The show I've really been wanting to write about my thoughts on this year is Happy Days. I want to give a general opnion on the show, but focus mostly on the last 4 seasons of that show. Back at the beginning of the year, I watched through all 255 episodes which took a WHILE. If you want to see all 11 seasons and 255 episodes that's a major time commitment. Anyway, it definitely earned it's legendary, iconic TV show status for sure. The big thing that helped that show last so long was the fact you WILL relate to, or have known someone JUST like those characters. Everyone's gone to school, grown up, gone to college, etc. I would say, easily, the first 7 full seasons are TV that people should make time for if they can. No questions asked. If you need to spread those out over time, do it but by all means it's definitely an essential TV experience. What I want to write about concerning that show though is something a lot of people have a hard time writing about due to it's huge place in TV--the final 4 seasons that come after season 7.

Many have told me the final 4 seasons of Happy Days are very disappointing and that they were severely disappointed in the 11th and final season. Here are my thoughts on the final 4 seasons, as concisely and as brief as I can keep it:

Season 8-As this season started, the show had lost Ron Howard and Danny Most so they could grow their careers more and have some directing opportunities, at least in Ron Howard's case. Their characters, Richie and Ralph, had left for the Army at the end of Season 7 so right there it left a big hole that they needed to fill and quickly. A lot of people feel the series should have ended with the end of Season 7 but the ratings were still there enough to go on and ABC chose to renew. In season 8 the decision was made to focus the show around Fonzie and his life. Also, this is the season where we finally actually see Joanie's friend Jenny Piccalo who had only been mentioned by name up to that point. The season deals largely with 3 things: Fonzie and his life and how it's affected when he becomes a teacher, which changed him. Secondly, it deals heavily with Jenny Piccalo since she's still in High School. Third, it deals of course with Joanie, Chachi and their relationship. Season 8 is where it started to deal a bit too much with that and there started to be a lot more drama surrounding that than was needed. Also, about midway through the season Richie's cousin Roger comes to stay with the Cunninghams..who is played by the actor many know from Married With Children. His character stayed through the rest of the series. So, a lot of changes happened that season and some were good and bad. I'd give that season a 7.

Season 9-It's actually a bit better of a season than 8 is, the few big changes that season were the addition of Joanie and Richie's cousin, KC and Roger's brother got added in too. Outside of that it shifts even more towards focusing on Fonzie and it ends up being a weird mish-mash of going back and forth between Fonzie, Roger and his brother, Joanie and Chachi and to a bit lesser extent Jenny Piccalo. This is where they started to make a lot of changes at once and some things panned out and worked ok, other things just didn't stick to the wall. This is the season Richie's son was born in and Fonzie literally helped deliver him. I'd give that overall season an 8.

Season 10-This was probably the hardest season to get through honestly. It centers a lot around Fonzie and how he finally gets into a steady relationship with a girl who has a daughter. That part was okay but the HUGE mistake they made that season was they had Fonzie deal with getting older and they almost never showed his bike on screen anymore. Also, there are a lot of points where he isn't wearing the leather jacket anymore. As far as Fonzie goes they made a LOT of poor choices there. Everyone gets older I understand that but a character like Fonzie it's not really necessary or smart to focus on his getting older. The stronger parts of the season dealt with Roger and his brother still. I'd give this season a 6 and that's being generous. It was easily the worst of the 11 seasons I felt.

The 11th and Final season-You know, all things considered it was a really well done season and I know that's gonna catch hell probably but here's why. The show stopped dealing with Fonzie getting older and just put him back into the character everyone knew. He became a dean at a school in a bad neighborhood and they did well with that. It showed him relating to those inner-city kids and the difference he made for them. Roger became the principal of that school, and Joanie ended up teaching at that school. That whole Joanie-Fonzie-Roger arc worked really well and surprised me. Due to the new school setting, they tried to add in a lot of new characters who they tried to have regularly (It seems like as the season started they were thinking it might get another year). Some of them worked well, others not so much but they tried. Joanie and Chachi got married. Also, Richie and Ralph came back for one final episode, which was surprisingly quite moving. The final scene with Richie and Fonzie summed up those 11 years and the whole thing behind the show perfectly.."You were my protector, the best friend a guy could ever ask for, my confidant, you helped me get married, deliver my son..how do you ever repay someone for all of that?" Fonzie's response? "I think you just did." and he walked out that door for the final time crying. By that point I was too. That scene was perfect and captured those two characters in one damn sentence. As for Fonzie? At the very end he got to adopt his own son which was just fitting..the kid came from a background not much different from his. As I said I think they were trying to get pieces to fit for a 12th year but at that point they knew they were done so they ended it as best they could. They did well. The last line of the show was great, from Tom Bosley: "Here's to Happy Days" as he looks at the camera like he's thanking the audience. Not Newhart brilliant but still very good. The final version of the theme song for the show used in the final season was GREAT, best version of the theme by far! I'd give that last season a 9, easily.

