8.3/10113 votes#1 - The Runaway
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 8/5/1976
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: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.8/1079 votes#2 - The Birthday Present
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 8/12/1976
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
8.1/1073 votes#3 - When Daddy Comes Marching Home
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 8/19/1976
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: N/A
8.0/1079 votes#4 - My Three Tons
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 8/26/1976
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
7.7/1070 votes#5 - Saturday's Hero
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 11/13/1976
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: N/A
8.4/1085 votes#6 - The Burger Queen
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/20/1976
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: N/A
Writer: Bernie Orenstein
7.3/1061 votes#7 - Speak for Yourself, Dwayne
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/27/1976
Dwayne has his eye on a new girl, Nancy but he's too shy to talk to her, so he gets Raj too. However, that turns into a mistake for Dwayne because this leads to Raj falling for Nancy. Raj is left with guilt and one angry friend.
Director: N/A
Writer: Seaman Jacobs
7.7/1066 votes#8 - Shirley's Date
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 12/4/1976
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: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.3/1072 votes#9 - Christmas
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 12/11/1976
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: N/A
Writer: Bernie Orenstein
7.6/1055 votes#10 - Puppy Love
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/30/1976
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
Writer: Bill Richmond
7.5/1064 votes#11 - The Maid Did It
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 1/6/1977
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: N/A
7.4/1056 votes#12 - The Incomplete Shakespeare
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 1/13/1977
Raj writes a story for a new TV show, Central Avenue and can't wait to find out if the producers will buy it. However, Raj is in for a shock on the night the show premieres. It seems the producers have stolen his story and he goes straight down to their offices prepared to sue.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.6/1082 votes#13 - The Hospital Stay
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 1/20/1977
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: N/A
7.4/1055 votes#14 - The Sunday Father
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 1/27/1977
Raj has become a practical joker and delights in playing tricks on his teacher, Miss Collins. However, when he goes overboard, he finds himself suspended from school and to avoid getting Mama involved in the situation, he turns to his father, who quickly discovers the joys of parenting.
Director: Mark Warren
Writer: N/A
8.0/1056 votes#15 - The Firing Squad
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 2/10/1977
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: N/A
7.6/1050 votes#16 - The Boarder
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 2/17/1977
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: N/A
7.8/1057 votes#17 - Dwayne's Dilemma
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 2/24/1977
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
7.8/1054 votes#18 - The Tickets
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 3/3/1977
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
7.5/1052 votes#19 - What's Wrong With Raj?
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 3/10/1977
After a school lecture about hypertension, Raj begins spending more and more time down at the free clinic. This leads Dee to sneak a peek at his diary to see if she can find a clue to ""what's wrong with Raj.""
Director: Mark Warren
Writer: N/A
7.7/1053 votes#20 - Nice Guys Finish Last
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 3/24/1977
Dee gets a surprise when she gets a phone call from her prison pen pal, Judy Crane, who is getting out of jail and needs a place to stay. Dee talks Mama into allowing Judy to stay with them unknown to all of them that Judy is really on the run after escaping.
Director: Mark Warren
Writer: N/A
6.7/1049 votes#21 - From Here to Maternity
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 3/31/1977
Shirley is all excited when she gets a call from her sister, Norma who's coming to town for a visit. However, Shirley is in for a big surprise when she discovers Norma is six months pregnant and Norma is in for an even bigger surprise when she gets a phone call from her fiancee telling her it's over.
Director: Mark Warren
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of What's Happening!! Season 1
Every episode of What's Happening!! Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of What's Happening!! Season 1!
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...
Genre:Comedy
Network:ABC
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"The Runaway" is the best rated episode of "What's Happening!!" season 1. It scored 8.3/10 based on 113 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 8/5/1976. This episode is rated 0.5 points higher than the second-best, "The Birthday Present".