The tenth season of Happy Days, an American television sitcom, originally aired on ABC in the United States between September 28, 1982, and March 22, 1983. The show was created by Garry Marshall, under the production company Miller-Milkis-Boyett Productions and Henderson Production Company, Inc., in association with Paramount Television.
| Happy Days | |
|---|---|
| Season 10 | |
 Billy Warlock appearing in a promotional photo for the season | |
| No. of episodes | 22 |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | September 28, 1982 – March 22, 1983 |
| Season chronology | |
Background
editLike seasons 8 and 9, this season also consisted of 22 episodes, all of which were directed by Jerry Paris. More changes were added in this season, as Erin Moran, Scott Baio and Al Molinaro left temporarily the show in order to star on its spin-off Joanie Loves Chachi, which was entering its second season in the fall of 1982; eventually Moran, Baio and Molinaro made guest appearances in this season. After being part of the recurring cast on the previous two seasons, Cathy Silvers and Ted McGinley joined the main cast, along with Linda Purl, as Fonzie's girlfriend, Ashley Pfister (Purl appeared early on the show as Gloria, Richie's girlfriend during season 2). Heather O'Rourke, on her role as Ashley's daughter, joined the recurring cast, as well as other guest stars during season 9, including Billy Warlock and Crystal Bernard. Also, Pat Morita returns in this season as Arnold, the original proprietor of Arnold's Drive-In, to take over the restaurant after Molinaro's departure. Other guest stars from previous seasons made their final appearances in this season, including Melinda Naud (Paula from season 3) and Ed Peck (Officer Kirk). Anson Williams, who played Potsie, only appeared on six of the 22 episodes. This season was the last to use the original title theme song opening and closing themes, it had been in use since Season 3.
The show led ABC Tuesday nights at 8:00 PM for a tenth consecutive season. However, as the 1982-83 television season was progressing, a new show, The A-Team debuted on NBC in January of 1983, airing on Tuesdays at 8:00 PM opposite Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley, outrating both shows and decreasing considerably their viewership. At the end of the season, The A-Team ended at number 10 and Happy Days ended at number 28.
Main cast
edit- Henry Winkler as Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli
- Marion Ross as Marion Cunningham
- Anson Williams as Warren "Potsie" Weber
- Cathy Silvers as Jenny Piccalo
- Ted McGinley as Roger Phillips
- Linda Purl as Ashley Pfister
- Tom Bosley as Howard Cunningham
Guest stars
edit- Erin Moran as Joanie Cunningham
- Scott Baio as Chachi Arcola
- Crystal Bernard as K.C. Cunningham
- Billy Warlock as Flip Phillips
- Heather O'Rourke as Heather Pfister
- Pat Morita as Arnold
- Scott Berenstein as Melvin Belvin
- Harris Kal as Bobby
- Kevin Sullivan as Tommy
- Gary Friedkin as Clarence
Broadcast history
editEpisodes
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 212 | 1 | "A Woman Not Under the Influence" | Jerry Paris | William Bickley & Michael Warren | September 28, 1982 | |
|
Fonzie becomes weary about his inability to become happy by plowing through dates. He finds love at first sight with a woman he sees on an escalator, although he doesn't catch her name, and orders everyone at Arnold's to find her. Potsie recognizes the woman from his dad's gas station as Ashley Pfister, so Fonzie visits her at her apartment in hopes she will fall in love with him. Ashley proves to be unlike any other woman whom Fonzie ever dated, as she does not immediately fall under his influence. Note: First appearances of Linda Purl and Heather O'Rourke as Ashley Pfister (Fonzie's girlfriend) and her 6-year-old daughter Heather, respectively. Purl also had a recurring role in Season 2 as Richie's girlfriend Gloria. | ||||||
| 213 | 2 | "Letting Go" | Jerry Paris | Fred Fox, Jr. & Brian Levant | October 12, 1982 | |
|
Joanie wants to move to Chicago with Chachi and attend Northwestern University. Notes: Erin Moran and Scott Baio appear in this episode to set up the spinoff Joanie Loves Chachi. Also, although out of order, this was the first episode of the season produced. Absent: Anson Williams as Potsie Weber; Ted McGinley as Roger Phillips; Linda Purl as Ashley Pfister. | ||||||
