SEASON 1 – ABC
Created by Eric Monte
Opening theme: “What’s Happening!!” by Henry Mancini
NOTE: This series is loosely based on the 1975 film “Cooley High”
- 001. The Runaway – 8/5/1976
- Roger “Raj” Thomas (Ernest Thomas), Freddy “Rerun” Stubbs (Fred Berry), and Dwayne Nelson (Heywood Nelson), three students attending Jefferson High School in the Watts section of Los Angeles, California, are sitting around at the local hangout Rob’s talking about the evening’s upcoming party at their friend Betty’s house. Raj’s mom Mabel (Mabel King) has some disappointing news for Raj when he gets home, however: she has to work and Raj will have to babysit his sister Dee (Danielle Spencer) and not allow her to eat any more peanut butter. Raj decides that he will hire a sitter for $1 so that he can sneak off to the party. He gets an elderly senile woman named Millie (Helen Martin), who immediately falls asleep. Mabel decides to come home and pick up Dee so that Raj can attend the party, only to find Millie fast asleep and Dee eating peanut butter; she takes Dee with her to work. Meanwhile at the party, Betty’s parents come home unexpectedly and break up the party. When Raj gets home, he finds that Dee is missing and calls the police. When Mabel returns home, she leaves Dee outside and confronts Roger. Roger pretends that Dee is upstairs asleep…until she appears downstairs. Rerun and Dwayne return to Betty’s house so that Rerun can steal the party cake. Debbi Morgan is Diane. 4/29/13
- 002. The Birthday Present – 8/12/1976
- Raj wants to buy his mom a nice blouse for her upcoming birthday, but he only has $2. He parlays his money and wins the needed $8 playing craps with his friends, but when his mom catches him, she confiscates the money and grounds him. Raj sneaks off to the store and attempts to buy the blouse on credit, but when he is denied he leaves an I.O.U. and attempts to walk out of the store. He is stopped by security and his mom is called. Naturally furious, she brings Raj homes and gives him a whipping. Rerun and Dwayne decide to steal the $8 and go buy the blouse anyway. They cover the tax and bring the gift back for Raj to present to his mom. She is skeptical as to how they got the money, but Rerun says he borrowed it from his brother. When she goes to give them Raj’s money, she realizes that they had stolen it. In the end, she forgives everyone, knowing that they had only done it for her. 4/29/13
- 003. When Daddy Comes Marching Home – 8/19/1976
- Roger has been working to save up money for his screenwriting class. Around the time he reaches the required $200, his estranged father Bill (Thalmus Rasulala) rolls into town for a visit. It has been so long since he’s seen his kids that he doesn’t even recognize his son. Soon he has used his charms to win over Roger and his friends, teaching them karate and how to exercise. While hanging out at Rob’s Diner, Rerun and Dwayne overhear Bill’s phone conversation that alludes to the fact that he is going to be getting some money from his ex-wife Mabel. Mabel is naturally skeptical of Bill’s intentions, but soons starts to fall under the spell of his charms. Roger then gives his dad the $200 that he has saved and asks him to leave before his mom gets hurt. After Bill leaves, Mabel finds the $200 on Roger’s bed, outside of its envelope. Roger had given his dad an envelope with the bus schedule inside rather than the money. Later, Roger gets a letter from his dad congratulating him on being smart enough to con him. 5/2/13
- 004. My Three Tons – 8/26/1976
- Rerun is a fan of the TV dance show Soulstuff emceed by Wolfman Jack (as himself), and decides to tryout to be the next ‘Rocket’. During the tryouts, he gives a good performance, but clearly falls short of the dancers who are in much better shape. Regardless, producer Gary (Stu Gillam) decides to hire Rerun and ask Dwayne to deliver the news that he will be hired as ‘Fat Freddy Stubby’, and be the constant recipient of fat jokes. Rerun decides he will take the job seriously and begins a diet. When Dwayne confides in Mabel, she convinces him that he has to tell Rerun the real reason he was hired. She also comes up with an idea to get revenge on the show. When Rerun is brought on stage following a fat joke, it is actually Roger who appears, making the fat joke fall flat. All of the Rockets then perform solo dances, and Roger does his best – which is horrible. Rerun decides that even though he didn’t keep the job, he’ll begin a diet anyway. 5/3/13
- 005. Saturday’s Hero – 11/13/1976
- Rerun is popular as a male cheerleader for the school’s football team, but accepts a position on the team when the coach asks him. He does well, and his popularity soars, but he starts to forget Roger and Dwayne and reneges on his invitation to them to see Gladys Knight & The Pips. The coach then informs Rerun that his failing grades are going to result in him being cut from the team, so he turns to Roger to write his Speech paper for him. Although disgusted by Rerun’s behavior, Roger stays up until 3am writing the paper – but when his mom find out, she has an idea for what Roger can write about. The next day when Rerun reads his speech in class, it talks about both the pros and cons of playing football, insulting some of his fellow players in the class. The grade isn’t good enough for him to stay on the team, and he apologizes to his friends by buying them food at Rob’s. 5/5/13
- 006. The Burger Queen – 11/20/1976
- Rerun has big plans to get a TV commercial for Bridgeburger restaurant, and even writes his own jingle for the tryout. Roger and Dwayne accompany him and since their mom is out of town, Roger is forced to bring Dee along. Her wisecracking nature appeals to the director Mr. Claxton (Dick Van Patten) and Bridgeburger executive Mr. Reynolds (David White). They need a parent to give approval so Roger dresses Shirley (Shirley Hemphill) in a gray wig and she poses as Dee’s mom. Dee can’t stand the taste of the burgers, so she flubs every line. As Shirley gets involved in correcting Dee, the company decides to go with a mother-and-daughter theme, but since Dee and Shirley look nothing alike, they get fired. In a last attempt, Shirley takes off the wig and Rerun puts it on and they pretend to be mother and daughter. Robbie Rist appears as John, a kid up for the commercial. 5/7/13
- 007. Speak for Yourself, Dwayne – 11/27/1976
- Dwayne has a crush on a girl named Nancy (Ronalda Douglas), but is too shy to talk to her. Instead Roger tries to break the ice for her, but she seems attracted to him instead. She invites him over to read his poetry to her, and he accepts, although he feels guilty about it. Rerun becomes angry at Roger as well. Roger gets some advice from his mother about the value of friendship, but has a hard time letting go of his crush. When Dwayne finds out that Roger is going to Nancy’s house, Dwayne tells him it is to build him up even more. Rerun then accidentally spills the beans that Roger is attracted to her, so Dwayne storms in on them as Roger is reading her poetry… and giving credit to Dwayne after all. Nancy gets irritated by all of the and throws them out, but Rerun sticks around to see if he has a chance. He doesn’t… so all three friends go bowling together. 5/16/13
- 008. Shirley’s Date – 12/04/1976
- Roger has sold one of his stories to Little Miss Muffet magazine, and to celebrate, his mother is throwing him a party. All of the boys have dates, but Shirley declines attending the party because she doesn’t think she can get a date. Roger spends his earnings to hire her a date named Allan (Ralph Wilcox) from an escort service. At the same time, Rerun bribes his brother Dewey (Cinque Attucks) to court her. When both men arrive at Rob’s Place to pick her up at the same time, they nearly get into a fight – and Shirley is left without a date again. Eventually Shirley does show up at the party with a date: Dwayne, who has cancelled his date in order to take Shirley. The date he stood up shows up and throws punch in his face, but Mrs. Thomas commends all three boys for trying to help Shirley. Bryan O’Dell plays school newspaper reporter Marvin. 5/17/13
