That's not too uncommon. Back then it was easier to get a young 20 or mid 20s to avoid the child labor laws and also so the characters don't look vastly different year to year.
@@jdtaylor5 Yes! Plenty of highly intelligent people have done & still do things counter intuitive to the intelligence they possess. Have you not ever done something you knew before hand you should not do? We all have.
@@BegodeEx30 Yes, I have but I always say I will make a mistake but please not a big one. Rog made some huge mistakes and he paid for it. Living in a ymca where I use to go hoop at. That's low bro
@@jdtaylor5 Sometimes more money attract bigger demons. Anyhow, the man bounced back & came back stronger. You don't judge a man's strength & intelligence by how many times he fall nor how deep a hole he falls into, you judge how they recover from it.
My mother went to school with him. There were only a handful of Black kids that went to Emerson during that time. My mom's and Aunt where part of that. I would look at her year book and be like Damn where is all the Black people?? Lol. You would of thought she went to Merrillville in the 60's..
So Vlad used to breakdance but doesn't know the difference between breakdancing and popping/locking? He called Fred Berry a breakdancer! Very culturish vulturish of him
or he could just be old. Our mamas gave birth to us, and saw us grow and change, but it doesn't mean they got the name they gave us right all the time. Malcolm, Jimmy, Eric, you know who I'm talking to now.
@@kjdnyhmghfvb Huh? Horrible analogy. Vlad is only 46. The 80's wasn't that long ago for him to be that forgetful. There's a huge difference between breakdancing and popping & locking. Unless you was living under a rock or weren't really down with the culture like you say you are then there's no way anyone who claims to be apart of hip hop could make such a discrepancy
Thank you, Ernest, and all of your former cast mates on What's Happening, for making great, clean, fun family shows! My family is watching the reruns (no pun intended). God bless you.
Been waiting on this part of the interview. I'm an AADA alum (Class of 03, company member for 03-04).. "Raj" was a big reason why I chose to go to school there.. He, Redford and Danny DeVito were the names/faces that stuck out to me in the brochure.. If you ever visit the school (Madison and 30th in the city) you will see the graduation boards lining all of the walls throughout. Each graduation board has the headshots of each graduating member. Walking through there you will see LEGENDS... and, as it was pointed out to me by Clem the former security guard, a couple of porn stars lmfao.. I'm happy that my face is on the wall somewhere in that building these days.
ERNIE!!!!!!! YOUR SO MODEST!!!!!!!! BUT SERIOUSLY......THANK YOU VLAD......PERSONALLY!!!!!!!!!! FOR HAVING THIS GREAT MAN.....ERNEST LEE THOMAS...for having this great MAN ON YOUR PLATFORM!!!!!!!
Well, he moved to the US from Russia as a little boy. He probably didn't grow up watching What's Happening as a kid. Vlad was from a different lifestyle and different custom.
*The Lockers* Don "Campbellock" Campbell (1951-2020), founding member Toni Basil (b. 1943), founding member Fred "Mr. Penguin" Berry (1951-2003) Greg "Campbellock Jr" PopeA (1952-2010) Adolfo "Shabba Doo" Quiñones (1955-2020), founding member Bill "Slim the Robot" Williams (b. 1952), founding member Leo "Fluky Luke" Williamson, founding member Anthony "Tony Go Go" Foster (b. 1955)
Vlad making a lot of haters eat their words with these fire 🔥 interviews. I’m not a Vlad fan, but can’t deny these quality guests, that no other white platform puts on.
I remember when this man and Haywood Nelson walked into my motorcycle shop in Venice CA one day. I was starting at them and THEY KNEW I was trying to figure out who they were. VERY COOL GENTLEMEN!
Rip to the people from what's happening . Rip ozone , miss you all . I still have breakin 1 and 2 and I watch them once in a while . I have cooley high 1975 .
