WEEKEND REWIND: Happy Days

HAPPY DAYS
January 15, 1974 - September 24, 1984
255 episodes
Starring: Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Tom Bosley, Marion Ross, Erin Moran, Anson Williams, Donny Most, Scott Baio, Al Molinaro, Cathy Silvers, Ted McGinley, Lynda Goodfriend

Happy Days is one of the longest running sitcoms in TV history and a pop culture favorite. The shows ran from 1974-1984 but took place in 50s/60s Milwaukee and helped continue a nostalgia craze for the 50s that started with the popular movie American Graffiti. The show looked very different over the course of its run. It began as a softer, more authentic family comedy then turned into a broad sitcom with a raucous live audience (during which it reached #1 in the ratings). It endured many cast changes and stayed a bit past its welcome but at its best, it was a glimpse into a simpler time with poodle skirts, letterman sweaters, drive-ins, and, of course, malt shops (Arnolds). The show was wildly successful and spawned two hit spinoffs (Laverne & Shirley and Mork & Mindy).

Happy Days boasts one of the great sitcom ensembles. The show centered on the Cunningham family and initially focused on teenage son Richie. Richie was the all-American midwestern teenager with "Howdy Doody" looks masterfully played by Ron Howard. The rest of the family was just as perfectly cast. Tom Bosley was a gentle authority figure as father and hardware salesman Howard. Marion Ross was loving mother Marion who really had the authority around the house and had a mix of sweetness and spunk. Erin Moran as Joanie grew from a mischievous kid sister to a focal point of the show during the run. Richie also had two close friends. Anson Williams played the dim Potsie and Don Most was often hilarious as wisecracking confident Ralph Malph. While Potsie was a great sidekick to Richie in the early episodes, Ralph and Potsie became more linked in later years as the two sidekicks. The show later on added characters including the worldly Chachi (Scott Baio) who became a major player in the show when others left, lovable Arnolds manager Al (Al Molinaro), and Richie's girlfriend and then wife Lori Beth (Lynda Goodfriend). Many other characters came in and out too in the final years after Ron Howard and Don Most left the cast.

Of course the center of the show was one of TV's greatest characters, Arthur Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler). Originally conceived as a supporting character, Fonzie eventually became the star of the show and a pop culture icon. His leather jacket hangs in the Smithsonian and his "aaay" became a national catchphrase. When he entered a scene during the live audience era, he was greeted to thunderous applause and loud cheers that often delayed the action of the show. For such a broad and larger than life character, Henry Winkler gave a very layered performance. Fonz was the epitome of cool to most around him, but Winkler and the writers gave him a sweet and vulnerable side in many episodes. His relationship with Richie was a truly great dynamic in the show as they always watched out for each other (in different ways - Fonz would elevate Richie's coolness and protect him but Richie would look out for Fonz when he was too proud or cool to be vulnerable). A character like Fonzie ran the risk of becoming bigger than the show but thanks to Henry Winkler's performance and general demeanor, he never did.

Happy Days wasn't a show that was always top notch in quality. It would sometimes veer to absurd and outlandish (we have the show to thank for the phrase "jump the shark") and the later years were wildly inconsistent at best as Ron Howard's departure gave the show a void it was never able to fill. But at its best, it was a true TV classic and treasure. How fun would it be to live in 1950s Milwaukee, hang out at Arnold's, and have a friend like Fonzie? Because it didn't even take place in the time period it aired in, it has held up well over the years as a fun and lighthearted look at a great era in American history.

THE 10 BEST EPISODES OF "HAPPY DAYS"
Note: this is solely based on personal opinion

Close Calls: #23 "Wish Upon a Star," #152 "King Richard's Big Knight," #92 "Hard Cover," #73 "AKA the Fonz," #168 "No Tell Motel"

"Fonzie Drops In"

10. #40 "Fonzie Drops In" (first aired September 9, 1975)
The "live audience" era of Happy Days began with this third season premiere where Fonzie moves into the Cunninghams' garage apartment. Although the show was more authentically 1950s in the first two seasons than it became, this was the "fun" era of the show and it's evident from the beginning with this great episode.

