Tournament Round One: Happy Days vs. Too Close for Comfort - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

icecream · 11-03-2021, 05:02 PM

Ron Howard and Anson Williams were on the season 3 finale of Love, American Style in 1972. Almost 2 years later, Happy Days premiered, very loosely based on that skit. It is one of the longest running sitcoms ever with 11 seasons and 255 episodes from 1974-1984. Happy Days also launched four spin-offs: Laverne and Shirley, Mork and Mindy, Joanie Loves Chachi, and the very obscure Blansky's Beauties. Ron Howard was Richie Cunningham. His best friends originally were Potsie Weber (Anson Williams) and Ralph Malph (Donny Most). His parents were Howard (Tom Bosley) and Marion (Marion Ross) Cunningham. Richie's younger sister was Joanie, portrayed by Erin Moran. Henry Winkler was introduced as "Fonzie" Arthur Fonzarelli. ABC at first was uncomfortable with someone riding a motorcycle with a leather jacket. But they got past that, and Fonzie's role kept being increased. Henry Winkler's billing kept getting moved up from fifth to third to second. When Ron Howard left at the end of season 7, Henry became the sole lead. His cousin Chachi Arcola (Scott Baio) became a regular. During season 10 he left with Erin Moran for the Joanie Loves Chachi spin-off. They were back in the final season and got married in the series finale. With Happy Days being set in the 50s, Arnold's was the cool diner hangout. Pat Morita played the original owner Arnold Matsui Takahashi. Al Molinaro replaced him as Al Delvecchio, then Pat returned replacing Al. In the post Ron Howard era, Ted McGinley replaced him as cousin Roger Phillips. Two popular phrases that have come from Happy Days: jump the shark from Fonzie literally jumping a shark, and the Chuck Cunningham syndrome. That is where siblings/children disappear without ever being mentioned again. Chuck was the oldest sibling in the first two seasons. Richie became the only brother to Joanie, that dynamic worked better as none of the actors playing Chuck did much.

Too Close for Comfort aired three seasons on ABC. When they cancelled it moved to first-run syndication for three more seasons, total run from 1980-1986. AKA The Ted Knight Show at the end, Too Close was renewed for season 7. But when Ted Knight died during the summer of 1986, that renewal was naturally rescinded. He played cartoonist Henry Rush, who was married to Muriel (Nancy Dussault). They had two adult daughters, Jackie (Deborah Van Valkenburgh) and Sara (Lydia Cornell). Jackie and Sara left at the end of season 5. Jm J. Bullock played dunderhead Monroe Ficus. Deena Freeman recurred in season 2 as cousin April Rush.

RetroGuy2000 · 11-03-2021, 05:16 PM

Happy Days, even though the final few seasons are not good.

AMackII · 11-03-2021, 05:41 PM

Happy Days because Seasons 1-7 were that good

Wawwie · 11-03-2021, 06:15 PM

Too Close For Comfort = Love, Love, Love that show!

James28 · 11-04-2021, 11:56 PM

Even though I voted for Happy Days because it had the better-looking run in real life than Too Close for Comfort (with HD's Top-30 ratings success for all but two seasons), I can't help but blame Too Close for Comfort's downfall as a network show on Happy Days's continued original run in the 80s. ABC Network was building up TCfC to become their next top sitcom, and the move from Tuesdays to Thursdays killed its momentum. Plus, there's no telling when TCfC would've ended if Ted Knight hadn't died before its 7th season began production. If TCfC had a better run than in real life, maybe then I would've voted for it over Happy Days.

icecream · 11-08-2021, 05:49 PM

I was not expecting this result. Too Close for Comfort defeats Happy Days 9-7 and will advance to the 2nd round. Long gone is the era of Happy Days being the most popular sitcom board here.

James28 · 11-22-2021, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icecream

I was not expecting this result. Too Close for Comfort defeats Happy Days 9-7 and will advance to the 2nd round. Long gone is the era of Happy Days being the most popular sitcom board here.

I guess this is what Happy Days deserves for hurting Too Close for Comfort's chance of a long network run in the first place. Sorry, guys, but there's just no way to have both the entire run of Happy Days and any ~8-season fantasy run of TCfC to coexist on ABC Network. I'd rather live in a world where Happy Days being cut off at year 7 or 8 in favor of such a fantasy run for TCfC, though.

icecream · 11-22-2021, 07:09 PM

Too Close for Comfort couldn't have had 8 seasons anyway because of Ted Knight's death.

James28 · 11-23-2021, 01:06 AM

And I wonder if Ted Knight's death (which was literally the only reason that Too Close for Comfort ceased production) could've even been prevented somehow. Mr. Knight was first diagnosed with colon cancer in 1977, before TCfC debuted; should that colon cancer have been kept from going terminal in the first place? If I had a type of cancer which would end up going terminal, I wouldn't have any business being on the main cast of a hit show.