- 009. Christmas – 12/11/1976
- Roger and Dee are prepared to spend Christmas alone while their Mama is at work until their father shows up and insists that they spend Christmas day with him – much to Dee’s chagrin. Roger gets Dee calmed down and then tells his mother the plans for Christmas. Mama lets the kids go ahead with their plan even though she had actually gotten the day off. Rerun and Dwayne’s mothers each send food over for the kids, thinking that they’d be alone on Christmas. When they arrive at their father’s apartment, they find that his girlfriend Loretta (Rosalind Cash) has burned the turkey, and offer to take everyone to their house to eat all of the extra food that their friends had brought. Mabel fears that there is an intruder in the house until she hears Roger’s voice. They all are able to sit down together for their Christmas meal, utterly stuffing themselves. When Shirley shows up with a pie, she ends up eating it herself. 6/11/13
- 010. Puppy Love – 12/30/1976
- The boys have plans to breed dogs and make billions of dollars, as Roger is going to be getting a puppy from a girl named Patrice (Ta-Tanisha) if he can tutor her to pass her math and history exams. When talking about the puppy, Dee overhears the conversation and thinks that the girl is going to have Roger’s baby. When Mama finds out, she is livid and calls Roger’s father as a reinforcement. The misunderstanding is resolved when Roger asks his mother if he can keep the puppy. She is relieved and says she will allow him to keep it, but it is all for naught as Patrice failed both exams. Dwayne and Rerun then propose the same breeding scheme with hamsters, which all escape in Roger’s house. 1/10/14
- 011. The Maid Did It – 1/6/1977
- Roger is trying to gather money for a new typewriter and is all set to ask his mama, until she comes home and announces that she’s been fired from one of her jobs. It seems that a ring has been stolen from the house where Mabel is the maid. Roger and his friends go and see her boss Mrs. Turner (Alice Ghostly) and convince her to re-hire his mama, bus she says that her husband (Frank Aletter) had insisted that she be fired. The boys then go to see the husband at his office, and find that he is not working, but playing poker with his friends. As they eavesdrop, they find out that Mr. Turner was the one who took the ring and used it to pay off his poker debts. Another poker player (Teddy Wilson) sides with the boys, and insists that Turner return the ring to his wife. Turner calls Mabel to offer her job back, which she initially refuses, but then accepts contingent on a raise. Turner joins a gambling support group, but not before swiping some money one last time from his wife to play the horses. Mama buys register the typewriter that he has wanted, telling Roger that Dee has chipped in for it as well. 6/16/13
- 012. The Incomplete Shakespeare – 1/13/1977
- Roger submits a television script to a sitcom called Central Avenue. He is rejected, but then sees that his plot idea has been used in the most recent episode. Roger and his friends storm the studio and demand to see the producer Ben Martin (Warren Berlinger). When Martin produces several scripts that date back to 1965 with the same plot elements, Roger realizes that his story is one that is routinely recycled. The producer hires Roger anyway to act as a consultant, so that they might use the correct lingo from the slums. Roger’s suggestions are grounded in reality, but they are rejected because viewers seem to not want the big picture. He threatens to quit, so the producer decides to do it Roger’s way. This is all for naught though, as after the first episode airs, the show is cancelled. 6/16/13
- 013. The Hospital Stay – 1/20/1977
- Roger is admitted to the hospital for having water on the knee and runs afoul of a grumpy ex-baseball player from the Negro League named Spike Gibbs (Mel Stewart). Although he doesn’t like anyone else, he takes a liking to Dee who reminds him of his daughter. She finds out that he and his daughter Elizabeth (Hope Clarke) have been estranged since she married a white man. Roger and the gang get ahold of her and convince her to visit him. She does, and a few weeks later returns to the Thomas household to thank them for steering her toward her father. It turns out they had a great few weeks together…before he passed away. 6/26/13
- 014. The Sunday Father – 1/27/1977
- Roger gets in deep trouble at school when he plays practical jokes on his teacher Miss Collins (Fritzi Burr), and then his entire class. He gets ‘expelled’ from school, but can be reinstated if he brings a parent to the school. His father has just moved back into the area, so Roger decides to bypass his mother and have his father talk to the school. The plan goes well, until Dee tells their mother what Roger has done. In retaliation, Mama sends the kids over to Bill’s house to spend the night, knowing full well that he is in the middle of a date with Loretta. She shows up the next morning to retrieve them, satisfied that she has taught them all a lesson. Roger’s father warns him not to play him against his mother in the future. 6/10/13
- 015. The Firing Squad – 2/10/1977
- Shirley insults one of the customers at Rob’s Place who turns out to be a banker named Mr. Barnes (David Downing) that was scoping out the restaurant in order to give Rob a loan, causing Rob (Earl Billings) to fire Shirley. Mabel helps Shirley look for a job, but after having no luck, she enlists the gang to put the ‘squeeze play’ on Rob. The few that show up to Rob’s the next day aren’t ordering food and they tell Rob that Shirley has a job at a new restaurant and all of the kids are heading over there to welcome her. Rob offers Shirley her job and an apology, and she accepts. Rob gets his bank loan after all when the loan officer Mr. Grayson (Fred Pinkard) accompanies Barnes to Rob’s and thinks Shirleys’ attitude is perfect for that place. Shirley negotiates having sandwiches named after Roger, Dwayne, and Rerun. 1/10/14
- 016. The Boarder – 2/17/1977
- The Thomas family is in need of money to pay some back taxes, so they look to rent out Dee’s room to a boarder. After a man named Mr. Simmons (James Wheaton) doesn’t want the place, Roger’s father Bill says he can take the room since he has recently lost his job. He moves in and does some odd jobs around the house, and soon Mabel starts to fall for him. While trying to get a newspaper scoop, Rerun finds out that Bill didn’t really lose his job, and Roger confronts his father and finds out that his father just wanted to help the family out financially. Roger understands but insists that he move out before his Mama gets hurt. Roger gets his own job at a supermarket and stands up to his mother and says he’s the man of the house and that he wants to contribute. Ray Vitte appears as Dean. 1/10/14
- 017. Dwayne’s Dilemma – 2/24/1977
- Roger wants a date with Angela (Rose Fonseca), but in order to go out with her he has to get Dwayne to take out her friend Brenda (Renn Woods). Dwayne is nervous when he finds out that Roger has never seen her, but the two end up hitting it off quite well. Unfortunately Brenda has a tough ex-boyfriend named Darryl (Bob Harcum) who threatens bodily harm to Dwayne if he takes her out again. Dwayne thinks it over and takes her out anyway, and then stands up to Daryl, who then calls off the fight. 7/29/13