Great actor love Ernest Thomas very talented guy he's definitely a legend he was in one of my all time favorite sitcoms growing up and piece of the action and Malcolm x and everybody loves Chris and funny people great guy wonderful actor
He was DEFINITELY the star of the show... But it was a GREAT cast and I grew up watching it... Sorry to hear that he went through all that stuff in later years.... BLESSINGS
Hi edagdwg thanks for sharing this story of what happens when you pay attention to what you are doing with your life God bless you for doing what God gives you a gift of acting as a job stay true to yourself as a child of God love this man as a child of God being yourself is all you have I went to one of his off Broadway loved the play linda j peace ❤️💯💯💯 him☮️☮️☮️☮️❤️💯
Watch the full interview now as a VladTV UA-cam Member:
ua-cam.com/video/KXTX4nAcVGI/v-deo.html
@djvlad you need to interview Toni basil while shes still alive!! your welcome
Love him to pieces. Such a class act 👍🏽
Toni Basil was actually pop-locking before rerun she even danced with Free Run part of the original Rockettes
Did you ever confirm if Ernie was talking about F. Murray Abraham as the Oscar winner in Amadeus? I don't think he mentioned his name.
What happening now
People don't understand how legendary what's happening and this man is.
If it’s legendary then they should understand right? Just admit it’s for a specific era and age group it’s not timeless
@@CriminalCamHub dumb statement by u because I’m blacc. so what am I exempt so it makes your blanket statement facts?
Facts, I still watch it to this very day
Dee(raj's sis) fat jokes never gets old 😂
He surely does speak well. He should be a narrator.
One thing we can't deny, Vlad is helping to keep these legends' legacies alive
Agreed 100%
Fr I didn’t know mr. omars real name until now
This is True 🙏🏽
This is facts!! Thats why I don't care about the Bull shit people say and canceling Vlad. He be having some killer interviews with legends.
I agree
this guy is a Legend 2 a lot of us...
Yeah to those that are old now and on there way to the upper room jk jk y’all prolly in your forties
Absolutely!!!👌🏾💯💪🏾
@@JaeDee66 Yup! 46 here!
@@theagbaman and ain’t nothin wrong with that. I just knew it was a specific age and demographic lol.
Definitely I always watch What's Happening and do the Raj Dance
71 !!!! He looks Great
I still can't believe that he was 25 when he got cast as a teenager on What's Happening! He aged gracefully.
Well back then in that era teens did look over 25
Jimmy Walker was 27 playing a high schooler when good time's started
@@23kingwill good example
That's not too uncommon. Back then it was easier to get a young 20 or mid 20s to avoid the child labor laws and also so the characters don't look vastly different year to year.
Fred Berry, who played Re-Run was also 25 yrs of age. The only teen actor Hayeood Nelson, who played Dwayne, he was 17 yrs of age.
My mom use to watch the show all of the time when I was a kid. Damn I miss her already it’s only been two weeks. Rip mom😩
Sorry for your loss
Condolences 💐
Thanks so much guys. It’s been a hard road.
Rest In Peace to your mother💯💯🙏🏿🙏🏿Mine been gone since 1997💯and I have a biological mother that I never met💯so I feel ya pain
❤
Earnest Lee Thomas isn't just funny, he's very intellectually deep also, I respect him immensely...
Even on the show, you could tell Ernest was a sweetheart of a guy. His spirit shines through!
He looks amazing! Thank you Vald I'm reliving my hay days as a child when everyone that I loved and they loved me was alive.
Im glad he corrected vlad about rerun... the lockers some of the best dancers ever...
Happy birthday to ernest that's coming up soon,plz give him flowers while he's here
Fred Berry wasn't a "Break Dancer". He was a Locker.
I’m so glad Raj corrected Vlad,
Damn good one too ! 😁
My main man!
Right! Break dancing didn't even hit tll the 80s.
@@nlee4566 A "culture vulture" wouldn't know that.
Grew up watching What's Happening during my 80s childhood you Dewayne and Rerun was funny together good to see this Brother still Relevant
What’s happening gotta be one of the greatest theme songs ever
Quincy Jones probably did that one too. I know he did Sanford & Son
@@rottie615 Henry Mancini
Spot on !
The 1st Black Teen Sitcom🤴🏾
I loved what’s happening, I never knew he was such an accomplished actor.
Ernst Thomas is representing Kappa Alpha Psi BIG TIME with his jacket on in this interview.
