*takes it to the streets*
July 28, 2016 5:54 PM   Subscribe

In the midst of today's choas and confusion, I bring you an uniting cultural landmark - What's Happening Season Two Episode 16 featuring the Doobie Brothers. For the uninitianted- What's Happening, a TV show inspired by Cooley High. And the Doobie Brothers a band from California, that staretd out playing biker country rock who via personell changes morphed into a blue eyed soul outfit, whose lead vocalist had a solo hit that provided the basis for a hip-hop classic. In any event, the episode is a great late 70's period piece.
posted by jonmc (21 comments total) 13 users marked this as a favorite
 
Probably everyone has heard about this by now, but it's notable that Doobies and Steely Dan guitarist Jeff Baxter has a second career as a defense analyst.
posted by thelonius at 6:13 PM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


So, I've heard. It's odd though. I can't think of a band or TV show more associated with the late 70's than these. And I remember watching a talk show in the 90's wher Ernest Thomas (the guy who played Rog) said this was his favorite episode. And the episode has a positive vibe that's missing (understanably) from today's TV and music.
posted by jonmc at 6:21 PM on July 28, 2016


I last saw this 20 years ago and still remember Rerun's classic line, "Which Doobie You-be?"
posted by TheShadowKnows at 6:27 PM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


I received a clock radio as a gift about age 10, in 1977, and that is when I first began actively listening to popular music beyond the Beatles records my older brother was obsessed with. So I still have very fond memories of that era AOR and Top 40. Even the terrible songs.
posted by thelonius at 6:31 PM on July 28, 2016


The Doobie Brothers were in heavy rotation on the classic rock stations in my home town well into the late 80s. Pretty big chunk of what we listened to driving around bored on humid midwestern summer nights. My wife loathes the entire genre, but I still sing along on the commute some nights.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 6:44 PM on July 28, 2016


I can't believe nor quantify the large amount of brain space the Doobie Brothers and this episode in particular have taken up in my head: WHY? I'm waiting for the first lady presidential candidate speak, and all I can relate to is the shame of holding a cassette recorder under a Threads-like trenchcoat???
posted by armacy at 6:51 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Dude, only a fool belives that Hilary wont take it to the streets.
posted by jonmc at 7:03 PM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


...guitarist Jeff Baxter...

You left out the "Skunk". Not that that would have anything to do with doobies...
posted by TedW at 7:10 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Dude, only a fool belives that Hilary wont take it to the streets.

I cheered when Bernie walked off to that one the other night. Goddamn I love the Doobies.
posted by STFUDonnie at 7:11 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Bootleg concert tape?! Heaven forfend! I thought you were our friends, man.
posted by petebest at 7:20 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


This was the episode that taught me about the dangers of pirating music.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:37 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


I am a Doobie Brothers fan (even if jonmc and I don't agree on the later incarnation) and fondly remember What's Happening (surprised it isn't in syndication more widely), but for some reason don't remember this episode at all. Although watching it, the bootlegging plot seems familiar. So, thanks for a cool post that definitely made me nostalgic for my much younger days!
posted by TedW at 7:38 PM on July 28, 2016


I do recall when the inner city black African youths were listening to California biker rock. Boy, that was strange eh?
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:41 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Which Doobie you be?
posted by Divine_Wino at 8:05 PM on July 28, 2016


Cool post.
I watched this show on the regular as a kid. I loved it even though it was pretty transparent that they were repurposing the Happy Days format. Dee was the best thing; she was the superior mold that every subsequent sitcom smartass sister was later cast from; she was the proto-Darlene Connor.
And the theme song was entirely kickass and is lodged in my brain, forever.
I remember this episode well, I watched it when it originally aired.

I last saw this 20 years ago and still remember Rerun's classic line, "Which Doobie You-be?"
That was Raj!

And absolutely no Michael McDonald-related post would be complete without this awesome SCTV bit.
posted by chococat at 8:11 PM on July 28, 2016 [11 favorites]


(Sinatra): Doobie doo-be-doo, ba da-de-da doobie doobie doo...
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 8:12 PM on July 28, 2016


70's TV sitcoms maybe didn't age so well, but it was a Big Deal when shows featuring African-Americans, such as "What's Happening?", "The Jeffersons", or "Good Times", appeared on the primetime TV.
posted by thelonius at 8:12 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Among my wife's favorite anecdotes is the time she was asked to dance by Fred Berry (Rerun) at a party in LA in the 80s.
posted by mwhybark at 11:23 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


no Michael McDonald-related post would be complete without this awesome SCTV bit.

As much as I like that clip, my favorite Michael Macdonald related project is Yacht Rock, hands down.
posted by Ashwagandha at 6:17 AM on July 29, 2016 [3 favorites]


Years ago, on a ride to a gig, a guy I was playing with had us all weeping with laughter with his concept for a "Being Michael McDonald" film, derived from the then current "Being John Malkovich".
posted by thelonius at 7:24 AM on July 29, 2016


And, and, Raj's line inspired the title of Funkdoobiest's first album, Which Doobie U B?
posted by box at 11:56 AM on July 29, 2016


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