- 018. The Tickets – 3/3/1977
- Mabel is given two tickets to the Stevie Wonder concert by her employer and she offers them up to Roger. He is excited but cannot decide which friend to take so he flips a coin and Dwayne wins. Rerun is bitter about losing and ignores them both, so Roger asks their new boarder Gene (named Dean in the episode The Boarder) for advice. Dean turns Roger on to a friend who sells Roger 3 tickets for $20 each, and Roger, Dwayne, and Rerun attempt to sell the other two for $30 each and are arrested for scalping by an undercover officer (Danny Wells). Gene poses as Roger’s brother and picks them up, but Mama finds out when Roger leaves his wallet with the police and they call his house to send it back. Mama whips Roger with a belt. Meanwhile Mama takes Dee to a G-rated movie although Dee would rather see more adult films. 7/29/13
- 019. What’s Wrong with Raj? – 3/10/1977
- Raj has been hanging out at the free clinic because he has a crush on Julie (Tanya Boyd) who works there. Dee has read in Roger’s diary that he is going there so he tells their Mama because she thinks he might be sick, so they go there and pick him up. When Roger realizes that Dee is snooping through his things, he tells Mama and they decide to teach Dee a lesson, so Roger writes in his diary that he is seriously ill. He also starts a second diary to document the trick they are playing in hopes of using it in a movie later. When Dee reads the fake entries, she calls their father who rushes over, and Dee wails in guilt because she loves her brother so much. Roger goes upstairs to find the journal where he is documenting the practical joke to prove to Dee that he really isn’t sick…but Dee has already found it…and read it. She has turned the tables and played a joke right back on him. 1/25/14
- 020. Nice Guys Finish Last – 3/24/14
- Dee has made a pen pal with a prisoner named Judy Crane (Vernee Watson-Johnson), and has told her that she can stay with the Thomases when she gets out of prison. Mama reluctantly allows this, but soon it is revealed that Judy wasn’t released; she has escaped. Her boyfriend Lew (Harold Sylvester) comes to pick her up, but the police trail him to the house. Lew holds Dee hostage up in her room and makes a list of demands. Dee ends up talking them into giving themselves up, and tells the police that Lew did not hold her against her will. They end up befriending Lew, but when Mama finds out that she had been held hostage, she promptly throws him out. The police officer is played by Freeman King. 1/25/14
- 021. From Here to Maternity – 3/31/1977
- Shirley’s sister Norma (Chip Fields) is coming to visit from Alabama so that she can marry her fiancee Don (Bobby F. Ellerbee). Upon her arrival, it is discovered that she is pregnant. Although Dee has questions and Shirly is dumbfounded, Norma is okay with this…until Don calls and breaks it off. Roger initially offers to marry her, but she settles on staying with Shirley and everyone promises to help with the baby. Don eventually shows up and says that he just had cold feet but loves her and wants to marry her after all, much to everyone’s relief. Rerun and Shirley also have a weight loss contest, which Rerun loses. 2/25/14
SEASON 2
- 022. Rerun Gets Married – 9/22/1977
- Roger is turning 17 and his family and friends surprise him with a birthday party where he, Rerun, and Mama all display their dancing ‘talents.’ Among the guest is a new girl named Maria (Irene Cara) who just moved to town from Mexico. Everyone instantly has a crush on her, but when Roger asks her out on a date, she reveals that she’s been dating Rerun all week. Rerun is smitten but is taken aback when she asks him to marry her. It turns out that she has illegally immigrated from Mexico and needs to be married in order not to be deported. Rerun agrees, and despite the fact that Dwayne and Roger all try to talk him out of it, the show up to support him when the come before Judge Barnes (Earl Boen). When the judge finds out the reason for the wedding, he proposes some alternative ways so that she can stay without getting married. Both agree to call off the wedding. 2/27/14
- 023. It’s All in Your Head – 9/29/1977
- Dee is seeing the school psychologist Dr. Claymore to get advice for a ‘friend’ about how she is mistreated by her mother and brother and is considering running away. Dr. Claymore contacts Mrs. Thomas to warn her, so she and Roger begin being exceptionally nice to Dee. It is then revealed that the ‘friend’ is in fact a real friend named Robin (Adrienne Alexander), but now Dee is worried that something is wrong with her since Roger and her mother are being so nice. Dee promised to tell her family that all is well, but first she puts Roger through some rigorous tasks such as doing her homework and waiting on her hand and foot. Unbeknownst to Dee, her mother stops by and finds out the truth from Claymore. She promised Dee a special surprise after Dee does Roger’s chores and other housework. The surprise ends up being a spanking. 5/9/14
- 024. Trial and Error – 10/6/1977
- Roger’s employer provides him a new bicycle on which to deliver groceries, but after showing it off to his friends at Rob’s, he gets into an accident with a car and totals the bike. Roger is afraid he’ll have to pay the $72 to have the bike replaced, so he takes the drive of the car Clarence Hopkins (Bill Henderson) to small claims court. The Judge (Olive Dunbar) finds in favor of Mr. Hopkins since Roger was riding against the traffic, but allows Shirley take over the case. She proceeds to interrogate Hopkins about the woman who was in the car with him, and Hopkins eventually drops the case. 5/10/14
- 025. Raj Goes to Press – 10/13/1977
- When Raj’s teacher and faculty adviser Miss Collins objects to some of the articles that Raj – as editor of the school paper – is allowing. Raj quits the school paper and starts his own underground newspaper with Dwayne and Rerun as contributors. When Dwayne stumbles upon the upcoming pop quiz in Collins’ desk, they publish the date of the quiz in the newspaper, along with some disparaging remarks about the principal Mr. Bradley (Davis Roberts). Raj is threatened with expulsion if he doesn’t reveal the source of the quiz information, and his mother supports his decision to take the expulsion rather than reveal his source as Dwayne. Rerun and Dwayne both try to take the blame, but Miss Collins says that the underground paper had shown some quality, so she talks Bradley into excusing them. However, she does give them two weeks of detention for peeking in her desk drawer. 8/4/14
- 026. Nothing Personal – 10/20/1977
- While Rerun struggles to write a paper on the Industrial Revolution in order to pass History, Shirley decides to better herself by applying for a job as a secretary at the Ace Balloon Company. She is initially rejected by the hiring manager Mr. Ramsey (Charles Siebert), but the company president Mr. Davis (Earl Montgomery) insists that he hire Shirley – on the basis of her color. A better candidate named Helen Lewis (Barbara Mallory) is also hired to do the actual work, while Shirley is given virtually nothing to do. Eventually she realizes why she was hired and quits – but not before she shows the bosses that she is capable of doing the job. Rob gives her a hard time about coming back since she quit with no notice, but eventually realizes that he can’t keep Rob’s as a self-service restaurant and takes her back. Ellen Travolta stars as head secretary Lily. 8/5/14
- 027. If I’m Elected– 10/27/1977
