MovieChat Forums > What's Happening!! (1976) Discussion > The Doobie Brothers, Could've been subs...

The Doobie Brothers, Could've been substituted with what group?

posted 15 years ago by drtturner
33 replies | jump to latest

I remember album cover use to always have these groups looking all intimidating to where you couldn't tell if they were singers or a gang. Probably both. The episode where the Doobies stop the culprits from going through the front and back door could have easily been portrayed by these super groups of the time.

Earth Wind and Fire
Commodore
Isley Brothers
Confunkshun
Cameo
KC and the Sunshine Band
Sly and the Family Stone

Who Did I notably miss ? and don;t say Jackson 5 who were just kids themselves

[–] rty33 15 years ago

Commodores!! Can you imagine the gang gettin' down to "Brick House"??? lol

[–] drtturner 15 years ago

The show was on a tv budget so you know they would have had the Commodores minus Lionel Ritchie and they would've acted like everything was hunky dory.

[–] LadyLovie 15 years ago

rofl^

[–] sweet1310452 15 years ago

I'm wondering why the Doobie Brothers were chosen to appear- since all the actors were African American it seemed unusual that they chose a group that was not really a huge act in the black community at that time from what I remember. What big hits did the Doobie Brothers have on black radio? In 1977-78 LTD might've been a more appropriate band, Earth Wind and Fire and The Commodores may have been too popular/expensive to get to do this show.

[–] drtturner 15 years ago

Raj was pretty clean cut so I suspect that they were going for cross over appeal. Not to mention, there are many African Americans of that age, especially those who have traveled through military who have many soft sounding groups that they enjoyed, Boz Scaggs, Loggins Messina, Doobies, Police and Chicago most notable. I suspect the producers were more concerned with wholesome image and cross over appeal than they were to have a group that was likely.

[–] MrBlondNYC 15 years ago

"I suspect the producers were more concerned with wholesome image and cross over appeal than they were to have a group that was likely."

Wholesome image? They were The DOOBIE Brothers. Everyone knew what a Doobie was especially in the 70's. This is a strange thread.

George Carlin: It's all bullsh-t and it's bad for ya.

[–] LoveOhLove 10 years ago

This is a strange thread.

I couldnt agree with that statement more!
As Im sitting here reading through the posts Im confused as to why its questioned???

I remember sitting on the living room floor....about 5 years old watching the original episode with my mom and dad and they were JAMMING to Black Water!

I ended up loving that song and to this day have every version of it(studio and live) on my mp3.

I can truly say they caused me to have a diverse taste in great music.

So,let us not question beautiful history,lol.

I,Little Ernie,mean no harm.....

[–] jefgg 7 years ago

Chicago were a great band back in the '70s. I just saw a documentary about them on CNN.

What about The J. Geils Band? I heard they were popular in many African-American communities back in the '70s.

[–] MrBlondNYC 15 years ago

I looked it up on Billboard.com. "Takin' it to the Streets", "What a Fool Believes", and "Minute By Minute" were hits on what was then called the "Black Singles" chart. Plus, Michael MacDonald had plenty of R&B hits in the 80's and there was a brother in the band. "What are you, a half-brother?"

George Carlin: It's all bullsh-t and it's bad for ya.

[–] actorschmactor2000 15 years ago

I think the Doobie Brothers were a perfect choice, I don't understand why people question it. The '70s were a different time, and Mike McDonald was one of the original "blue-eyed soul" brothers, who in the '80s wasn't jammin to him and Patti, "On My Owwwwnnnn..."

[–] MrBlondNYC 15 years ago

"I don't understand why people question it."

Me neither. I don't understand the logic. I mean, George Clinton was on How I Met Your Mother. I didn't hear people saying "Did white people know George Clinton?"

George Carlin: It's all bullsh-t and it's bad for ya.

[–] stevenackerman69 15 years ago

They might've asked other groups that turned the show down. The Doobie Bros. might've agreed to do it, that's all. And I don't think the idea that they weren't black is important. It was just that they were popular for teens at the time.

[–] hifijohn 8 years ago

the DB were very popular at the time so they would have been very expesive too ,maybe it was a personal favor to the producer??? but I agree a black group would have been more in style with the show.

[–] Brian_and_the_Revolution 15 years ago

I thought The Doobie Brothers were a perfect choice. Back then, all of my black friends were not only listening to them but Chicago.

R.I.P David Carradine

[–] mooseandsquirrel-2 15 years ago

I'm wondering why the Doobie Brothers were chosen to appear- since all the actors were African American it seemed unusual that they chose a group that was not really a huge act in the black community at that time from what I remember. What big hits did the Doobie Brothers have on black radio? In 1977-78 LTD might've been a more appropriate band, Earth Wind and Fire and The Commodores may have been too popular/expensive to get to do this show.

I agree with BrainFactor, I thought they were a good choice: Blue-eyed soul brother Michael McDonald and "token" real soul brother Tiran Porter - definitely played to the shows cultural cross over.

They could have had BST (Blood, Sweat & Tears) or 3 Dog Night do a guest appearance too for the same cross over reasons and it would have worked, but I think the Doobies were probably the hippest choice.

Leave the gun. Take the cannoli

[–] brocktonsfinest02303 14 years ago

Slave...no doubt...Bad A$$ Bass Player

[–] stevenackerman69 15 years ago

I like it when they listen to the tape afterwards and it is just Rerun eating popcorn and then Raj and Rerun singing the testing song from earlier. It might've been funnier if when earlier, the conversation with Dunbar was taped and they caught it on there, but I guess it wasn't necessary since they knew who he was to begin with.

[–] heberald26 15 years ago

Parliament!

[–] minotaurman22 14 years ago

Kool & the Gang. In the 70's they were as funky as Earth, Wind & Fire and Sly & the Family Stone. In the 80's however, they became more pop and easy listening.

[–] mamamiasweetpeaches 14 years ago

Earth WIND & FIRE but theres like twenty people in that band so they couldnt afford it! Hahahaha

But I CAN see them dancin to Boogie Wonderland in my head.

Im glad they picked tHE dOOBIES though. I love there reactins to that weird gong solo. Hahaha

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[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] minotaurman22 14 years ago

I think most people here understand that the Doobie Brothers were a very popular group. We're just listing other bands that also could have fit well in this episode too. Bands that had lots of members(6 or more) and appealed to the young, urban black youth at the time.

[–] drtturner 14 years ago

Good posting guys, I'm the OP and knock on wood I am still alive and kicking.....and pssst (hand covering mouth and whispering a secret) I have no idea what I was getting at when I posted this thread.

[–] SteelKeez 14 years ago

@faced i like the bands you mentioned..But i became a real fan of the Doobies because of that episode.Michael Mcdonald is the truth

[–] UN_Jefferson 11 years ago

They should have used War they were actually from the nearby area (Long Beach) and multicultural.

[–] tanya1976 11 years ago

This episode is one of my favorites, particularly because I like Michael McDonald.

I must warn you. I'm very susceptible to flattery.

[–] moonglum9 11 years ago

(...tape recorder falls out of Reruns coat, the Doobies stop playing and glare sternly at the Happenin' trio)

"We thought you were our friends!"

The greatest betrayal since Judas.