Happy Days are here again! Enjoy Season Two of this American TV classic! The gang from the top-rated sitcom is back for more 1950s fun -- Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard), his parents Howard (Tom Bosley) and Marion (Marion Ross), his buddies Ralph (Donny Most) and Potsie (Anson Williams), and the coolest greaser, Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler). Join Richie and his friends for more rockin' adventures as they grow into young adulthood. This four-disc DVD collection contains 23 episodes of memorable entertainment for the whole family.

Read our review here:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/happydaysseason2dvdreview.html

Post any questions or comments about this set.

its upsetting to know that big companies don't care enough about a great series like happy days to give it the best dvd release possible.it appears from the review times that most of the original lengths are it tact.but this whole video quality thing there is just no excuse after all this time they made us wait
its inexcuseable.im not happy about the music thing but i knew that was not going to be the original way.i was willing to live with that .but this picture quality thing is very upsetting. and as i said last night what does this hold for future releases are they going to suck also.i will buy every season the choose to release thats what real fans do.but i am really not happy about this much anticipated release.

its not worth spending money on neither product i am not going to buy a show that is not completed i am telling you all season 2 will not sell i would be shocked if it did replacing bill haley rock around the clock with the season 3 theme is stranges to me, paramount has really dugged a deep hole i wih you all luck buying the dvd i am so made i feel like thowing away season 1 i hate paramount pictures

Thanks for the great (yet upsetting) review. I'm glad that the people who read it will now be able to make informed choices about buying or not buying these sets. (One review I read didn't even mention the replaced theme, let alone anything else!)

I'm disappointed in this set all-around, and I'm ticked that I have to spend this much time and effort trying to decide whether or not I'm going to buy it, because I'm going to lose either way. It shouldn't be like this, but it is.

I encourage everyone who is the slightest bit disappointed with this to contact CBS/Paramount! Whether you buy it or not, let them know you're upset! Call, write, whatever, please do something. Thanks.

the number to cbs paramount is 1323-956-5000 good luck buting tere chops because they aregoing to get a lot of calls

The change of the music doesn't bother me that much. What I noticed so far is that there is a scene at Arnolds at the end of the episode in which Ritchie moves into Chuck's apartment that I haven't seen since the show first aired.

wayne i am telling you baed on the minor and unacceptable changes that paramount made on these dvds season 2 believe me they will not sell because when the fans see after many years of waiting for the show to come with everything not intact they will no buy it, i would be shoicked if season 2 does well but it will not, and paramount does not commerical advertise there dvd's as much as they should, well to each his own, i would spend money on a show that is not complete with the bad picture quailty thank god for tj and pav reviewing the dvd good luck buying it but to me its not worth it

Well, you know, it does suck that so much of the original music has been changed, but it's more important to me to get the complete episodes, and it looks like we've at least got that. If what I've read is true about the price of clearing music rights, then I can't really blame Paramount or CBS for not picking up the tab. They'd never make back in sales what they paid for the music; it wouldn't be worth it to even release it.

Don't get me wrong, I am disappointed. I really preferred the "Rock Around The Clock" opening, and enjoyed the mood that it set for those early episodes, along with all of the original songs. It will never be quite the same for a lot of these old shows where music helped to mark the period, but I guess as with everything else in life, there are going to be changes, and I'd rather see some of my favorite shows again, even if it means without some of the original charm.

I started going through the set today comparing it with DVDs I have of the episodes I recorded from TV Land. Here are the discrepancies or additional notes I've encountered so far in comparison to the Sitcoms Online review:

"Who's Sorry Now?"
All of the instrumentals heard in the flashback scenes are replacements (as compared to the "Love and the Happy Days" episode of Love, American Style where the scenes originated).

"You Go to My Head"
"Perfidia" is replaced on the DVD.

"Guess Who's Coming to Christmas"
An exterior shot of a snow-covered Cunningham house is removed along with "Jingle Bells" which plays over it. Why "Jingle Bells," a song in the public domain, needed to be removed is beyond me. The writer, director, and other such credits are moved from this shot to the next where the family is talking in the kitchen. All of the Christmas instrumentals appear to match was is heard in the TV Land version. Finally, it appears I falsely listed "Jingle Bell Rock" as being in the TV Land version as I did not hear it.