To sum it up, Happy Days is an absolutely essential viewing experience. If you're short on time, definitely see the first 7 seasons however you need to. If you have more time the last 4 seasons are worth it just to see the changes they tried to make and the direction they went in. Overall though "Here's to Happy Days" indeed. There hasn't been and never will be another show like that ever ever again.

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I found it weird to see The Fonz without his leather jacket in the later episode too. He no longer wore his motorcycle boots any longer, and why did they start ironing a crease in his jeans?

Even with his leather jacket, the creased jeans and no motorcycle boots, he just didn't look right?
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HAPPY DAYS - 'And the Winner Is' which aired on December 30, 1980. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) HENRY WINKLER

there was wayy to much joanie and chaci during them years that got annoying any case it was all right

Just want to say that is a very well-thought-out post. Once I finally saw it, I've always said season 11 is probably my favorite of them all. From the new theme song to the return, albeit brief, of Richie, to the much better writing, to the discontinuation of extraneous characters, it's like the show had new life. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to keep it from cancellation.

Just want to say that is a very well-thought-out post. Once I finally saw it, I've always said season 11 is probably my favorite of them all. From the new theme song to the return, albeit brief, of Richie, to the much better writing, to the discontinuation of extraneous characters, it's like the show had new life. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to keep it from cancellation.

Thank you for the compliment on my post! That post is something I'd been kicking around in my head all year and wanted to post it somewhere like here, where there are true fans of the show who could appreciate it and understand exactly where it's coming from. Wanted to comment quickly on what you wrote:

Final Season Theme Song: I see people bashing it all the time, saying how they hate it but it really was the best version of that theme song in the whole series. The lead singer's voice lends it better to the theme. His voice sounds very much like the kind of singing voice you'd expect to find in a bona-fide 50's song of that kind. Good back up singers too. The sax solo in the middle of the song really conveys the "Happy Days indeed" aspect of the show. To anyone who hasn't heard it yet, check it out-it's on Youtube, several uploads of it in varying qualiy.

The show having gotten new life: I totally agree-compared to the difficult to get through Season 10 before it, that final season really got the jolt of energy it needed. The writing was actually excellent most of the way through the season. Do I think there was enough there for a Season 12? Yes, provided all the writers and creative people had stayed. I think the obvious direction to go in would have been to focus on Fonzie and his newly-adopted son, and also on the school he was now a dean at along with Roger and Joanie-they could have made it New Jefferson High or at least the next generation of that. But, by the time Season 11 came around the show had lost a LOT of it's audience-kind of gradually-over those last 4 years and that last year there was a HUGE drop off :( I think that's due to how disappointed people were in the direction the show went. I do hope those people do get to see those last 4 years at some point and can take away positives from it like you and I did because it was well worth the time to watch those last 4 years.

The thing is though, once a show reaches the age Happy Days was at the end, you've pretty much gone in every direction creatively you can-at that point you're starting to re-make whole episodes because that's all there is left you can do. So, the only other option is to end the series as best you can-which they did a really outstanding job of here-and hope the series-long fans will tune in for at least the finale. Thankfully the timing of the cancellation and decision not to do a 12th year worked out in it's favor since the audience had dropped off. It saved them the probably very difficult job of trying to piece another halfway decent year together-saving it from the re-making/re-treading of episodes I mentioned. Tom Bosley did say quite a few times he and Marion Ross were all too happy to do the show forever if they could.

But, thanks again for the compliment-always good to see your thoughts on stuff like this get read and noticed :)

there was wayy to much joanie and chaci during them years that got annoying any case it was all right

Indeed..Between the whole "waaaaah we're broken up!" "No no we're back together!" "Yay we're getting married!" "No, we're not!" "Yes we are!", especially during the final season it got to "enough is enough is enough already" That's really the only truly glaring fault I can find with those last 4 years. Yes, I was very unhappy they spent 1 of those 4 years focusing on Fonzie aging but the Joanie-Chachi nonsense was worse in some ways I think. They piled that on just way too thick I think.

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I found it weird to see The Fonz without his leather jacket in the later episode too. He no longer wore his motorcycle boots any longer, and why did they start ironing a crease in his jeans?

Yeah, that was WAY too weird to see him without the leather jacket too. When he didn't have that leather jacket on it seemed like it was an almost entirely different character. It showed in Henry Winkler too, he just seemed to play a bit different of a character during those times. That decision creatively-no leather jacket, no boots, no bike anymore-was the absolute worst possible thing they could have done and did. You can't have Fonzie without his trademark things. Which is why I think they quickly changed their minds and brought most of it back for the last year. Good choice. I can still see the episodes in my head where he's wearing SWEATERS and even some FLANNEL SHIRTS and it was just too jarring and weird to see them go that way creatively with the character.