- Dwayne’s father Lawrence Nelson (Greg Morris) is running for councilman and he has Dwayne’s full support. Dwayne meets a new girl named Connie (Rose Fonseca) and takes her to the campaign headquarters. While they are kissing, they overhear his father ruthlessly fire an old family friend named Ted Howard (Hank Rolike), which greatly disturbs Dwayne. When he asks his father about his ‘Uncle Ted’, his father tells him that Ted quit to take another job. Dwayne laments the situation to Mrs. Thomas, who then confronts Lawrence. He finally tells Dwayne the truth, that Ted had stolen campaign funds. Lawrence wins the election and when everybody goes off to the victory celebration, he stays back to make out with Connie. Later Shirley had to deliver the news to Dwayne that Connie broke up with him for another guy. Gerry Black is Ron.9/15/14
- 028. The Play’s the Big Thing – 11/3/1977
- For their presentation in their Theater Arts class, Roger has written a play called The Life of a Teenager, Dwayne plans to do a song and dance, but Rerun has nothing whatsoever planned. Dwayne suggests that Rerun act in Roger’s play, but when Roger finds out that Miss Collins has invited Ron Michaels (Craig Richard Nelson), producer of the TV show Happy Times to view the presentations, Roger doesn’t want Rerun to ruin his play. After Rerun sulks enough, Roger lets him back in. On the day of the presentations, Dwayne sings Handy Man, and Rerun performs the play with Diane. His acting is abysmal and Miss Collins is going to give him an F – until Roger intervenes and tells her that the whole bad acting was actually staged as part of a ‘Theater of Reality.’ She decides to give them both A’s. Although Michaels tells Rerun that Roger’s writing would never cut it in the real world, Rerun tells Roger that he rated his play as outstanding. 9/15/14
- 029. Give Me Odds – 11/10/1977
- Dwayne has won the football pool at Rob’s for the last five games, so Roger is interested in making a $10 bet based on his next pick. Rerun has also been noting the picks and sharing them with his brother-in-law Ike (Nathaniel Taylor). Dwayne picks Tampa Bay over Oakland, so Ike takes the $500 that Rerun’s sister Donna (Chip Fields) has been saving for a trip to Hawaii and places the bet – which is against the odds – with his bookie Big Al (Lion-L). Everyone is aghast when they find out that Dwayne’s system is merely choosing the helmet that he likes best. Roger tries to stop the bet, but it is too late once the game starts…and Tampa Bay loses horribly. Ike makes good on his bet by getting Rerun a job at a pizza place run by Big Al, and borrowing the rest. He also promises to stop gambling. 10/14/14
- 030. Bill Gets Married – 11/17/1977
- After taking the kids to Disneyland, Bill announces to the kids that he will be marrying his girlfriend Lee (Lee Charmberlin) that weekend. Roger is named the Best Man and offers their house for the wedding, and Mabel agrees. Dee is noticeably distant, and during the wedding rehearsal – while Raj is overzealous with his ideas – Dee objects to the wedding and runs to her room. Roger talks to her and finds out that she had been holding out hope that her parents would get back together. After Roger makes her realize that they made each other miserable, Dee goes ahead with her role as Flower Girl at the wedding. Bill Walker as Reverend Burke officiates the wedding. 10/15/14
- 031. Mama, the School Girl – 11/24/1977
- Mabel returns to high school to take night classes to get her diploma. Initially concerned that she would be the oldest in class – which includes Rerun – she meets another man about her age named Tod Miller (Percy Rodrigues). She falls for him, but it turns out that he is only using her to write his term paper, while he hopes to get a promotion and married to his girlfriend Sis (Casey Brown), whom he refers to as his sister. Roger finds out what he is up to, and the family plans revenge by feeding him cow brains, chicken gizzards, and fish heads for Thanksgiving dinner, which he eats for fear that Mabel won’t give him the term paper…which happens to be an old one written by Rerun that was given an F-minus. 11/15/14
- 032. One Strike and You’re Out – 12/8/1977
- Roger is becoming dissatisfied with the workers’ treatment at Pronson’s Market where he is employed, particularly after Rerun gets fired for knocking down Mr. Pronson (Simeon Holloway) with a row of carts. Pronson completely disregards their union contract, and although their steward Harold (Neil J. Schwartz) is too scared to stick up for them, Roger rallies everyone to strike. But when he finds out his mom is off work for hypertension, he tries to reverse their decision. Roger strikes along with them, but eventually thinks about crossing the picket line. He changes his mind and attacks Pronson, who is then defended by his mother Irene (Minnie Summers Lindsey) and she beats up Roger. Irene comes to the Thomas house to apologize and tell Roger the strike is over, also noting that Pronson is getting rid of the dead weight: his mother. Meanwhile, Dwayne tries to choose which girlfriend he wants to keep, Cynthia or Louise (Renee Brown). The decision is made easy when Cynthia refuses to kiss him, and Louise sees him trying to kiss her. He ends up with neither. 11/16/14
- 033. The Testimonial – 12/15/1977
- When Roger gets two weeks of detention from Mrs. Collins, he decides to play a joke on her and give her a wrapped gift with nothing inside as part of her 25-year testimonial. Roger, Rerun, and Dwayne present her with the gift in class and she gives a heartfelt speech about how touched she is and how she is only hard on them because she wants them to succeed in life. She also lifts Roger’s detention. Roger, Rerun, and Dwayne attempt to break into the school to put real gifts into the box, but she has take it home. Roger tries to skip the testimonial, telling his mother the reason why, but she insists that he go. When she opens the present, she finds an expensive vase inside. The boys learn that her husband (Warren Munson) has bought the vase after getting tipped off by Mrs. Thomas. They agree to pay him back by each giving him one dollar per week until they graduate. 12/27/14
- 034. Black and White Blues – 12/22/1977
- Roger is selling tickets for the church raffle of a new color television. Rerun thinks he is going to win since he has 38 tickets, but Dwayne would rather save his money for a new football. Rerun is forced to give Shirley one of his tickets when he can’t pay for all of his meal. Later at Roger’s house, the boys are watching a football game on their crummy black and white TV and decide to borrow the prize TV to watch the game. They drop it on the way and when they get it home, it doesn’t work properly. Dwayne agrees to loan his $20 to get the ticket fixed, assuming that Rerun doesn’t win it. Dee later finds out from her mom that it is the electric outlet that is broken. She attempts to tell them at the raffle, but the won’t listen to her. Shirley ends up winning the TV and they give her the $20 to fix it, before finding out that the TV is working just fine. Rerun wins instructional records for speaking Spanish. 12/27/14
- 035. Going, Going, Gong – 1/5/1978
- Roger attends Dee’s talent show, in which she plays a flower, and discovers The Givens Family (Audrey, Anthony, Antonio, and Derrick as themselves). Roger and Dee decide to act as their managers and they perform an impromptu version of Bubblin’ Brown Sugar at Rob’s. Roger gets them an audition for The Gong Show, but when Rerun accompanies them and dances for talent scout Mr. Davidson (Sandy Kenyon), he books Rerun and the Givens on the same show. Roger is angry at Rerun, but they all agree that no matter who wins, they will split the $500 prize money. Just before showtime Rerun sprains his ankle and is unable to perform. The Givens end up winning the prize, and when they all begin to jump up and down cheering, Roger realizes that Rerun had faked his injury in order to step aside from the competition. Howard Itzkowitz plays a ventriloquist. Kene Holliday, Wolfman Jack, and Barbara Rhoades plays themselves as judges on the show. 2/12/15
