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The Best Episodes of What's Happening!!

Every episode of What's Happening!! ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of What's Happening!!!

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What's Happening!! is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from August 5, 1976 to April 28, 1979. The show premiered as a summer series. With good ratings and reviews, and after the failure

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    What's Happening!! Season 1 Episode 13 - The Hospital Stay
    8.6/10(88 votes)

    #1 - The Hospital Stay

    S1:E13

    Raj lands in the hospital and is afraid to face impending surgery. Meanwhile, his roommate is a grouchy ex-baseball player whom Dee befriends and learns that he has kept up a bitter feud between himself and his daughter all because she married a white man.

    Director:Mark Warren
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. What's Happening!! Season 1 Episode 6 - The Burger Queen
    8.4/10(89 votes)

    #2 - The Burger Queen

    S1:E6

    Rerun has his heart set on getting the role in a hamburger commercial. However, once down at the audition the producers find Dee to be better suited despite the fact that she can't stand the taste of them. An even bigger problem arises when Mama's permission is needed for her to do the commercial, but she's in Phoenix.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Bernie Orenstein

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  3. What's Happening!! Season 2 Episode 16 - Doobie or Not Doobie (1)
    8.4/10(94 votes)

    #3 - Doobie or Not Doobie (1)

    S2:E16

    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.

    Director:Mark Warren
    Writer:Sally Wade

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  4. What's Happening!! Season 1 Episode 9 - Christmas
    8.3/10(76 votes)

    #4 - Christmas

    S1:E9

    With Mama planning to work on Christmas, Raj and Dee agree to have Christmas dinner at Bill's apartment. However, Mama is able to get out of working at the last minute and soon discovers that the kids have plans and she finds herself facing a lonesome Christmas.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Bernie Orenstein

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  5. What's Happening!! Season 1 Episode 3 - When Daddy Comes Marching Home
    8.0/10(76 votes)

    #5 - When Daddy Comes Marching Home

    S1:E3

    Mama's shady ex-husband, Bill re-enters her life and she's sure he's come around to squeeze some money out of her. Mama's suspicions are right but Raj is on to his father's game and finds his $200 dollars for writing school to be in danger of being snatched.

    Director:Jack Shea
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. What's Happening!! Season 1 Episode 4 - My Three Tons
    8.0/10(84 votes)

    #6 - My Three Tons

    S1:E4

    After seeing a TV show, Rerun becomes obsessed with wanting to join a dance group, The Rockets. Miraculously, at the audition, he's accepted but Dwayne soon discovers, Rerun wasn't accepted because he could dance, but because he's overweight.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writer:Jim Mulligan

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    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of What's Happening!!

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  7. What's Happening!! Season 3 Episode 15 - Shirley's Fired
    8.0/10(48 votes)

    #7 - Shirley's Fired

    S3:E15

    Shirley has decided to ask Rob for a raise and he is shocked but he also has a shock for her, he's decided to hire an additional waitress, Liz. However, her forever clumsiness gets on Shirley's nerves so much that she quits. Later, Shirley witnesses Liz skimming the till.

    Director:Danny Simon
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. What's Happening!! Season 1 Episode 15 - The Firing Squad
    7.9/10(59 votes)

    #8 - The Firing Squad

    S1:E15

    When the bank manager arrives at Rob's Place to discuss his application for a loan, Shirley insults him which ends with Rob firing her. This leads Raj, Dwayne and Rerun to help Shirley find a new job even though she has very few skills.

    Director:Mark Warren
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. What's Happening!! Season 2 Episode 12 - The Testimonial
    7.9/10(55 votes)

    #9 - The Testimonial

    S2:E12

    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.

    Director:Mark Warren
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. What's Happening!! Season 2 Episode 14 - Going, Going, Gong
    7.9/10(70 votes)

    #10 - Going, Going, Gong

    S2:E14

    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.

    Director:Mark Warren
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. What's Happening!! Season 2 Episode 17 - Doobie or Not Doobie (2)
    7.9/10(66 votes)

    #11 - Doobie or Not Doobie (2)

    S2:E17

    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.

    Director:Mark Warren
    Writer:Sally Wade

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  12. What's Happening!! Season 2 Episode 19 - Raj and the Older Woman
    7.8/10(52 votes)

    #12 - Raj and the Older Woman

    S2:E19

    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.

    Director:Mark Warren
    Writer:Sally Wade

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  13. What's Happening!! Season 1 Episode 1 - The Runaway
    7.7/10(121 votes)

    #13 - The Runaway

    S1:E1

    Raj is all set to go to a party with Dwayne and Rerun but at the last minute Mama breaks the news that he has to babysit Dee while she goes out to work. This leads Raj to hire a babysitter but by the time he returns from the party, the babysitter has fallen asleep and Dee is no where to be found.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. What's Happening!! Season 1 Episode 2 - The Birthday Present
    7.7/10(82 votes)

    #14 - The Birthday Present

    S1:E2

    Trying to get enough money to buy Mama a birthday present is not as easy as it sounds for Raj. This leads him to some dice playing but Mama breaks it up and confiscates the money he won. In a last attempt, Raj, Rerun and Dwayne try to walk out of the store with a blouse after writing an IOU.

