What's Happening!!: Shirley Is a Mother

What's Happening!!: Shirley Is a Mother
ABC
April 13, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
B

This Orenstein & Turteltaub story is a bit slow-moving, but it does have some sweet moments, like Shirley playing mother to Roger and Dee while Mama's visiting her sister in Phoenix, and Roger asking Shirley to a dance because she's the nicest girl he knows.  I also like how Shirley understands that 19-year-old Rerun is afraid of leaving high school after seven years.  (He started at 13 and presumably hasn't had his 20th birthday yet.)  Also, there's a nice scene with Miss Collins (Fritzi Burr), who would return one last time in the next season, Dwayne's senior year, but gets some closure here.  This wouldn't be the last episode of Season Two though, as there would be one more in May.

Henry Robinson, who plays the Customer having the little conversation with Shirley, would return as Leon.