Happy Days

I guess I'm like most people. The first couple of years of Happy Days were terrific but then things went downhill. The show shouldn't have made Fonzie into such an unbelievable character. In the first couple of seasons he was just kind of a greaseball who was on the outskirts then they made him into some kind of superhuman character who could do no wrong. It took away any semblance of reality. Also whatever happened to Chuck (the older brother). If they wanted to get rid of him they should have come up with some kind of excuse instead of just forgetting about him.

I remember when this show was King, c. '76 or so, Tuesdays at 8pm. It was one of those shows that you watched faithfully, got into the characters, jokes, knew the punchlines beforehand every time, and talked about the day after w/ friends. Kids loved it the most, as the Fonz Was a TV hero like you don't see anymore.

I always felt that this should have ended about 5 years before it did too-when Malph and Richie left. Putting the show on in the 80's w/ Chachi as a lead, set in the '60's, Ted McGinley, etc--it was really outta gas and a shadow of its former self. If you ever see the repeats from c. '82 you know what I mean.

Happy Days was the Malachi Crunch, Fonz jumping things on his bike, swarmed by 'the chicks', Richie learning about adulthood from Fonz, and of course Mr and Mrs C offering their bemused, befuddled support. That was the show. I don't think you could make it again.

*** outta ****

Cool show, lots of fun, heart warming and really charming and entertaining, and, last but no least, Happy Days got Arthur 'Fonzie' Fonzarell, the coolest cast in town. Like Mork & Mindy, I Dream of Jeannie or Get Smart and many other shows, this one is still excellent entertainment now flavored with a good shot of nostalgic superpowers. There is just one question left: what happened to the movie business? Neflixed, disneyed and superheroed to death, I guess. At least we got still all those exquisite shows of gone times just waiting for us to visit them again.

It's the 1950's Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The show centers on teenager Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard), his suburban family, his school friends, and local mechanic, the Fonz (Henry Winkler). It does start with a brother Chuck and a grey jacket for Fonzie. The first two seasons are shot single camera style. There is a rougher edge to some serious subject matters. It's not the hardest hitting but the difference with the later years is stark. It's American Graffiti. Heck, it's sometimes close to American Pie. After those initial two, the show becomes the standard for 80's brighter, lighter, family friendly, multi-camera sitcom style done in front of a live studio audience.

Over the years, there are different characters and it becomes a legendary sitcom lasting 11 seasons. Henry Winkler, Marion Ross, and Tom Bosley are the veterans who held up the show all the way to the end. On the other hand, the supposed lead Ron Howard would leave the show after seven seasons. He was never that funny to me and I question his ability as the straight man. He's better as a director anyways. I'm not a fan of Joanie and Chachi who are fighting half of time. I never really liked Chachi and I only tolerated Joanie. I'm not a big fan of Potsie either and I definitely don't like his crooning. At least, Ralph Malph gets a few laughs at his own expense. As for the later additional characters, I like boy-crazy Jenny Piccalo the most. She's a fun character and the definition of the clueless cute single girl. KC is a little bland as a random cousin coming out of nowhere for the 10th season. I like Roger Phillips especially when he's paired up with the Fonz at the school. There is a weird situation with Linda Purl who plays two characters over the years. During the second season, she's Richie's girlfriend Gloria, and during the tenth season, she's Fonzie's girlfriend Ashley Pfister. Think about that. What I forgot is that Ashley's daughter was played by Poltegeist's Heather O'Rourke. Over the years, there are many memorable guest stars. Phil Silvers played Cathy Silvers' father. Robin Williams had a great crazy turn as Mork leading to his own show and becoming a Hollywood legend. There's also Laverne & Shirley who spun off on their own. This show lasted 11 seasons and is one of the legendary network TV shows of all times.

Happy Days was a great show when Ritchie, Potsie, and Ralph were still in high school, but when they moved on to college the show just skyrocketed down hill. The relationship of Chiachi and Joannie turned into boy band type pop with them singing almost half the shows, Jenny Piccolo was useless in the show, and Ted McGinley just has the knack somehow for making every show he's in, to destroy a show. I thought one of the funnier characters in the show was Sheriff Kirk, and Arnold in the earlier shows, but Ashley and LoriBeth were so so. I always thought the Fonz was funnier in his gray jacket days, but when he just had powers beyond belief, it detracted from his character to me.

All that aside, the 1st few seasons were 1st rate. I always loved the show, but it lasted way to long to continue. There were a few shows after Ritchie and Ralph left, and some of the Leather Tuscadero episodes that were good, but it just didn't have the nostalgia feel that the 1st seasons had.