Happy Days 

The Cunningham family live through the 1950s with help and guidance from the lovable and almost superhuman greaser, Fonzie.

Creator:

Garry Marshall

Stars:

Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Marion Ross

Won 3 Golden Globes. Another 13 wins & 19 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Henry Winkler	...	Arthur 'Fonzie' Fonzarelli / ... 255 episodes, 1974-1984
Marion Ross	...	Marion Cunningham / ... 255 episodes, 1974-1984
Tom Bosley	...	Howard Cunningham / ... 255 episodes, 1974-1984
Erin Moran	...	Joanie Cunningham / ... 239 episodes, 1974-1984
Anson Williams	...	Potsie Weber / ... 220 episodes, 1974-1984
Ron Howard	...	Richie Cunningham / ... 170 episodes, 1974-1984
Don Most	...	Ralph Malph / ... 168 episodes, 1974-1984
Al Molinaro	...	Al Delvecchio / ... 146 episodes, 1974-1984
Scott Baio	...	Chachi Arcola / ... 130 episodes, 1977-1984
Lynda Goodfriend	...	Lori Beth Allen / ... 78 episodes, 1977-1984
Ted McGinley	...	Roger Phillips 61 episodes, 1980-1984
Cathy Silvers	...	Jenny Piccalo 55 episodes, 1980-1984

Storyline

Richie Cunningham and his friend Potsie face life at Jefferson High in Milwaukee Wisconsin in the 1950s. Lots of changes over time as kids come and go, new series spin off, Richie and pals go to college then the army. Even marriage.

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Plot Keywords:

1950s | 1960s | milwaukee wisconsin | family relationships | growing up | 

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Taglines:

"Rock Around the Clock" and "Mona Lisa" were on the Hit Parade...Uncle Miltie was a household word...people held each other while dancing...the D.A. was a hairstyle...and everybody liked Ike. Those were the days of the 1950's...filled with innocence and the promise of even better days to come. (season 1)

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Music

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Certificate:

TV-G

Did You Know?

Trivia

This show isn't actually nostalgia. It's Anemoia. Anemoia is nostalgia for a time you've never known; nostalgia for a time before you were born. Most of the Happy Days viewers were not actually the Pre-Baby Boomer Eisenhower-era adults who lived through that era. It was their CHILDREN. It was GENERATION X kids; who loved to imagine what it was like being in the cool, otherworldly, fifties, even though they were too young to experience it first hand. The Waltons was also anemoia, so was Little House on the Prairie; so was Bonanza and most of the westerns that aired in the 50s; which took place in the 1800s.

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Goofs

In the pilot episode, the diner the characters attend is called Arthur's. In all subsequent episodes, the name has changed to Arnold's.

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Quotes

Richie Cunningham: A shark? That is the *stupidest* thing I have ever heard!
Fonzie: Stupid, yes. Also dumb. But it is something I've gotta do.
Richie Cunningham: Fonz, you're not jumping over garbage cans on a bike. You're jumping over a shark. On nothing! On a couple of little skis! One little slip and chomp! Chomp! Chomp!
Fonzie: Thanks a lot for your support. Look, I was challenged. I gotta jump.

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Alternate Versions

The syndicated version called "Happy Days Again" used an alternate version of Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock" theme song. The original series used a specially-recorded version, but "Happy Days Again" used Haley's original 1954 recording.

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Connections

Referenced in Ed: Hook, Line and Sinker (2001)

User Reviews

Early episodes are priceless

Great family sitcom born of the 70's nostalgia for the fifties, focusing on the Cunningham family of four (or was it five?). The first two to three year's worth of episodes are timeless and as good as it gets in this genre at any time. In retrospect, as Fonzie draws more attention the show becomes less entertaining, until upon Richie's departure the show becomes pointless. Not to take anything away from Fonzie, one in a long line of cool guys from James Dean and Edd Byrnes to Luke Perry and Vin Diesel; but in retrospect he was more effective in smaller doses. Also, as time goes by the ensemble seems to be playing to the audience in broad fashion rather than doing real comedy. Bosley and Ross get my vote for most enjoyable TV parents of all time.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 January 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

New Family in Town

Filming Locations:

565 North Cahuenga Avenue, Hancock Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miller-Milkis Productions, Miller-Milkis-Boyett Productions, Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min (255 episodes)

Color:

Color