Happy Days Explained

Genre:Sitcom
Creator:Garry Marshall
Country:United States
Language:English
Num Seasons:11
Num Episodes:255
List Episodes:List of Happy Days episodes
Runtime:25 minutes
Network:ABC
Alt Name:Happy Days Again

Happy Days is an American television sitcom that aired first-run on the ABC network from January 15, 1974, to July 19, 1984, with a total of 255 half-hour episodes spanning 11 seasons. Created by Garry Marshall, it was one of the most successful series of the 1970s. The series presented an idealized vision of life in the 1950s and early 1960s Midwestern United States, and it starred Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham, Henry Winkler as his friend Fonzie, and Tom Bosley and Marion Ross as Richie's parents, Howard and Marion Cunningham.[1] Although it opened to mixed reviews from critics, Happy Days became successful and popular over time.[2]

The series began as an unsold pilot starring Howard, Ross and Anson Williams, which aired in 1972 as a segment titled "Love and the Television Set" (later retitled "Love and the Happy Days" for syndication) on ABC's anthology show Love, American Style. Based on the pilot, director George Lucas cast Howard as the lead in his 1973 film American Graffiti, causing ABC to take a renewed interest in the pilot. The first two seasons of Happy Days focused on the experiences and dilemmas of "innocent teenager" Richie Cunningham, his family, and his high school friends, attempting to "honestly depict a wistful look back at adolescence".[2]

Initially a moderate success, the series' ratings began to fall during its second season, causing Marshall to retool it. The new format emphasized broad comedy and spotlighted the previously minor character of Fonzie, a "cool" biker and high school dropout.[2] Following these changes, Happy Days became the number-one program in television in 1976–1977, Fonzie became one of the most merchandised characters of the 1970s, and Henry Winkler became a major star.[3] [4] The series also spawned a number of spin-offs, including Laverne & Shirley and Mork & Mindy.

Plot

Set in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the 1950s, the series revolves around teenager Richie Cunningham and his family: his father, Howard, who owns a hardware store; traditional homemaker and mother, Marion; younger sister Joanie Cunningham; Richie's older brother Chuck (briefly in seasons 1 and 2 only, disappearing from storylines afterward); and high school dropout, leather-jacket–clad greaser, suave and promiscuous mechanic Fonzie, who would eventually become Richie's best friend and the Cunninghams' over-the-garage tenant. The earliest episodes revolve around Richie and his friends, Potsie Weber and Ralph Malph, with Fonzie as a secondary character. However, as the series progressed, Fonzie proved to be a favorite with viewers, and soon more story lines were written to reflect his growing popularity, Winkler was top billed in the opening credits alongside Howard by season 3.[5] Fonzie befriended Richie and the Cunningham family and, when Richie left the series for military service, Fonzie became the central figure of the show, with Winkler receiving sole top billing. In later seasons, other characters were introduced including Fonzie's young cousin, Chachi Arcola, who became a love interest for Joanie Cunningham.

The series' pilot was originally shown as "Love and the Television Set", later retitled "Love and the Happy Days" for syndication, a one-episode teleplay on the anthology series Love, American Style, aired on February 25, 1972. Happy Days spawned successful television shows Laverne & Shirley and Mork & Mindy as well as three failures: Joanie Loves Chachi, Blansky's Beauties featuring Nancy Walker as Howard's cousin,[6] and Out of the Blue. The show is the basis for the Happy Days musical touring the United States since 2008. The leather jacket worn by Winkler during the series was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution for the permanent collection at the National Museum of American History.[7] The original, light grey McGregor windbreaker Winkler wore during the first season eventually was thrown into the garbage after ABC relented and allowed the Fonzie character to wear a leather jacket.

Cast

ActorCharacterSeasons
1234567891011Ep
Ron HowardRichie Cunningham170
Anson WilliamsPotsie Weber211
Marion RossMarion Cunningham252
Tom BosleyHoward Cunningham255
Henry Winkler255
Don MostRalph Malph168
Erin MoranJoanie Cunningham234
Al MolinaroAl Delvecchio145
Scott BaioChachi Arcola131
Lori Beth Cunningham66
Cathy SilversJenny Piccolo55
Ted McGinleyRoger Phillips61
Linda PurlAshley Pfister19
Heather O'RourkeHeather Pfister12