- 036. Dee’s First Date – 1/12/1978
- Roger is excited for Dee to go to the movies with a boy named Luther (Erin Blunt) because he has a big crush on his older sister Melanie (Fay Hauser). He tries to make a good impression on Luther but ends up looking square. Luther sneaks into Dee’s room after she asks him to leave, and then tells Dee and her friend Robin (Noniece Williams) that he is abused at home. Melanie comes looking for Luther and tell Roger and Dee that Luther is making all of the stories up, simply repeating storylines from TV shows. Luther finally admits that he wants to stay away from home because his sister hogs the TV. Although Melanie says that Roger can call her for a date, when he does she only tries to get him to babysit Luther. 2/14/15
- 037. Doobie or Not Doobie: Part 1 – 1/28/1978
- The Doobie Brothers (themselves featuring Michael McDonald, Patrick Simmons, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, John Hartman, Keith Knudsen, Bobby LaKind, Tiran Porter) are playing a show at Jefferson High School for charity and Rerun fails to get tickets because he was too busy eating hamburgers. a man named Al Dunbar (Teddy Wilson) offers Rerun three front row tickets and $4 to tape record the concert. Roger tries to get press tickets, but only ends up getting an interview with the band. Roger, Rerun, Dwayne, and Dee show up during their rehearsal of Echoes of Love and are nearly thrown out by their manager (Marty Barris), but Dee talks the band into giving an interview after they sing Little Darling. During the interview, the band discloses that their biggest irritation is bootlegging and how they will have anyone they catch doing it arrested. Rerun tries to back out of the deal but Al and his tough partner Bruno (Alonzo Brown Jr.) threaten them that they better go through with the deal. NOTE: This is the first of a two-part episode. 3/23/15
- 038. Doobie or Not Doobie: Part 2 – 2/4/1978
- Feeling strong-armed the boys go ahead with recording the Doobie Brothers concert from the front row. The band performs Black Water, Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While), and Takin’ It to the Streets. When Rerun is jumping up and down, the tape recorder falls out of his jacket in plain view of the band. The Doobies confront the kids about it and they tell him the truth about being threatened. They tell them to go ahead and deliver the tape to Al. The Doobies show up at Rob’s with a police officer who arrests Al and Bruno. When they play the tape, the only thing recorded was Rerun eating popcorn and Roger singing Fly Me to the Moon. NOTE: This is the second of a two-part episode. 3/23/15
- 039. Rerun Sees the Light – 2/11/1978
- Rerun meets a girl named Life-Is-Love (Jonelle Allen) who gets him involved in a religious cult known as Baba Ram Baba, in which they worship Mother Nature in the form of a head of lettuce. Rob tips Roger and Dwayne off that Life-Is-Love is actually con artist Wanda Jordan. The guys try to warn Rerun, but he won’t listen, and says he has happily handed over his money to the High Priest (Oscar DeGruy). However when Rerun returns to their temple, he overhears them talking about their con job and returns to Roger’s house to admit he was wrong. Mama has the idea to show up in the guise of Mother Nature and returns the money that has been collected to all of the cult’s disciples. 6/17/15
- 040. Raj and the Older Woman – 2/18/1978
- When Raj goes to photographer Mr. Johnson (Sip Culler) to get his school pictures taken, he runs into a 19-year old model named Jeannie Wilson (LaVonne Dancy) and tells her that he is a successful 21-year old actor. She agrees to go out with him and they have a nice date, but when she meets another of Roger’s classmates Darryl Wayburn (Bob Harcum), she finds out that Roger is still in high school and only seventeen. She goes to Roger’s house to break their next date, but taking some advice from Dee not to hurt his feelings, she gets aggressive with him and talks about marriage, forcing Roger to claim that his acting isn’t going too well and to back out of their date. 6/18/15
- 041. Diplomatic Immunity – 2/25/1978
- Rerun ‘borrows’ his brother’s car while he is out of town to take Raj and Dwayne to the Lakers game. Someone hits the car and takes off while it is parked outside the Thomas house, and Dee is able to get the license information. The car is owned by the consul of the Arabian country the Republic of Arango. The boys go to visit their embassy but are turned away by the consul’s son Amid (Tony Plana). Dee speculates that Amid had taken the car without permission and accompanies them on their next visit. Amid has told his father that the boys were harassing them, but the consul’s aide Hassan (Jeff Corey) verifies the damage to their cars. The consul (Malachi Throne) punishes Amid and insists that he pay for the damage. Amid admits that he wants to go to school with local children, and the guys invite him to hang out at Rob’s with them. Roger receives a vase as a gift which he thinks is quite valuable until Dee notes that it has the words “Made in Japan” inside. Bernard Fox is a Britisher visiting the consul. 8/11/15
- 042. Shirley Is a Mother – 4/13/1978
- With his mother out of town, Raj asks Shirley to babysit for Dee so that he can help Rerun study and finally graduate from high school after seven years. Dee realizes Shirley’s loneliness and has Raj ask her to stay for the entire week to take care of them. Meanwhile Dwayne laments the fact that when Rerun and Raj graduate, he will be alone at the school, and Rerun worries about getting out into the real world. Later, as Roger’s guardian, Shirley is called down to the school because Roger has been caught cheating on his final history exam… only he was caught giving answers to Rerun, who had left his test blank. Rerun admits that he is scared to graduate, but Roger convinces him that it is time to leave school. Mrs. Collins gives him another shot at the test and he passes. Roger is so appreciative of Shirley’s kindness, he invites her to be his date at the Senior Prom. 8/12/15
- 043. The Apartment – 5/11/1978
- Roger and Rerun graduation high school, and Roger is named the valedictorian. His speech is about having independence as an adult, but his mother doesn’t quite digest it, and puts up quite a fuss when he asks to move into his own apartment with Rerun. She goes with him to look at it and ultimately signs the lease, even getting the rent lowered by ten dollar. But both Roger and Rerun get frustrated when she doesn’t ever seem to leave. Their dates with Delores (Rana Ford) and Angela (Kutee) are ruined thanks to Mrs. Thomas. Roger and Rerun get into an argument when Roger won’t tell his mother that she needs to not be there so often, but eventually Shirley and Dwayne convince Roger that Rerun is right. Roger vows to go tell his mother, but he can’t bring himself to do it. However after he leaves, Dwayne tells her the truth, and she finally understands and agrees to be more reasonable with her visits. Raymond Allen is Mr. Stone. 11/15/15
SEASON 3
- 044. Disco Dollar Disaster – 9/21/1978
