Joanie Loves Chachi 

The romantic adventures of Joanie Cunningham and Chachi Arcola as they pursue music careers in Chicago.

Creators:

Lowell Ganz, Garry Marshall

Stars:

Scott Baio, Erin Moran, Al Molinaro

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Scott Baio	...	Chachi Arcola 17 episodes, 1982-1983
Erin Moran	...	Joanie Cunningham 17 episodes, 1982-1983
Al Molinaro	...	Al Delvecchio 17 episodes, 1982-1983
Derrel Maury	...	Mario Mastorelli 17 episodes, 1982-1983
Ellen Travolta	...	Louisa Arcola Delvecchio 17 episodes, 1982-1983
Winifred Freedman	...	Annette Mastorelli 17 episodes, 1982-1983
Robert Pierce	...	Bingo 17 episodes, 1982-1983
Art Metrano	...	Uncle Rico Mastorelli 16 episodes, 1982-1983

Storyline

This spin-off of Happy Days (1974) follows Chachi Arcola as he moves out and tries to succeed on his own with a rock band and a music career. In between holding down a job and keeping his girlfriend, Joanie Cunningham, happy, he must also deal with the often unwanted, but sometimes needed, advice and interference from his friends, relatives and neighbors.

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Plot Keywords:

1960s | sitcom | happy days spin off | chicago illinois | character name in title | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance | Music

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 March 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jenny e Chachi

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

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

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min (17 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

As with it parent series, Happy Days, the main characters of Joanie Loves Chachi had hairstyles and fashion tastes more appropriate for the early 1980s than for the early 1960s. In later episodes of the series, clothing obviously made of synthetic materials managed to creep in, even though it was a decade or so (the early 1970s) when such materials would become popular.

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Connections

Referenced in Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003)

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Soundtracks

You Look At Me
Written by James Patrick Dunne and Pam Phillips
Performed by Erin Moran and Scott Baio

User Reviews

It Wasn't All That Bad

The spin-off from HAPPY DAYS wasn't really all that bad, and in fact, had some better scripting than HAPPY DAYS did during that show's lurching final period.

The problem was, with viewers having long deserted the mother show, the world did not want a new spin-off of HAPPY DAYS---if they did, they would still have been watching the original show. It is too bad that the episodes of JOANIE LOVES CHACHI weren't included in the HAPPY DAYS syndication package. Someone on this board said this has been rerun on TVLand, or some such cable station, but I've not seen it listed.

But maybe I'm just biased; as a child and then a teenager so long ago, I had a little bit of a crush on Erin Moran, and would have watched anything she did. She had a nice TV presence, and I'm sorry she didn't get to do much after HAPPY DAYS ended, and doubly sorry this led to her widely publicized "problems" in her adult years. Supposedly she is doing better on that level now, and if somehow she ever reads this, I would like to say that watching her brought some happy moments to my childhood.