Characters

Main

Minor/recurring

Production

Happy Days originated during a time of 1950s nostalgic interest as evident in 1970s film, television, and music. In late winter of 1971, Michael Eisner was snowed in at Newark airport where he bumped into Tom Miller, head of development at Paramount. Eisner has stated that he told Miller, "Tom, this is ridiculous. We're wasting our time here. Let's write a show." The script treatment that came out of that did not sell. But in spite of the market research department telling them that the 1950s theme would not work, they decided to redo it, and this was accepted as a pilot.[22] This unsold pilot was filmed in late 1971 and titled New Family in Town, with Harold Gould in the role of Howard Cunningham, Marion Ross as Marion, Ron Howard as Richie, Anson Williams as Potsie, Ric Carrott as Charles "Chuck" Cunningham, and Susan Neher as Joanie. Paramount passed on making it into a weekly series, and the pilot was recycled with the title Love and the Television Set (later retitled Love and the Happy Days for syndication), for presentation on the television anthology series Love, American Style.[23] Also in 1971, the musical Grease had a successful opening in Chicago, and by the following year became successful on Broadway. Also in 1972, George Lucas asked to view the pilot to determine if Ron Howard would be suitable to play a teenager in American Graffiti, then in pre-production. Lucas immediately cast Howard in the film, which became one of the top-grossing films of 1973. With the movie's success generating a renewed interest in the 1950s era (although, the film was set in 1962), TV show creator Garry Marshall and ABC recast the unsold pilot to turn Happy Days into a series. According to Marshall in an interview, executive producer Tom Miller said while developing the sitcom, "If we do a TV series that takes place in another era, and when it goes into reruns, then it won't look old." This made sense to Marshall while on the set of the show.[24]

Gould had originally been tapped to reprise the role of Howard Cunningham on the show. However, during a delay before the start of production he found work doing a play abroad and when he was notified the show was ready to begin production, he declined to return because he wanted to honor his commitment.[25] Bosley was then offered the role.

Production and scheduling notes

Production styles

The first two seasons of Happy Days (1974–75) were filmed using a single-camera setup and laugh track. One episode of season two ("Fonzie Gets Married") was filmed in front of a studio audience with three cameras as a test run. From the third season on (1975–84), the show was a three-camera production in front of a live audience (with a cast member, usually Tom Bosley, announcing in voice-over, "Happy Days is filmed before a live audience" at the start of most episodes), giving these later seasons a markedly different style. A laugh track was still used during post-production to smooth over live reactions.

Garry Marshall's earlier television series The Odd Couple had undergone an identical change in production style after its first season in 1970–71.

Sets

The show had two main sets: the Cunningham home and Arnold's/Al's Drive-In.

In seasons one and two, the Cunningham house was arranged with the front door on the left and the kitchen on the right of screen, in a triangular arrangement. From season three on, the house was rearranged to accommodate multiple cameras and a studio audience.

The Cunninghams' official address is 565 North Clinton Drive, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[28] The house that served as the exterior of the Cunningham residence is actually located at 565 North Cahuenga Boulevard (south of Melrose Avenue) in Los Angeles,[29] several blocks from the Paramount lot on Melrose Avenue.

The Milky Way Drive-In, located on Port Washington Road in the North Shore suburb of Glendale, Wisconsin (now Kopp's Frozen Custard Stand), was the inspiration for the original Arnold's Drive-In; it has since been demolished. The exterior of Arnold's was a standing set on the Paramount Studios lot that has since been demolished. This exterior was close to Stage 19, where the rest of the show's sets were located.

The set of the diner in the first season was a room with the same vague details of the later set, such as the paneling, and the college pennants. When the show changed to a studio production in 1975, the set was widened and the entrance was hidden, but allowed an upstage, central entrance for cast members. The barely-seen kitchen was also upstaged and seen only through a pass-through window. The diner had orange booths, downstage center for closeup conversation, as well as camera left. There were two restroom doors camera right, labeled "Guys" and "Dolls". A 1953 Seeburg Model G jukebox (with replaced metal pilasters from Wico Corp.) was positioned camera right, and an anachronistic "Nip-It" pinball machine (actually produced in 1972) was positioned far camera right.

College pennants adorned the walls, including Purdue and University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, along with a blue and white sign reading "Jefferson High School". Milwaukee's Washington High School provided the inspiration for the exteriors of the fictional Jefferson.