9. #237/238 "Welcome Home" (first aired October 25 & November 1, 1983)
Ron Howard, Don Most, and Lynda Goodfriend return for two episodes in the final season that features two great scenes between Ron Howard and Henry Winkler. Richie returns home from the army but doesn't feel settled in Milwaukee and wants to go to Hollywood to be a screenwriter. The emotional goodbye between Fonz and Richie at the end of the episode gives more closure to the series than the series finale does.

8. #134 "Stolen Melodies" (first aired February 2, 1979)
An unheralded episode, Leather Tuscadaro's (Suzi Quatro) music is stolen by a shady producer at an "American Bandstand"-like show. The Fonz of course saves the day and then dances to the song "Do the Fonzie." It's certainly cheesy but a very fun episode.

7. #72 "The Muckrackers" (first aired November 23, 1976)
Richie takes on the persona of "Scoop Cunningham" and exposes some bad meat being used at the school cafeteria. In the process of exposing them, he learns that the Fonz is afraid of liver. When he wants to do a follow-up and share that information, a fight between Fonz and Richie ensues. There are many great moments in this episode, especially when the Fonz can't even look at the liver.

6. #49 "A Date with Fonzie" (first aired November 11, 1975)
The world is introduced to Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney in this episode and they would soon star in their own hit series. For this episode, they are double dates of Fonzie and Richie. It is a funny episode from start to finish but the scene at the Cunningham house when Shirley accidentally punches Richie and tends to him on the floor as the rest of the family comes home features some great comedic timing.

5. #45 "Richie Fights Back" (first aired October 14, 1975)
Richie is tired of being a pushover who's getting harassed by hoods (including guest star Jeff Conaway). He first tries a self defense class taught by Arnold and then is taught by Fonzie to be "tough." This episode has so many great moments including tough Richie's appearance at the breakfast table and his crazed fight with the hoods. Ron Howard is fantastic in this episode.

"My Favorite Orkan"

4. #110 "My Favorite Orkan" (first aired February 28, 1978)
Another great episode that spun off a hit series. Richie is lamenting the fact that his life is humdrum until Robin Williams appears as Mork from Ork and wants to take Richie back to his home planet. A showdown between Mork and Fonz eventually ensues and it was all just a dream (or was it?) but the true greatness of this episode is the comedic genius of Robin Williams who is his nonstop manic funny self throughout the show.

3. #22 "Haunted" (first aired October 29, 1974)
One of the best Halloween episodes of any series, Ralph wants to host his annual Halloween party at the supposedly haunted Old Simpson house. Richie goes to check the place out and is spooked by it leading to the actual party where he keeps thwarting Ralph's scare tactics. There's no great moment or scene, it's just a very fun Halloween episode and a good luck at the tone of the first two seasons of the show.

2. #71 "They Shoot Fonzies Don't They?" (first aired November 16, 1976)
Fonzie agrees to be Joanie's dance partner for a dance marathon to help her get even with a mean girl who kept her off the cheerleading squad. However, he might not be able to do it after his bike breaks down and he has to push it 12 miles. But with Fonzie being Fonzie, he is able to pull through in a classic scene at Arnold's. The episode also features funny performances from Richie's tired band that is performing at the dance marathon.

"Guess Who's Coming to Christmas"

1. #27 "Guess Who's Coming to Christmas?" (first aired December 17, 1974)
The sweetest and best episode of Happy Days is the first Christmas one. Fonzie is bragging about his big family Christmas he is going to but Richie figures out that he actually has no place to go for Christmas. The Cunninghams make up reasons to keep Fonzie from "making his bus" and he ends up spending Christmas with the Cunninghams. It is an early great episode that showcases the friendship between Fonz and Richie.