Present for Dee, Tuesday Flashback Feature, Whats Happening

This is part of my Tuesday Flashback Feature. We reminisce about classic TV shows usually from the 1950s-1970s where gemstones or pieces of jewelry featured prominently in the storylines.

What's Happening!!
A Present for Dee
February 9, 1979

Dee's (Danielle Spencer) 14th birthday is coming up. Her big brother, Roger, known as Raj, (Ernest Thomas) and their friends decide to have a surprise birthday party for her.

Dee figures out the plan ahead of time. One surprise gift is a necklace. It came from Little Earl (David Hollander) and the necklace was stolen.

Dee dislikes it. When she goes to the store to exchange it, she's wrongly accused of shoplifting. When Shirley (Shirley Hemphill) comes to help, things get even more interesting.

"Roger, Rerun and Dwayne are three buddies growing up in Los Angeles. The three of them always have a penchant for getting into mischief and trying to find ways of getting rich quick."

The show ran 1976-1979, and almost always the guys' schemes wind up getting them into trouble. It is up to Roger's mother to get them out of it. Roger's sister, Dee is bratty and the source of additional trouble. [Painting from Rbecoskie's Etsy shop.]

Each Tuesday, we'll feature a different show, often a US sitcom. Information, including spoiler plot outlines come from various sources.

Particularly when the episode hasn't been recently viewed personally, information will be as accurate as possible. When available, a show photo will be included.

I'm always interested to hear your memories and will often include links so you can get DVDs of the shows, too. In the interest of supporting fellow artists, I'll be featuring a few shops where the pieces tie into the general theme of the featured story.

You can get the series is on DVD. This episode would be contained in The Complete Third Season. The What's Happening: Complete Series set is also available.

You could have your own Stolen Moments Necklace without worry of the law if you visit WesleyAsher's Shop. (left)

That's What's Happening to Me is the name of a painting at Rbecoskie's Etsy Shop. (see above)

There's a pretty Rectangle Ocarina, the Key of D at Fairyringmushroomco's Shop. I bet Dee would like that.

Raj also might have been better off getting his sister the Dee Light Bouquet?? It's a colorful bouquet of plastic buttons. Yanadesigns has one that's cheery.

Dwayne's character is well known for his greeting, "Hey, HEY, Hey," which differs slightly from Bill Cosby's Fat Albert's "Hey, Hey, Hey."

I read that Dwayne (Haywood Nelson) is the only character who appears in every episode of What's Happening!!

In a TVLand list of the Top 100 TV Catch Phrases, Dwayne's greeting was number 55. Barney Fife's "Nip it!" from The Andy Griffith Show was number 100. "Heeeeere's Johnny!" from The Tonight Show was number one.

If you visit SheRadiates, there is a pretty Hey Hey Hey Baby brooch.

Rerun the Happy Hippie Cat pincushion can be found at FatCatCrafts. (above) Rerun the nickname of the third member of the trio of friends on the show.

Even more reason to shop for birthday presents on Etsy. A bit less likely that Dee's problem would arise? Handmade Rules! :-)

Some images from sitcomsonline
An article with links to previous Tuesday Flashback Features

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