What's Happening!!: Dwayne's Debate

What's Happening!!: Dwayne's Debate
ABC
April 21, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
C+

I considered giving this Sally Wade story a B- or even a B, partly because of some of the guest cast (see below), and partly because of the basic premise, but there are too many flaws.  To begin with, it's another episode where Snake is again clumsily substituted for the absent Rerun, although at least his role is smaller than last time.  I have more of an issue with the tag, which not only has Little Earl's crush at its most nauseating (these sort of one-sided crushes get old fast, even when there's no age difference, see Urkel, if you must), but with its "older woman" line it feels like it drifted over from  the landlady episode.  Furthermore, the mockery of Dwayne's opponent, especially by Shirley, goes too far.  Still, I like how Dwayne realizes he's not the best candidate.

Greg Morris returns as Dwayne's councilman father, with Betty Bridges, who'd recently guested on son Todd's Diff'rent Strokes, playing Dwayne's mother.  LaNette Hardiman, who was Delores before, is Lisa here.  Richard Couture appears at both Rob's Place and the school auditorium.  And it's nice to see Fritzi Burr back as Miss Collins.\
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This is the 900th program I've reviewed for the '70s.  With only about eight months to go, I don't  know if we'll hit 1000, but we'll certainly come close.