Happy Days

Happy Days

Main title screen (seasons 1-10)
Also known as Happy Days Again
Genre Sitcom
Created by Garry Marshall[1]
Starring Ron Howard
Marion Ross
Anson Williams
Tom Bosley
Henry Winkler
Donny Most
Erin Moran
Al Molinaro
Scott Baio
Lynda Goodfriend
Cathy Silvers
Ted McGinley
Linda Purl
Theme music composer Bill Haley & His Comets (1974-1975), Norman Gimbel with Charles Fox (1975–1983), Bobby Arvon (1983–1984)
Opening theme Rock Around the Clock (1974–1975), Happy Days theme (1975-1984)
Ending theme Pratt and McClain (1974–1975), Norman Gimble with Charles Fox (1975–1983), Bobby Avron (1983–1984)
Composer(s) John Beal, Frank Comstock, James Patrick Dunne, Dan Foliart, Charles Fox, Jack Hayes, Pete King
Country of origin United States
Language(s) English
No. of seasons 11
No. of episodes 250 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Garry Marshall
Thomas L. Miller
Edward K. Milkis
Robert L. Boyett (Seasons 8-11)
Producer(s) William Bickley
Michael Warren
Anthony W. Marshall
Ronny Hallin
Fred Fox, Jr.
Camera setup Single Camera (1974-1975)
Multi-camera (1975-1984)
Running time 22–24 minutes
Production company(s) Henderson Productions (Seasons 4–11)
Miller-Milkis Productions (Seasons 1–8)
Miller-Milkis-Boyett Productions (Seasons 9-11)
Paramount Television
Distributor Paramount Television
CBS Television Distribution
Broadcast
Original channel ABC
Audio format Monaural
Original run January 15, 1974 (1974-01-15)[2] – September 24, 1984 (1984-09-24)
Chronology
Preceded by Love, American Style
Related shows Laverne & Shirley
Blansky's Beauties
Mork & Mindy
Out of the Blue,
Joanie Loves Chachi

Happy Days is an American television sitcom that originally aired from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984, on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series presents an idealized vision of life in mid-1950s to mid-1960s America.[3]

Set in the Midwestern city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the series revolves around teenager Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard) and his family: his father, Howard (Tom Bosley), who owns a hardware store; traditional homemaker mother Marion (Marion Ross); younger sister Joanie (Erin Moran); and high school dropout, biker and suave ladies man Arthur "Fonzie"/"The Fonz" Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler), who would eventually become the Cunninghams' upstairs tenant. The earlier episodes revolve around Richie and his friends, Warren "Potsie" Weber (Anson Williams) and Ralph Malph (Donny Most), with Fonzarelli as a secondary character. As the series progressed, Fonzarelli proved to be a favorite with viewers and soon more story lines were written to reflect his growing popularity.[4] Fonzie befriends Richie and the Cunningham family, and when Richie (Ron Howard) left the series for military service, Winkler's Fonzie became the central figure of the show. In later seasons, other characters were introduced including Fonzie's young cousin, Charles "Chachi" Arcola (Scott Baio), who became a love interest for Joanie Cunningham.

Originally spun off from a one-episode teleplay on the anthology series Love, American Style, the series spawned some other hit television shows, Laverne & Shirley, and Mork & Mindy, and two non-hits Joanie Loves Chachi and Blansky's Beauties, featuring Nancy Walker as Howard's cousin. The show is the basis for the Happy Days musical touring the United States. The leather jacket worn by Winkler during the series currently hangs in the Smithsonian Institution.[5]

Contents

Full character list

Minor characters

Guest stars

Cast changes

Seasons 4 and 5

With Season 4, Al Molinaro was added as Al Delvecchio, the new owner of Arnold's, after Pat Morita's character of Arnold moved on after his character got married. (Morita had left the program to star in a short-lived sitcom of his own, Mr. T and Tina, which was actually a spin-off of Welcome Back, Kotter. Morita also starred in a subsequent short lived Happy Days spin-off series entitled Blansky's Beauties.) Al Molinaro also played Al's twin brother Father Anthony Delvecchio, a Catholic priest. Al eventually married Chachi's mother (played by Ellen Travolta) and Father Delvecchio served in the wedding of Joanie to Chachi in the series finale.

