Happy Days (TV Series 1974-1984) - Full Cast & Crew - Thomas L. Miller was behind many of them.
Happy Days is an American sitcom television series that aired first-run on the ABC network from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984, with a total of 255 half-hour episodes.The series was a sweet vision of life in the mid-1950s to mid-1960s Midwestern United States and starred Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham, Henry Winkler as his friend Fonzie, and Tom Bosley andMarion Ross.Happy Days became popular even though it opened to mixed reviews.[3]
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" on ABC's anthology show Love, American Style.ABC renewed interest in the pilot after George Lucas cast Howard as the lead in American Graffiti.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, trying to "honestly depict a wistful look back at adolescence".Initially a moderate success, the series' ratings began to fall during its second season, causing Marshall to retool it emphasizing broad comedy and spotlighting the previously minor character of Fonzie, a "cool" biker and high school dropout.Happy Days became the number-one program in television in 1976– 1977 and became one of the most popular shows in the 1970s.The series spawned a number of spin-offs.
Set in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 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; and Richie's older brother Chuck.The earlier episodes focused on Richie and his friends, Potsie Weber and Ralph Malph, with Fonzie as a secondary character.As the series progressed, Fonzie became a favorite with viewers, and soon more story lines were written to reflect his growing popularity, as well as top billing in the opening credits.When Richie left the series for military service, Fonzie became the central figure of the show, with Winkler receiving sole top billing.Chachi Arcola was a love interest for Joanie Cunningham in the later seasons.The show was set in 11 years from 1955 to 1965, which is roughly the 11 seasons of the series.
The pilot of the series was originally shown as Love and the Television Set, and later re-titled Love And the Happy Days, a one-episode teleplay on the anthology series Love, American Style, aired on February 25, 1972.Happy Days spawned successful television shows as well as three failures, Joanie Loves Chachi, Blansky's Beauties and Out of the Blue.The musical based on the show has toured the United States since 2008.The National Museum of American History has a permanent collection of the leather jacket worn by Henry Winkler in the series.After ABC relented and allowed the Fonzie character to wear a leather jacket, the original tan McGregor windbreaker was thrown into the garbage.
After Pat Morita's character of Arnold moved on after getting married, Al Delvecchio was added as the new owner.Mr. T and Tina was a spinoff of Welcome Back, Kotter that Morita starred in.Happy Days spin-off series "Blansky's Beauties" starred Morita.Father Anthony Delvecchio was Al's twin brother.In the series finale, Father Delvecchio served in the wedding of Joanie and Chachi, which was played by Ellen Travolta.
The addition of Scott Baio as Charles "Chachi" Arcola was the most significant character change after season five.The appearance of Mork, an alien who wanted to take Richie back to his homeworld, was one of the more bizarre plots introduced in the fifth season.This episode was retconned in subsequent airings by way of additional footage to have actually taken place, with Mork having wiped everyone's memory except for one, and then deciding to time travel.
In season five, Goodfriend joined the cast as the steady girlfriend of Richie and became a permanent member.
Ted McGinley joined the cast as RogerPhillips, the nephew of Howard andMarion, after Ron Howard left the series in 1980.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, was joined byCathy Silvers.The actors were promoted to the main cast after several series regulars left the show.Joanie and Chachi were the focus of the series, and often found ways to incorporate Fonzie into them as a shoulder to cry on.Potsie, who had already been spun off from the devious best friend of Richie, was now most often used as the occasional "dumb" foil for punchlines.
Billy Warlock joined the cast as Roger's brother Flip, along with Crystal Bernard and K.C.They were supposed to be replacements for Scott Baio, who left for his own show, Joanie Loves Chachi, and were credited as part of the semi-regular cast.The cancellation of Joanie Loves Chachi led to the return of Moran and Baio.Al left Happy Days in season 10 for Joanie Loves Chachi.Pat Morita went back to the cast.
The two-part episode "Welcome Home" is the end of the story line of Richie andLori Beth.When he returns home from the Army, he barely has time to unpack, because his parents have lined up a job interview at The Milwaukee Journal for him.They were taken aback when he told them he wanted to become a Hollywood screenwriter in California.While they remind him of his responsibilities, he becomes angry and discontented, torn between his obligations to his family and fulfilling his dream.
He decided to confront his family after he had a conversation with Fonzie.They support him and bid him farewell.
There was a nostalgic interest in 1970s film, television, and music.Tom Miller, head of development at Paramount, bumped into Michael Eisner at Newark airport in the winter of 1971 when he was snowed in.According to Eisner, he told Miller, "Tom, this is ridiculous."We're not using our time here.Let's make a show.The script treatment did not sell.Despite the market research department telling them that the 1950s theme wouldn't work, they decided to redo it and this was accepted as a pilot.The pilot was titled New Family in Town and had Harold Gould in the role of Howard Cunningham, Ron Howard as Richie, Anson Williams as Potsie, and Susan Neher as Chuck Cunningham.After Paramount passed on making it into a weekly series, the pilot was recycled with the title Love and the Television Set for presentation on the television anthology series Love, American Style.Grease opened in Chicago in 1971 and became a hit on Broadway the following year.George Lucas asked to view the pilot to see if Ron Howard would be a good choice to play a teenager in American Graffiti.The film 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 took the unsold pilot and turned it 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."Marshall was on the set of the show.[25]
Gould was supposed to reprise the role of Howard Cunningham on the show.When the show was ready to begin production, he declined to come back because he wanted to honor his commitment.Bosley was offered the role.
The first two seasons of Happy Days were filmed using a single camera setup.The second season of "Fonzie Gets Married" was filmed in front of a studio audience with three cameras.In the third season, the show was filmed in front of a live audience, with cast member Tom Bosley announcing in voice-over at the start of most episodes.A laugh track was used to smooth over live reactions.
