Long before Mary J sang about finger lickin' good chicken, there was another Black female star who took a stab at it but knew she looked silly. Since I didn't get cable until I was grown, I had no idea that the late Ms. Shirley Hemphill had a cable comedy show. Personally, I don't know what's funnier - the fact that Colonel Sanders was rumored to be a racist (snopes.com) or that Shirley, in real life, wasn't thinking about any man that couldn't pay her.
I think had she come along about 25 years later, Miss Hemphill would've had a helluva career in comedy that would've gone beyond a few guest spots in Martin or CB4 (1993). While I'm always happy when newcomers give dap to old schoolers, her presence always has a special place in my heart.
What was your favorite Shirley episode from What's Happening? Mine was Shirley's Date because decades later, when I was on bedrest, I ran across the episode on YouTube. The comments made me wet my drawers and then I thought about it...'Why would a dude in a suit come to the hood for a date with a waitress who ain't topless? And take her to a teen house party before there was a House Party?' Anyway, thanks to all for making me laugh before having to change underwear.
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