| 214 | 3 | "Empty Nest" | Jerry Paris | Paula A. Roth | October 19, 1982 | |
|
Howard and Marion try to keep busy in their newly-empty house, while Fonzie decides to sell his half of Arnold's. Note: This episode marked the return of Pat Morita as Arnold, the original proprietor of Arnold's Drive-In; There have been 151 episodes aired since Arnold last owned "Arnold's" Guest starring: Harriet Nelson and Jane Wyatt. Absent: Cathy Silvers as Jenny Piccalo. | ||||||
| 215 | 4 | "A Night at the Circus" | Jerry Paris | Joe Glauberg | October 26, 1982 | |
|
Fonzie takes Heather to the circus, as Howard's niece K.C. moves in. Note: Crystal Bernard returns in her new role of Howard's niece, K.C. Cunningham. Absent: Anson Williams as Potsie Weber; Ted McGinley as Roger Phillips. | ||||||
| 216 | 5 | "A Little Case of Revenge" | Jerry Paris | Fred Fox, Jr. & Rich Correll | November 9, 1982 | |
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An old nemesis of Fonzie (special guest star Tom Hanks) returns to seek revenge on Fonzie at an inopportune time. Absent: Anson Williams as Potsie Weber. | ||||||
| 217 | 6 | "Who Gives a Hootenanny?" | Jerry Paris | Ria Nepus | November 16, 1982 | |
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Joanie and Chachi have a chance to appear on TV playing folk music; however, Fonzie is upset that folk is usurping rock 'n' roll's place in people's hearts and minds. Guest starring: Scott Baio as Chachi Arcola; Erin Moran as Joanie Cunningham. Absent: Anson Williams as Potsie Weber. | ||||||
| 218 | 7 | "Going Steady" | Jerry Paris | Richard Gurman | November 23, 1982 | |
|
Ready to settle down after all these years, Fonzie declares his love for Ashley by asking her to go steady; but when an old girlfriend of Fonzie's (Melinda Naud in her role of Paula Petralunga from Season 3) shows up needing help, it causes problems between Fonzie and Ashley. In a subplot, Howard gives K.C. driving lessons. Recurring guest: Scott Baio as Chachi Arcola. Note: Melinda Naud returns in her role of Paula Petralunga, who had appeared in a few episodes in Season 3 as Fonzie's most spectacular conquest. Absent: Anson Williams as Potsie Weber. | ||||||
| 219 | 8 | "Such a Nice Girl" | Jerry Paris | Nancy Steen & Neil Thompson | November 30, 1982 | |
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Melvin Belvin takes K.C. to Arnold's costume ball. Absent: Anson Williams as Potsie Weber; Linda Purl as Ashley Pfister. | ||||||
| 220 | 9 | "There's No Business Like No Business" | Jerry Paris | Story by : John B. Collins Teleplay by : Paula A. Roth | December 7, 1982 | |
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Business is down at Cunningham Hardware, leading Howard to consider some very difficult options--one of which includes closing the store permanently. Recurring guest: Erin Moran as Joanie Cunningham. Absent: Linda Purl as Ashley Pfister. | ||||||
| 221 | 10 | "All I Want for Christmas" | Jerry Paris | Pamela Ryan & Beverly Bloomberg | December 14, 1982 | |
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When Heather asks Santa to patch up the rift between her mother and grandparents, Fonzie decides to make her wish come true. In a subplot, Howard's brother Dick is visiting. Absent: Anson Williams as Potsie Weber; Ted McGinley as Roger Phillips. | ||||||
| 222 | 11 | "Since I Don't Have You" | Jerry Paris | Brian Levant | December 28, 1982 | |
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Roger's old flame (Wendy Schaal) fans the fire when she returns to town. Absent: Anson Williams as Potsie Weber; Cathy Silvers as Jenny Piccalo. | ||||||
| 223 | 12 | "Hello, Pfisters" | Jerry Paris | William Bickley & Michael Warren | January 4, 1983 | |
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Ashley introduces Fonzie to her estranged family. Absent: Anson Williams as Potsie Weber; Cathy Silvers as Jenny Piccalo. | ||||||
| 224 | 13 | "I Drink, Therefore I Am" | Jerry Paris | Gary Murphy & Larry Strawther | January 11, 1983 | |
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Flip goes out with some friends who drink and become intoxicated; and while under the influence, the driver hits Heather with his car, severely injuring her. A furious Fonzie severely disciplines Flip when he finds out Flip was involved in the hit-and-run accident as well. Note: Final appearance of Scott Berenstein as Melvin Belvin. Absent: Anson Williams as Potsie Weber. | ||||||
