Fonzie and Richie.... How did they meet?

[Schmoopie]

Is it ever explained how and where Fonzie and Richie meet? In the first episode, they already know each other, but I can't figure out how. Fonzie doesn't go to school (well, he tries in "Fonzie Drops In"), so the only other place I could think of would be at Arnold's Drive-In.

Andrea

[Wreckless]

Yup, in one of the later episodes, i think in season 6 or 7 Chachi is in a gang. But Ritchie and Fonzie don't like it, mostly Ritchie so the Fonz encourages Ritchie to talk to Chachi if he wants to step up and handle the situation himself. Ritchie tells of how he met Fonzie. A dream sequence comes up and you see Ritchie with Potsie and I think Ralph. Ralph is the new kid right around when this happens and Potsie keeps calling him Malph Ralph . Anyways, the Fonz, back when he was in his gang enter Arnold's, the old Arnolds and claim the booth the 3 boys are in, is the gang's territory. Ritchie jokes that he doesn't see his name on the seat so it's not his, but the Fonz actually points out where he carved his name before on the table I believe. The boys won't get up, until Fonzie means business then Ralph leaves. Fonzie tells Ritchie to meet him at a place, it ends up being an alley behind all these old buildings and to be by himself when he shows up. Potsie vouches for Ritchie, and says he will have his back but Potsie and Ralph both leave in fright when the actual date arrives. In the meanwhile, Ritchie trys to tell Howard when Howard's watching TV about a scrum, and his father says for Ritchie to not fight the guy and to try and talk it out (from what I can remember, sorry I'm kind of freestyling the rest of the summary since I haven't seen the episode in 2/3 months). When the day comes, Ralph and Potsie chicken out and as Fonzie approaches, he tells Ritchie to put his fists up. Ritchie ends up telling the Fonz the other guys in the gang are feeding off of him and being leeches basically and explains that he is too cool to be in a gang and doesn't need to be. Fonzie admires Ritchie's perserverance, courage and honesty, takes off his gang jacket, throws it in the trash and the 2 are seen enjoying each other's company as the scene ends with Fonzie giving Ritchie a ride home. Chachi then decides to leave the gang, as it it not for him.

[Wreckless]

It is in Season 5, my mistake. Episode Number 109 Titled "Our Gang." Here is more on it.


#109- Our Gang (2/21/78)

Flashbacks show when Richie first met Fonzie.

There is a 'Beat Mandeville' pep rally at Arnold's. Richie picks up the instruments to take them to the Leopard Lodge Annual Poobah Doodah Dance. Al isn't allowed to go because he doesn't have enough spots yet. Joanie does a cartwheel and then goes outside. Chachi enters Arnold's in a Lords gang jacket. Richie has a talk with Chachi and tells him about the police and rumbles. Richie says Fonzie quit being the leader of the Falcons. Richie tells Chachi about the first time he met Fonzie: it was 3 1/2 years ago - the first day of his sophomore year at Jefferson High School. In the flashback, Fonzie comes in with the Falcons and sees Richie, Ralph, and Potsie at a booth. Richie hides his lunchbox. Potsie says he just got his braces off. Richie and Potsie read the engraving on the table: This is Falcons turf. Richie is challenged by Fonzie to meet him in the alley at 10PM without weapons on Saturday night. Back at the house, Richie talks to Howard about the situation. Richie shows up in the alley and hears Potsie and Ralph hiding in the alley. Potsie and Ralph then run off. Fonzie shows up at 10PM and is impressed to see that Richie has shown up. Fonzie tells Richie reasons why he fought with the Red Devils. Fonzie takes off his Falcons jacket and Richie fakes drawing out a gun. Fonzie is friendly with Richie and decides to leave the Falcons. Some Lords members give Chachi a rumble chain for their rumble against the Hornets, and then Chachi quits the gang. The Lords leave Arnold's.

Directed by: Jerry Paris
Written by: Brian Levant
Guest stars: Derrel Maury as Monk and David Rini as Iggy.

Note:
During the flashback, the Cunninghams have a yellow sofa.
Fonzie had a rumble with the Red Devils.
Other Falcons members: Monk and Lefty.
Richie has a 'Wild Bill Hickok' lunchbox in this episode.
In the flashback scenes notice: they never show Joanie, the house is different, the cameras are the newer ones, the gang looks older, everyone claps when they see that waitress.

[Schmoopie]

Originally Posted by Wreckless

Yup, in one of the later episodes, i think in season 6 or 7 Chachi is in a gang. But Ritchie and Fonzie don't like it, mostly Ritchie so the Fonz encourages Ritchie to talk to Chachi if he wants to step up and handle the situation himself. Ritchie tells of how he met Fonzie. A dream sequence comes up and you see Ritchie with Potsie and I think Ralph. Ralph is the new kid right around when this happens and Potsie keeps calling him Malph Ralph . Anyways, the Fonz, back when he was in his gang enter Arnold's, the old Arnolds and claim the booth the 3 boys are in, is the gang's territory. Ritchie jokes that he doesn't see his name on the seat so it's not his, but the Fonz actually points out where he carved his name before on the table I believe. The boys won't get up, until Fonzie means business then Ralph leaves. Fonzie tells Ritchie to meet him at a place, it ends up being an alley behind all these old buildings and to be by himself when he shows up. Potsie vouches for Ritchie, and says he will have his back but Potsie and Ralph both leave in fright when the actual date arrives. In the meanwhile, Ritchie trys to tell Howard when Howard's watching TV about a scrum, and his father says for Ritchie to not fight the guy and to try and talk it out (from what I can remember, sorry I'm kind of freestyling the rest of the summary since I haven't seen the episode in 2/3 months). When the day comes, Ralph and Potsie chicken out and as Fonzie approaches, he tells Ritchie to put his fists up. Ritchie ends up telling the Fonz the other guys in the gang are feeding off of him and being leeches basically and explains that he is too cool to be in a gang and doesn't need to be. Fonzie admires Ritchie's perserverance, courage and honesty, takes off his gang jacket, throws it in the trash and the 2 are seen enjoying each other's company as the scene ends with Fonzie giving Ritchie a ride home. Chachi then decides to leave the gang, as it it not for him.