In a two-part episode from the seventh season, the original Arnold's Drive-In was written out of the series as being destroyed by fire (see List of Happy Days episodes, episodes 159 and 160). In the last seasons that covered the 1960s timeline, a new Arnold's Drive-In set (to portray the new Arnold's that replaced the original Arnold's destroyed by the fire) emerged in a 1960s decor with wood paneling and stained glass. Also, in seasons 8 and 9, the new drive-in was named "Fonzie & Big Al" because Fonzie and Al co-owned the new establishment in a partnership.

In 2004, two decades after the first set was destroyed, the Happy Days 30th Anniversary Reunion requested that the reunion take place in Arnold's. The set was rebuilt by production designer James Yarnell based on the original floor plan. The reunion special was taped at CBS Television City's Bob Barker Studio in September 2004.[30]

Theme music

See main article: Happy Days (TV theme). Season one used a newly recorded version of "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets (recorded in the fall of 1973) as the opening theme song. This recording was not commercially released at the time, although the original 1954 recording returned to the American Billboard charts in 1974 as a result of the song's use on the show. The "Happy Days" recording had its first commercial release in 2005 by the German label Hydra Records. (When Happy Days entered syndication in 1979, the series was retitled Happy Days Again and used an edited version of the 1954 recording instead of the 1973 version.) In some prints intended for reruns and overseas broadcasts, as well as on the Season 2 DVD set release and later re-releases of the Season 1 DVD set, the original "Rock Around the Clock" opening theme is replaced by the more standard "Happy Days" theme, because of music rights issues.

The show's closing theme song in seasons one and two was a fragment from "Happy Days" (although in a different recording with a different lyric from that which would become the standard version), whose music was composed by Charles Fox and whose lyric was written by Norman Gimbel. According to SAG, this version was performed by Jim Haas on lead vocals, The Ron Hicklin Singers, Stan Farber, Jerry Whitman, and Gary Garrett on backing vocals, and studio musicians.

From seasons three to ten inclusive, a longer version of "Happy Days" replaced "Rock Around the Clock" at the beginning of the show. Released as a single in 1976 by Pratt & McClain, "Happy Days" cracked the Top 5. The show itself finished the 1976–77 television season at No. 1, ending the five-year Nielsen reign of All in the Family.

For the show's 11th and final season (1983–84), the theme was rerecorded in a more modern style. It featured Bobby Arvon on lead vocals, with several back-up vocalists. To accompany this new version, new opening credits were filmed, and the flashing Happy Days logo was reanimated to create an overall "new" feel which incorporated 1980s sensibilities with 1950s nostalgia (although by this time the show was set in 1965).

Merchandising revenue lawsuit

On April 19, 2011, Happy Days co-stars Erin Moran, Don Most, Marion Ross and Anson Williams, as well as the estate of Tom Bosley (who died in 2010), filed a $10 million breach-of-contract lawsuit against CBS, which owns the show, claiming they had not been paid for merchandising revenues owed under their contracts.[31] The cast members claimed they had not received revenues from show-related items, including comic books, T-shirts, scrapbooks, trading cards, games, lunch boxes, dolls, toy cars, magnets, greeting cards and DVDs where their images appear on the box covers. Under their contracts, they were supposed to be paid 5% of the net proceeds of merchandising if their sole image were used, and half that amount if they were in a group. CBS said it owed the actors $8,500 and $9,000 each, most of it from slot machine revenues, but the group said they were owed millions.[32] The lawsuit was initiated after Ross was informed by a friend playing slots at a casino of a Happy Days machine on which players win the jackpot when five Marion Rosses are rolled.

In October 2011, a judge rejected the group's fraud claim, which meant they could not receive millions of dollars in potential damages.[33] On June 5, 2012, a judge denied a motion filed by CBS to have the case thrown out, which meant it would go to trial on July 17 if the matter was not settled by then.[34] In July 2012, the actors settled their lawsuit with CBS. Each received a payment of $65,000 and a promise by CBS to continue honoring the terms of their contracts.[35] [36]

Legacy

In 1978, actor Robin Williams made his screen debut during the fifth season of Happy Days, as the character "Mork" in the episode "My Favorite Orkan".[37] Sought after as a last-minute cast replacement for a departing actor, Williams impressed the producer with his quirky sense of humor when he sat on his head when asked to take a seat for the audition.[38] [39] While portraying Mork on Happy Days, Williams improvised much of his dialogue and physical comedy, speaking in a high, nasal voice, and he made the most of the script. The cast and crew, as well as TV network executives were deeply impressed with his performance. As such, the executives moved quickly to get the performer on contract just four days later before competitors could make their own offers.[40]