After the first season of The Odd Couple in 1970, there was a change in production style.
The Cunningham house was in a triangular arrangement in the first and second seasons.The house was rearranged to accommodate multiple cameras and a studio audience.
The official address of the Cunninghams is 565 North Clinton Drive.The house that served as the exterior of the Cunningham residence is located in Los Angeles and is close to the Paramount lot on Melrose Avenue.
The original Arnold's Drive-In, located on Port Washington Road in the North Shore suburb of Glendale, Wisconsin, was inspired by the Milky Way drive-in.A standing set on the Paramount Studios lot was the exterior of Arnold's.Stage 19 was where the rest of the show's sets were located.
The diner in the first season had a room with the same vague details of the later set, such as the college pennants.When the show moved to a studio production in 1975, the set was widened and the entrance was hidden, but allowed an upstage entrance for cast members.The barely-seen kitchen was upstaged and only seen through a window.The diner had orange booths and a camera left.There were two cameras in the restroom doors.An anachronistic "Nip-It" pinball machine that was produced in 1972 was positioned far camera right.
There was a blue and white sign that said "Jefferson High School" on the wall.The exteriors of Jefferson were inspired by Washington High School.
The original Arnold's Drive-In was destroyed by fire in a two-part episode from the seventh season.There was a new Arnold's Drive-In set in the 1960s that was decorated with wood and stained glass.
Two decades after the first set was destroyed, the Happy Days 30th Anniversary Reunion requested that the reunion take place in Arnold's.James Yarnell rebuilt the set based on the original floor plan.The reunion special was filmed in 2004.[31]
The opening theme song for the first season was a newly recorded version of "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets.The original 1954 recording returned to the American charts in 1974 after being used on the show.The first commercial release of the "Happy Days" recording was by a German label.In 1979 the series was re-titled Happy Days Again and used an edited version of the 1954.In some prints intended for reruns and overseas broadcasts, as well as on the Season 2 DVD set release and later re-releases, the original "Rock Around the Clock" opening theme is replaced by the more standard "Happy Days" theme, because of music.
The music for the show's closing theme song was composed by Charles Fox and the lyrics were written by Norman Gimbel.This version was performed by The Ron Hicklin Singers, as well as backing vocals and studio musicians.
"Rock Around the Clock" was replaced by a longer version of "Happy Days" at the beginning of the show."Happy Days" was released as a single in 1976.The show ended the five-year reign of All in the Family at the top of the ratings.
The theme was changed for the final season of the show.Bobby Arvon was on lead vocals.New opening credits were filmed and the Happy Days logo was reanimated to create a new feel for the show which was set in 1965, but in the 1980s.
On April 19, 2011, Happy Days co-stars and the estate of Tom Bosley filed a $10 million lawsuit against CBS, which owns the show.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.They were supposed to be paid 5% of the net proceeds of merchandising if their sole image was used, and half that amount if they were in a group.The group said they were owed millions, but CBS said it owed the actors $8,500 and $9,000 each.The lawsuit was started after Ross was told by a friend that he was going to win a lot of money playing slots at a Happy Days machine.
A judge rejected the group's fraud claim in October of 2011.On June 5, 2012 a judge denied a motion by CBS to have the case thrown out, meaning it would go to trial on July 17 if the matter wasn't settled by then.The actors settled their lawsuit with CBS.CBS promised to honor the terms of their contracts after each received a payment.36 and 37
The phrase "jumping the shark" refers to a point in a series where it resorts to preposterous plot devices to maintain or regain good ratings.The term arose from the season five episode "Hollywood (Part 3)" that aired on September 20, 1977 in which a water-skiing Fonzie (clad in swim trunks and signature leather jacket) jumps over a shark.Happy Days was popular in the ratings for several years, only seeing a real downturn in its final season.The writers of shows such as M*A*S*H and The Mary Tyler Moore Show were often nominated for comedy writing Emmys for their work on Happy Days.There are 38 and 39 words.
The National Museum of American History has displayed the jacket since the early 1990s.
Many networks have rerun Happy Days.In the United States, it aired on TBS from 1989 to 1995 and on Nick at Nite from 1995 to 2000.It airs repeats on MeTV.
There were reruns on Five USA and Channel 4 in the United Kingdom.On a weekday afternoon in the 1970s and 1980s, the original-run episodes were shown on various regions of the ITV network.The True Entertainment channel ceased broadcasting in September 2019.
While the series was still producing new episodes, reruns were re-titled Happy Days Again.The series went off-network in the fall of 1979.Some episodes in circulation still include the Happy Days Again title, even though most prints today use the original titles.
The show has aired on Eleven in Australia since January 11, 2011.Happy Days was on the Nine Network from 1974 to 2006During its original run on the Nine Network, it was shown every Sunday night and every Saturday afternoon.
The first six seasons of Happy Days have been released on DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment and CBS DVD.The second season of CBS features music replacements due to copyright issues.The original opening is retained in 'The Complete First Season'.The original music is only found in season 3 and 4 of the DVD release.The sixth season was released in December.We don't know if the remaining 5 seasons will be released.
The 7th season premiere "Shotgun Wedding: Part 1" was also released on the DVD.This is the last episode to be released on home media.
The first reunion special was aired on ABC in March 1992 and the second in February 2005 to commemorate the program's 30th anniversary.The clips were set up in an interview format.
Out of the Blue and Joanie Loves Chachi were among the spin-off series that were animated.
The Pinky Tuscadero Show was one of the spin-off pilots that did not succeed.[42]
A series of novels based on characters and dialog was published in the 1970s.