What's Happening!!: From Here to Maternity

What's Happening!!: From Here to Maternity
ABC
March 31, 1977
Sitcom
DVD
B

This Rick Mittleman story has a nice performance by 25-year-old Chip Fields (Kim's mother) as Shirley's 19-year-old sister Norma; she'd later return as Rerun's sister Donna.  She's coming out to California from Alabama to meet up with and marry her boyfriend Don (Bobby F. Ellerbee, who'd be a Doctor on Three's Company).  She's six months pregnant but Don gets cold feet about the wedding.  Shirley and the guys encourage her to keep the baby instead of giving it up for adoption.  Shirley points out that their mother had two baby boys when their father died, but she kept the family together.  Whether or not you agree that this would've been the right thing to do if Don hadn't shown up, it is a sweet episode, although still with humor, including of course Dee on the New Math and the New Manners.

Of the 21 episodes in the first season, 11 earn B-s, with the rest getting C+s or Bs.  This is almost a textbook example of a pretty good '70s show.  Sometimes there's too much insult humor, and the plots can be corny or unoriginal at times, but there's real heart to the program and the characters are likable and interact well.  From what I recall, the second season was much like the first, but with some more outrageous moments, like Rerun joining a religious cult.