"Fonzie's Getting Married"
It seems that the only reason they left in "Blueberry Hill" was because Fonzie mentioned that Fats Domino was playing on the jukebox. Otherwise, they probably would have replaced that song, as well. For whatever reason, a couple of seconds at the start of the episode were cut, including the word "I" in "I found my thrill..."

It may also be worth mentioning that several of the replacement songs heard in the TV Land versions were, themselves, replaced for the DVD set.

As far as the closing credits are concerned, it only looks as though one title card was re-done (in addition to the one that was removed). In the original versions, one of the cards lists the two theme songs ("Happy Days" and "Rock Around the Clock"). This card is changed to eliminate "Rock Around the Clock." As mentioned in the review, the card listing the "Recording Artists Contributing to the Series" is completely removed. Everything else looks to be the same.

I've gone through 14 episodes so far. I'll be going through the rest within the next few days and will post anything else I find.

Once again thanks angelmark10. That is pathetic that even the replacements were replaced. It seems like CBS DVD just removed everything for the heck of it.

What a rotten deal for the fans. At least Universal ponied up the cash so Miami Vice fans could enjoy the episodes as they originally aired, with the ORIGINAL 80s music. First Fox gyps WKRP fans, now Paramount is sticking it to Happy Days fans. Typical cheapskates...:mad: :mumble:

Email CBS Studios about the Happy Days: Season 2 DVD and feel free to express your complaints about the technical arrangements of each of the shows from the original broadcasts. They must have answers for why the DVDs are as they are.

Once again thanks angelmark10. That is pathetic that even the replacements were replaced. It seems like CBS DVD just removed everything for the heck of it.
I really shouldn't be defending them based on the travesty they've committed, but the replacements of the replacements actually do fit better than the replacements they replaced. Does that make sense? :D

I really shouldn't be defending them based on the travesty they've committed, but the replacements of the replacements actually do fit better than the replacements they replaced. Does that make sense? :D
I think so...I'd have to listen to the replacements. :lol: Isn't it weird that the local TV stations have all the songs intact in their Happy Days syndication deals??

I dread the next season -- are they going to cut out Potsie (aka Dren) singing "Put Your Head on My Shoulder" to Joanie?? :mumble: OK, I'll stop now...promise. ;)

From what I understand, the reason why the songs are heard on television and not on the DVD set is because their use for TV has already been secured. I would guess that they already made deals with the publishers either when they first aired the shows or shortly thereafter so that any future airings would be covered. Nobody envisioned home video releases for these shows back in 1974, so, now, each time they want to release the series on DVD, new rights have to be negotiated.

From what I understand, the reason why the songs are heard on television and not on the DVD set is because their use for TV has already been secured. I would guess that they already made deals with the publishers either when they first aired the shows or shortly thereafter so that any future airings would be covered. Nobody envisioned home video releases for these shows back in 1974, so, now, each time they want to release the series on DVD, new rights have to be negotiated.
We may as well tape or DVDR all the episodes off TV!!

i honestly think that the studios producing dvd's from old tv shows should be trying to negotiate the licensing of songs by percentage points instead of a lump sum; that way the more copies they sell the more money the artists (actually just whichever company holds the rights I guess) AND the big companies make...

I mean the better set they make, the more sets they are going to sell, right?

From what I understand, the reason why the songs are heard on television and not on the DVD set is because their use for TV has already been secured. I would guess that they already made deals with the publishers either when they first aired the shows or shortly thereafter so that any future airings would be covered. Nobody envisioned home video releases for these shows back in 1974, so, now, each time they want to release the series on DVD, new rights have to be negotiated.

This is right on the mark. Hell, back in the '50s, Jackie Gleason figured no one would care about The Honeymooners after its initial airing, so he sold the rights to the shows for about $1 million. A lot of money in the '50s, sure, but he could have made hundreds of times that licensing those shows to syndicators. Of course, when he discovered the "lost" episodes in the eighties, he made some good money off those.

