Of course, I've stated over and over again that Happy Days should've ended when Ron Howard left the show.

This got me to thinking of what I'd do for a "final" episode at the end of season seven.

I would have had it be the graduation of Richie, Ralph & Potsie from college. Yeah, I know, they'd only been in college three years, but it wouldn't be the first liberty the show had taken in regards to the period.

It would have been a rite of passage: We would have heard what the guys would go on to: Richie a journalist, perhaps - possibly even announcing his engagement to Lori Beth, etc.

I don't know what Ralph and Potsie would have become, but I think it would have been better had everything been neatly sewn up rather than what happened with Richie and Ralph conveniently "drafted" to explain their absence from the show.

Thoughts, anyone on what might have happened if the "final" episode had aired in the spring of 1980?

One of the FanFics I have written starts shortly after Richie,Potsie,Ralph graduated from College ... and Richie is a Journalist, Potsie a Psychologist, Ralph a Ophthalmologist.

I took what was mentioned and built/created it ... because I really like the Idea :)

not at all agree, it is a pity that there are more Richie and Ralph OK

But I have loved the same last season, where they have been thorough and Joanie Chaco, for me the 8th was the start of growth for the young.

with the 11 that also Joanie and Chacha were married, the series was complete! because now everyone had grown up.

sorry but I was just doing the 8th -9 -11 ° season (the 10th is a bit another account)

Yup, I agree with Iris, that's what I think the 3 of them would of done. Ralph following his fathers footsteps and becoming an optomitrist, potsie a psychologist since he was studying that in college and in depth and richie of course, a journalist. I liked the show afterwards though, even though Ron Howard was great, so I'm fine with it ending in 1984.

I like that idea. Just as I feel Bewitched should've ended in 1969 with the departure of Dick York, I agree that HD should've folded in 1980 when Ron Howard left. To me, HE was the real star of the show.

well, I have not said that the fact that applicant is no more beautiful is one thing, I say only that the series I like it.

They could have ended it like American Graffiti. Just having text on screen explaining what happens to the characters in the future,

This is true

They could have ended it like American Graffiti. Just having text on screen explaining what happens to the characters in the future,

True. I don't know if I completely like that though. They did that with The Wonder Years, but it was for good reasons, that didn't happen with HD. I think the way it ended was great, as far as finale's go. There ya go Newhart :lol: :lol:.

I like that idea. Just as I feel Bewitched should've ended in 1969 with the departure of Dick York, I agree that HD should've folded in 1980 when Ron Howard left. To me, HE was the real star of the show.
Did you know that there's an amazing coincidence involved in those 2 shows after Ron Howard and Dick York left Happy Days and Bewitched, respectively? There were at least 80 episodes with Dick Sargent as Darrin #2 and without Ron Howard.

I don't think a finale can be done in just 5 and a half years, i think it has to be on the year for a minimum of 7 years to have the characters closed out properly and not seemed rushed

sorry but I still do not understand that there is that does not go in recent seasons, I found beautiful the 8th, 9th season, the last two slightly less, and I especially liked the growth of Joanie, Chaci and FOnzie, sorry but my opinion is that Happy days is better to be continued until you see the marriage of Joanie, so why are all grown.

for me with only 7 seasons would not be the same.

what we understand is that Richie lacking, to me missing But Happy Days continues at will

I can see season 7 being the only bad season because that was the season that writers and producers had to get used to not having Richie and Ralph. By season 8 and 9, it was no longer a big deal

I can see season 7 being the only bad season because that was the season that writers and producers had to get used to not having Richie and Ralph. By season 8 and 9, it was no longer a big deal

You mean 8th right? The 8th was the first without Richie.

I agree. Because Ron had an exclusive contract with NBC to direct tv movies he could not appear on ABC in any way. Though it sounds like he would have done guest appearance in the 8th season if allowed to. But all the constant references to Richie and about him not being there made the show seem stuck in its past.

It also did not help that Lori Beth was not given much to do without Richie. Other than the wedding episode and the pregnancy she did not have much to do. Its seems odd that she was made a regular cast member. Which is a shame. I have always liked Lynda Goodfriend! She is very cute! Good actress too.

The 10th season is the really OFF SEASON. No Joanie or Chachi expect guest appearances due to the spin-off. KC and FLip were never developed to well. IS it ever even explained what happened to them? Did they just disappear like Chuck? Flip COULD still be living with Roger but we don't ever see him. But he would have been at Joanie and Chaci's wedding then.

