Erin Moran To Recall Happy Days And Depressing Nights - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

DeepBlue · 04-27-2009, 01:25 PM

Erin Moran is still best known for playing Joanie Cunningham on the long-running series ‘Happy Days‘, but apparently the veneer of happiness didn’t always define her days afterward. At a recent tribute to Patrick Swayze for the movie ‘Jump,’ which opened the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival this week, Erin shared a few glimpses into her latest project, her work-in-progress autobiography, Happy Days, Depressing Nights.

Erin, it seems like brutal honesty is your specialty?
Yes. Yes it very much is.

‘Happy Days, Depressing Nights’ is a great title.
It’s my acting career which was fan-frikkin’-tastic.

Can you give highlights of your career and the book long the way?
One of my favorites was ‘Daktari’ (a TV series from 1966 about a vet in Africa) because it was with animals. I’ve been working since I was five! And then ‘Happy Days’, of course. Then the trials and tribulations of intimidation.

In acting, you mean?
No, oh gosh no. In schooling, with kids. And how hard it was. I never got a date.

You never got a date — you have to be kidding, that’s very hard to believe — were you shy?
No. But I became more shy. I don’t get it either, but it’s okay.

How did you get on Happy Days?
I went for the interview and another girl got it. I didn’t get it. Then Anson Williams and I did a film a few years earlier. I had worked with Garry Marshall when I was five. And Kay Lenz said ‘I worked with Erin Moran, she’s great.’ Then there was some discrepancy with the actress they had hired. And because Anson had the same agent as me since I was five, Anson said ‘Erin Moran.’ And I went to this big office with my dad. We walked out of there. I said ‘did I get it?’ And my dad said ‘yeah, you did.’

From all of your experience growing up on Happy Days, could you shake Joanie in your private life? This iconic TV show?
I loved it. I’m very blessed. Back then, in the 80’s — I was called “Joanie, Joanie” (by fans). Now it’s like ‘you’re Erin Moran, Erin Moran from Happy Days!’

Do you have an all-time favorite episode?
My favorite episode is when I want to become a ‘Leather’ with Leather Tuscadero. I wanted to run away and become a Leather; actually a ‘Suede’, sorry. Ron Howard and I had a scene in Arnold’s. We’re walking out, he says ‘you can’t run away.’ We did this scene for a week, then he turned to me during the actual (live) taping of the show and said something — and I started crying. I started crying, and I went ‘okay’…

You’re almost crying just talking about it; did he muff a line? Throw you a curve, ad lib?
No. No. It was a moment. What happened with all of us was like we were this family. It was so surreal with all the cast members. There was another moment where we forgot we were doing scenes. We forgot we were acting. They were my family, get it?

How did you pull out of that scene?
I did my lines for that scene, we walked out of Arnold’s. Ron said to me ‘are you okay?’ I went ‘yeah, I’m fine, I’m fine.’

But you were not okay, or ten years later you were not okay?
No. I was fine. But it was just so surreal. I talked to Ron about it later. It’s a family; he’s my brother, like my family.

See a ‘Happy Days’ photo gallery.

Did you want to go on straight films after Happy Days; what was your vision for your own career after the show?
I got married. And my first husband abused me. It will be in my book. This is my (new) husband Steven.

On the ‘depressing nights’ part — how do you address that in the book?
I always wanted to write about it. I have always had it in mind. To write the book.

Is your husband (Steven Fleischmann) helping with the book?
No. I have someone helping me write it.

Do you have any ‘Joanie Loves Chachi’ good memories, favorites?
I don’t have any favorite episodes from Joanie Loves Chachi. I liked working with the people. But I didn’t even want to do it. I was talked into it. I wanted to stay on Happy Days. They were running them at the same time.

Did you feel like you were forced?
Yeah. It’ll be in my book.

Source

catlover79 · 04-27-2009, 01:32 PM

I look forward to reading Erin's book! I've always felt like I can relate to her.

spreckenzeedeu · 04-27-2009, 01:41 PM

Erin is a great Person. And yeah, I'm looking forward to (read) that Book, too.

catlover79 · 04-27-2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iris*happydays

Erin is a great Person. And yeah, I'm looking forward to (read) that Book, too.

I still have the letter and autographed pic she sent me in 2000. She was and is a doll.

spreckenzeedeu · 04-27-2009, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I still have the letter and autographed pic she sent me in 2000.

