Okay, here's a question to any hardcore fans out there;

In season 10, Mrs. C is at a hair salon and asks other fellow mothers, "Will Richie and Lori Beth find happiness in California?", prompting us to believe he's out of the Army. Then in the Christmas episode of that same season, at the end, they're on the phone with Richie and they ask him how Richie, Jr. is doing?

Now, jump ahead to season 11 to the episode "Welcome Home". Both Richie and Ralph are recently discharged from the Army and stop by for a visit (along with Lori Beth and Richie, Jr.). In that 2-parter, we learn that Rich would like to go out to California to become a screenwriter and at the end of those eps, he does so.

Are we missing something that was cut out in syndication or is it just one of those writer's continuity errors and/or "the audience is so stupid they won't notice" types of deals that "Happy Days" was so famous for (ie: Chuck, Joanie and Chachi on the verge of graduating in season 8 only to be back in High School again in season 9)?

Maybe he (and Ralph) got transferred to California (possibly to Camp Fremont, perhaps under a certain "E. Bilko"?) from Greenland, decided that he liked the place and made plans for a permanent move after his discharge? That would also explain how Lori Beth and R.J. were able to join him (and thus explains Mrs. C's comment), and why Rich was so hesitant to tell his parents about his future plans (since they fully expected him to return to Milwaukee once his hitch was complete).

Just a thought.

i have no prof of this but maybe at this point in the series EMPTY NEST episode there was already talk of ron howard coming back for WELCOME HOME ,perhaps that script was already in the works.maybe the production company was waiting to here from abc,if in fact there would be a season 11.these are all just thoughts but anway i imagine richie and lori beth did find happiness in tv sitcom heaven.