Wouldn't Joanie Loves Chachi have made more sense to have been tried after Happy Days ended? It might have fared better that way. Everyone knew they would get married. There was no mystery or suspense of whether they would breakup. Even the title of the show proved that. So them being newlyweds starting a band would have worked. Plus it would not have negatively affected Happy Days the way their absence in the 10th season did. Otherwise the show must have seemed like to much Happy Days at the same time. But after HD Joanie Loves chachi would have been the only place to see the characters. Guest appearances from characters, like the Fonz, would have been more special then.

I liked Ashley. I would have been nice to see her in at least one episode during the last season.

I don't think a finale can be done in just 5 and a half years, i think it has to be on the year for a minimum of 7 years to have the characters closed out properly and not seemed rushed
6 1/2 seasons (since technically s1 was a half-season so I'd say 6 1/2 and not 7) isn't a really long time but I think it was long enough that they could've pulled the plug with Ron leaving. 6 1/2 seasons is the amount of time that The Dukes Of Hazzard and Buffy The Vampire Slayer lasted, and both shows were seen as having good runs and ended at the right time, but hour long shows are different than sitcoms.

I think what should've been done was ABC give him a raise and strike a deal with him and Donny to come back and promote the 1980-1981 season as the last year. With all the last season hoopla, ratings would've bounced back up and the last few years wouldn't have happened.

They could have ended it like American Graffiti. Just having text on screen explaining what happens to the characters in the future,

You are so right, Avilos

You are so right, Avilos

When I first wrote that I was partly joking. Because remember in American Graffiti we learn that two of the characters die!!! I would never really want to learn that about any of the Happy Days gang.

But its still a good idea without bad news. It would have been cool to learn if Joanie and Chachi had kids at the end of Passages. Or if Richie had a successful movie career.

for me Richie will succeed just as Ron Howard, Joanie and Chacha have a son and NOT ONLY danny will be a 2th Fonzie

Happy days was stil good evan without richie I like the later seasons better peole id not whatch the show because of richie they whatedit becase of fonzie and yu o jersk that are acting like babies Idont emn to call peole names but you guys should be Happy thathe sohw alsted 11 yers becase most sohws quit after the 8th or 7th season you guys should be Happy fonzeo wss the mos poulr chareter not richie Ithnk if fonze had left thna they would haveto cancel the sow

You are calling us babies???!!!!!

LOL! :lol:

I can barely read your post! Are you 6 years old??? DO you know how to type in actual sentences? Ever heard of a thing called a "period"? Plus you go into this rant just because some people have different taste than you!

GROW UP!:rolleyes:

disagree Itihnk its ghoood that happy days aled 11 yeras peole id not whatch the sohw becase ofrichie they whacedit becas of fonzie your luky mos shows qut afterthe 7th or 8th sesons

They could have ended it like American Graffiti. Just having text on screen explaining what happens to the characters in the future,


That's exactly what I was thinking. Just pictures and a description of what they all went on to do.

I agree - it should have ended in 1980 when Ron left the show.

disagree Itihnk its ghoood that happy days aled 11 yeras peole id not whatch the sohw becase ofrichie they whacedit becas of fonzie your luky mos shows qut afterthe 7th or 8th sesons


I disagree. I think its good that Happy Days lasted 11 years. People did not watch the show because of Richie they watched it because of Fonzie. Your lucky, most shows quit after the 7th or 8th seasons.

That's better.... :p ;)

I happen to like both Richie and the Fonz. I liked the latter seasons. But it was never as good as when it was Richie and The Fonz together. But thats just my opinion.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Just pictures and a description of what they all went on to do.

I agree - it should have ended in 1980 when Ron left the show.
I like that idea, too. I do think it would've been fun to see Joanie and Chachi as parents trying to handle a kid. Howard and Marion would've been fun as hands on grandparents (since Richie and his family lived out of the country, and then in California).

I like that idea, too. I do think it would've been fun to see Joanie and Chachi as parents trying to handle a kid. Howard and Marion would've been fun as hands on grandparents (since Richie and his family lived out of the country, and then in California).


But they could have done that on Joanie Loves Chachi anyway - just did the spinoff a little earlier. When the show first started, the focus was on Ritchie and his gang, then more and more Fonzi was the "star" and as much as I loved the Fonz, he took over far too much - and in a wierd "parental" role too.