In 1980, the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution asked Henry Winkler to donate one of Fonzie's leather jackets.[41] [42] [43]

In 1985, Jon Hein developed the phrase jumping the shark in response to the season 5 episode "Hollywood: Part 3", written by Fred Fox, Jr.,[44] which aired on September 20, 1977. In this episode, Fonzie jumps over a shark while on water-skis.[45] [46] [47] The phrase is used to suggest that a creative outlet appears to be making a misguided attempt at generating new attention or publicity for something that is perceived to be once, but no longer, widely popular.[48] [49] In a 2019 interview with NPR, Terry Gross asked Henry Winkler (Fonzie) what it was "about that scene or that episode that came to signify when something's time is upwhen it's over?" Winkler responded: "You know what? I don't know. To them, the Fonz water skiing was just like the last straw. The only thing is it wasn't to the audience because we were number one for years after that. So it didn't much matter to anybody."[50] In addition, he told TheWrap in 2018 that he is "not embarrassed" by the phrase. He stated that "newspapers would mention jumping the shark... and they would show a picture of me in my leather jacket and swim shorts water-skiing. And at that time I had great legs. So I thought, 'I don't care.' And we were number one for the next four or five years."[51] As his character Barry Zuckerkorn (in the sitcom Arrested Development) hopped over a shark in Episode 13 of the second season, Winkler also noted that there "was a book, there was a board game and it is an expression that is still used today ... [and] I'm very proud that I am the only actor, maybe in the world, that has jumped the shark twiceonce on Happy Days, and once on Arrested Development."[51]

In 1999 TV Guide ranked Fonzie as number 4 on its 50 Greatest TV Characters of All Time list.[52]

In a 2001 poll conducted by Channel 4 in the UK, the Fonz was ranked 13th on their list of the 100 Greatest TV Characters.[53]

In 2008, American artist Gerald P. Sawyer, unveiled the Bronze Fonz (a public artwork) on the Milwaukee Riverwalk in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[54]

In December 2023, Variety ranked Happy Days #87 on its list of the 100 greatest TV shows of all time.[55]

Home media

Paramount Home Entertainment and CBS DVD have released the first six seasons of Happy Days on DVD in Region 1, as of December 2, 2014.[56] For the second season, CBS features music replacements due to copyright issues, including the theme song "Rock Around the Clock". ('The Complete First Season' retains the original opening, as it was released before CBS was involved). Only season 3 and 4 of the DVD release contain the original music.[57] The sixth season was released on December 2, 2014.[58] The remaining 5 seasons have not been released.

The season 7 premiere "Shotgun Wedding: Part 1" was also released on the Laverne & Shirley season 5 DVD. To date, this is the last episode released on home media.

The first four seasons have also been released on DVD in the UK (Region 2) and Australia (Region 4).

DVD name No. of
episodes 		Release dates
Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
The Complete First Season 16 August 17, 2004 August 27, 2007 September 19, 2007
The Second Season 23 April 17, 2007 November 12, 2007 March 6, 2008
The Third Season 24 November 27, 2007 April 7, 2008 September 4, 2008
The Fourth Season 25 December 9, 2008 January 9, 2011 February 5, 2009
The Fifth Season 27 May 20, 2014
The Sixth Season 27 December 2, 2014
Seasons 1–4881 December 2011[59]
Seasons 1–6142January 11, 2016colspan="2"
Seasons 1–6 142October 13, 2020

Reunion specials

There have been two reunion specials which aired on ABC: the first was The Happy Days Reunion Special originally aired in March 1992, followed by Happy Days: 30th Anniversary Reunion in February 2005 to commemorate the program's 30th anniversary. Both were set up in interview/clip format.

Spin-offs

Happy Days resulted in seven different spin-off series, including two that were animated: Laverne & Shirley, Blansky's Beauties, Mork & Mindy, Out of the Blue, Joanie Loves Chachi, The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang (animated), and Laverne & Shirley with The Fonz (animated).