2008. Autographs on the Wall. Messages saved and printed.

88survivor · 04-27-2009, 03:03 PM

What do you think she'll talk about, anyway?

catlover79 · 04-27-2009, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iris*happydays

2008. Autographs on the Wall. Messages saved and printed.

Like I said - she's a doll!!

DeepBlue · 04-27-2009, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88survivor

What do you think she'll talk about, anyway?

What people usually talk about in autobiographies I guess. Childhood, her time on Happy Days, and her life today. I wonder if she'll talk about why she missed the 1992 reunion and Celebrity Fit Club since that wasn't a very pleasant experience for her.

Since we are talking about cast autobiographies, has anyone read Cathy Silvers' book? I did, and even though most of the book is about her conversion to vegetarianism, I liked it. She does talk about she got the part of Jenny Piccolo, etc.

catlover79 · 04-27-2009, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeepBlue

What people usually talk about in autobiographies I guess. Childhood, her time on Happy Days, and her life today. I wonder if she'll talk about why she missed the 1992 reunion and Celebrity Fit Club since that wasn't a very pleasant experience for her.

Since we are talking about cast autobiographies, has anyone read Cathy Silvers' book? I did, and even though most of the book is about her conversion to vegetarianism, I liked it. She does talk about she got the part of Jenny Piccolo, etc.

She's stated elsewhere that she missed the 1992 reunion because her then-husband gave her a black eye.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...d.php?t=204279

Heidi Dawn · 04-28-2009, 03:23 PM

I always enjoy reading autobiographies of my favorite celebrities (I check them out of the local library). I think Erin is a sweet person and I'll definitely be reading her book when it comes out. I don't blame her for leaving an abusive relationship. She's happy with Steve.

Monika, I got a hand-written letter from Erin last month (it's in my autograph photo album).

comedyfreak · 04-29-2009, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Like I said - she's a doll!!

Yes she is, I'm glad I got to meet her last year at the Collector's Show. I'm one of her friends on myspace.

spreckenzeedeu · 04-29-2009, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

I'm one of her friends on myspace.

Me too

catlover79 · 04-29-2009, 08:07 PM

Do we have a release date yet??

Dusty's Fan · 05-11-2009, 11:19 PM

I can't wait to find out what she has to say about Daktari. She was a regular on the final season. The show was shot primarily in California, with a lot of stock footage from the African wild mixed in. It's about a center for the study of animal behavior, not just "vet" stories.

The main animals she got to work with were "Judy" (the chimp) and "Clarence" (the lion), unless I'm mistaken, in addition to "guest" animals. (Her season does not turn up on My Network TV like the earlier ones tend to do -- I want to see it!)

catlover79 · 05-12-2009, 10:32 PM

I really can't wait to read this...like I said, I've always felt like I can relate to Erin. God bless her.

