"Happy Days" got its start as a failed pilot for ABC called 'New Family in Town', which aired in February 1972 as a short segment of ABC's anthology, "Love, American Style" called "Love and the Happy Days."
But... It wasn't until the success of the film "American Graffiti" a year later (also starring Ron Howard as a different character) that ABC asked producer Gary Marshall to re-work "New Family in Town" .
When "Happy Days" premiered in January 1974 , ABC was still third place in prime time programming. "Happy Days" started off with okay ratings but survived because Henry Winkler's character of Fonzie became a fan favorite. That fact allowed the show to stay on the air (as well as the fact ABC didn't have anything to replace it with! )
When Fred Silverman became the head of ABC in 1975, he pushed Gary Marshall to make the Fonzie character a bigger part of the show. So, Gary sped up the process by having Fonzie move into a loft over the Cunningham family garage. Instead of living across town.
By the 1975-76 season, "Happy Days" was the 11th most popular series on television and ABC finally leaped over NBC to become the number two network (soon to be #1). In January / mid way through that season, came spin-off Laverne & Shirley, which became, naturally, second in the ratings to "Happy Days".
In the 1976-1977 season , Happy Days ranked #1 , toppling long standing, "All In The Family" from the top. Several other spin-off series came about as well. Blanksky's Beauties, Mork and Mindy, Out of the Blue and Joanie Loves Chachi.
Ron Howard and Donny Most left at the end of the 1979 - 1980 season, Ron to create TV movies for NBC which would later lead to becoming one of the most sucessful movie director's in Hollywood.
Don Most wanted to try new roles that were more challenging. He met with quite a bit of typecasting. But, still managed to find some fairly good parts. Anson Williams, stuck around to the end.
Arthur Fonzerelli, a tough customer, but a heart of gold, could do many amazing things. He stood by his friends and practially adopted family and while dated many, did have the proper respect. Winkler by the early 1980s, became first billed in the opening credits.
He may have jumped a shark, launching that useless term later, but "Happy Days" made a star out of Henry Winkler and his most recent (and overdue) Emmy win in the late 2010's, shows it.
As for "Happy Days" , it never lost its good quality comedy and warm and caring moments of The Cunninghams and their freinds. Even with many coming and going over many seasons.
The show wasn't meant to be a near documentary look at the 1950s or the first half of the 1960s, it a situation comedy meant to entertain and maybe give a light lesson here and there. Many of those not lost on me then.
The show aired a 'May Sweeps' finale that month of May in 1984, which made people think that was it. Thing is, due to the ABC coverage of the winter Olympics, several episodes had been pre-empted and hadn't aired yet.
So, ABC finished these up over the Summer and the series (again) concluded , but in July.
I have only positives to say about this show. I watched it from age 6 to 16. ...and even though I grew up, I never outgrew it and never will.
But... It wasn't until the success of the film "American Graffiti" a year later (also starring Ron Howard as a different character) that ABC asked producer Gary Marshall to re-work "New Family in Town" .
When "Happy Days" premiered in January 1974 , ABC was still third place in prime time programming. "Happy Days" started off with okay ratings but survived because Henry Winkler's character of Fonzie became a fan favorite. That fact allowed the show to stay on the air (as well as the fact ABC didn't have anything to replace it with! )
When Fred Silverman became the head of ABC in 1975, he pushed Gary Marshall to make the Fonzie character a bigger part of the show. So, Gary sped up the process by having Fonzie move into a loft over the Cunningham family garage. Instead of living across town.
By the 1975-76 season, "Happy Days" was the 11th most popular series on television and ABC finally leaped over NBC to become the number two network (soon to be #1). In January / mid way through that season, came spin-off Laverne & Shirley, which became, naturally, second in the ratings to "Happy Days".
In the 1976-1977 season , Happy Days ranked #1 , toppling long standing, "All In The Family" from the top. Several other spin-off series came about as well. Blanksky's Beauties, Mork and Mindy, Out of the Blue and Joanie Loves Chachi.
Ron Howard and Donny Most left at the end of the 1979 - 1980 season, Ron to create TV movies for NBC which would later lead to becoming one of the most sucessful movie director's in Hollywood.
Don Most wanted to try new roles that were more challenging. He met with quite a bit of typecasting. But, still managed to find some fairly good parts. Anson Williams, stuck around to the end.
Arthur Fonzerelli, a tough customer, but a heart of gold, could do many amazing things. He stood by his friends and practially adopted family and while dated many, did have the proper respect. Winkler by the early 1980s, became first billed in the opening credits.
He may have jumped a shark, launching that useless term later, but "Happy Days" made a star out of Henry Winkler and his most recent (and overdue) Emmy win in the late 2010's, shows it.
As for "Happy Days" , it never lost its good quality comedy and warm and caring moments of The Cunninghams and their freinds. Even with many coming and going over many seasons.
The show wasn't meant to be a near documentary look at the 1950s or the first half of the 1960s, it a situation comedy meant to entertain and maybe give a light lesson here and there. Many of those not lost on me then.
The show aired a 'May Sweeps' finale that month of May in 1984, which made people think that was it. Thing is, due to the ABC coverage of the winter Olympics, several episodes had been pre-empted and hadn't aired yet.
So, ABC finished these up over the Summer and the series (again) concluded , but in July.
I have only positives to say about this show. I watched it from age 6 to 16. ...and even though I grew up, I never outgrew it and never will.
- ***** 10 Stars ***** -