Another hit comedy with multiple characters.

[80s Dude]

Happy Days was another hit comedy that had many characters in a half hour comedy format. For most of the series, it had 8 or 9 main characters. Yet it managed to pull it off and you didn't have fans saying that they got confused with so many characters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W6y7YhHdVE

[80s Dude]

Interesting in Happy Days Season 1, they only had 4 characters featured on the show introduction. So instead of reducing characters, they added them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlmeQv8OTk0

[RetroGuy2000]

Yes, large casts have been no problem on many, many shows. Degrassi had more than 30 students. Sure, it was a 45-minute show, but chop that in half to compensate for the shorter running time, and you still end up with 15 students... and teachers, and parents.

I wish they would have kept Chuck.

Ironically, both Chuck and the Lost Girls, along with Judy Winslow and Mike Douglas, were nominated in 2008 for a TV Land Award, in the category Favorite Character Who "Went Missing". Chuck won, but it was cool that seven awesome lost characters were nominated. Viewers remembered these characters, and it was cool that there was recognition.

Happy Days became a mess, in later years. I wish that they would have reintroduced Chuck when Ritchie left, instead of adding random cousins and nieces.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Interesting in Happy Days Season 1, they only had 4 characters featured on the show introduction. So instead of reducing characters, they added them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlmeQv8OTk0

I think shows (or networks) feel safer adding more character as they go on rather than starting out, because you've already had like 25 or 50 or shows to get to know the original main characters and who they are (a la "Cheers").

[80s Dude]

Chuck got chucked.

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Yes, large casts have been no problem on many, many shows. Degrassi had more than 30 students. Sure, it was a 45-minute show, but chop that in half to compensate for the shorter running time, and you still end up with 15 students... and teachers, and parents.

Degrassi was only a half hour show. The original was 28 minutes on PBS and the revival was 22.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

Degrassi was only a half hour show. The original was 28 minutes on PBS and the revival was 22.

Well, see, then how could Degrassi have 30 characters, FOL had 10, and yet there were "too many girls" on FOL?

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Well, see, then how could Degrassi have 30 characters, FOL had 10, and yet there were "too many girls" on FOL?

Haha yep! Then again Degrassi Nancied alot of chars in certain eps. They didnt usually show more than half the cast in an entire ep.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Well, see, then how could Degrassi have 30 characters, FOL had 10, and yet there were "too many girls" on FOL?

In one of the segments of the "Mama's Family" roudtable cast discussion on the bonus features, Vicki Lawrence talks about how when they were on the network (before they taped for syndication) how the suits just did not understand a rural comedy and they really did not understand a young woman playing an old woman, and they just did not get it. And while Vicki is saying this, Dorothy Lyman (Naomi) nods and says "Warren Lit-tle-field", punctuated like that, as Vicki is going on. He must have been a real pill in a suit!

[80s Dude]

Happy Days is somewhat like the Facts of Life for boys. The core four cast of Fonzie, Ritchie, Ralph Malph, and Potsie are still friends 45 years later. They had a feisty redhead who gave out motherly advice and provided correction when need. Except it was Mrs. C. instead of Mrs. G. They had lots of episodes about growing up, except it was from the male point of view.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Happy Days is somewhat like the Facts of Life for boys. The core four cast of Fonzie, Ritchie, Ralph Malph, and Potsie are still friends 45 years later. They had a feisty redhead who gave out motherly advice and provided correction when need. Except it was Mrs. C. instead of Mrs. G. They had lots of episodes about growing up, except it was from the male point of view.

Wow really???? I never knew that!!!!! Another MRS G for boys instead of girls: classy!!!! (there is a few 'feisty red haired' for everyone!!!!)

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

In one of the segments of the "Mama's Family" roudtable cast discussion on the bonus features, Vicki talks about how when they were on the network (before they taped for syndication) how the suits just did not understand a rural comedy and they really did not understand a young woman playing an old woman, and they just did not get it. And while Vicki is saying this, Dorothy Lyman (Naomi) nods and says "Warren Lit-tle-field", punctuated like that, as Vicki is going on. He must have been a real pill in a suit!

OMG, '80s, thanks for sharing that!

I had no idea, but I believe what you are saying. Wow!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Happy Days is somewhat like the Facts of Life for boys. The core four cast of Fonzie, Ritchie, Ralph Malph, and Potsie are still friends 45 years later. They had a feisty redhead who gave out motherly advice and provided correction when need. Except it was Mrs. C. instead of Mrs. G. They had lots of episodes about growing up, except it was from the male point of view.

That's a good point.

...They even tried to name the FOL biker chick "Foxy". Instead of Fonzie, Ritchie, Ralph, Potsie, and Mrs. C., they would have had Foxy, Bitchy, Nat, Tootie, and Mrs. G.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

OMG, '80s, thanks for sharing that!

Right?? I never noticed it the first time I watched it because she said it while Vicki was talking (this time when watching the roundtable I made sure to rewind and listen for everything anyone said while someone else was talking---you know how that happens when 5 folks are reunited and discussing things).

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I had no idea, but I believe what you are saying. Wow!

You better, 'cause it's caught on tape!

Omg, someone has it on YouTube! There are 3 half-hour roundtable segments, and this happens to be the part of the roundtable where this occurs.

Retro, go to the 14:14 mark, and you'll see when it happens about a minute in...

(also, Dorothy talks about our Lorsie! Well, sort of---she mentions "Lorimar Telepictures"! )

(and if you listen to Vicki's narrative at the 14:14 mark and then Dorothy's Lorsie---I mean, Lorimar narrative right after, you might see some similarities between MF and season 1 FOL)

-

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Omg, someone has it on YouTube! There are 3 half-hour roundtable segments, and this happens to be the part of the roundtable where this occurs.

Retro, go to the 14:14 mark, and you'll see when it happens about a minute in...

(also, Dorothy talks about our Lorsie! Well, sort of---she mentions "Lorimar Telepictures"! )

(and if you listen to Vicki's narrative at the 14:14 mark and then Dorothy's Lorsie---I mean, Lorimar narrative right after, you might see some similarities between MF and season 1 FOL)

Thank you, '80s!

I think this really speaks volumes. "The young [network] guys... they just didn't get it." "Warren Littlefield." They moved the show into bad time slots and then once they had enough ammo, they moved in to kill the show. Vicki says it herself.

And then, over the summer, the ratings bounced back...hmmm.... yes, this all sounds eerily familiar.