Matt Boyce
Happy Days is an all time classic American television sitcom. At its peak it was a fantastic can't-miss TV show and the reruns are still always on and watched by viewers today.I'd give the peak seasons a 10 but unfortunately in later years, especially after Richie and Ralph Malph left, the show got very stale and was frankly a shadow of its former self.
powermandan
Happy Days is such a warm show that always makes people feel good and is such a pleasure to watch. Like most family sitcoms, serious issues are tackled, but it is able to find the balance between cop-out (Full House) and very explicit (Diff'rent Strokes). But there are two things that make the show great: its characters and its time period setting in the 1950s.Happy Days is a spin off of Love American Style that was about a teenager growing up in 1950s Milwaukee. Richie Cunningham is the star of the show played by Ron Howard from the Andy Griffith Show. Richie has an older brother, Chuck, little sister Joanie (Erin Moran), his father Howard (Tom Bosley) owns a hardware store and his mother Marion (Marion Ross) is a housewife. The first season dealt with Richie's home life and his high school days with best friend Warren "Potsie" Webber. As the first season progressed, jokester Ralph Malph (Donny Most) and greaser Arthur "The Fonz/Fonzie" Fonzerelli (Henry Winkler) grew from being briefly seen to reoccurring. Although being filmed in the 70s, the show perfectly captures the look and feel of the 50s. You could swear it was filmed in the 50s.The first two seasons were done as single-cams, but was changed to a regular-sitcom setting by season 3. Fonzie's greaser look and superhuman gimmick immediately made him a fan favourite, giving him second billing after Ron Howard. Both him and Ralph grew to main characters, so there was really no point in Richie having an older brother who was rare seen. So Chuck was written out. In shows, when a character suddenly vanishes and seems like they never existed, it is known as the "Chuck Cunningham Syndrome." But whatever. The multi-cam switch gave the show more energy and all the characters were at their heights. While the show still revolved around the Cunninghams, Fonzie soon became the most popular character on TV. Personally, I find Fonzie to be the best character ever. He becomes a tenant for the family, and his relationship with them was one to savour. Potsie and Ralph eventually became the same in terms of importance and were often paired up in the backdrop of Fonzie and Richie. But the show took a dark turn in season 8. Ron Howard's movie-directing career was growing and he decided to pursue it full time and leave Happy Days. Don Most also decided to leave to pursue other interests. The show lost its edge, with many people not liking it. It was written in that Richie and Ralph join the army and get stationed to Greenland. To replace Richie was his cousin Roger Phillips (Ted McGinley) who moved to Milwaukee to be an educator. It took a long time for Roger to grow in me, I mean seasons! Fonzie becomes an auto mechanics teacher and own the new Arnold's. The hangout was changed to reflect the 60s that the show was going into, with it being the 50s before.Almost the remainder of the show focused on Joanie's relationship with Fonzie cousin Chachi (Scott Baio). I always liked this. They eventually went on to their own short-lived spin off "Joanie Loves Chachi." Season 10 was their absence. I consider that season to be "Happy Days: The Next Generation." The worst thing was it gave up on capturing the 60s style. Luckily, the new array of characters were cool. Joanie's best friend Jenny Piccolo (Cathy Silvers) became more prominent, some new high school students were seen more regularly, Fonzie settles down with divorced Ashley Pfister (Linda Purl) and her daughter Heather (Heather O'Rourke), Roger's rebellious younger brother Flip (Billy Warlock) moves to town, and Howard's goody-goody niece KC (Crystal Bernard) moves in from Houston. The only one I did not like was KC. Heather was adorable, Flip was awesome, Jenny ruled, and Fonzie's growing endeavours were compelling. Season 11 was the final season, with Joanie and Chachi moving back home after the cancellation of their show. Many of these new characters did not return. Flip and Jenny should have stayed regulars. But there were some good things to come out. Richie and Ralph return for a few episodes to pursue their dreams, Joanie and Chachi get married, and Fonzie adopts a child. It also started to push boundaries and do edgier episodes. The show could have gone on longer.This show was nearly flawless. It had some bad episodes, but what show doesn't? The time period should have been more consistent and Potsie should not have been dwindled down the last three seasons. But these flaws are forgivable. There was so many great things and people to come out of this show. The Richie era was the best, but post-Richie was fine too.
marimull719
Happy Days brings back so many happy childhood memories. I remember every Tuesday night 8PM waiting to see the show. I loved all the cast members, and it helped me get through a wicked childhood. The show touched on so many important issues, especially bullying. Fonzie showed our generation that it was not cool to BULLY!! I still watch every episode that I can find on TV and introduced my children to my favorite show. I am sorry Tom Bosley has passed, he was a true entertainer. I am so happy to hear that the cast remained friends, their chemistry on the show was magical. Thank you for entertaining so many throughout the years.
eefan2001
Chachi!!!! The only reason to watch this largely unfunny show. Chachi. Even when they tried to turn him and what's-her-face into recording sensations and gave them their own show (although his replacement, Billy Warlock, was pretty hot in those cut off tanks). Chachi. Yes, I have happy days when I think of Chachi. Chachi. Remember that least season episode where he was stuck in the steam room? Chachi. Chachi. Chachi. Seriously though, this show was okay during the first two seasons when it remained what it set out to be. The studio audience screaming all the time and Fonzie becoming the central character in the third season is when this show jumped the shark metaphorically, long before Fonz jumped the shark literally. At least the show has earned its pop culture merit badge for giving us that term. Anyway, as formulaic and unfunny as the show became, the addition of Chachi saved this series from oblivion. Some people think Scott ruined the show. Hardly. He gave it undeniable sex appeal. Chachi, I'd build a time machine just to run my fingers through your hair. Chachi Days.