Legendary simply legendary give this man all his flowers and his kudos why he is still alive thank you Vlad
He definitely needs to get Laurence Hilton Jacob's on his show and Pam grier cause they done mighty work back in the day.
glynn turman too from different world
Shit add N'Bushe Wright to the list
@@mauricefears1430 why you talkin bout my gull bruh? Nah, I love N'bushe.
@@cee8774 You don't know about JD's Revenge and Cooley High.
@@bphlatsax75 Shit she was everyone dream girl in the 90s lol. I miss seeing her in movies.
Ernest Thomas is a highly intelligent man. He could have started his own business.
Do intelligent people use drugs and spend all their money? Just asking.
@@jdtaylor5 We all can't be perfect like you. 🙄
@@jdtaylor5 Yes! Plenty of highly intelligent people have done & still do things counter intuitive to the intelligence they possess. Have you not ever done something you knew before hand you should not do? We all have.
@@BegodeEx30 Yes, I have but I always say I will make a mistake but please not a big one. Rog made some huge mistakes and he paid for it. Living in a ymca where I use to go hoop at. That's low bro
@@jdtaylor5 Sometimes more money attract bigger demons. Anyhow, the man bounced back & came back stronger.
You don't judge a man's strength & intelligence by how many times he fall nor how deep a hole he falls into, you judge how they recover from it.
Who remembers the Raj dance though?
It's a classic.
... remember it?! Shid I STILL do it👌🏿😂
I not only remember it, but I use to do it.
🙋🏽♀️🙋🏽♀️🙋🏽♀️ I do!!!
Still do it. What about the split he tried "The Rockets"?
He's just an incredible guy!
That show, What's Happening, is at the top of pleasant childhood memories for me. I absolutely cherish the entire cast.
I loved this show growing up. "Dont forget Dee." I loved all the characters and the laughs. Will never forget this show.
Dee was the best thing about the show. The dry humor and irreverent nature of that kid was comedy gold!
This man is an ambassador for humility.
Straight out of Gary Indiana.... HOMETOWN 💯
True! Watching this from the G right now
Im from Gary stay in Aetna
@@GICHICK 2292 Madison St 46407 born and raised
@@JUMPMANFROMCLUBHOUSE He from Dorie Miller and went to Emerson
My mother went to school with him. There were only a handful of Black kids that went to Emerson during that time. My mom's and Aunt where part of that. I would look at her year book and be like Damn where is all the Black people?? Lol. You would of thought she went to Merrillville in the 60's..
So Vlad used to breakdance but doesn't know the difference between breakdancing and popping/locking? He called Fred Berry a breakdancer! Very culturish vulturish of him
vlad did one spin on a piece of cardboard now he is a break dancer, i guess im a break dancer too
Man stfu 🤣🤣
or he could just be old. Our mamas gave birth to us, and saw us grow and change, but it doesn't mean they got the name they gave us right all the time. Malcolm, Jimmy, Eric, you know who I'm talking to now.
@@kjdnyhmghfvb Huh? Horrible analogy. Vlad is only 46. The 80's wasn't that long ago for him to be that forgetful. There's a huge difference between breakdancing and popping & locking. Unless you was living under a rock or weren't really down with the culture like you say you are then there's no way anyone who claims to be apart of hip hop could make such a discrepancy
VLAD is a FUCKIN LIAR!!😆😆
Huuuuuuge part of my childhood. Loved What’s Happening.
Mama said, “Broadway and what, baby? Mama’ll come and pick you up!” 😄 Funny!
I BEEN WAITING TO HEAR THIS MANS STORY YO THE GOAT VLAD!!
Thank you, Ernest, and all of your former cast mates on What's Happening, for making great, clean, fun family shows! My family is watching the reruns (no pun intended). God bless you.
Hard to believe Mr. Earnest Thomas is nearly 72. I see what he means regarding his family’s genes.
The way Ernest Thomas speaks is very inviting and intriguing. I really enjoyed this interview. And Rog was my guy!!
People be hating on Vlad but he gets the interviews that all these other platforms be slipping on. Don’t hate’m beat’m
So true! I love seeing all these actors and entertainers from back in the day. They are legends!
Preach!! This is why I never jumped on the "cancel Vlad" train. He be having some killer interviews.
Facts
TRUTH SPOKEN HERE!!!