The change from season 7 to season 8 was a bit jarring with Richie and Ralph gone as well as the new characters Roger and Jenny, but overall it was a good season as well as most of what followed (especially the last one which IMHO was one of the best of the series).

I thought that the eighth season was very transitional since it left a huge hole with Ron Howard and Donny Most gone. The focus shifted more to Joanie and Chachi and we got to finally see Jenny Piccolo. It also marked the debut of Ted McGinley as Roger Phillips. Though Anson Williams was still on the show, I thought the Potsie character was no longer needed because there was no Richie or Ralph.

It also showed Fonzie maturing as he became a teacher at Jefferson High School. As the show began to wind down, he had his first serious relationship with Ashley Pfister, a single mom who had a daughter played by Poltergeist's Heather O'Rourke.

But my favorite moments from the post Ron Howard/Donny Most era were the episode where folk music became popular and Fonzie was upset about the loss of rock and roll and Joanie and Chachi's wedding. There are some memorable moments from that era but not a lot from the earlier Happy Days.

Seems like the writers were out of ideas and were basically just throwing anything at the wall and see what would stick. There were some good episodes after Richie and Ralph, but I have to agree, that whole Chiachi and Joanie back and forth nonsense. Oh, let it go! PLEASE@#! The thing I found most annoying was how the 1950s hair styles and clothing completely vanished? It was llike they weren't even trying to fool us any longer and just didn't care. Do they think we are that stupid not to notice?
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What were they doing with fonzies hair too?

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And when in the 1950s or early 1960s did this Chachi Arcola haircut become popular in Milwaukee?

Or Flip and his stupid cut off t-shirt? Or jenny piccolos shiny skin tight disco jeans? Seriously?

I couldn't get into the last 4 seasons because it seemed like roger character was a replacement for Richie

I couldn't get into the last 4 seasons because it seemed like roger character was a replacement for Richie
That's True. The void of Richie just could not be filled no match what they tried. It was just too much of a whole without him.

That's True. The void of Richie just could not be filled no match what they tried. It was just too much of a whole without him.


That's the main reason why I can't watch the last 4 seasons because I never liked REPLACEMENT CHARACTERS.

You add around missing characters not replace someone who left

Indeed..Between the whole "waaaaah we're broken up!" "No no we're back together!" "Yay we're getting married!" "No, we're not!" "Yes we are!", especially during the final season it got to "enough is enough is enough already" That's really the only truly glaring fault I can find with those last 4 years. Yes, I was very unhappy they spent 1 of those 4 years focusing on Fonzie aging but the Joanie-Chachi nonsense was worse in some ways I think. They piled that on just way too thick I think.

true it became unbearable to watch .ever single time i turn it on there they are i barley saw fonzie cause they was hogging the air time.

Richie and Ralph did not leave to join the army at the end of season seven. It happened off-camera before season 8.

And I beg to differ about the last season's version of the theme song: I hated it. The vocalist was annoying and the fact that they changed the sequence as well I didn't like either. It doesn't match with the other seasons.

Happy Days became a different show once season 8 began. It wasn't the same show that many of us had grown up with. It lacked the spark of the Richie/Fonz relationship and the replacement characters were poor substitutes.

I wish they had graduated at the end of season seven and that was the end of it. HD really went downhill (IMO) from season eight onward.

Richie and Ralph did not leave to join the army at the end of season seven. It happened off-camera before season 8.

And I beg to differ about the last season's version of the theme song: I hated it. The vocalist was annoying and the fact that they changed the sequence as well I didn't like either. It doesn't match with the other seasons.

Happy Days became a different show once season 8 began. It wasn't the same show that many of us had grown up with. It lacked the spark of the Richie/Fonz relationship and the replacement characters were poor substitutes.

I wish they had graduated at the end of season seven and that was the end of it. HD really went downhill (IMO) from season eight onward.


How did season 7 end?

I'm going to continue to say that I enjoyed all 11 seasons. tThe last 4 were not as good as the Richie seasons but it was far better than the later seasons of L & S.

I'm going to continue to say that I enjoyed all 11 seasons. tThe last 4 were not as good as the Richie seasons but it was far better than the later seasons of L & S.


Yeah I agree, season 7 and 8 of L&S was awful


I will take the Post Richie eps over those any day

How did season 7 end?

I think it was the episode where Ralph's parents decide to get a divorce. It wasn't the last episode filmed, because it took place in the original Arnold's before it burned down, so it was definitely aired out of sequence.

There was no dramatic ending or life-changing event -- nothing to indicate Richie and Ralph would be leaving soon, that's for sure.