Originally Posted by Wreckless

It is in Season 5, my mistake. Episode Number 109 Titled "Our Gang." Here is more on it.


#109- Our Gang (2/21/78)

Flashbacks show when Richie first met Fonzie.

There is a 'Beat Mandeville' pep rally at Arnold's. Richie picks up the instruments to take them to the Leopard Lodge Annual Poobah Doodah Dance. Al isn't allowed to go because he doesn't have enough spots yet. Joanie does a cartwheel and then goes outside. Chachi enters Arnold's in a Lords gang jacket. Richie has a talk with Chachi and tells him about the police and rumbles. Richie says Fonzie quit being the leader of the Falcons. Richie tells Chachi about the first time he met Fonzie: it was 3 1/2 years ago - the first day of his sophomore year at Jefferson High School. In the flashback, Fonzie comes in with the Falcons and sees Richie, Ralph, and Potsie at a booth. Richie hides his lunchbox. Potsie says he just got his braces off. Richie and Potsie read the engraving on the table: This is Falcons turf. Richie is challenged by Fonzie to meet him in the alley at 10PM without weapons on Saturday night. Back at the house, Richie talks to Howard about the situation. Richie shows up in the alley and hears Potsie and Ralph hiding in the alley. Potsie and Ralph then run off. Fonzie shows up at 10PM and is impressed to see that Richie has shown up. Fonzie tells Richie reasons why he fought with the Red Devils. Fonzie takes off his Falcons jacket and Richie fakes drawing out a gun. Fonzie is friendly with Richie and decides to leave the Falcons. Some Lords members give Chachi a rumble chain for their rumble against the Hornets, and then Chachi quits the gang. The Lords leave Arnold's.

Directed by: Jerry Paris
Written by: Brian Levant
Guest stars: Derrel Maury as Monk and David Rini as Iggy.

Note:
During the flashback, the Cunninghams have a yellow sofa.
Fonzie had a rumble with the Red Devils.
Other Falcons members: Monk and Lefty.
Richie has a 'Wild Bill Hickok' lunchbox in this episode.
In the flashback scenes notice: they never show Joanie, the house is different, the cameras are the newer ones, the gang looks older, everyone claps when they see that waitress.

Thanks so much for that information! Now if they'd only hurry up and get the rest of the series on DVD!

Andrea

[Wreckless]

Yeah I agree- I'm still mad about the Season 2 music for the DVD too lol. Yeah that was a good episode, you'll be excited to see it once you get that far in the show!

[MikeLutton]

i think when richie n fonzie met n when ralph debuted schould of been the pilot episode from the start then they could of had ran more episodes with that u know would made lot more sense

[Wreckless]

That is true, the gang episode was good, and it fit because it's a flashback, but they could of worked with more, starting the show like that. Although I like how the show started so I don't know.

[spreckenzeedeu]

Lots of Shows start with a Now-Situation, and you have one or more Flashback Episode(s) or People say this and that - and you'll learn/know how and what had happened. It's normal. Shrugs...

[Wreckless]

Yeah, I don't mind it either way, if it had happened, and what the pilot actually was..

[MikeLutton]

yeah that true first episode schould of been richie meeting fonzie and the falcons and all that and more sls n early episodes with the falcones fighting that one sl gang with the red jackets.but oh well just a thought that all kind wierd we waited 5 years find out how richie met fonzie it was good episode though one of my favorites

i miss watching it on tv wish it did not get taken off

[Avilos]

They never could have made the story of how Richie and Fonzie meet the Pilot.
Remember that the Fonz was a surprise break out character. He was never intended to be a focus of the show. In the beginning the show's focus was on Richie and Potsie's friendship. Of course they had been established as knowing each other since they were little kids. Which was setup in the rejected "New Family In Town" pilot which aired on Love American Style.

[Wreckless]

That's a great point ^. Never thought about it like that. Then when the Fonz became the star of the show, they brought up the plot of how he and Richie met.. Ahh all coming clear now.

[Avilos]

Originally Posted by Wreckless

That's a great point ^. Never thought about it like that. Then when the Fonz became the star of the show, they brought up the plot of how he and Richie met.. Ahh all coming clear now.

The flashback story in "Our Gang" is almost a retroactive Pilot. Yes there are continuity errors with the first two seasons. But it fairly consistent with what the series eventually became.

[Wreckless]

Yeah, it's better then how most shows compare with timing. I remember somebody, I think it was on youtube, was complaining because a 1960's song was playing at the beginning of a HD song, I think the episode was from the 6th season too so it's not like it was from the first or 2nd season.

[faraj]

Originally Posted by Avilos

They never could have made the story of how Richie and Fonzie meet the Pilot.
Remember that the Fonz was a surprise break out character. He was never intended to be a focus of the show. In the beginning the show's focus was on Richie and Potsie's friendship. Of course they had been established as knowing each other since they were little kids. Which was setup in the rejected "New Family In Town" pilot which aired on Love American Style.

Yeah, and amazingly, Fonzie appeared in all the eps. of the first 2 seasons. Maybe that's how he became the big star of the show. LOL!