[Cecily]

Shirley Hemphill and Danielle Spencer were hilarious on “What’s Happening,” and their busting of everybody’s chops had nothing to do with race. They were great characters, similar to the “Mama” character played by Vicki Lawrence on the Carol Burnett show and on Mama’s Family.

[cyclotic]

You’re right. They were fun shows to watch because they were fun shows to watch, not because they lectured on race.

[dfwgator]

Shirley Hemphill and Danielle Spencer were hilarious on “What’s Happening,”

I loved that show. Actually I pretty much watched all the black sitcoms from the 70s: Good Times, Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons, etc.