The most major character changes occurred after Season 5 with the addition of Scott Baio as Fonzie's cousin, Charles "Chachi" Arcola. Originally, the character Spike (mentioned as Fonzie's nephew in the episode "Not With My Sister You Don't," but also claimed to be his cousin, as was stated in one episode) was supposed to be the character who became Chachi.

Seasons 8 onward

Lynda Goodfriend joined the cast as semi-regular character Lori-Beth Allen, Richie's steady girlfriend, in Season 5, and became a permanent member of the cast between Seasons 8 and 10, after Lori-Beth married Richie.

After Ron Howard (Richie) left the series, Ted McGinley joined the cast as Roger Phillips, the new physical education teacher at Jefferson High and nephew to Howard and Marion. He took over from the departed Richie Cunningham character, acting as counterpoint to Fonzie. Also joining the cast was Cathy Silvers as Jenny Piccolo, Joanie's best friend who was previously referenced in various episodes from earlier seasons and remained as a main cast member until the final season. Both actors were originally credited as guest stars but were promoted to the main cast during the tenth season after several series regulars left the show. The real focus of the series was now on the Joanie and Chachi characters, and often finding ways to incorporate Fonzie into them as a shoulder to cry on, advice-giver, and savior as needed. The Potsie character, who had already been spun off from the devious best friend of Richie to Ralph's best friend and confidante, held little grist for the writers in this new age, and was now most often used as the occasional "dumb" foil for punchlines (most often from Mr. C. or Fonzie).

Billy Warlock joined the cast in Season 10 as Roger's brother Flip, along with Crystal Bernard as Howard's and Marion's niece K.C. They were intended as replacements for Erin Moran and Scott Baio (who departed for their own show, Joanie Loves Chachi) and were credited as part of the semi-regular cast. Both characters left with the return of Moran and Baio, following the cancellation of Joanie Loves Chachi. Also leaving Happy Days in Season 10 for Joanie Loves Chachi was Al Delvecchio; Pat Morita returned to the cast as Arnold in his absence.

In Season 11, the storyline of Richie and Lori Beth is given closure with the two-part episode "Welcome Home, Richie". Richie returns home from the Army, but is barely has time to unpack when he learns that his parents have lined up a job interview at the Milwaukee Journal for him. However, they are taken aback when he tells them he prefers to take his chances in California to become a Hollywood screenwriter. They remind him of his responsibilities and while Richie gives in, he becomes angry and discontent, torn between his obligations to his family and fulfilling his dream. After a confrontation that ends with a conversation with Fonzie, he decides to face his family and declare his intentions. While somewhat reluctant at first, they support him and bid Richie, Lori Beth, and Little Richie an emotional farewell.

Gail Edwards, who previously guest starred in the episode "A Potsie Is Born," was offered the role that Crystal Bernard would fill but was never told so by her managers, as they knew she would take the role and they did not want her to be a "new character on an old show." Later, Edwards would appear with Bernard in 93 episodes of It's a Living.

History

Happy Days originated during a time of 1950s nostalgic interest as evident in 1970s film, television, and music. Beginning as an unsold pilot filmed in late 1971 called 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 Happy Days, for presentation on the television anthology series Love, American Style. 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 preproduction. Lucas immediately cast Howard in the film, which became one of the top-grossing films of 1973. Show creator Garry Marshall and ABC recast the unsold pilot to turn Happy Days into a series. According to Marshall on 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.

Gould had originally been tapped to reprise the role of Howard Cunningham for the TV series, but went abroad to perform in a play during a delay before production. Midway through the play's run he was notified that the show was ready to begin shooting, but he decided to honor his commitment to the stage production and passed on the part, which led to Tom Bosley being cast as the family patriarch. Gould would later state that a requirement to shave his beard was also a factor in his declining the role.[7]

Happy Days premiered in January 1974 in the Tuesday night time slot that had been occupied by Temperatures Rising, which had been put on hiatus for a second retooling.

Production and scheduling

Production styles

The first two seasons of Happy Days were filmed using a single-camera setup and laugh track. One episode of Season 2 ("Fonzie Gets Married") was filmed in front of a studio audience with three cameras as a test run. From the third season on, the show was a three-camera production in front of a live audience (with a cast member, usually Tom Bosley, announcing that "Happy Days is filmed before a live audience" at the start of most episodes), giving these later seasons a markedly different style.