View Poll Results: Which Show Do You Prefer?
Happy Days	7	43.75%
Too Close for Comfort	9	56.25%
Voters: 16. You may not vote on this poll

11-03-2021, 05:02 PM	#1
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,702	Tournament Round One: Happy Days vs. Too Close for Comfort Ron Howard and Anson Williams were on the season 3 finale of Love, American Style in 1972. Almost 2 years later, Happy Days premiered, very loosely based on that skit. It is one of the longest running sitcoms ever with 11 seasons and 255 episodes from 1974-1984. Happy Days also launched four spin-offs: Laverne and Shirley, Mork and Mindy, Joanie Loves Chachi, and the very obscure Blansky's Beauties. Ron Howard was Richie Cunningham. His best friends originally were Potsie Weber (Anson Williams) and Ralph Malph (Donny Most). His parents were Howard (Tom Bosley) and Marion (Marion Ross) Cunningham. Richie's younger sister was Joanie, portrayed by Erin Moran. Henry Winkler was introduced as "Fonzie" Arthur Fonzarelli. ABC at first was uncomfortable with someone riding a motorcycle with a leather jacket. But they got past that, and Fonzie's role kept being increased. Henry Winkler's billing kept getting moved up from fifth to third to second. When Ron Howard left at the end of season 7, Henry became the sole lead. His cousin Chachi Arcola (Scott Baio) became a regular. During season 10 he left with Erin Moran for the Joanie Loves Chachi spin-off. They were back in the final season and got married in the series finale. With Happy Days being set in the 50s, Arnold's was the cool diner hangout. Pat Morita played the original owner Arnold Matsui Takahashi. Al Molinaro replaced him as Al Delvecchio, then Pat returned replacing Al. In the post Ron Howard era, Ted McGinley replaced him as cousin Roger Phillips. Two popular phrases that have come from Happy Days: jump the shark from Fonzie literally jumping a shark, and the Chuck Cunningham syndrome. That is where siblings/children disappear without ever being mentioned again. Chuck was the oldest sibling in the first two seasons. Richie became the only brother to Joanie, that dynamic worked better as none of the actors playing Chuck did much. Too Close for Comfort aired three seasons on ABC. When they cancelled it moved to first-run syndication for three more seasons, total run from 1980-1986. AKA The Ted Knight Show at the end, Too Close was renewed for season 7. But when Ted Knight died during the summer of 1986, that renewal was naturally rescinded. He played cartoonist Henry Rush, who was married to Muriel (Nancy Dussault). They had two adult daughters, Jackie (Deborah Van Valkenburgh) and Sara (Lydia Cornell). Jackie and Sara left at the end of season 5. Jm J. Bullock played dunderhead Monroe Ficus. Deena Freeman recurred in season 2 as cousin April Rush.
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11-03-2021, 05:16 PM	#2
RetroGuy2000 Julie,Julie Anne,&Felice 4Ever Forum Star Join Date: Dec 27, 2013 Posts: 16,914	Happy Days, even though the final few seasons are not good.
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11-04-2021, 11:56 PM	#5
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,977	Even though I voted for Happy Days because it had the better-looking run in real life than Too Close for Comfort (with HD's Top-30 ratings success for all but two seasons), I can't help but blame Too Close for Comfort's downfall as a network show on Happy Days's continued original run in the 80s. ABC Network was building up TCfC to become their next top sitcom, and the move from Tuesdays to Thursdays killed its momentum. Plus, there's no telling when TCfC would've ended if Ted Knight hadn't died before its 7th season began production. If TCfC had a better run than in real life, maybe then I would've voted for it over Happy Days.
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11-03-2021, 05:41 PM	#3
AMackII Member Forum Star Join Date: Oct 23, 2015 Location: St. Louis Posts: 17,215	Happy Days because Seasons 1-7 were that good

11-03-2021, 06:15 PM	#4
Wawwie Member Forum Star Join Date: Jul 26, 2006 Location: New York Posts: 14,376	Too Close For Comfort = Love, Love, Love that show!

11-08-2021, 05:49 PM	#6
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,702	I was not expecting this result. Too Close for Comfort defeats Happy Days 9-7 and will advance to the 2nd round. Long gone is the era of Happy Days being the most popular sitcom board here.

11-22-2021, 07:09 PM	#8
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,702	Too Close for Comfort couldn't have had 8 seasons anyway because of Ted Knight's death.

11-23-2021, 01:06 AM	#9
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,977	And I wonder if Ted Knight's death (which was literally the only reason that Too Close for Comfort ceased production) could've even been prevented somehow. Mr. Knight was first diagnosed with colon cancer in 1977, before TCfC debuted; should that colon cancer have been kept from going terminal in the first place? If I had a type of cancer which would end up going terminal, I wouldn't have any business being on the main cast of a hit show.