV Show spotlight
What's Happening Now!!
Roger 'Raj' Thomas has graduated from the University of Southern California, and become a fledgling writer. He and his wife Nadine, a social worker, move in to his old home in Watts (given to him by his mother, Mabel, now remarried and living in Phoenix, Arizona). His sister Dee is away at college. Childhood friend Dwayne Nelson has become a computer programmer, while Freddie 'Rerun' Stubbs is a used-car salesman. The old soda shop hangout, Rob's Place, has gone out of business and left abandoned. Reminded of his youth, and seeing an opportunity, Raj and Shirley Wilson, who used to wait tables there, decide to buy the business together, renaming it Rob's.
Insights
Plot Summary
This sequel to the beloved 1970s sitcom 'What's Happening!!' picks up with the original characters navigating adulthood in the late 1980s. Raj is now a struggling writer, Rerun is still trying to make it as a musician, and Dwayne is working his way up the corporate ladder. The series explores their relationships, career challenges, and the everyday humor of their lives.
Critical Reception
While the original series was a cultural phenomenon, 'What's Happening Now!!' received a mixed to negative reception. Critics often found it struggled to recapture the magic and social relevance of its predecessor, with some reviews noting uneven writing and a lack of the original's charm. However, some viewers appreciated the continuation of the characters' stories into adulthood.
What Reviewers Say
Struggles to live up to the legacy of the original series.
Felt dated and lacked the original's authentic humor.
Some fans appreciated seeing the characters mature.
Google audience: Audience reception for 'What's Happening Now!!' is difficult to gauge definitively due to a lack of aggregated user reviews. However, anecdotal evidence suggests a sentiment similar to critical reception, with many fans of the original series feeling this iteration did not capture the same spirit.
Fun Fact
The series was a notable attempt to revive a popular 1970s sitcom, but it only lasted for two seasons, failing to capture the same critical and audience enthusiasm as its predecessor.
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