- Now rooming together in college, Roger complains that it is hard for him to study since Rerun and his girlfriend Charlene (Franchesska Berry) are practicing their disco dancing all night. Rerun wants to enter a dancing contest but is short the $25 entry fee. After he does a demonstration dance at Rob’s, most of the patrons are willing to donate a portion of the money, which Roger says they will double if Rerun wins the $100 prize. Rerun doesn’t understand how the payout will work, so he continues to accept money from people who think they too will double their money if he wins. Two hoodlums James (Andre Edwards) and Leon (Henry Robinson) are particularly menacing. Rerun spends the money to upgrade his wardrobe in order to compete with smooth dancer Danny Domino (Ralph Wilcox), but despite a good performance, he loses to Danny. The hoodlums track him down, but it turns out they only want dance lessons from Rerun to pay off his debt. Sarina C. Grant is the ticket girl. John Witherspoon is the D.J. 11/16/15
- 045. Shirley’s Boyfriend – 9/28/1978
- When Roger, Dwayne, and Rerun head out with dates to a drive-in movie, they come to feel sorry for Shirley who goes home alone night after night. Roger remembers a friend of his father’s named Ed Roberts (Ed Bernard) who comes into town regularly, and approaches him about setting him up with Shirley. He is receptive, but Shirley resents her life being meddled with…until she meets him at Rob’s. The two fall for each other immediately and begin a romance. Soon Shirley announces that they are going away to Las Vegas together and she expects Ed to propose to her. However Dee finds out from her father that Ed is actually already married and has a wife in Pittsburgh. Roger builds up the courage to tell her, but Shirley claims to already know…but then breaks down when she is alone. When Ed comes to pick her up, she asks if he is going to propose to her and he says that he just wants to have fun. Shirley makes a phone call to let someone know that she is getting ready to leave for Vegas, and the person turns out to be Ed’s wife, causing him to quickly flee. Shirley agrees to rent Roger’s now-vacant room, and moves in at the Thomas house. 1/11/16
- 046. Basketball Brain – 10/12/1978
- Although Roger is already tutoring Dee and Rerun, he takes out an ad offering paid tutoring. A man named Ed Finley (Sorrell Booke), a booster for Northern University Big Blue Bombers, answers the ad for Roger to tutor Terry “The Snake” Simpson (Leland Smith), star basketball player for the college team, who still needs to graduate from city college before he can move on to the university. Roger tries his best to tutor the Snake but he just isn’t getting it. What’s more, his own studies are suffering. Finley offers $500 to Roger to take Snake’s exam for him, but instead of taking the easy way out, Roger and his friends convince Snake that it is important to have an education to fall back on. Roger gives Finley the boot and spends 48 hours tutoring Snake in English. Although Snake fails the exam, it prompts him to sign up for night school and take a job at Rob’s. He ends up with a B on his first exam in night school. 1/12/16
- 047. The Creep Detective – 11/2/1978
- Roger gets on Rerun’s case for doing too many favors for the neighbors, including storing dogs, an uncooked turkey, and a box of silverware for vacationing neighbors the Lawrences. When a little boy named ‘Little Earl’ Barnett Jr. (David Hollander) asks to borrow a vacuum cleaner, Rerun and Roger comply again. When Little Earl’s father police detective ‘Big Earl’ (John Welsh) returns it, he discovers that the box of ‘silverware’ is actually stolen electronics, and he arrests Roger and Rerun. Eventually the boys are let go when there story checks out. Dee and Earl Jr. come up with a plan when the Thompsons (Ric Mancini and Carol Arthur) show up for their loot. When Earl and the police arrive, Dee tells them that she recorded their confession, causing them to acknowledge the stolen merchandise in front of the police. Dee later reveals that there was actually no tape in the recorder. Little Earl develops a huge crush on Dee. 3/25/16
- 048. Shirley’s Cookies – 11/9/1978
- Shirley’s homemade cookies are so delicious that the guys convince her to start selling them at Rob’s. Even though she makes $90 in profit, she is way too busy to continue to do the extra work. However when a shady investor named Marty Slade (Adam Wade) offers to promote the cookies and promises her huge money with a $50 advance, she returns to making cookies under the name Shirley’s Chocolate Heaven, the Crumb de la Crumb of Cookies. She spends hours on end baking and autographing the cookie bags, but only gets $30 salary. When she tries to quit, Slade reminds her that she signed a contract with him. Big Earl and Roger help her get out of the contract by pretending he is from the Cook and Crocker Crackers and Cookies wanting to buy in to the business. However when they mention that the Board of Health is inspecting Shirley’s kitchen, Slade rips up the contract so that he isn’t responsible for Shirley or what they might find. Larry Gilman is Sylvester. 3/25/16
- 049. The Landlady – 11/16/1978
- With Rerun on strike, he and Roger are having a hard time paying their rent. Rerun is getting so hungry he makes ketchup soup and swipes a candy bar from Little Earl. Their landlady Mrs. Watson (Hope Clarke) is more than understanding. In fact she seems to like Roger so much that she gives him her late husband’s pipe. Roger becomes infatuated with the older woman and soon is dressing much more maturely, and turns down a date with the beautiful young Delores (LaNette Hardiman). Shirley tries to talk some send into Roger, but he is adamant about going out with her for a special surprise she has promised him. It turns out that the surprise is that she and her boyfriend John (David Pendleton) are taking him to the ballet. Roger is embarrassed about his behavior, but happy that his friends have stood by him. 6/26/16
- 050. Charge – 11/23/1978
- Rerun gets his own credit card and quickly begins buying every electronic and luxury item he can find including an aqualung and a food processor. Roger warns him of the danger of going into debt, but Rerun won’t listen. He then takes out a loan from Robert Glover (Roger Bowen) at the bank, so that he can make his payments, using his hat as collateral. Soon the debt catches up with him, and Glover and the bank come to repossess the items that Rerun listed as collateral… including Roger’s bedroom furniture. Shirley convinces Rerun that he doesn’t need to buy things to impress people. Despite Roger’s anger, he assists Rerun in having a sale for all of the gadgets. Between selling the new furniture to the Snake, and other items to other customers, they raise enough to pay off the credit cards and nearly complete payments on the loan. Rerun uses the food processor to chop up his credit cards. Randy Martin is a customer. 6/26/16
- 051. Raj Moves Out – 11/30/1978
- Raj is dating a smart and attractive girl named Jean (Bianca Ferguson), who is irritated by the constant interruptions from Rerun when they attempt to study at their place. Jean invites Roger and, reluctantly, Rerun to dinner at her place, where he roommate is in the process of moving out. They make it through another uncomfortable dinner with Jean’s friends Suchart (Kael Blackwood) and Bina (Karin Mani) with Rerun being typically disruptive. After everyone leaves, Jean asks Roger to move in with her, an offer Roger readily accepts. Rerun is furious with Roger’s decision and worries about their friendship ending. When Dee brings some of Roger’s things over to Jean’s apartment, she finds Roy there, and Jean admits that he is moving back in and that she was only using Roger to get him back. When she tells Roger, he tries to move back in with Rerun who now doesn’t want him, claiming the Dwayne was now moving in. Dee helps Roger realize that Rerun is just making Raj feel jealous the way Jean had used him to feel jealous. Raj returns to the apartment and makes amends with Reurn. 9/16/16
- 052. No Clothes Make the Man – 12/14/1978
