"The Happy Days" Pilot

[Joe M. Davis]

Originally Posted by mistermike

That was fascinating to watch. I imagine that (with the obvious exception of the dinner table scene) most of the stuff that was eliminated between that and the eventual airing of the pilot was done so simply for time. But that was very interesting; had no idea it existed. And the cast at the end -- I noted that only were Henry Winkler and Donny Most in there (treatment they wouldn't get until the second season), but Tom Bosley was in with the rest of the cast; he didn't have the "And Starring" credit that was there in the aired version. I wonder what changed.

This also solves a continuity problem in the aired version of the first episode. In the aired version, Marion's hair is slightly different in the dining room than it is after she follows Howard into the kitchen. Now I know why. The dining room scene was reshot with Erin Moran (and I think it's a different Chuck too, but I couldn't tell for sure; there were no close-ups of him like there were in the aired version), and Marion Ross' hair didn't exactly match the earlier shoot.

Good observations.

I'm pretty sure that's Gavan O'Herlihy, who was Chuck for the first season. Odd that none of the supporting players are listed in the credits.

You know, it's strange, everyone involved with HD seems to have forgotten about this earlier version of the pilot. Although I believe there have been mentions of Joanie being recast in past interviews.

Frankly, I'm not even sure how this got into the hands of the person I got it from.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by DeepBlue

I think Joanie #2 (shouldn't she be #1?) is the same actress that played that role in the Love, American Style skit, or at least that's what I've heard. According to IMDb her name is Susan Neher.

Good call, I'm surprised all this isn't better documented.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by Joe M. Davis

Good observations.

I'm pretty sure that's Gavan O'Herlihy, who was Chuck for the first season. Odd that none of the supporting players are listed in the credits.

You know, it's strange, everyone involved with HD seems to have forgotten about this earlier version of the pilot. Although I believe there have been mentions of Joanie being recast in past interviews.

Frankly, I'm not even sure how this got into the hands of the person I got it from.

Forgotten, yes quite peculiar.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by Joe M. Davis

Susan Neher (from "Love, American Style") was a redhead. Joanie # 2 is a blonde.

So she is definitely not:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Neher

"Susan Neher (born February 22, 1959) is an American actress, active as a child, best known for originating the role of Joanie Cunningham on Happy Days in its first iteration as a segment of the anthology series Love, American Style . She also played the sister of Bobby Sherman in his one-season series Getting Together as well as the daughter of John Forsythe in the series To Rome With Love..."

What a mystery!

I haven't read the entire thread yet, but I hope someone has solved it by now...

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by antman67

Thank you for uploading this different rough draft pilot episode!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMcKzDmaeCw
The girl that is talking in the red sweater at the 4:38 mark, is she from Eight is enough?


Weird to see a different Joanie. Could not get a good look at her. Must be an analog copy of the show I suppose?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzR-A8ren4w
No mention who played her though.


I had no idea Rob Reiner co-wrote the 1st Happy Days episode either?


Another never before seen shot of Arthur's before it was called Arnold's TOO! REALLY RARE street view!

That street scene is just incredible.

So that's the "other" Joanie... I don't see how she could not have been noticed/remembered way back then, this is not an obscure, little seen show.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by antman67

I LOVE lost pilots and un-aired footage and stuff like this. On a related subject check this out....
Gilligan's Island "Lost Pilot Episode" Intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpimVRP3EW4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLIHQTVLRz4
Different song, SO WEIRD. Now we know why they didn't use it. Also, the credits only go as far as the Howel's!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBq4KMkH8ug
Check it out, different cast too!

Bunny rather than Mary Ann?

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by anglemark10

I have to admit I'm kind of shocked I've never heard of this version of the pilot before. Who is the actress that plays Joanie?

According to what I'm finding, Joanie Cunningham is played by Audrey Pfeiffer in this early version.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2iyd0i

That's pretty much all I'm finding about her so far, though.

[BundyCheer]

This pilot also uses all original recordings. Happy Days series always used re-recordings by unknown artists. I'd always love to know and find who did Splish Splash on Happy Days! (not the Postie sung version) (it wasn't Bobby Darin)

[HDArchive]

Sorry for the bump, but I recently decided to start an archiving project, getting anything I can of Happy Days, a show I've been a fan of for quite a while, and I wanted to see if anybody here still has this pilot? If you do, can someone send me a PM. That would be great, thanks.

[paul.austin]

Speaking of corporate copyright trolls:

Paramount claims to You Tube that it owns You Can't Do That on Television.

It does not!

(the CTV network in Canada does)

[SuperMarioNic]

Sorry for the bump but is this still avalible online?

[SuperMarioNic]

Next time it's found, upload it on the Internet Archive, I NEED to see this.

[paul.austin]

Susan Neher is better looking than Erin Moran. Erin is an acquired taste (like Robin Williams).

[HDArchive]

Thanks to darkzone79, I have been able to reupload the whole thing to Internet Archive. Go watch! https://archive.org/details/happy-days-pilot-rough-cut

[MikeLutton]

i watched it i Loved the Happy days Intro they had so much different then the original