I couldn't stand the other characters they brought in. The show just wasn't Happy Days anymore. They didn't seem to pay attention to detail on the sets and that as much either - they were sporting 70s hairdos but it was supposed to be the mid to late 60s by that point.

Hey Avilos, don't pay Attention to that Person. (S)He isn't worth it.

They could have ended it like American Graffiti. Just having text on screen explaining what happens to the characters in the future,

I agree that HD should have ended after season 7. I stopped watching it after that season anyway. My favorite seasons were 1 & 2. I also loved seasons 3 & 4, but thought it went slowly downhill after ChaChi came aboard and Al replaced Arnold.

I still like all seasons of HD. The later shows weren't as good as the show was in its prime but it was still better than most sitcoms then on the air. I watched it up till the final episode.

I still like all seasons of HD. The later shows weren't as good as the show was in its prime but it was still better than most sitcoms then on the air. I watched it up till the final episode.

Happy Days is one of my favorite series ever. Having said that, I remember that after I quit watching the show after the 7th season, I happened by chance to check out an episode in maybe the 9th or 10th season. It was about Potsie having difficulty in a college course so he memorized the material by putting it into song. It was wretched.

In the end, I did watch the series finale to put closure to a much treasured show.

Happy Days is one of my favorite series ever. Having said that, I remember that after I quit watching the show after the 7th season, I happened by chance to check out an episode in maybe the 9th or 10th season. It was about Potsie having difficulty in a college course so he memorized the material by putting it into song. It was wretched.

In the end, I did watch the series finale to put closure to a much treasured show.
He sang "Pump your blood." :lol:

Happy Days is one of my favorite series ever. Having said that, I remember that after I quit watching the show after the 7th season, I happened by chance to check out an episode in maybe the 9th or 10th season. It was about Potsie having difficulty in a college course so he memorized the material by putting it into song. It was wretched.

In the end, I did watch the series finale to put closure to a much treasured show.

Actually, that was a sixth season episode, with Richie and Ralph still there. But yes, it was wretched anyway.

Actually, that was a sixth season episode, with Richie and Ralph still there. But yes, it was wretched anyway.

Wow, you're right. I just looked it up in the episode guide. My memory failed me. I thought that episode was so bad that it must have been towards the very end of the series.

According to the episode guide, it was the season finale and aired on 5/15/79. I was in 6th grade at the time. I just remember watching it and thinking this episode is so dumb, and wondering how could my favorite show have fallen so low, when just 3 years prior it was the greatest show it the world (for me, anyway.)

Agreed - that ep was indeed a low point of HD. :eek:

Wow, you're right. I just looked it up in the episode guide. My memory failed me. I thought that episode was so bad that it must have been towards the very end of the series.

According to the episode guide, it was the season finale and aired on 5/15/79. I was in 6th grade at the time. I just remember watching it and thinking this episode is so dumb, and wondering how could my favorite show have fallen so low, when just 3 years prior it was the greatest show it the world (for me, anyway.)

Yeah, it's as bad as some of those later shows, to be sure. I think another reason the show should have ended in 1980 is that the show was starting to show it's age -- it was getting a little tired.

Shows like that one and the one where Fonzie and The Devil battle for Chachi's soul - I say let the devil take him, please! - indicated that the writers were running out of good ideas and takes on the characters.

They were getting too old to be playing kids - even college kids - and they should have just ended it in 1980 with a graduation -- and Chachi's murder, of course.;) :D

Yeah, it's as bad as some of those later shows, to be sure. I think another reason the show should have ended in 1980 is that the show was starting to show it's age -- it was getting a little tired.

Shows like that one and the one where Fonzie and The Devil battle for Chachi's soul - I say let the devil take him, please! - indicated that the writers were running out of good ideas and takes on the characters.

They were getting too old to be playing kids - even college kids - and they should have just ended it in 1980 with a graduation -- and Chachi's murder, of course.;) :D
I can't believe the "Fonzie gets shot in the butt" episode hasn't been mentioned. That was another low point. :eek:

I can't believe the "Fonzie gets shot in the butt" episode hasn't been mentioned. That was another low point. :eek:

I haven't seen that episode in such a long time, I've forgotten it. Was it during the original run or the later years?