- Rerun gets a job at ABC, while Roger gets let go from the market since they no longer make home deliveries. In desperate need of a job while waiting for a job in journalism , he tries out the Unified Meat Company, which quickly goes under when its executive is arrested for selling plastic meat. His next job attempt is at the school where he takes a job as a model for an art class from Mrs. Miller (Norma Donaldson), which ends up being a nude modeling job. The wages are high enough that he can’t refuse, so he uncomfortably poses for his first class. Rerun and Dwayne play a joke on him and take his clothes, not knowing that he has an interview with the newspaper right after class. He is forced to show up for the interview with Mr. Evans (Harry Basch) in his underwear and robe. Evans immediately tells him that the job is filled, causing Roger to go on a tirade standing up for his rights and accusing him of not choosing because of his attire. Evans tells him that his writing simply lacks focus and he is not ready… but is so impressed by Roger’s speech that he later hires him as a cub reporter. Nancy Morgan is Evans’ secretary Mrs. Peterson. Aixa Clemente is a student. 9/16/16
- 053. Positive Identification – 12/21/1978
- Right before Christmas, Roger and Rerun’s apartment is robbed, and they lose the Christmas gifts they’ve bought in addition to their coffee maker, tape recorder, and television. Making it even worse is the fact that they helped the burglar carry their stuff downstairs thinking he was a moving man. Big Earl calls Roger and Rerun to the police station to pick out the burglar Willie Spencer (Stu Gilliam) out of the line-up. However later they realize that they are not so sure if they identified the right man, so they head back down to the station. They nearly identify him again, but then realize that they don’t want to put the wrong man in jail, particularly at Christmas, so they drop the charges. During their Christmas party, they find Willie in the bedroom returning the things he stole, plus buying the a burglar-proof door lock. The boys decide to give him a break and don’t press charges, but when Rerun opens his gift, they find that Willie couldn’t resist taking Rerun’s sweater. Wendell Wright is the Sergeant. Dathan Tyrone Jones is Reverend Morgan. 12/11/16
- 054. Making Out – 1/11/1979
- Roger and Rerun work out a schedule for their big dates so that each can have the apartment for a couple of hours. After the dates, Rerun brags about his date with April (Ronalda Douglas), although it was actually largely unsuccessful with April only wanting to work on her acting. Roger in turn brags about his success with the ‘Thomas Technique’ with his date Cindy (Candy Ann Brown), although he too fails at every step. Rerun then tries the ‘Thomas Technique” on Roger’s date April, but when her allergies get too bad, she has to rush out on him as well. Roger however does in fact get to make out with April after he rehearses with her. Rerun feels inferior because he never scores, so Roger tells him that he too failed on his date, and that April only talked about Rerun. They decide to try and pick up a couple of other girls, but are quickly halted when their boyfriends show up. 12/11/16
- 055. Dee, the Cheerleader – 1/25/1979
- Dee is trying out for cheerleader at school, and she is coaching her klutzy friend Julia (Lauren Dana Adams), a white girl who has been bused to Jefferson as part of the Affirmative Action program. After tryouts, Dwayne finds out that Julie has made the squad…but Dee has not. Dee is sullen and angry, knowing that she was better than Julie. She finds out from the gym teacher that her being cut was party of the A.A. program as well, so she goes to Principal Bradley to protest. He explains that although it doesn’t always make sense and some folks can be hurt along the way, the overall aim of the program supersedes her feelings. Later Julie is kicked off the team when a new ‘Chicano’ girl is bused in. Julie is angry because she feels this girl was worse, but Dee and Julie both vow to try out again the next year. Meanwhile with Rerun out of town visiting New York City for a job, Snake moves in with Roger. 3/20/17
- 056. A Present for Dee – 2/9/1979
- Roger and gang plan a surprise for Dee’s 14th birthday, and although she catches on the day before, she insists they go on with the gathering. Little Earl shows up to the party wearing a Vultures jacket, representing a gang he has joined led by his tough friend Bobby Farrell (Jordan Brian), who shows up at the party and demands that Little Earl leave for a Vultures meeting. Later Dee decides to return the costume jewelry necklace that Little Earl got for her, only to find out from the store manager Mr. Bradford (Richard Deacon) that the item was stolen. Dee gives him Roger’s number when he requests a phone call to her parents. Roger and Shirley pose as Dee’s parents and meet with Bradford, and although they know that it came from Little Earl, they refuse to tell on him. In order to keep Dee out of jail, they offer to pay the forty dollars that it cost. Dee confronts Earl and finds out that Earl stole the necklaces as initiation to the Vultures. Dee makes Earl promise to pay her back, and berates him for needing the Vultures to value his worth. Ultimately Earl promises to quit the Vultures in order to keep Dee’s friendship. Jimmy Bridges is a party-goer. 3/20/17
- 057. Dwayne’s Dream – 2/16/1989
- Dwayne gets a job as a snack vendor at the USC games. He does so well his first day that he gets offered a full-time job selling snacks at different venues. Dwayne considers taking the job, although Roger warns him that it could cost him his education. Dwayne falls asleep and dreams of a future where Roger is a famous author, Shirley works at a fancy restaurant, Rerun is the president of ABC, and Dee is a rich landlord, but he is a gangster on whom the ‘Big Earl’ is closing to arrest him. Dwayne wakes up yelling, causing the Earls to come in to check on him. Big Earl gives him advice on how he can become anything he wants with the proper education. Dwayne continues his dream, but this time he is the President of the United States facing a critical decision that could plunge the country into war. His friends hound him to make the decision, until he wakes up and finds it is just Rerun telling him to decide what kind of pizza he wants. He hurries home to study thinking that one day, his country may count on him. 9/29/17
- 058. Shirley’s Fired – 2/23/1979
- Running low on funds, Shirley decides to ask Rob for a raise, claiming that she does the work of two people. Rob agrees, but solves the problem by hiring a sexy waitress named Liz (Judy Pace) to help her out. Not only does Liz hone in on Shirley’s tips, but her continuous clumsiness causes Shirley to have to clean up after her constantly. Shirley demands that Rob fire Liz, but Rob calls her bluff and fires her when Shirley attempts to quit. Later Shirley and the guys stop by Rob’s for her to get her last check and spot Liz passing money out of the register to a man named Jim (Luke Walker). Their minds run wild that she is either a thief or works for the mob, and when Liz shows up at Roger’s house to drop off Shirley’s last check they call Big Earl and attempt to apprehend her. Rob eventually shows up as well, and explains that he and Liz are getting married, Jim is Liz’s brother, and they are all headed to Las Vegas to get married. Rob invites Shirley to come back and work at Rob’s… and at Dee’s suggestion, offers her a raise. 5/8/18
- 059. Food Poisoning – 3/2/1979