    Director:Bud Yorkin
    Writer:Bernie Orenstein

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  15. What's Happening!! Season 1 Episode 5 - Saturday's Hero
    7.7/10(72 votes)

    #15 - Saturday's Hero

    S1:E5

    Rerun is given the chance to join the floundering football team and becomes and instant hero. This leads to a swelled head and he begins to give Raj and Dwayne the cold shoulder, going so far as to give his two extra Gladys Knight tickets to two of his "new" friends instead of Raj and Dwayne, like he promised.

    Director:Mark Warren
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. What's Happening!! Season 1 Episode 8 - Shirley's Date
    7.7/10(69 votes)

    #16 - Shirley's Date

    S1:E8

    Raj has sold a kid's story to a children's magazine and to celebrate, throws a party. However, Shirley is reluctant to come because she doesn't want to show up without a date. This leads Raj and Rerun to take steps to get her a date. Raj goes so far as to get her one through an escort service and Rerun cons his brother into asking her.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. What's Happening!! Season 1 Episode 17 - Dwayne's Dilemma
    7.7/10(63 votes)

    #17 - Dwayne's Dilemma

    S1:E17

    Raj has been dying for a date with a girl but soon finds that there is a hitch, in order to go out with her, he needs to find a date for her cousin, Brenda. Dwayne agrees but soon finds himself to be a corner in a love triangle, when Brenda's pushy ex-boyfriend threatens his well-being if he continues to see her.

    Director:Dick Harwood
    Writer:Jerry Ross

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  18. What's Happening!! Season 1 Episode 18 - The Tickets
    7.7/10(58 votes)

    #18 - The Tickets

    S1:E18

    Mama has two tickets to a Stevie Wonder concert and she gives them to Raj. However, Raj now has one tough decision to make, to take Dwayne or Rerun to the concert. Meanwhile, Mama makes a decision on a boarder, who introduces his girlfriend to the family.

    Director:Mark Warren
    Writer:Richard Baer

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  19. What's Happening!! Season 3 Episode 1 - Disco Dollar Disaster
    7.7/10(65 votes)

    #19 - Disco Dollar Disaster

    S3:E1

    A dance contest has Rerun scrambling to get enough money for the entrance fee and ends up having people buying shares in his prospective winnings. However, he finds himself facing stiff competition from a notorious disco dancer and the prospect of two thugs breaking his hands if he doesn't win.

    Director:Mark Warren
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. What's Happening!! Season 1 Episode 10 - Puppy Love
    7.6/10(60 votes)

    #20 - Puppy Love

    S1:E10

    Raj is tutoring Patrice Williams in exchange for one of the puppies that her dog, Susie is soon to have. However, confusion erupts in the Thomas household, when Dee overhears a conversation between Raj, Dwayne and Rerun which leads her to believe Raj has gotten a girl pregnant.

    Director:Mark Warren
    Writers:Bill Richmond, Gene Perret

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  21. What's Happening!! Season 2 Episode 8 - Give Me Odds
    7.6/10(57 votes)

    #21 - Give Me Odds

    S2:E8

    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.

    Director:Mark Warren
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. What's Happening!! Season 2 Episode 10 - Mama, the School Girl
    7.6/10(50 votes)

    #22 - Mama, the School Girl

    S2:E10

    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.

    Director:Mark Warren
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. What's Happening!! Season 2 Episode 21 - Shirley is a Mother
    7.6/10(43 votes)

    #23 - Shirley is a Mother

    S2:E21

    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.

    Director:Mark Warren
    Writer:Bernie Orenstein

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  24. What's Happening!! Season 1 Episode 11 - The Maid Did It
    7.5/10(68 votes)

    #24 - The Maid Did It

    S1:E11

    Mama is fired from her job as a maid for the Turner household after she's accused of stealing Mrs. Turner's diamond ring. However, Raj sets out to clear Mama and quickly discovers Mr. Turner may be a more likely suspect in the theft.

    Director:Mark Warren
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. What's Happening!! Season 1 Episode 16 - The Boarder
    7.5/10(54 votes)

    #25 - The Boarder

    S1:E16

    Needing extra money, Mama agrees to take on a boarder who will stay in Dee's room while she reluctantly agrees to share a room with Mama. However, everyone is in for a surprise when Bill asks to take the room and even more surprising, Mama agrees to let him move in.

    Director:Mark Warren
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Hospital Stay" is the best rated episode of "What's Happening!!". It scored 8.6/10 based on 88 votes. Directed by Mark Warren and written by Unknown, it aired on 1/20/1977. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Burger Queen".