What's Happening!!: The Hospital Stay

What's Happening!!: The Hospital Stay
ABC
January 20, 1977
Sitcom
DVD
B

Mel Stewart, who had made appearances on That Girl and The Bob Newhart Show, but who's probably best known as George Jefferson's brother Henry on early episodes of All in the Family, plays an equally cranky character, Spike Gibbs.  He's well served by the Eisenstock & Mintz script that shows how Dee challenges and then befriends him.  I think this is one of Spencer's best episodes, where she's not just wisecracking (although there certainly is that) but actually learning about life.  And this episode might've been where I first heard of Negro league baseball.

Judy Pace, who's Nurse Jennings, would return as Liz, while Hope Clarke, who's Elizabeth Duncan, would be Mrs. Watson later.