The Curious Incident of Sammy Davis Jr.

Over the weekend, TVLand showed nothing but What's Happening!! The late 70s sitcom was about three African-American teens, Raj, Dwayne and Rerun, and their lives in the inner city.

I tuned in now and then and finally caught what I consider the most astonishing half-hour of TV ever broadcast. It wasn't the Gong Show episode. It wasn't the one where Raj is hired as a consultant on a sitcom and has to tell the white producer that no kid gets a $20 allowance in the ghetto. It's not even the classic two-parter where the kids are forced to bootleg a Doobie Brothers concert.

No, it's the Sammy Davis Jr. episode.

The teen center has closed. The gang decides to hold a benefit. Rerun foolishly promises he can get Sammy Davis Jr. to appear. When he goes to Sammy's office, he's told Sammy loves helping out, but simply doesn't have the time.

The day of the show arrives. The promotional material promises Sammy. Rerun still hasn't told anyone Sammy can't make it.

The show goes on, as the regulars in the cast go through their amateurish acts (which I belive we're supposed to like). The audience is shouting for Sammy. Rerun realize the jig is up and walks to the microphone to explain Sammy can't make it.

Let's stop for a second. By the time I saw this episode, I'd seen countless hours of other sitcoms, so I knew what to expect next. Rerun has learned his lesson, and just as he's about to apologize, Sammy will appear from the wings to save the day.

Instead...nothing! Rerun apologizes. Then Shirley and Dee (two female regulars) come out and actually castigate the unruly audience for not appreciating the good show they've seen and the good cause they're supporting. They even thank Rerun. End of problem, end of show.

I'm still at a loss. My only guess is the behind-the-scenes story is the same as the plot--the producers of What's Happening!! thought they could get Sammy but, in fact, had to go on without him. I've seen even more hours of sitcoms since then, and I've still never been so completely surprised as the night Sammy didn't sing.