| 225 | 14 | "Prisoner of Love" | Jerry Paris | Robert Pekurny | January 18, 1983 | |
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K.C. dates a convict who is on work release at Fonzie's garage. Absent: Anson Williams as Potsie Weber; Ted McGinley as Roger Phillips; Linda Purl as Ashley Pfister. | ||||||
| 226 | 15 | "Life is More Important Than Show Business" | Jerry Paris | Paula A. Roth | January 25, 1983 | |
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Fonzie gets a record producer interested in Joanie and Chachi's music, but he's less excited about their band. Special guest stars: Scott Baio as Chachi Arcola and Erin Moran as Joanie Cunningham, as well as members of the cast of Joanie Loves Chachi; including Derrel Maury, Winifred Freedman and Robert Pierce. Side note: The logo of the fictitious "Holstein Records" seen in the episode is a knockoff of RCA Victor's famous Nipper the dog logo, which featured a Holstein cow staring into a gramophone. Absent: Anson Williams as Potsie Weber; Linda Purl as Ashley Pfister. | ||||||
| 227 | 16 | "Nervous Romance" | Jerry Paris | Robert Keats | February 1, 1983 | |
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Fonzie and Ashley celebrate their six months together at the Cunninghams', looking back on their relationship through "flashback scenes" (most of which were not actually part of "A Woman Not Under the Influence"). Note: Although out of order, this was the last episode of the season produced. Absent: Cathy Silvers as Jenny Piccalo. | ||||||
| 228 | 17 | "I'm Not at Liberty" | Jerry Paris | Pamela Ryan & Beverly Bloomberg | February 8, 1983 | |
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Fonzie, Potsie, and Roger report for Army Reserve duty. Fonzie promises Heather that he'll be at her birthday party--until he learns that Officer Kirk is their commanding officer. Note: Final appearance of Ed Peck in his role of Officer Kirk. Absent: Cathy Silvers as Jenny Piccalo. | ||||||
| 229 | 18 | "Wild Blue Yonder" | Jerry Paris | Richard Gurman & Larry Strawther | February 15, 1983 | |
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Fonzie and Roger miss the flight to the teacher's convention they plan to attend, so they instead opt to take Potsie's uncle's crop dusting plane--which crashes on the way, but the occupants survive. | ||||||
| 230 | 19 | "May the Best Man Win" | Jerry Paris | Richard Gurman | February 22, 1983 | |
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Fonzie becomes the center of attention at the wedding of a friend (Peter Scolari). Note: Al Molinaro returns as Father Anthony Delvecchio. Absent: Anson Williams as Potsie Weber; Linda Purl as Ashley Pfister. | ||||||
| 231 | 20 | "Babysitting" | Jerry Paris | Paula A. Roth | March 1, 1983 | |
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Fonzie babysits Heather on the night of a big fight on TV that Fonzie and the guys plan to watch, which conflicts with Fonzie's attention to Heather. Meanwhile, Joanie and Chachi return to Milwaukee--to stay. Note: This episode marks the return of Erin Moran and Scott Baio in their respective roles of Joanie and Chachi to the series' regular cast, due to the impending cancellation of Joanie Loves Chachi. Absent: Anson Williams as Potsie Weber. | ||||||
| 232 | 21 | "Turn Around...and You're Home" | Jerry Paris | Fred Fox, Jr. & Rich Correll | March 15, 1983 | |
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Joanie decides to move back in with her parents. Notes: Al Molinaro and Ellen Travolta return in their respective roles of Al Delvecchio and Louisa Delvecchio. Also, this episode marks the final appearances of Linda Purl and Heather O'Rourke in their respective roles of Ashley and Heather Pfister. Absent: Anson Williams as Potsie Weber. | ||||||
| 233 | 22 | "Affairs of the Heart" | Jerry Paris | Neil Thompson & Nancy Steen | March 22, 1983 | |
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Jenny sets her sights on dating an Olympic swimmer. Meanwhile, Fonzie wants a pool. Note: Final appearances of Crystal Bernard as K.C. Cunningham, Billy Warlock as Flip Phillips, and Cathy Silvers as Jenny Piccalo. Silvers would return as a guest in her role of Jenny Piccalo in the series finale "Passages." Absent: Anson Williams as Potsie Weber; Ted McGinley as Roger Phillips. | ||||||