watching post-Richie episodes on TV Land, I think that if "Happy Days" as we knew it ended in 1980 after the departures of Howard and Most, and the series had been changed to another name (think Archie Bunkers Place/Three's A Crowd) in the fall of 1980, the last 4 seasons would've scored better.

I happen to think the latter seasons are actually better than the last couple Richie seasons. The problem being, there was no Ron Howard, and he was so associated with Happy Days that HD without him wasn't right, tho as a Richie-less spinoff series, I think more people would've accepted characters like Roger and Jenny Piccolo. The latter seasons definately don't compare to the first 4 seasons, but there weren't any moments as cringeworthy in the last 4 seasons as "Pumps Your Blood" or the Hollywood episodes.

They might have scored better, but I don't think the show would have lasted long. Most of the characters people were used to showed up one time or another in the latter seasons. With Archie Bunker's Place we didn't see a lot of the people we grew attached to like the Jefferson, Mike, Gloria and Edith. It was just like a whole other show and it didn't really have the same feel that All In The Family Did. I think that Happy Days would follow in that path. It also helped that some of the beginning episodes were strong enough so that the episodes in the last few seasons didn't look as ridiculous. I think they would have been a lot more painful to watch if I wasn't as comfortable with some of the characters. As for the characters that didn't catch on very well, I think that they might have been worse. While I love them all, I don't think they had enough personality to carry on a whole series. It would've been too empty to make an impact.

There might have been no Ritchie Cunningham earlier had the show been called "Fonzie's Happy Days" which might have happened!

I think the show was fine still being called Happy Days after Ron Howard left the show. It was Ron Howard's decision to leave the show and the writers did the best they could to keep things going those last 4 years and I think they did a pretty good job. At least we still had Fonzie, Joanie, Chachi, Howard, Marion, Potsie, and Al who we had been familiar with even before Richie was gone. Now if Fonzie had moved to Florida away from all his friends in Milwakee. Then yes it would have been Necasary to change the title to Fonzie's Happy Days. But I think it was perfect just the way it was.

I dont think it would have helped; certainly, i wouldnt have watched...The day Fonzie became " Super Greaser " ( Woaaaa..Ayyyy...bops jukebox and a miracle happens...God in leather ) and started taking over, I began to lose interest, and when Ritchie left and SG took over completely, i didnt return till the series finale