Spin-off pilots that did not succeed include The Ralph and Potsie Show as well as The Pinky Tuscadero Show.[60]

List of songs performed on Happy Days

EpisodeTitleSong(s)Performed by
1x10 "Give the Band a Hand" "All Shook Up" Anson Williams
2x19 "Fonzie Joins the Band" "Splish Splash" Anson Williams
2x20 "Fish and the Fins" "Young Blood" Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids
3x10 "A Date with Fonzie" "Great Balls of Fire" Anson Williams
3x12 "Fonzie's New Friend" "Honeycomb" Anson Williams
3x13 "They Call It Potsie Love" "Put Your Head on My Shoulder" Anson Williams
"Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" Anson Williams
3x19 "Fonzie the Superstar" "By the Light of the Silvery Moon" Pat Morita, Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams
"Heartbreak Hotel" Henry Winkler
4x01 "Fonzie Loves Pinky, Part 1" "You're Sixteen" Anson Williams
4x02 "Fonzie Loves Pinky, Part 2" "America the Beautiful" Anson Williams
4x08 "They Shoot Fonzies, Don't They?" "Venus" Anson Williams
"Rockin' Robin" Anson Williams
"Anniversary Song" Donny Most
4x09 "The Muckrakers" "Sh-Boom" Anson Williams, Donny Most, Ron Howard and Al Molinaro
"You'll Never Walk Alone" Anson Williams
4x12 "Fonzie's Old Lady" "It's Late" Anson Williams
"Splish Splash" Anson Williams and Donny Most
4x18 "Graduation, Part 1" "Deeply" Anson Williams
4x21 "Joanie's Weird Boyfriend" "McNamara's Band" Anson Williams
"When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" Anson Williams, Donny Most and Ron Howard
4x25 "Fonzie's Baptism" "Faith of our Fathers" Anson Williams, Donny Most, Ron Howard and Erin Moran
5x01 "Hollywood, Part 1" "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" Anson Williams
5x08 "Fonzie and Leather Tuscadero, Part 1" "Cat Size" Suzi Quatro
"All Shook Up" Suzi Quatro
5x09 "Fonzie and Leather Tuscadero, Part 2" "Heartbreak Hotel" Suzi Quatro
"Devil Gate Drive" Suzi Quatro
5x11 "Bye Bye Blackball" "My Dream Girl Of Phi Kappa Nu" Anson Williams
5x12 "Requiem for a Malph" "Calendar Girl" Anson Williams
"Down by the Old Mill Stream" Tom Bosley, Marion Ross, Ron Howard, Erin Moran and Henry Winkler
5x14 "Grandpa's Visit" "Down South in New Orleans" Danny Thomas
"Sonny Boy" Danny Thomas
"When the Saints Go Marching In" Danny Thomas
5x15 "Potsie Gets Pinned" "Pinning Song" Anson Williams and Lorrie Mahaffey
5x17 "Marion's Misgivings" "Wild One" Anson Williams
"I May Be Too Young" Suzi Quatro
5x18 "Richie Almost Dies" "Believe" Suzi Quatro
5x20 "Be My Valentine" "Save Your Last Kiss for Me" Anson Williams and Lorrie Mahaffey
"My Funny Valentine" Donny Most
"Thank Heaven for Little Girls" Scott Baio
"I Remember It Well" Tom Bosley and Marion Ross
"Isn't It Romantic?" Al Molinaro
5x26 "Rules to Date By" "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" Anson Williams
5x27 "Fonzie for the Defense" "The Three Caballeros" Anson Williams, Donny Most and Ron Howard
6x02 "Westward Ho!, Part 2" "Rodeo Song" Anson Williams
6x03 "Westward Ho!, Part 3" "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" Anson Williams
6x07 "Sweet Sixteen" "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" Anson Williams
"Put Your Head on My Shoulder" Anson Williams
