I was addicted to the first series so when syndication came up with the brilliant idea of bringing back the original gang. I was thrilled. The show came back with the same gang including Raj, Dwayne, Rerun, Dee, and Shirley. It was a shame that Mabel King who played Mama Thomas never returned to the show. I felt her departure from the first series left it a little emptier. She was a great character as Mama Thomas. I would have been thrilled to see her return to the second series. Anyway, you can only ask for so much. I was happy to see Ann Marie Johnson playing Raj's wife. She is an accomplished actress before this show and afterwards as well. Anyway, the show was never hard hitting. Of course, the renovation of Rob's Soda Shop was quite drastic to the original place. What's Happening Now remained the same about the group of friends who grew up together and the friendship among them. That was the glue that kept the show together was the friendship. Even now, I think about Shirley and the gang.