What an awesome guy. He was a great actor too and funny as hell. A legend.
Been waiting on this part of the interview. I'm an AADA alum (Class of 03, company member for 03-04).. "Raj" was a big reason why I chose to go to school there.. He, Redford and Danny DeVito were the names/faces that stuck out to me in the brochure.. If you ever visit the school (Madison and 30th in the city) you will see the graduation boards lining all of the walls throughout. Each graduation board has the headshots of each graduating member. Walking through there you will see LEGENDS... and, as it was pointed out to me by Clem the former security guard, a couple of porn stars lmfao.. I'm happy that my face is on the wall somewhere in that building these days.
One of the greats so glad to see this interview!!
I use to love “What’s happening”
I wouldn’t miss an episode!!!
I'm 34 I know of what's happening but this is legendary Mr Omar.... Tragic!
"I'm the man of the house, damn it, and that's the way it's gonna be!!!!"
Raj... boy, I thought his momma was gone kill him when he yelled this at her
Sensational interview, thank you!
Loved that show as a kid. Was so authentic and genuine. Good old days man. Every morning I was locked in.
I love what's happening one of my all time favorite shows
My mother went to High School with him I saw him in her year book. EMERSON H.S. GARY, IND.
My mother and my Auntie went to Emerson where they were only a handful of Black kids that went there..
He’s so suave in real life. He creeped tf outta me on Everybody Hates Chris lol.
ERNIE!!!!!!! YOUR SO MODEST!!!!!!!! BUT SERIOUSLY......THANK YOU VLAD......PERSONALLY!!!!!!!!!! FOR HAVING THIS GREAT MAN.....ERNEST LEE THOMAS...for having this great MAN ON YOUR PLATFORM!!!!!!!
He looks like T O big brother, the brother that stayed out of trouble & went to College
Lol
😂 you ain’t lyin
I still watch what’s happening till today great show
Thanks for the What's Happening memories.
The Doobie Brothers episode, still the best episode of the entire run.
Happy birthday to you Ernest Lee Thomas 3 26. No matter what happened good or bad, you are here to tell us
Can we get Dee and Dwayne next ?
71 he looks great😀
These stories are very good.
This dude Vlad knows nothing about the show. This clown said Dewayne played Raj’s little brother.🤦🏾♂️
Well, he moved to the US from Russia as a little boy. He probably didn't grow up watching What's Happening as a kid. Vlad was from a different lifestyle and different custom.
@@queenskid3780 Yes, but he needs to better research his guests.
@@georgeklimes7604 You have a point but at least he's giving them opportunities to tell their story to the younger generation.
Not really a big deal. Dwayne could have easily been his brother
OK, so he had a mishap, which most non-black reporters do...AND?
OMG, YAY! What's Happening was my shit.
Fred Berry was pop locking on the Dinah Shore show...
pop locking which is a sub genre of break dancing
...and on Soul Train...
YES, that is true
What time are you coming home Missy
*The Lockers*
Don "Campbellock" Campbell (1951-2020), founding member
Toni Basil (b. 1943), founding member
Fred "Mr. Penguin" Berry (1951-2003)
Greg "Campbellock Jr" PopeA (1952-2010)
Adolfo "Shabba Doo" Quiñones (1955-2020), founding member
Bill "Slim the Robot" Williams (b. 1952), founding member
Leo "Fluky Luke" Williamson, founding member
Anthony "Tony Go Go" Foster (b. 1955)
Mommy!!! I’m on Broadway
Broadway where baby, I’m coming to pick you up
That’s a grandma for you, right there! Love
😂😂😂😂
That was funny as Hell that’s old people for you
Even funnier if you know his hometown Gary , Broadway is the main street there .
One of my favorite shows. It's too bad networks don't make that kind of quality programming now.
I know he Raj but he's Mr.Omar to me 😂😂😂
TRAGIC!🤣🤣
Boy sitcho young ass down🤣
Tragic! Tragic
Prince OOchie 😂
That part lol
They had a serious comedy team. A great show.
Good interview Vlad!! I watched the whole thang!!!
Man I used to love Raj man. As a kid, I used to laugh my as off, of his dance, look up the Raj dance, its hilarious.