6x09 "The Evil Eye" "The Monster Mash" Anson Williams, Donny Most and Ron Howard
6x10 "The Claw Meets the Fonz" "Maybe Baby" Anson Williams
6x13 "The Kissing Bandit" "Everyday" Anson Williams
6x19 "Stolen Melodies" "I Can't Stand You Anymore" Fred Fox, Jr.
"Moonlight Love" Suzi Quatro
"Do the Fonzie" Suzi Quatro
6x21 "Marion: Fairy Godmother" "Hey Little Girl" Anson Williams
"Every Hour, Every Day" Anson Williams and Lorrie Mahaffey
6x20 "Married Strangers" "Cause of You" Anson Williams
6x26 "Chachi's Incredo Wax" "Take Good Care of My Baby" Anson Williams
6x27 "Potsie Quits School" "Pump Your Blood" Anson Williams
7x08 "Burlesque" "Top Banana" Tom Bosley
"Girl of Our Nations" Anson Williams
"It's Delightful" Donny Most and Henry Winkler
7x10 "King Richard's Big Night" "Hello Mary Lou" Anson Williams
"Let's Twist Again" Anson Williams
7x11 "Fonzie vs. The She-Devils" "Beer Barrel Polka" Tom Bosley, Marion Ross, Erin Moran and Henry Winkler
"That Old Gang of Mine" Tom Bosley, Marion Ross, Ron Howard and Erin Moran
7x12 "The Mechanic" "Tossin' and Turnin'" Anson Williams
7x14 "Here Comes the Bride" "Wedding Song" Anson Williams
7x17 "Hot Stuff" "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" Tom Bosley, Marion Ross, Ron Howard, Anson Williams, Donny Most, Erin Moran and Lynda Goodfriend
7x18 "The New Arnold's" "Let's Twist Again" Anson Williams
7x23 "A Potsie is Born" "Surfin' Safari" Anson Williams
"Mack the Knife" Anson Williams
"Oh, Boy!" Anson Williams and Gail Edwards
8x07 "And The Winner Is" "The Jefferson Anthem" Anson Williams and Al Molinaro
8x12 "Broadway It's Not" "You Look at Me" Erin Moran and Scott Baio
8x19 "R.C. and L.B. Forever" "Wedding Song" Anson Williams
8x22 "American Musical" "Long After You'll Always Have Me" Erin Moran and Scott Baio
"Jail Song" Anson Williams, Scott Baio, Tom Bosley, Henry Winkler, Al Molinaro and Ted McGinley
"A Toast To My Country And Home" Al Molinaro, Lynda Goodfriend and Cathy Silvers
"Youre Gonna Make It" Tom Bosley, Marion Ross and Ted McGinley
9x02 "Home Movies, Part 2" "Every Time, Every Place" Anson Williams
9x09 "No, Thank You" "Lookin' Good, Feelin' Fine" Erin Moran and Scott Baio
9x12 "To Beanie or Not to Beanie" "Call" Erin Moran and Scott Baio
9x14 "Grandma Nussbaum" "How Am I Gonna Sing" Tom Bosley, Marion Ross, Erin Moran, Lynda Goodfriend, Ted McGinley and Pat O'Brien
9x15 "Poobah Doo Dah" "Twistin' the Night Away" Erin Moran and Scott Baio
"The Way You Look Tonight" Tom Bosley and Marion Ross
"Goodbye, My Coney Island Baby" Anson Williams, Scott Baio, Al Molinaro and Ted McGinley
"Venus" Frankie Avalon
9x16 "A Touch of Classical" "Twist and Shout" Erin Moran and Scott Baio
9x18 "Great Expectations" "Time Turned Around" Erin Moran and Scott Baio
9x20 "Chachi's Future" "Princess of 3rd Street" Scott Baio
10x06 "Who Gives a Hootenanny?" "Come Go With Me" Erin Moran and Scott Baio
10x08 "Such a Nice Girl" "Blue Moon" Pat Morita
10x14 "Prisoner of Love" "Stop! In The Name of Love" Crystal Bernard, Cathy Silvers and Julie Paris
10x15 "Life is More Important Than Show Business" "The Loco-Motion" Erin Moran and Scott Baio
11x04 "Welcome Home, Part 1" "Blueberry Hill" Anson Williams, Ron Howard, Donny Most and Henry Winkler