04-27-2009, 01:25 PM	#1
DeepBlue Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 04, 2008 Posts: 15	Erin Moran To Recall Happy Days And Depressing Nights Erin Moran is still best known for playing Joanie Cunningham on the long-running series ‘Happy Days‘, but apparently the veneer of happiness didn’t always define her days afterward. At a recent tribute to Patrick Swayze for the movie ‘Jump,’ which opened the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival this week, Erin shared a few glimpses into her latest project, her work-in-progress autobiography, Happy Days, Depressing Nights. Erin, it seems like brutal honesty is your specialty? Yes. Yes it very much is. ‘Happy Days, Depressing Nights’ is a great title. It’s my acting career which was fan-frikkin’-tastic. Can you give highlights of your career and the book long the way? One of my favorites was ‘Daktari’ (a TV series from 1966 about a vet in Africa) because it was with animals. I’ve been working since I was five! And then ‘Happy Days’, of course. Then the trials and tribulations of intimidation. In acting, you mean? No, oh gosh no. In schooling, with kids. And how hard it was. I never got a date. You never got a date — you have to be kidding, that’s very hard to believe — were you shy? No. But I became more shy. I don’t get it either, but it’s okay. How did you get on Happy Days? I went for the interview and another girl got it. I didn’t get it. Then Anson Williams and I did a film a few years earlier. I had worked with Garry Marshall when I was five. And Kay Lenz said ‘I worked with Erin Moran, she’s great.’ Then there was some discrepancy with the actress they had hired. And because Anson had the same agent as me since I was five, Anson said ‘Erin Moran.’ And I went to this big office with my dad. We walked out of there. I said ‘did I get it?’ And my dad said ‘yeah, you did.’ From all of your experience growing up on Happy Days, could you shake Joanie in your private life? This iconic TV show? I loved it. I’m very blessed. Back then, in the 80’s — I was called “Joanie, Joanie” (by fans). Now it’s like ‘you’re Erin Moran, Erin Moran from Happy Days!’ Do you have an all-time favorite episode? My favorite episode is when I want to become a ‘Leather’ with Leather Tuscadero. I wanted to run away and become a Leather; actually a ‘Suede’, sorry. Ron Howard and I had a scene in Arnold’s. We’re walking out, he says ‘you can’t run away.’ We did this scene for a week, then he turned to me during the actual (live) taping of the show and said something — and I started crying. I started crying, and I went ‘okay’… You’re almost crying just talking about it; did he muff a line? Throw you a curve, ad lib? No. No. It was a moment. What happened with all of us was like we were this family. It was so surreal with all the cast members. There was another moment where we forgot we were doing scenes. We forgot we were acting. They were my family, get it? How did you pull out of that scene? I did my lines for that scene, we walked out of Arnold’s. Ron said to me ‘are you okay?’ I went ‘yeah, I’m fine, I’m fine.’ But you were not okay, or ten years later you were not okay? No. I was fine. But it was just so surreal. I talked to Ron about it later. It’s a family; he’s my brother, like my family. See a ‘Happy Days’ photo gallery. Did you want to go on straight films after Happy Days; what was your vision for your own career after the show? I got married. And my first husband abused me. It will be in my book. This is my (new) husband Steven. On the ‘depressing nights’ part — how do you address that in the book? I always wanted to write about it. I have always had it in mind. To write the book. Is your husband (Steven Fleischmann) helping with the book? No. I have someone helping me write it. Do you have any ‘Joanie Loves Chachi’ good memories, favorites? I don’t have any favorite episodes from Joanie Loves Chachi. I liked working with the people. But I didn’t even want to do it. I was talked into it. I wanted to stay on Happy Days. They were running them at the same time. Did you feel like you were forced? Yeah. It’ll be in my book. Source

04-27-2009, 01:32 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I look forward to reading Erin's book! I've always felt like I can relate to her.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

04-28-2009, 03:23 PM	#10
Heidi Dawn Muppets Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 01, 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 883	I always enjoy reading autobiographies of my favorite celebrities (I check them out of the local library). I think Erin is a sweet person and I'll definitely be reading her book when it comes out. I don't blame her for leaving an abusive relationship. She's happy with Steve. Monika, I got a hand-written letter from Erin last month (it's in my autograph photo album).
	__________________ Complete Series Box Sets I own: MASH, Three's Company, Gilligan's Island, The Dukes Of Hazzard, The Golden Girls, The Monkees, The Brady Bunch, Full House, I Dream Of Jeannie, Bewitched, Taxi, Gimme A Break, Dallas, Charlie's Angels, Joanie Loves Chachi, Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, The Cosby Show, The Facts of Life, Family Ties, Diff'rent Strokes, Green Acres.

05-11-2009, 11:19 PM	#14
Dusty's Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 13, 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,093	I can't wait to find out what she has to say about Daktari. She was a regular on the final season. The show was shot primarily in California, with a lot of stock footage from the African wild mixed in. It's about a center for the study of animal behavior, not just "vet" stories. The main animals she got to work with were "Judy" (the chimp) and "Clarence" (the lion), unless I'm mistaken, in addition to "guest" animals. (Her season does not turn up on My Network TV like the earlier ones tend to do -- I want to see it!)
	__________________ ~~The stunning beauty of Ruta Lee

04-27-2009, 01:41 PM	#3
spreckenzeedeu form.known.as irishappydays Forum Regular* Join Date: Feb 13, 2000 Location: GERMANY Posts: 900	Erin is a great Person. And yeah, I'm looking forward to (read) that Book, too.

04-27-2009, 03:03 PM	#6
88survivor Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 03, 2006 Location: NY Posts: 1,848	What do you think she'll talk about, anyway?

04-29-2009, 08:07 PM	#13
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Do we have a release date yet??

05-12-2009, 10:32 PM	#15
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I really can't wait to read this...like I said, I've always felt like I can relate to Erin. God bless her.