What's Happening!!: Going, Going, Gong

What's Happening!!: Going, Going, Gong
ABC
January 5, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
B

In this Eisenstock & Mintz story, Roger and Dee manage her talented friends the Givens Kids (sort of as themselves).  They have great a capella voices and seem shoe-ins to win The Gong Show.  However, Rerun also is competing, as a dancer.  The plot itself is predictable, but the episode is worth watching for the singing and dancing, and for a very skeletal version (no Chuck Barris) of one of the most popular game shows of the time.

Sandy Kenyon, who appeared on Gidget, That Girl, and M*A*S*H, here plays Mr. Davidson.  Wolfman Jack is the most recognizable panelist of course, though Kene Holiday (then best known for Carter Country) would show up as the boyfriend of Danny's girlfriend on Soap.  As for the Givens Family, they apparently had minor success after their appearance here, and Audrey is still active in the music field, particularly gospel.

The Midnight Special: Hot Chocolate and England Dan & John Ford Coley

The Midnight Special: Hot Chocolate and England Dan & John Ford Coley
NBC
January 7, 1977
Variety
DVD
B

Both segments aired as part of a Best of '76 episode hosted by Wolfman Jack.  They represent two strands of pop music of the Ford era: early disco that incorporates funk and other elements ("You Sexy Thing"), and sensitive ballads with a '70s cynicism blended with undying romanticism ("I'd Really Love to See You Tonight").  It probably means something that I have a mondegreen that makes "I'm not talkin' 'bout movin' in and I don't want to change your life" into "I'm not talkin' 'bout the linen...."  I would've gone with a B+ but the staging is a little blah, especially for Hot Chocolate, particularly compared to Donna Summer or the Spinners.

The Midnight Special: Tom Jones

The Midnight Special: Tom Jones

NBC
December 17, 1976

Variety

DVD
D

Jones sings the creepy song "Delilah."  Wolfman Jack hosts again.

What's Happening!!: My Three Tons

What's Happening!!: My Three Tons
ABC
August 26, 1976
Sitcom
DVD
B

This episode walks a thin line about fat jokes, although I think the main message is that they're OK among friends but not among co-workers.  Rerun has a chance to be part of a dance troupe (Berry's former group the Lockers as the Rockets), but as Dwayne discovers, they only chose him for his weight, not his dancing ability.  Mama comes up with a scheme for revenge.  I'd go with a B-, but Rerun's "sharp threads," including when modified for Roger and Dee, are memorable, and the dance routines are still fun to watch.

Wolfman Jack plays the Emcee of SoulStuff.  Danny Wells, who plays Bert Frederick, would return as a Plainclothesman, while Stu Gilliam, who's Gary here, would be Willie Spencer later.  Ronalda Douglas has her first of three WH roles, as the Secretary.  Note that Hemphill is absent, but I'm guessing that, since her name isn't in the opening credits, Shirley wasn't originally meant to be a regular, just a recurring character.  This is the only WH story written by Jim Mulligan, who'd do three for M*A*S*H, and it's the only WH episode directed by Alan Rafkin.