Sets

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

In Seasons 1 and 2, the Cunningham house was arranged with the front door on the left and the kitchen on the right of screen, in a triangular arrangement. Beginning with Season 3, the house was radically rearranged to accommodate multiple cameras and a studio audience.

The Cunninghams' official address is 565 North Clinton Drive, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[9] 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, just a few 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 "dressed" area on the Paramount Studios lot, that has since been demolished, very 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, the set was redesigned. The set was made wider and the entrance was hidden, but allowed an upstage, central entrance for cast members. The barely seen kitchen was also upstage 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.

Storylines dictated that the set would be destroyed by fire, so in later seasons, a different Arnold's Drive-in emerged and lasted through the later years of the show. The new set featured wood paneling and stained glass.

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.

Theme music

Seasons 1 and 2 of the series 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 its 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).

The show's closing theme song in Season 1 was a fragment from "Happy Days," whose music was composed by Charles Fox and whose lyrics were written by Norman Gimbel. According to SAG, this version was performed by Jimmy Haas on lead vocals, Ron Hicklin of the Ron Hicklin Singers, Stan Farber, Jerry Whitman, and Gary Garrett on backing vocals, and studio musicians.

From Seasons 3–10 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 #1, ending the five-year Nielsen reign of All in the Family. On the released DVD set of Season 2, the song "Rock Around the Clock" was replaced with a reconstructed version of "Happy Days." This was done because of music rights issues.

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).

Ratings

As a Top 30 series, Happy Days has an average 24.2 rating.

Episodes

Further information: List of Happy Days episodes

The first ten seasons aired Tuesdays at 8:00 and the final season aired Tuesdays at 8:30 and Thursdays at 8:00.

"Jumping the shark"

The term "jumping the shark" arose from a fifth season episode that aired on September 20, 1977. Fonzie (clad in swim trunks and leather jacket) jumps over a shark on waterskis. The original meaning of the term was not completely derogatory, only describing the moment when a show had reached its peak and could never top itself again. Indeed, while arguably having reached a creative peak at that moment, Happy Days continued to be successful for years after literally "jumping the shark." However, the term has evolved and been reinterpreted to describe an outrageous stunt or significant change designed to boost the ratings of a dying show, which has the opposite effect, essentially killing the show.[19]

Syndication

Happy Days has been syndicated by many different networks. It aired in the United States on Nick at Nite in the 1990s, TV Land from 2002–2007, and WGN America from 2002 until 2008. FamilyNet broadcasted the show from 2009-2010. The Hub began showing it in October 2010. It started airing on Me-TV on December 21, 2010.

When reruns first went into syndication on local stations while the series was still producing new episodes, the reruns were re-titled Happy Days Again.

DVD releases

Paramount Home Entertainment and CBS DVD have released the first four seasons of Happy Days on DVD in Region 1. Each release features music replacements due to copyright issues, including the theme song "Rock Around the Clock" for Season 2 (Season 1 retained the original opening, as it was released before CBS was involved).

Seasons 1-3 have also been released on DVD in the UK, while in region 4 the first four seasons have been released.

DVD Name Ep # 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

Spin-offs

Happy Days, itself a spin-off from Love, American Style, spun off five different series, not including two animated spin-offs: Laverne & Shirley, Blansky's Beauties, Mork & Mindy, Out of the Blue, and Joanie Loves Chachi.

Animation

There are two animated series. Each were 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 1980–1982. There are also animated spin-offs of Laverne & Shirley (Laverne & Shirley Joins the Army) and Mork and Mindy (centering on a young Mork and Mindy in high School). The next season they were connected together as The Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour (1982).[20]

Musicals

In the late 1990s, a touring arena show called Happy Days, The Arena Spectacular toured Australia's major cities.[21] The story featured a property developer, and former girlfriend of Fonzie 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 '50s-style rock group.