Originally posted by Dr. ThongI haven't seen that episode in such a long time, I've forgotten it. Was it during the original run or the later years?

It aired during the later years (season 8), and yes, it was a low point. Season 8 had a couple of episodes that were really silly and it seemed like the writers were just phoning it in (Fonzie gets shot, Fonzie dreams that he loses his cool, the American Musical ep).


IMHO, of the later years, Season 9 was the best. I HATE Season 10, and Season 11, as it has been discussed in another thread, was focused on more serious storylines.

The big song and dance Valentine's show was REALLY hokey and embarrassing - and that was in the Ron Howard era!! :eek:

The big song and dance Valentine's show was REALLY hokey and embarrassing - and that was in the Ron Howard era!! :eek:

One of the worst episodes ever. As much as I like the original run with Richie and Ralph, there were a few stinkers in there too.

One of the worst episodes ever. As much as I like the original run with Richie and Ralph, there were a few stinkers in there too.
Glad to know I wasn't the only one who hated that ep. :lol:

Glad to know I wasn't the only one who hated that ep. :lol:

It was bad enough that Anson Williams sang in several episodes, but to bring in everyone else!! Yeeccchhh!!

That was a terrible episode. One that I will skip over when the season five DVD set comes out.

It was bad enough that Anson Williams sang in several episodes, but to bring in everyone else!! Yeeccchhh!!

That was a terrible episode. One that I will skip over when the season five DVD set comes out.
:rofl:

It was bad enough that Anson Williams sang in several episodes, but to bring in everyone else!! Yeeccchhh!!

That was a terrible episode. One that I will skip over when the season five DVD set comes out.

That Valentine's episode will unfortunately be forever scarred into my memory. I remember watching it in disbelief. Such utter nonsense.

That Valentine's episode will unfortunately be forever scarred into my memory. I remember watching it in disbelief. Such utter nonsense.
My exact feelings when I was watching that episode for the first time!! As Phoebe Buffay would say - "MY EYES!! MY EYES!!" :eek:

My exact feelings when I was watching that episode for the first time!! As Phoebe Buffay would say - "MY EYES!! MY EYES!!" :eek:

:lol:

One of my all-time favorite scenes in Friends.;)

I think that in the final episode if the show ended in 1980, Fonzie would've been dared to kick Howard up the butt. (I got the idea from a Father Ted episode where Ted kicked a Bishop up the butt)

If it was me, I would have ended Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley in 1981 (after the same season, 1980-81). If that happened, then the title characters of L&S probably would have remained in Milwaukee. What do you think about the idea of HD and L&S both ending in 1981?

If it was me, I would have ended Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley in 1981 (after the same season, 1980-81). If that happened, then the title characters of L&S probably would have remained in Milwaukee. What do you think about the idea of HD and L&S both ending in 1981?

I would have done the same thing, but a year earlier. By 1981, the changes had been made to both shows. Fall of 1980 is when both shows "jumped the shark" for me.

If it was me, I would have ended Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley in 1981 (after the same season, 1980-81). If that happened, then the title characters of L&S probably would have remained in Milwaukee. What do you think about the idea of HD and L&S both ending in 1981?

Good idea, we never would've met Flip or KC

I would have done the same thing, but a year earlier. By 1981, the changes had been made to both shows. Fall of 1980 is when both shows "jumped the shark" for me.

The show just never seemed right when it left the 1950s, but since so many of the actors were teenagers they couldn't go like M*A*S*H and keep them in a three year space for over a decade.

I like that idea. Just as I feel Bewitched should've ended in 1969 with the departure of Dick York, I agree that HD should've folded in 1980 when Ron Howard left. To me, HE was the real star of the show.

Yes, Ron Howard leaving pretty much made the show pointless.

I had an odd idea. Most of the shows that I like, I like when there in high school. I just feel its better. So what I would have done is either two things:


1)End the series when Richie left or


2) Expand the high school years. In other words, whereas season 5 is when they started college, I would have made season 5 still in high school and season 6 start college.

I agree with some of the things said here. By 1980 (Season 7), many of the story lines and characters had indeed run their course. There really wasn't much else to do with both Richie and Ralph. It stunk to lose both characters but it, in my mind, rejuvenated the show a little bit. I personally didn't mind seasons 8 & 9. Agreed that season 10 flat-out stunk (although the Tom Hanks episode is probably my favorite of the entire series).

