What is “Happy Days”?
Happy Days is an American Television series about life in the mid-1950s and 1960s. It aired from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984 and is known as one of the highest rated shows in the 1970s. Happy Days was produced by Miller-Milkis Productions and Henderson Productions, and it was in association with Paramount Television.
The main characters of “Happy Days”
Happy Days takes place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and revolves mostly around the Cunningham family and their friends. The Cunninghams consists of Howard, the father and owner of a hardware shop, Marion, the mother and homemaker, Joanie the youngest child in the family, and Richie, who is the star of most of the Happy Days episodes in seasons 1-7.
Another star character in Happy Days is Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli, who everyone calls “Fonzie” or “The Fonz”. In season one of Happy Days, Fonzie was just a minor character, but he became so popular, that he was made a season regular. Although Fonzie, was in many of the episodes from the first seven season of Happy Days, it wasn’t until seasons 8-11 that he became the star character of the show. He is most known for his catchphrases, and his outstanding “coolness”.
Recurring characters
Other recurring characters in the Happy Days include Warren Weber, who goes by Potsie and Ralph Malph. Potsie is Richie’s very carefree and mature best friend. He is also a gifted singer. Ralph Malph, is best friends with Richie and Potsie. Ralph even goes along to join the United States Army with Richie, however Potsie stayed behind. Even through this, Richie Ralph and Potsie, remain to be the best of friends.
“Happy Days'” origins and subsequent spinoffs
Happy Days is actually a spin-off from the popular television seriesLove, American Style. Happy Daysbecame so popular that it resulted in seven other spin-off shows. These include Laverne & Shirley, Blansky’s Beauties, Mork & Mindy, Out of the Blue, Joanie Loves Chachi, and two animated shows which include, The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang, andLaverne & Shirley with Special Guest Star the Fonz. Laverne and Shirleywas the most successful of these spin-offs, and took place during the same time period as Happy Days. Mork & Mindy, was a show about an alien named Mork and his adventures on earth with a “human” named Mindy. Joanie Loves Chachi, was a series about Richie’s younger sister Joanie, and her boyfriend Chachi’s relationship, when the two moved to Chicago in order to pursue their career as musicians. Although the show was popular, Joanie Loves Chachi, was soon cancelled, because the ABC executives believed that it was losing its “lead-in”.
The shows’ popularity and legacy
Happy Days popularly grew so much, that the series has been nominated for 19 awards, and has won twelve of them. These awards include a primetime Emmy award, a PGA award, a People’s choice award, several TV Land Awards, a young artist award, and several Golden Globe awards.
Although the series has ended, Happy Days will always be valued as one of the most loved shows in America. Its hilarious characters will never be forgotten and will always be a favorite among many. Happy Days will forever remain in the hearts of Americans everywhere.