But getting back on topic, from the sounds of everything I've read, this sounds like a set to avoid. If you're not going to do something right, don't do it at all. Or at least clean up the video and picture quality to some acceptable level. There's no excuse to pay full price for a set like this and not have the optimal picture quality.

This is right on the mark. Hell, back in the '50s, Jackie Gleason figured no one would care about The Honeymooners after its initial airing, so he sold the rights to the shows for about $1 million. A lot of money in the '50s, sure, but he could have made hundreds of times that licensing those shows to syndicators. Of course, when he discovered the "lost" episodes in the eighties, he made some good money off those.

But getting back on topic, from the sounds of everything I've read, this sounds like a set to avoid. If you're not going to do something right, don't do it at all. Or at least clean up the video and picture quality to some acceptable level. There's no excuse to pay full price for a set like this and not have the optimal picture quality.
And these companies wonder why bootlegging is so popular??? Enough said.

Okay, I finished the rest of the episodes. Here are a few more notes:

"Cruisin'"
"Ricochet" has been replaced.

"The Howdy Doody Show"
"It's Howdy Doody Time," sung by The Howdy Doody Show studio audience, has been completely removed.

"Fonzie Joins the Band"
"My Prayer" is heard on the DVD. It's the song where Fonzie has his bongo solo. "Perfidia" has been replaced.

"Fish and the Fins"
"Ricochet" has been replaced.

"Richie's Flip Side"
All dialogue spoken on the air by Charlie the Prince and Richie identifying specific songs has been cut.

In summary, only one actual song ("Blueberry Hill" in "Fonzie's Getting Married"), not counting Christmas carols and "Battle Hymn of the Republic" in "Goin' to Chicago," was not replaced. Only five other songs were not replaced, and these were songs played by either the guys' band ("Splish Splash" twice and "My Prayer" once) or by the Fish and the Fins ("Young Blood" twice).

So pathetic. And the Blueberry Hill song was very brief. They replaced everything basically, except some of the songs they sung.

BOO HISS to Paramount Pictures. :angryfire

Oh yeah, my complaint letter is going out tomorrow. Here's the address if anyone else wants to send one:

PARAMOUNT STUDIOS
HOME ENTERTAINMENT
5555 MELROSE AVE
LOS ANGELES CA 90038-3112

I picked mine up Tuesday.

It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, at least the episodes aren't the syndicated versions. I would still much rather have all the music, but it is better than nothing.

I think so...I'd have to listen to the replacements. :lol: Isn't it weird that the local TV stations have all the songs intact in their Happy Days syndication deals??

I dread the next season -- are they going to cut out Potsie (aka Dren) singing "Put Your Head on My Shoulder" to Joanie?? :mumble: OK, I'll stop now...promise. ;)


... That's if we even get season three. It's still doing well on Amazon (#132) but if too many complaints are given to PHE, they'll just give up (they've been giving up alot lately for no particular reason (ie "Cheers")).

BOO HISS to Paramount Pictures. :angryfire

Put the blame on CBS, too.

it really did take away from the episodes however though not as cyrstal clear as season one.i don't think the video quality is that bad there are some white marks here and there but i don't think they are that bad.im really happy to see the parts that have been edited out of the television versions for years but the music thing really hurts.its just a shame that this happens in this day and age .i am happy to see the second season and im hoping for more but cbs/paramount should be ashamed of themselves they really to something away from a classic series about a classic time period.maybe the should really think it out about the next releases and how they can fix what they broke.

And these companies wonder why bootlegging is so popular??? Enough said.

It would seem the only way to get a true season two set would be to go that route. Of course, to have that, the DVDs would have to be sourced from tapes of the original broadcasts in 1974-75 and the problem with that is VCRs weren't out at that point.

It's too bad that the copyright holders of the music are holding out for such exhorbitant fees. A product like this benefits them. By lowering their licensing fees, they could make money on these old songs.