Another stage show, Happy Days: A New Musical began touring in 2008.[22][23]

Merchandising revenue lawsuit

In interviews with CNN, Marion Ross, Erin Moran, Anson Williams, Don Most and the estate of the late Tom Bosley claimed that CBS has not paid them their share of the revenues from merchandising and have filed a breach of contract suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court.[24] Their contracts specified that they were owed 2.5 to 5% of the net proceeds.[24] Ron Howard and Henry Winkler are not involved in the $10 million lawsuit, which also named Paramount Pictures as a defendant, along with CBS.[25] The lawsuit stemmed from 2002, when Moran called Paramount Pictures to determine how much merchandising royalties was owed to her, only to be told there was no money owed; only later on, she noticed that the likeness of the Happy Days characters were being used on slot machines.[24][25]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Happy Days — The Third Season". DVD Talk. http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/31528/happy-days-the-third-season/. Retrieved 2010-08-16. 
  2. ^ "Happy Days Deserves A Better Tribute". The Sun Sentinel. http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1992-03-03/features/9201110860_1_happy-days-fonz-laverne-shirley/2. Retrieved 2010-11-07. 
  3. ^ a b "Happy Days Actor Tom Bosley Dies". Baltimore Sun. http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/tv/ktla-tom-bosley-obit,0,3802680.story. Retrieved 2010-10-19. 
  4. ^ Haithman, Diane (1991-01-04). "Is Uncool Urkel the '90s Answer to the Fonz?". The Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/1991-01-04/entertainment/ca-7948_1_family-matters/2. Retrieved 2010-11-07. 
  5. ^ "How Now, Mr. Fonzarelli?". People Magazine. http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20110141,00.html. Retrieved 2010-10-20. 
  6. ^ King, Susan (October 7, 2009). "Marion Ross on 'Happy Days' and today". The Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2009/oct/07/entertainment/et-classic-hollywood7. Retrieved 2010-10-19. 
  7. ^ McLellan, Dennis. Harold Gould obituary, Los Angeles Times, 14 September 2010 (retrieved 14 September 2010).
  8. ^ "Happy Days Season 3 Episode Guide". TV.com. http://www.tv.com/happy-days/show/270/episode_guide.html?season=3&tag=season_dropdown;dropdown;2. Retrieved 2010-06-10. 
  9. ^ Wilcox's Soaps & More TV Character Address and Trivia Book (2004)
  10. ^ "TV Ratings > 1970s". ClassicTVHits.com. http://www.classictvhits.com/tvratings/1973.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-10. 
  11. ^ "TV Ratings > 1970s". ClassicTVHits.com. http://www.classictvhits.com/tvratings/1975.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-10. 
  12. ^ "TV Ratings > 1970s". ClassicTVHits.com. http://www.classictvhits.com/tvratings/1976.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-10. 
  13. ^ "TV Ratings > 1970s". ClassicTVHits.com. http://www.classictvhits.com/tvratings/1977.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-10. 
  14. ^ "TV Ratings > 1970s". ClassicTVHits.com. http://www.classictvhits.com/tvratings/1978.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-10. 
  15. ^ "TV Ratings > 1970s". ClassicTVHits.com. http://www.classictvhits.com/tvratings/1979.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-10. 
  16. ^ "TV Ratings > 1980s". ClassicTVHits.com. http://www.classictvhits.com/tvratings/1980.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-10. 
  17. ^ "TV Ratings > 1980s". ClassicTVHits.com. http://www.classictvhits.com/tvratings/1981.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-10. 
  18. ^ "TV Ratings > 1980s". ClassicTVHits.com. http://www.classictvhits.com/tvratings/1982.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-10. 
  19. ^ "Jumping the Shark?". BBC Magazine. December 19, 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8420000/8420987.stm. Retrieved 2010-10-20. 
  20. ^ ""Happy Days" (1974)". Movie connections. Imdb.com. http://imdb.com/title/tt0070992/movieconnections. Retrieved 2010-06-10. 
  21. ^ "Show Gives Fonz Some Happy Days". The Sun Sentinel. http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1999-02-03/news/9902030016_1_happy-days-fonz-berlin-film-festival. Retrieved 2010-11-07. 
  22. ^ Happy Days: The Musical nytheatre.com
  23. ^ Ng, David (November 10, 2008). "'Happy Days' is here again". The Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2008/nov/10/entertainment/et-happy10. Retrieved 2010-08-28. 
  24. ^ a b c "'Happy Days' actors claim fraud, money owed for merchandising". CNN. April 19, 2011. http://money.cnn.com/2011/04/19/news/companies/happy_days_fraud_claim/index.htm?hpt=C2. Retrieved April 19, 2011. 
  25. ^ a b The Hollywood Reporter: "'Happy Days' Cast Sues CBS, Paramount for $10 Million", April 19, 2011.

External links

Happy Days
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Nielsen Media Research top-rated United States network television show
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