I wish Vlad woulda named all 48 stars that made it out that college so we coulda kept hearing Ernest say Yes Yes Yes after each one lol shit was 🔥😂
"Yes, Yes, oh indeed, Yesss, indubitably ..."
He looks good..God bless you Ernest Thomas
Man my brother and I grew up on What’s happening, 👍🏼we loved that show!
What ya know about "Whats Happening Now" tho in the 80s. Martin Lawrence came from that show. Shirley was funny as hell too.
This is a great interview!!
I never put it together he played Raj ...I remeber him in Malcom X and some other great Movies !!! We used to watch reruns of Whats Happenin
Yup he was the one that warned Malcolm X about the car bomb.
He was also Mr Omar on Everybody Hates Chris.
I’m such a fan of his and I’m loving this interview
When I asked Ernest what's happening, he told me straight up it's time to get busy..💪💯😎
Corny
Nigga.......
And Raj’s signature dance move was funny as heck.
💯I used to do that dance all the time in elementary school. Class clown sh*t. Even got detention a few times because of it. Tragic, tragic...
Vlad making a lot of haters eat their words with these fire 🔥 interviews. I’m not a Vlad fan, but can’t deny these quality guests, that no other white platform puts on.
Salute Vlad. Getting some great interviews from excellent guests.
Even in his 70s, he still seems to be active with his Fraternity!
Man he's in his 70s and he takes good care of himself as I can see. Talking about black don't crack.
Raj: ‘Hello 7’
Rerun: ‘Hello Mrs. Thomas’
The day they were rolling dice.🤣
RIP Shabadoo and Don Campbell. Dance legends.
I remember when this man and Haywood Nelson walked into my motorcycle shop in Venice CA one day. I was starting at them and THEY KNEW I was trying to figure out who they were. VERY COOL GENTLEMEN!
I am 47 years old this month and I remember him from Whats Happening and Whats Happening Now, but Mr. Omar is my guy!!!!!!! Tragic, Tragic!
This guy is 71 now WOW
He could pass for 40 all day. He has aged gracefully. Look how Trump and all look 100
He just turned 72.
Rip to the people from what's happening . Rip ozone , miss you all . I still have breakin 1 and 2 and I watch them once in a while . I have cooley high 1975 .
Give Vlad respect for acknowledging pple in entertainment that Hollywood doesn't
No doubt. Hes a cornball but he gets some really cool guests.
Great actor love Ernest Thomas very talented guy he's definitely a legend he was in one of my all time favorite sitcoms growing up and piece of the action and Malcolm x and everybody loves Chris and funny people great guy wonderful actor
He was DEFINITELY the star of the show... But it was a GREAT cast and I grew up watching it... Sorry to hear that he went through all that stuff in later years.... BLESSINGS
F. Murray Abraham from Amadeus. Thank you for schooling Vlad Ernest. You're a national treasure.
We did the “Raj” dance too.🙂
Lol he snuck that ‘exotic Dancer’ thing past 😂
Solid actor. Solid person. Solid man.
Absolutely.
He's been great in everything!!!
"Duane, your little brother....." He never ceases to amaze me smh
Love the blazer "Yo Baby Yo"!
He has the spirit of a great social worker.
What’s Happening Now was dope too!!! I literally seen all episodes of it and the original too.
Been waiting all morning for the vids...
Growing up, I knew he was the best Actor on What's Happening as one of the teens.
I love what's happening
I glad he said the preacher from cooley high part because I alway thought that
Don’t forget to ask him about Martin Lawrence Glad! That’s where Martin got started
Pretty sure the interview is already over lol This aint in real time
@@brianlarkin8208 🤣
U called him Glad? Ernest Thomas is gay too
@@horizontoday7874 he's not gay lmao.
@@hayesc0 He is. Everyone doesn’t showboat their sexuality. Some people prefer to keep it private. The way it should be
Hi edagdwg thanks for sharing this story of what happens when you pay attention to what you are doing with your life God bless you for doing what God gives you a gift of acting as a job stay true to yourself as a child of God love this man as a child of God being yourself is all you have I went to one of his off Broadway loved the play linda j peace ❤️💯💯💯 him☮️☮️☮️☮️❤️💯