Watching seasons 1-4 really proves to me why the show was so special. But after the famed season 5, jump the you know what, it became really lame and gimmicky, the production values lazy (70s styles and hairdos).

As mentioned, the Valentines episode, Pump your blood, any singing/ musical episode, the 1920s flashback, the Burlesque episode… ugh! They were completely lost but yet people still watched and loved it.

I like ME-TV's website but one of the episodes they highlight for this week is Happy Days Musical Episode?

http://www.metv.com/stories/7-must-see-episodes-on-metv-this-week-of-february-22


Sorry, I agree with mjd. Any of the musicals I will probably skip although the "Pump your Blood" is kind of catchy.

not at all agree, it is a pity that there are more Richie and Ralph OK

But I have loved the same last season, where they have been thorough and Joanie Chaco, for me the 8th was the start of growth for the young.

with the 11 that also Joanie and Chacha were married, the series was complete! because now everyone had grown up.

sorry but I was just doing the 8th -9 -11 ° season (the 10th is a bit another account)

WjDGBpJmxrs

Next year will officially mark 40 years (https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/photo-gallery/22506625/image/22541112/Happy-Days) (May 8 (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-05-26-ca-5344-story.html), 1984 (https://www.radiodiscussions.com/threads/the-last-episode-of-happy-days.588056/)) since (https://www.nytimes.com/1984/05/08/arts/last-of-happy-days.html) Happy Days (https://www.metv.com/stories/the-network-had-this-ridiculous-gripe-with-the-happy-days-finale) signed off (https://ultimateclassicrock.com/happy-days-series-finale/).

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dct8SitW0AATybJ.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dct8SiZWsAARlnC.jpg

https://img.newspapers.com/img/thumbnail/487882421/400/400/0_0_3572_4528.jpg

Yeah, everything got sewn up, but it's weird to me now that Richie only shows up right before the wedding. You think that since they were gonna bring back Ron Howard for the last time, they would have had Richie be a bigger part of the storyline.

We never got the scene where Richie tells Joanie how proud he is of her and it would have been a great scene between brother and sister. And I don't know why Donny Most wasn't brought back for at least a cameo as Ralph. And Anson Williams, who was still technically part of the cast, was absent from the ending as well. I'm not sure why that was.

It was nice to see Fonzie adopt the kid, but I think it would have been better if he and Ashley had somehow reunited, maybe even bringing Danny into their blended family along with Heather.

But at least Happy Days got that final episode. Garry Marshall was smart to film a finale, because the network didn't let him know if the show was going to be canceled or not.

Yeah, everything got sewn up, but it's weird to me now that Richie only shows up right before the wedding. You think that since they were gonna bring back Ron Howard for the last time, they would have had Richie be a bigger part of the storyline.

We never got the scene where Richie tells Joanie how proud he is of her and it would have been a great scene between brother and sister. And I don't know why Donny Most wasn't brought back for at least a cameo as Ralph. And Anson Williams, who was still technically part of the cast, was absent from the ending as well. I'm not sure why that was.

It was nice to see Fonzie adopt the kid, but I think it would have been better if he and Ashley had somehow reunited, maybe even bringing Danny into their blended family along with Heather.

But at least Happy Days got that final episode. Garry Marshall was smart to film a finale, because the network didn't let him know if the show was going to be canceled or not.

Well, at least Richie was in the show at all. Also, I read somewhere before that by then, Anson Williams had quit Happy Days, and my theory is that Potsie went over to where Ralph moved to visit him.

And I agree with Ashley, but it's nice that she and her ex-husband had patched things up. Though I miss her and Heather. And Flip and KC too, but that, of course, is my opinion. I just don't like it when they write characters out of the show without any explanation.

Well, at least Richie was in the show at all. Also, I read somewhere before that by then, Anson Williams had quit Happy Days, and my theory is that Potsie went over to where Ralph moved to visit him.

And I agree with Ashley, but it's nice that she and her ex-husband had patched things up. Though I miss her and Heather. And Flip and KC too, but that, of course, is my opinion. I just don't like it when they write characters out of the show without any explanation.

For me, Flip and KC were just filler characters, so I didn't miss them when they left.

HD had long overstayed it's welcome -- creatively speaking -- and it was time for the show to end. The final season had some decent episodes, but the show's prime had long since passed.

I've said this a million times, but when Ron Howard and Donny Most left, they took a big part of the show with them.