#32

Happy Days

Flashback to the 1950s. A simpler time. When the most important thing was to be cool.

Happy Days was a sitcom on ABC and lasted for 11 seasons. The shows ensemble featured the Cunningham family, Richie’s friends, and a leather-jacked clad mechanic named Arthur Fonzerelli, aka The Fonz.

While the show started off with the Cunninghams, Howard, Marian, Richie, and Joanie (oh, and the totally forgotten Chuck), the show developed into a show about Fonzie and his life. The Fonz became one of the most standout characters of the show (including becoming a member of the EYG Hall of Fame).

The show included an ensemble cast of top line actors including Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Tom Bosley, Marion Ross, Anson Williams, Erin Moran, Donnie Most, Pat Morita, Scott Baio, Al Molinaro, and Lynda Goodfriend.

The friendship between Richie and Fonzie became a center piece of the show, and it was still able to survive when, after seven seasons, Ron Howard left Happy Days to start a career in directing. Though the show tried, they never replaced that Fonzie-Richie bond that had carried the early years of the show.

Happy Days led to several spin offs, including the exceptional Mork & Mindy and Laverne & Shirley.