Loosely based on the 1975 film Cooley High, the urban sitcom What's Happening! debuted on ABC in 1976 and ran for three seasons. After its network cancellation, the series went into syndication in 1980 and became so popular that the series was resurrected as What’s Happening Now!

In the new series all the major cast members from the original show are depicted seven years later. Since the end of the original series, Raj and his friends have grown and their lives have changed. Roger "Raj" Thomas is an aspiring writer married to Nadine (Anne-Marie Johnson), a social worker and civic organizer. They are foster parents to Carolyn (Reina King), who displays the sass of Raj’s younger sister Dee, who makes periodic visits home from college. Raj also purchased a half interest in his favorite high school hangout, Rob's Diner, which he now runs with feisty waitress Shirley. His dimwitted buddy Dwayne has become a computer programmer, Rerun is a used-car salesman and the two bachelors share an apartment.