- After eating half of a hamburger at Rob’s, Rerun begins having severe stomach pains and goes to see his sister at the hospital. Dr. Holmby (Richard Stahl) diagnosis Rerun with likely food poisoning. When an over-zealous lawyer named Mr. Sloan (Alan Oppenheimer) comes to visit his client Mr. Flynn (Richard Couture), a bus accident victim in a full body cast, Sloan advises Rerun that he can sue Rob for $100,000. With money his motivation and believing that the money would be paid by the insurance company, Rerun decides to pursue the lawsuit, nearly driving Rob out of business since customers are concerned to eat his meat. As Roger makes a plea to the customers to trust Rob’s food, Dee shows up and announces that Rerun actually had appendicitis, and his surgery was a success. Mr. Sloan shows up and advises Rerun to sue for malpractice, but Rerun advises the lawyer to jump into the ocean. 5/9/18
- 060. The Eviction – 3/9/1979
- With their apartment falling apart around them, Roger and Rerun decided to stand up for their rights with their landlord to demand repairs. Rerun calls for a tenants meeting at their apartment. Inspired by Roger’s speech, they all vote for him to speak to the landlord Sam Logan (Hal Williams), a large, menacing and threatening man. Roger is able to sweet talk him into making the repairs in the interest of preserving his building. New appliances begin showing up to the boys’ apartment, but Logan informs them if they can’t pay a higher rent for their new ‘luxury apartment’, he will evict them. They are forced to move back in with Shirley and Dee while they look for a new place. Shirley assembles the tenants and talks them into a rent strike if Logan doesn’t bring the boys back at the same rent, a plan that succeeds. Everything appears to be fixed as well… until Rerun attempts to hang a calendar and smashes through the wall. Richard Lee-Sung is Mr. Wing. Nelson Welch and Jinaki are tenants. 5/15/18
- 061. The Thomas Treasure – 3/16/1979
- While working on a class sociology project, Roger discovers that a notorious bank robber named Duke Morgan (Benny Rubin) had once hid out in their house in 1927 and possibly left behind the $2500 they stole. The kids all immediately begin looking for the money. Shirley ties to dissuade them, but is then delivered some tool and a sledge hammer from her handyman friend Barney Dunn (Hank Rolike). Then end up tearing half the house apart while searching, but then finally give up. Rerun throws a tantrum and bangs on the wall, releasing the cash from a hole over the stairs. Unbeknownst to them, Barney is watching them do this, and contacts Duke himself. Barney shows up demanding the money, along with Duke and his gang Louie (Hal K. Dawson), Al (Slim Gaillard), and Lefty (Charles Wagenheim)… all now old men living in a nursing home. Everyone laughs off their threat, and their nurse (Phyllis Applegate) comes to retrieve the men. Barney gives up the notion of taking the money, but says he only intended to use it to help improve the nursing home where the gang all live. Everyone agrees to donate their share of the money to the nursing home. As a return favor, Barney tells them he will repair the damage they did to the house for free. 12/23/18
- 062. The Last Page – 3/31/1979
- With his acting career not advancing, Rerun decides to give up his job as an ABC page and invites his friend come along to his last show – an episode of The Gong Show. While giving a tour of the wardrobe room and looking at the actors’ clothes, Rerun daydream of starring as Fonzie in Happy Days, where he is joined by Roger as Richie, Dwayne as Potsie, Dee as Joanie, and Shirley as the object of Richie’s affection. Then he moves on to playing Jack in Three’s Company, with Dee as Janet, Dwayne as Chrissy, and Shirley and Roger as the Ropers. Finally he imagines that he is Mork in Mork & Mindy, with Shirley as Mindy, and Roger and Dwayne as visiting Orkan relatives Gork and Stork. Rerun is nearly thrown out by a security guard (Ralph Steadman), until he realizes that he is actually a page. Just before ending his last tour, the guard returns and notifies Rerun that he has been summoned by studio casting to appear in a TV movie called The Network Murders, in which he plays a page confronted by a killer (Mark Warren). 12/23/18
- 063. First Class Coach – 4/7/1979
- Big Earl is coaching Little Earl’s Tigers basketball team, but they are 0-6 and miserable at being overworked. When Big Earl has to go on a stakeout assignment, he asks Dwayne to fill in for him as temporary coach, much to the delight of the players. Dwayne is much more relaxed and easy to get along with, and as a result they win their first game… and the team, minus Little Earl, votes Big Earl out as their coach. Little Earl is devastated, and between him criticizing his team since none of their fathers stepped up to coach them, and Dwayne getting more intense and commanding, the boys vote Big Earl back in. However news does not travel quick enough to Roger and Rerun and they tell Big Earl that he has been voted out. Although his feelings are hurt, he accepts it gracefully, but quickly learns from the team that they now want him back. He vows to go easier on them, but still has them jog eight blocks… to the soda shop. The team is Danny (Sparky Marcus), Eddie (De’voreaux White), Bobby (Justin Dana), and Nyles (Nyles Harris). 12/25/19
- 064. Dwayne’s Debate – 4/21/1979
- Two attractive girls named Lisa (LaNette Hardiman) and Cincy (Elaine Hobson) approach Dwayne and ask him to run for the Student Body President. When Dwayne’s politician’s father comes to visit Roger and Rerun’s apartment, Snake lets it slip that Dwayne has been nominated, an idea that makes him extremely proud. Despite his lack of desire to run, Dwayne moves forward with entering the race. He is quickly challenged by his strange and nerdy opponent Lester Williams (Doug Grant), and Dwayne accepts the challenge despite knowing nothing about debating. Roger works with him all through the night on debating techniques, but when when the time comes, Dwayne is completely nervous and ill-prepared. As the debate progresses, Dwayne gets all the applause despite his responses being meaningless and Lester giving thoughtful responses. Dwayne realizes that Lester is the better man, and finally gives him his endorsement and withdrawals from the race. His father is proud of him, and tells him he’d like to think that he would have the courage to do what Dwayne did if he ever encountered a candidate that was clearly better than him. Betty A. Bridges is Dwayne’s mother. 12/25/19
- 065. The Benefit Show – 4/28/1979
- Rob’s has been extra busy thanks to the Youth Center closing up. Dee has been put in charge of raising funds to re-open it, and when she overhears Rerun bragging to his new girlfriend Ginger (Diane Sommerfield) about all of the celebrities he knows at ABC including Sammy Davis Jr., she gets him to agree to engage Sammy for a benefit concert. Rerun visits his office pretending to be Sammy’s great friend, but the secretary (Marlene Clark) tells him that his busy schedule won’t allow time for anything, but since Sammy likes to help the youth, she’ll try to find a time for him to see Rerun. By the night of the benefit, Sammy still hasn’t returned Rerun’s call, and he finally has tell his friends that he’s not coming. Roger suggest that the crowd might enjoy the show enough not to tear down the place, so not to tell the audience until the end. Shirley is the emcee and introduces Roger and Dee who perform Havin’ a Party, followed by Little Earl doing a Steve Martin impersonation, Dwayne playing the drums, and Roger singing a solo of Believe in Yourself. Dee then announces that Sammy Davis Jr. will not be showing up, but anyone who is shallow enough to take their money back from the Youth Center can come onto the stage to get it. When no one does, she thanks everyone, including Rerun, who breaks into a reprise of Havin’ a Party. Helen Martin is Mrs. Lloyd with the parrot. 4/8/20
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