I think it was the episode where Ralph's parents decide to get a divorce. It wasn't the last episode filmed, because it took place in the original Arnold's before it burned down, so it was definitely aired out of sequence.

There was no dramatic ending or life-changing event -- nothing to indicate Richie and Ralph would be leaving soon, that's for sure.

i thought it was one when they went to chicago for a father n son trip

It certainly felt like a different show after Richie and Ralph were gone. The ones focusing on Fonzie were usually pretty good, IMO. But the Joannie-Chachi thing (especially during that last season) got a tad annoying.

Mr. and Mrs. C were thankfully still a large part of the show, and Al (and for a brief period, Arnold) still had fun moments.

Though poor Potsie had practically nothing to do. With Richie and (especially) Ralph gone, Potsie didn't really have anyone to play off of. Basically, his only reason for being there in the final seasons was to play dumb. In fact, he was only in four episodes during the tenth season.

Then there was Lori Beth. As a main cast member, her presence seemed rather pointless (especially with Richie gone). Thankfully, that only lasted for two seasons.

As for the new characters, Jenny was a funny addition (though I think I preferred her in smaller doses). Roger felt a little wimpy. Eugene and Melvin Belvin were nerdier than Potsie and Ralph.

Chachi's friends Bobby and Tommy felt like attempts to fill the void left by the Richie-Ralph-Potise friendship. Bobby was kind of funny; Tommy was never really given much to do other than play straight man, so I can't really say anything about him.

K.C. Cunnigham grew on me, but I still feel she was a rather weak character. Same goes for Flip. Don't really remember much about Ashley and Heather.

As for the seasons themselves, I have to agree that the last one was probably the best of the four. There were several episodes that felt almost like classic ones. And of course we can't forget the return of Richie Ralph. I think that two part episode would have been a stronger finale than Joannie and Chachi getting married (by the way, where were Potise and Ralph in that episode?).

I just can't believe the show still went on for 4 more seasons without Richie and Ralph

I just can't believe the show still went on for 4 more seasons without Richie and Ralph
You gotta milk that cash cow until she is bone dry! That's what they do!

I just can't believe the show still went on for 4 more seasons without Richie and Ralph

You and me both.

You and me both.


I think it was different on network TV because u had no idea what to expect.

When we watch those seasons in syndication we know that those eps are stale which is why I can't watch the show anymore.

I only can watch seasons 3 to 6

I think it was different on network TV because u had no idea what to expect.

When we watch those seasons in syndication we know that those eps are stale which is why I can't watch the show anymore.

I only can watch seasons 3 to 6

I agree, but I can watch seasons 1 and 7 as well. I think Anson Williams summed it up best when he said that after Ron Howard and Donny Most left, the magic was gone.

I'm a huge fan of Linda Purl (Ashley), so I'm extremely glad she got into a substantial recurring role, as opposed to her early work on the series (as Gloria).

For that reason I'm biased in favor of what was done with Winkler's character. But I will say that on this site's boards in general, there seems to be no love lost for Winkler's work on HD -- so I'm not surprised that any changes to the character of The Fonz are met with disinterest, opposition, etc. (If there had been no change, the black leather jacket wouldn't have come on to replace the light blue cloth one...!)

On any longrunning series, actors' appearances do change -- and that extends to wardrobe as well. Some here seem to think that The Fonz should have worn motorcycle boots/black leather jacket/white t-shirt regardless of the scene or occasion...! And as far as the motorcycle, its later absence is no surprise -- Winkler wasn't fond of bikes at all!! A few of cast members actually improved on their looks -- Marion Ross and Lynda Goodfriend in particular.

Whenever you have a series that ran for more than a few series, people tend to focus almost exclusively on the negatives of later years. Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather "study" Linda Purl and Lynda Goodfriend than Ron Howard or Don Most any day!! (lol)

One main point was that Happy Days was given respect in its later days - I defy anyone to come up with a sitcom that ended the way this one did, with tying up characters, bringing in new ones based on show elements, etc.

Although some of it was a bit of a stretch - "Cousin KC," anyone? - it was done fairly well.

I have to listen to the last version of the theme song, but I DID like the "morphing" scenes in the opening.

One main point was that Happy Days was given respect in its later days - I defy anyone to come up with a sitcom that ended the way this one did, with tying up characters, bringing in new ones based on show elements, etc.

Although some of it was a bit of a stretch - "Cousin KC," anyone? - it was done fairly well.

No disrespect intended, but that to me was HD's undoing. IMO, the newer characters were weaker versions of the previous ones. Roger was a poor substitute for Richie.

M*A*S*H showed that you could replace characters with new ones who were different from their predecessors and still be a great show.

The weak replacement characters made me realize even more how much Ron Howard and Donny Most meant to the show and made me more nostalgic for the early years.