Danielle Spencer's acting ability.....

[nndman1]

I watched a few 2nd season shows this past week and was surprised at the lack of emotion she displayed. They gave her some of the best lines and she delivered them like she was a robot. No wonder we never saw here in anything else again.

[robby76]

I think that was part of her charm... it gets some getting used to. When I first re-watched the dvds I thought... "this girl is crap"... but now she's the highlight of the show! Judging by past posts, you either love her or hate her. She was young, cool, she didn't care what people thought, she had an attitude... that can come across as robotic. I love her!

[GARFIELDKOOL]

I watched a few 2nd season shows this past week and was surprised at the lack of emotion she displayed. They gave her some of the best lines and she delivered them like she was a robot. No wonder we never saw here in anything else again.

You took the words right out of my mouth! I couldn't agree with you more! She was a horrible actress. Her voice sounded dull!

[TVFactFan]

I watched a few 2nd season shows this past week and was surprised at the lack of emotion she displayed. They gave her some of the best lines and she delivered them like she was a robot. No wonder we never saw here in anything else again.



Well when you are a bad actress and not much of a Looker, it will be very hard to be considered for acting roles-lol

[GARFIELDKOOL]

Well when you are a bad actress and not much of a Looker, it will be very hard to be considered for acting roles-lol

Retro, you got me cracking up! LOL. But you are right. Dee was ugly! When she got older, her looks didn't improve. But I saw a recent picture of her. She's not bad now.

[Dwaynew]

For that time-era, I thought Dee did a wonderful job with her lines, during those times, she lost her father but she held together.

Too many child stars are exploited, and it's great to see that Ms. Spencer decided to persue her dream.

[nndman1]

Having seen some 1st season episodes for the 1st time in years, I must say that Danielle was much better in this season than the other two. She seemed to have a little more emotion in delivering her lines than in seasons 2 & 3.

[robby76]

I got Season 1 today and you're right nndman1... Danielle was a lot livelier in Season 1, but considering her parents were involved in the fatal car accident I'm not suprised she toned down in Season 2. I love Dee anyway, she even got a mention on "King Of Queens"!

[Living In a '70's Dream]

I love Danille Spancer (Dee) Now she was not the best actress on television nor was she super gorgeous, but who cares; she was definitely the highlight of What's Happening!!:)

[tv star collector]

I love Danille Spancer (Dee) Now she was not the best actress on television nor was she super gorgeous, but who cares; she was definitely the highlight of What's Happening!!:)
I, too, thought Danielle Spencer was the funniest person on this show.

[Ireneparalegal]

I got Season 1 today and you're right nndman1... Danielle was a lot livelier in Season 1, but considering her parents were involved in the fatal car accident I'm not suprised she toned down in Season 2. I love Dee anyway, she even got a mention on "King Of Queens"!
Which ep. of King of Queens was she mentioned???
I believe only she and her father were in the car when he was killed.
Danielle is now a veterinarian.

[Selma]

I think she is one of the greatest child actors evah! Deadpan, perfect comic timing! Do you guys realize how brilliant you have to be to become a veterinarian?

Dakota Fanning/Haley Joel Osment--feh............

[magellan333]

I saw little change in Dee between seasons 1 and 2. I do see a decline in quality between the seasons though. I don't plan to buy season 3.

[robby76]

How about Dee in What's Happening Now? How's she in that? And why wasn't she in the opening credits? Did she not have a major role in it?

[nndman1]

If I'm not mistaken, Dee was a supporting character in WHN. She appeared in only a few episodes. Kinda like: special appearance by ____________

[Rene]

wait what happened to her parents?

[show2n]

I'm watching the What's Happening Marathon on TVLAND now. The one thing that amazes me is the acting style of Danielle Spencer.

She walks that fine line between bored and sarcastic. She appears bored, but not so much that she draws focus. Her timing is amazing and her delivery is perfect.

