Happy Days

Ah, the mid 1950s. A time of innocence. A time of love. A time... of Happy Days. Happy Days was created by former The Odd Couple writer Garry Marshall, and most of its 260+ episodes were directed by former Dick Van Dyke Show star Jerry Paris. It premiered on ABC in January 1974 and quickly grew to become the most popular show of that period.

Happy Days centers around a middle-class family, the Cunninghams: Howard, Marion, their son Richie and their daughter Joanie. In the first couple of seasons, Howard and Marion had a second son, Chuck, who was played by two actors in his short existence. Richie hangs around at Arnold's Drive In with "Potsie" Weber, Ralph Malph, and neighborhood greaser Arthur Fonzarelli, or simply "the Fonz." Living in an apartment just above the Cunninghams' garage, the Fonz gives Richie advice on just about everything, including girls (Fonzie's specialty). He wears his trademark leather jacket (in the first couple of seasons, he wore a golf jacket because producers thought leather would signify brutality) and spouts trademark phrases such as "Aaaaaayyyyy", and gives his trademark thumbs-up/down. He grew to become the most recognizable and popular character in television.

Happy Days ended in September 1984 due to declining ratings. However, its legacy is far from forgotten. Two reunion specials have been filmed, and in 2004, the Happy Days Season 1 DVD box set was released. And the series has been transformed into a new musical by Garry Marshall. These Happy Days are yours and mine.

Spinoffs / Related Shows
Love, American Style (pilot series)
Laverne & Shirley (spinoff)
Blansky's Beauties (spinoff)
Mork & Mindy (spinoff)
Out of the Blue (crossover)
Fonz and the Happy Days Gang (animated spinoff)
The Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour (animated spinoff)
Joanie Loves Chachi (spinoff)