Happier Days: Paramount Television's Classic Sitcoms, 1974-1984

[Frosty81]

Has anyone here ever heard of this book authored by Marley Brant? It is titled Happier Days: Paramount Television's Classic Sitcoms, 1974-1984.

Her history of Paramount Television covers the years 1974 to 1984, which of course refers to the entire span of when Happy Days was originally on ABC; the show's title also inspired the title of this book. Paramount TV's best years were generally considered to fall within this year range mentioned.

Of course, Paramount Television (Desilu through December 1967) had churned out well-known sitcoms before and after the period covered by this book, such as:

(BEFORE 1974)
The Lucy Show (1962-1968)
The Brady Bunch (1969-1974)
The Odd Couple (1970-1975)

(AFTER 1984)
Duet (1987-1989)/Open House (1989-1990)
Dear John (1988-1992)
Wings (1990-1997)
Frasier (1993-2004)

Notable shows within the year range of this book:
Happy Days (1974-1984)
Laverne & Shirley (1976-1983)
Mork & Mindy (1978-1982)
Taxi (1978-1983)
Family Ties (1982-1989)
Cheers (1982-1993)

~Ben

[70s show watcher]

i have a copy of the book and even though there are some errors in it its still worth a read

[Frosty81]

Originally Posted by 70s show watcher

i have a copy of the book and even though there are some errors in it its still worth a read

Which outstanding errors did you find in it?

~Ben

[70s show watcher]

Originally Posted by Frosty81

Which outstanding errors did you find in it?

~Ben

one was that they said that welcome home was the final ep of happy days

[Big3sCompanyFan]

MacGyver was great wasn't it?

[Frosty81]

Originally Posted by Big3sCompanyFan

MacGyver was great wasn't it?

Yeah, it is. But so was Star Trek: The Next Generation.

~Ben

[Big3sCompanyFan]

Originally Posted by Frosty81

Yeah, it is. But so was Star Trek: The Next Generation.

~Ben

MacGyver was better. Very innovative and ingenious. Fantastic scenery in many episodes too!

[megamanj2004]

for the Post-1984 shows, they left off Wings, which lasted a decent 8 seasons.

[Frosty81]

The other nitpick regarding this book: where's Webster? That sitcom premiered in 1983 and ran until 1989 (was syndicated 1987 to 1989), so that would really be one of the last Paramount sitcoms covered in this year range.

Mr. Smith, though very short-lived, was also a fall '83 entry and is eligible for this book.

~Ben

[Sal]

Before Paramount, there was Desilu. Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz bought it and filmed "I Love Lucy" inside its studios. The show's huge success led to Desilu being the home of other great 50s/60s series, including "The Andy Griffith Show", "The Dick Van Dyke Show", "My Three Sons", "The Untouchables" and many others before Lucy sold the property to Paramount in 1968.


Desilu - TV series list

[Frosty81]

Originally Posted by Sal

Before Paramount, there was Desilu. Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz bought it and filmed "I Love Lucy" inside its studios. The show's huge success led to Desilu being the home of other great 50s/60s series, including "The Andy Griffith Show", "The Dick Van Dyke Show", "My Three Sons", "The Untouchables" and many others before Lucy sold the property to Paramount in 1968.


Desilu - TV series list

Correction... Lucy sold Desilu to G+W in July 1967.

~Ben