I would be curious to hear is she was directed that way or was it just the way she read it and the director kept it.

Either way, she makes me laugh and the show would not have been the same without her. She is the ultimate brat.

Love the show.

[Del]

I agree Dee's acting got progressively worse between seasons 1 and 3 of WH. During many scenes, she not even looking into the right camera? Other scenes, she staring at the floor while dialoguing with another actor. Some of her potentially emotional lines are delivered in a very unemotionaly way. Her body positions and demeanor during many season 2 and 3 scenes were very understated and insecure...perhaps because she is insecure with her weight, which is to be expected at that age.

But much blame can be placed on other factors outside her control. Its quite difficult to cast for a maturing teenage girl with Dee's character. Remember, Joanie from Happy Days? Same struggles. The girls from Facts of Like? Same issues in terms of storylines. The only difference is those girls had support and resources from their Networks to hone their skills. WH was not well-supported by its network...compared to other shows. WH was given a much tighter budget and fewer resources than its peer shows during the same time.

Keep in mind, Dee was 9 at the start of the show. She was 14 by Season 3 according to the script. Raj didn't live with her anymore, so she couldn't have as many "oooh, I'm tellin Ma" moments. Plus, Ma wasn't even there to tell anyway!

Also, I belive the overall production value of the show got worse between seasons 1 and 3. The directing got worse as well. You could see mic shadows in several scenes. Props would fall in other scenes. The scripts were not always logical (probably due to poor editing). Many of the extras and special guests were usually 2nd rate. The plots and storylines got worse and worser over the years.

BUT, watch closely at her special guest appearances on WHN in 1985-86. First, she looked wonderful. In fact, FINE. Second, her acting was clearly more polished as an adult (I believe around 21 year old during her appearances on WHN.

[Ireneparalegal]

wait what happened to her parents?
While she was on WH, she happened to be in a vehicle accident with her father, who was driving. He was killed instantly. she was slightly injured. I remember reading abt that in the paper. How hard it must have been for her to do a sitcom while having lost her father at a young age. I believe she was 12 when this occurred.

[tv star collector]

I think that was part of her charm... it gets some getting used to. When I first re-watched the dvds I thought... "this girl is crap"... but now she's the highlight of the show! Judging by past posts, you either love her or hate her. She was young, cool, she didn't care what people thought, she had an attitude... that can come across as robotic. I love her!
I thought she was the highlight of the show, too (esp. the early episodes).

[Brian Damage]

Although she wasn't the greatest actress in the world, I think she played the role of Dee to perfection.

[Brieannas21]

I got Season 1 today and you're right nndman1... Danielle was a lot livelier in Season 1, but considering her parents were involved in the fatal car accident I'm not suprised she toned down in Season 2. I love Dee anyway, she even got a mention on "King Of Queens"!

Yeah in the 1st season she was much more lively, and you can tell in the 2nd season she became monotone when she was delivering her lines. When you lose a parent it's hard to go back to work and try to perform without it hurting your performance. Especially if she was a daddy's girl then I can see why she wasn't up to par.

LOL I remember when Doug mentioned Dee in King of Queen.

[JT]

I think Danielle delivered her lines the way she did on purpose. The character of Dee was very much dry and deadpannish and I think that that was part of her.

[CindyRoxiesLair2006]

Generally speaking, as a diehard classic-sitcom fan, when I was growing up as a young child in the Seventies decade, I tended to look up to Danielle Spencer and her character (Dee Thomas, WH). I identified with her in some ways back then.
Simply because I happened to be just as sharp-witted, also bratty (on occasion! LOL). :rotflmao:
Overall, Danielle/Dee totally rocked as a whole and she still does, in MY book!:happyface
And as far as her looks go, well...all I can say is this:
She was homely as a child, beginning on WH, but as she got older she got prettier---even through WHN, and even nowadays, as a veterinarian/occasional actress, Danielle looks great to be "freshly 40". She's also a married soul (since 1999, I hear)!
And, Dee resembles her long-departed father in a lot of ways too. Just look at Tim Pelt as the Agent in Season 1, Episode 4, "My Three Tons" (where Rerun tries out for the "Rockets" dance corps)...she and her father have the same little "overbite" and "permanent frown" on their faces...LOL, not kidding!