In other media

Books

A series of novels based on characters and dialog of the series was written by William Johnston and published by Tempo Books in the 1970s.

Comic books

Western Publishing published a Happy Days comic book series in 1979 under their Gold Key Comics brand and Whitman Comics brand.

Animation

There are two animated series, both produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions in association with Paramount Television (now known as CBS Television Distribution). The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang ran from 1980 to 1982. There are also animated spin-offs of Laverne & Shirley (Laverne & Shirley in the Army) and Mork & Mindy (centering on a young Mork and Mindy in high school). The following season, they were connected together as Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour (1982).[61]

Musicals

In the late 1990s, a touring arena show called Happy Days: The Arena Spectacular toured Australia's major cities.[62] The story featured a property developer, and former girlfriend of Fonzie's, called Miss Frost (Rebecca Gibney), wanting to buy the diner and redevelop it. It starred Craig McLachlan as Fonzie, Max Gillies and Wendy Hughes as Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham, Doug Parkinson as Al, and Jo Beth Taylor as Richie's love interest Laura. Tom Bosley presented an introduction before each performance live on stage, and pop group Human Nature played a 1950s-style rock group.

Another stage show, Happy Days: A New Musical, began touring in 2008.[63] [64]

Music videos

The music video for the song Buddy Holly (which takes place at Arnold's Drive-in) by Weezer features footage from the series, including clips of Richie, Potsie, Ralph Malph, Joanie, and Fonzie.[65] Al Molinaro also reprises his role as Al Delvecchio in the video, joking about how bad his fish is at the beginning and end of the video.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Happy Days Actor Tom Bosley Dies . Baltimore Sun . dead . October 19, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101022010008/http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/tv/ktla-tom-bosley-obit,0,3802680.story . October 22, 2010.
  2. Web site: VanDerWerff . Emily . August 27, 2012 . Happy Days Became One of the Biggest Hits on TV by Selling Its Soul . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160809131739/http://www.avclub.com/article/ihappy-daysi-became-one-of-the-biggest-hits-on-tv--84232 . August 9, 2016 . January 7, 2020 . The A.V. Club.
  3. Book: Brooks . Tim . The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946 – Present . Marsh . Earle . 2007 . Ballantine Books . 9780307483201 . 9th . New York . 580–582.
  4. Web site: Crupi . Anthony . May 2017 . Happy Days for broadcasters* *as long as they're selling sports . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170609093718/http://adage.com/article/special-report-tv-upfront/broadcast-tv-ratings/308959/ . June 9, 2017 . June 12, 2017 . adage.com . Advertising Age.
  5. News: Haithman . Diane . January 4, 1991 . Is Uncool Urkel the '90s Answer to the Fonz? . Los Angeles Times . November 7, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201112022146/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-01-04-ca-7948-story.html . November 12, 2020.
  6. Web site: Blansky's Beauties . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20120701021554/http://www.tv.com/shows/blanskys-beauties/ . July 1, 2012 . April 27, 2012 . TV.com.
  7. News: How Now, Mr. Fonzarelli? . . live . October 20, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100801214334/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20110141,00.html . August 1, 2010.
  8. Web site: Happy Days Episode Guide 1981 Season 8- R.C. and L.B. Forever, Episode 19 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130801035127/http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/happy-days-1981/episode-19-season-8/rc-and-lb-forever/100197 . August 1, 2013 . November 8, 2012 . tvguide.com.
  9. Web site: Happy Days Episodes- Happy Days Full Episode Guides from Season 11 on ABC . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20121116212615/http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/happy-days/episodes-season-11/100197 . November 16, 2012 . November 8, 2012 . tvguide.com.
  10. News: King . Susan . October 7, 2009 . Marion Ross on 'Happy Days' and today . Los Angeles Times . live . October 19, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100119181544/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/oct/07/entertainment/et-classic-hollywood7 . January 19, 2010.
  11. Web site: Happy Days Episode Guide 1977 Season 4- Marion Rebels . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130801032118/http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/happy-days-1977/episode-15-season-4/marion-rebels/100197 . August 1, 2013 . November 8, 2012 . tvguide.com.
  12. Web site: Happy Days Episodes- Happy Days Full Episode Guides from Season 10 on ABC . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130801032437/http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/happy-days/episodes-season-10/100197 . August 1, 2013 . November 8, 2012 . tvguide.com.
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  14. Web site: Happy Days Episode Guide 1983 Season 10- Turn Around...and You're Home . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130801032319/http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/happy-days-1983/episode-21-season-10/turn-aroundand-youre-home/100197 . August 1, 2013 . November 8, 2012 . tvguide.com.