It's true that no one could have forseen the home video boom and the need for such music clearances for this format, but again, if Paramount/CBS is going to do something like this, DO IT RIGHT!!:mad: :crazy:

To me it was more important to get the episodes from the shows that were unedited. There are many scenes especially at the end which I have not seen since the series started. Its a bit disappointing that they couldn't keep the music the way it was. I noticed a blooper in I think it was "Who's Sorry Now." The gang looks like its dancing to a rock and roll song but a balad is heard. I don't understand why the network couldn't have put in other 50's songs which would have fit just as well as the original numbers.

I got a scratch on one of the cd's I just now noticed. It was on the episode called "Ritchie's flip side" and I can't finish "Kiss me sickley." Anyone else have that problem?

can anyone post the happy days 2nd season intro i would like see to it how it is on 2nd season dvd

... It's still doing well on Amazon (#132)

How do you find out that information? I have an Amazon account and would like to know how dvds are doing in the rankings...

EDIT: I have found out how to do it the "Top Sellers" but it only lists the top 100 how are you able to look up to number 132, what did you do?

Okay, first go to the product page (most easily accessible by clicking on the top of the page where season two is shown), and then scroll down to product information. The sales rank is toward the bottom of the product info.

The music replacements don't bother me. I haven't seen episodes of Happy Days since 1984, so getting the DVD's is a real treat for me. I got season 2 of Happy Days along with season 2 of Laverne & Shirley and season 2 of Mork & Mindy.

The replaced music hurt in places, but if anyone thinks the TV land versions are better, I have to disagree. I compared some season 2 epiosdes to those I taped off TV land and there's really no comparison. The colors on the DVD are much better, and it's great to see scenes that have been cut from syndication. I grew up on HD. I noticed the music but really loved the characters more than anything else. I didn't like that "Rock Around the ClocK' was replaced, but figure after a while I pass opening credits DVD box sets anyway. I'll take these over the TV land cuts anyday. While it hurts to say this, if season one sold enough to make paying for the music worth it, more would be here. I think they basically threw this out there to see if they can sell enough this way to make more seasons worth it. For once I can almost see where Paramount is coming from with this. They had enough inqueries that they did season one and cleared a lot of if not most of the music. After seeing the sales #'s, they got a better of idea of howmany they'd actually sell and probably had to figure out the best option.

i have said it before, and i will say it again, paramount screwed everything up by not commercially advertising there product, and i recently called paramount and i spoke with there home video department and i told them that i was upset with the poor quailty of the video and the music replacements, and they told me, that they have been getting calls and letters of complaints, and if season 2, does not sell well, we will not see season 3, paramount cares nothing for the fans nor the dvd that they put out, thats the way it is in the video business, i wonder how the sells from season 2 is doing not good

Is the season 2 box like season 1 or is it a plastic case?

Cheers

EDIT: Dont bother answering as i read the review and found out that the boxart is different.

I picked up the r2 version of season 2 and although they still use the season 3 in place of Rock Around the Clock, the music in the episodes appears to be intact. Thought it would be of interest to you.

I picked up the r2 version of season 2 and although they still use the season 3 in place of Rock Around the Clock, the music in the episodes appears to be intact. Thought it would be of interest to you.
Oh, cool. Where did you get it? Can it be bought online? I'd like that version with the original music intact (We all do!).

Oh, cool. Where did you get it? Can it be bought online? I'd like that version with the original music intact (We all do!).

I got this at amazon.co.uk

the 50's on happy days was more of richie era and the 1960's was more of joannie and chachi eara, where richie and ralph joined the service, and joannie and chachi was more into there generation, thats just my point of view.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey happy days fans, i have a question to asked you all, in a fair fight you got fonzie's falcons vs john travolta's aks danny zuko t-birds from grease who would win the rumble. Which was fonzie's first group the demons of the falcons.

hey happy days fans, i was just thinking too myself, if cbs/paramount ever release season 4 of happy days i bet i no what the cover is going too look like. I was looking at the photo gALLERY and i believe the next set will show potsie richie fonzie and ralph taking a picture in front of arnolds standing besides the fonz infront of his motorcycle i am perdicting the cover will either be red or blue its just a guess