And about her becoming a veterinarian, versus "how much brains it takes to be one...", etc., WELL...
Actually speaking, it sure DOES take the right kind of person to become a successful vet---and brains also. Danielle is smart, quite intelligent all around and she thought way ahead about her immediate & long-term futures in choosing to go to veterinary school, etc. Face it...
She did the right thing; it's too bad & tragic that so many other child actors/former child actors didn't do the same in thinking ahead on a serious level. THINK ABOUT IT...

Danielle Spencer totally rocks! No matter what anyone might say or think...LOL

[CindyRoxiesLair2006]

I thought she was the highlight of the show, too (esp. the early episodes).

All apologies for the dual-post, but I agree with tv star collector's assessment of Danielle/Dee Spencer, in the sense that she WAS the highlight of WH.
To me, I'd much rather see Dee make a statement (whether humorous or not) on there, as opposed to Rerun---who was allegedly the "anchor" of the whole show.
I disagree with that totally. He wasn't really all that funny, but on the other hand Dee certainly was (and still is!)...

So there you go, guys & gals. Deadpan, flat, and deliberate or not, Dee Spencer could act, and still can. It's just there...
:lol: :cool:

[comedyfreak]

If I'm not mistaken, Dee was a supporting character in WHN. She appeared in only a few episodes. Kinda like: special appearance by ____________
This is true, wasn't she also going to College in real life at this time? Dee and Shirley are my favorite WH characters.

[CindyRoxiesLair2006]

This is true, wasn't she also going to College in real life at this time? Dee and Shirley are my favorite WH characters.

Yes, comedyfreak, Danielle/Dee Spencer was going to college in real life during WHN.
She's smart as a whip. And when Danielle does any acting (occasionally), it's pretty cool too.
I agree with you on the favorite characters thing: Dee and Shirley are the best!
:talk: :cool: :happyface

[pinkcarnation]

Generally speaking, as a diehard classic-sitcom fan, when I was growing up as a young child in the Seventies decade, I tended to look up to Danielle Spencer and her character (Dee Thomas, WH). I identified with her in some ways back then.
Simply because I happened to be just as sharp-witted, also bratty (on occasion! LOL). :rotflmao:
Overall, Danielle/Dee totally rocked as a whole and she still does, in MY book!:happyface
And as far as her looks go, well...all I can say is this:
She was homely as a child, beginning on WH, but as she got older she got prettier---even through WHN, and even nowadays, as a veterinarian/occasional actress, Danielle looks great to be "freshly 40". She's also a married soul (since 1999, I hear)!
And, Dee resembles her long-departed father in a lot of ways too. Just look at Tim Pelt as the Agent in Season 1, Episode 4, "My Three Tons" (where Rerun tries out for the "Rockets" dance corps)...she and her father have the same little "overbite" and "permanent frown" on their faces...LOL, not kidding!

And about her becoming a veterinarian, versus "how much brains it takes to be one...", etc., WELL...
Actually speaking, it sure DOES take the right kind of person to become a successful vet---and brains also. Danielle is smart, quite intelligent all around and she thought way ahead about her immediate & long-term futures in choosing to go to veterinary school, etc. Face it...
She did the right thing; it's too bad & tragic that so many other child actors/former child actors didn't do the same in thinking ahead on a serious level. THINK ABOUT IT...

Danielle Spencer totally rocks! No matter what anyone might say or think...LOL
ITA as a younger sister to an older "know it all"brother myself i identified with Dee too. I loved her... I admire her overcoming her struggles and doing something good with her life.. She was my patron saint as a kid...