  15. News: November 8, 2012 . Bob Brunner, 'Happy Days' writer, dies . . live . November 27, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121117201651/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118061908?refCatId=14 . November 17, 2012.
  16. News: November 7, 2012 . Bob Brunner, 'Happy Days' writer and producer, dies aged 78 . . live . November 27, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150923230626/http://www.digitalspy.com/celebrity/news/a436565/bob-brunner-happy-days-writer-and-producer-dies-aged-78.html . September 23, 2015.
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  18. Web site: Cathy Silvers is so much like Jenny Piccalo that it's frightening . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210924221100/https://www.metv.com/stories/cathy-silvers-is-so-much-like-jenny-piccalo-that-it-s-frightening . September 24, 2021 . September 24, 2021.
  19. Web site: Happy Days Episodes Guide 1983 Season 11- Vocational Education, Episode 7 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130116175520/http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/happy-days-1983/episode-7-season-11/vocational-education/100197 . January 16, 2013 . November 8, 2012 . tvguide.com.
  20. Web site: Abramson . Dan . June 17, 2010 . The 13 Most Ridiculous Sitcom Mysteries Of All Time (PHOTOS) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170404012114/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/17/the-most-ridiculous-sitco_n_541532.html . April 4, 2017 . April 20, 2020 . Huffington Post.
  21. Web site: December 10, 2017 . Meet 'Chuck,' the lost brother from 'Happy Days' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170629151723/https://onmilwaukee.com/ent/articles/gavanoherlihy.html . June 29, 2017 . April 26, 2017.
  22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5esuQOE69s Michael Eisner on the development of "Happy Days"
  23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioDxCd4tfn8&t=28s Charles Fox discusses writing the Happy Days theme
  24. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTDz6nDJh2E&t=1m42s Garry Marshall discusses creating Happy Days
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  31. News: Dobuzinskis . Alex . April 20, 2011 . 'Happy Days' actors sue over merchandising revenue . Reuters . live . July 5, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180616204243/https://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-56450420110420 . June 16, 2018.
  32. News: Zamost . Scott . April 20, 2011 . 'Happy Days' actors claim fraud, money owed for merchandising . CNNMoney . live . August 3, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180730190814/https://money.cnn.com/2011/04/19/news/companies/happy_days_fraud_claim/ . July 30, 2018.
  33. News: Gardner . Eriq . June 5, 2012 . 'Happy Days' Actors Win Key Ruling in CBS Lawsuit . The Hollywood Reporter . live . April 20, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200603135539/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/happy-days-cbs-merchandising-lawsuit-333369 . June 3, 2020.
  34. News: Scott . Zamost . June 5, 2012 . 'Happy Days' cast members' lawsuit heading for trial . CNN . live . August 11, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200603142903/https://www.cnn.com/2012/06/05/showbiz/happy-days-lawsuit/index.html . June 3, 2020.
  35. News: Daley . Sean . August 6, 2012 . Chachi done with broke Joanie . New York Post . live . August 11, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130119004217/http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/chachi_done_with_broke_joanie_jG7yUfSMnMGcOrPhvJ915J . January 19, 2013.
  36. News: Zamost . Scott . July 7, 2012 . 'Happy Days' actors settle lawsuit with CBS . CNN . live . July 6, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200603142413/https://www.cnn.com/2012/07/06/showbiz/happy-days-lawsuit-settled/index.html . June 3, 2020.
  37. Robin Williams . Inside the Actors Studio . Bravo . June 10, 2001 . 7 . 710 . James Lipton (host) . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070204093734/http://www.bravotv.com/Inside_the_Actors_Studio/guest/Robin_Williams . February 4, 2007 . mdy-all.
  38. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Web site: Maddow . Rachel . 2014-08-12 . Henry Winkler Recalls Robin Williams' 'Happy Days' Debut . 2021-10-31 . MSNBC.
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  40. November 20, 2014 . 'Happy Days' Cast Reveals How Robin Williams Got Cast as a "Martian" in Show's "Worst Script" . live . The Hollywood Reporter . https://web.archive.org/web/20180810042224/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/happy-days-cast-reveals-how-750779 . August 10, 2018 . August 10, 2018.
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  58. Web site: Happy Days DVD news: Announcement for Happy Days – The 6th Season – TVShowsOnDVD.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140903115535/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Happy-Days-Season-6/20233 . September 3, 2014 . tvshowsondvd.com.
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  60. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioDxCd4tfn8&t=2m25s Charles Fox interview
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  65. Web site: Nashawaty . Chris . 9 December 1994 . Weezer loves "Happy Days" . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220417102038/https://ew.com/article/1994/12/09/weezer-loves-happy-days/ . April 17, 2022 . 2021-06-11 . EW.com . en.

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