The second season of Happy Days, an American television sitcom, originally aired on ABC in the United States between September 10, 1974 to May 6, 1975. The show was created by Garry Marshall, under the production company Miller-Milkis Productions, in association with Paramount Television.
| Happy Days | |
|---|---|
| Season 2 | |
 Cheryl Ladd and Ron Howard in the episode, "Wish Upon A Star" | |
| No. of episodes | 23 |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | September 10, 1974 – May 6, 1975 |
| Season chronology | |
Background
editStarting with this season, Henry Winkler and Donny Most were added to the main cast, being included now to the opening credits. The second season consisted on 23 episodes. This was the last season of the series where "Rock Around the Clock" was the show's original theme song. The song did not appear on the Season 2 DVD release due to music licensing issues, being replaced with the Happy Days theme. This is also the last season to have the original version of "Happy Days" as the closing theme. This season and the previous one, were filmed using a single-camera setup and laugh track, however, the episode "Fonzie Gets Married" became the first episode of the series filmed in front of a studio audience with three cameras as a test run.
The series was a modest hit when it debuted in early 1974, however, ratings began to fall during its second season, causing the show's creator Garry Marshall to retool it. This was due to CBS programming head Fred Silverman, who scheduled the Maude spin-off Good Times on the same night and timeslot as Happy Days, in an attempt to kill the ABC show's growing popularity, and it worked, as the show reached a new low at number 49 on the Nielsen ratings for the 1974-75 season. This would change when Silverman was named president of ABC in 1975, and came up with a way to save the show he tried to kill the year before, eventually Happy Days would not be on top of the Nielsen ratings until its fourth season.
Cast and characters
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Main castedit |
Recurring castedit
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Broadcast history
editThe season originally aired Tuesdays at 8:00-8:30 pm (EST).[1][2]
Episodes
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 1 | "Richie Moves Out" | Jerry Paris | Ben Joelson & Art Baer | September 10, 1974 | |
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Richie feels he is lacking privacy at home, so he decides to move in with Chuck; but Richie soon discovers that bachelor life is not all it's cracked up to be. Notes:
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| 18 | 2 | "Richie's Car" | Jerry Paris | Bob Brunner & Michael Leeson | September 17, 1974 | |
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With his dating style being cramped by Howard driving him everywhere, Richie convinces his father to buy a second family car for him to use on weekends. He persuades Howard to buy a car that Fonzie is selling, but his amorous plans hit a roadblock when he hears that the car is stolen. Guest starring: Karl Swenson as Detective; Joshua Shelley as Happy; Suzanne Roth as Charmaine; Lew Horn as Officer Marlow. | ||||||
| 19 | 3 | "Who's Sorry Now" | Jerry Paris | Michael Leeson | September 24, 1974 | |
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Arlene is back in town, and Richie goes on a date with her. But very soon, Arlene thinks that Richie wants to go steady with her, and Richie tries to find a way to put her off. Note: The flashbacks used in this episode are scenes from the pilot that aired as part of Love, American Style in 1972. Guest starring: Tannis G. Montgomery as Arlene; Virginia Gregg as Mrs. Nestrock; Robert Nichols as Mr. Nestrock; Laura Siegel as Rita; Jane Lambert as The Woman; Gary Morgan as Usher. | ||||||
| 20 | 4 | "You Go to My Head" | Jerry London | Phil Mishkin | October 1, 1974 | |
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Richie finds that he has a problem asking girls out on a date. After reading a book about abnormal psychology, Richie becomes convinced that there's something really wrong with him, and seeks help from a psychiatrist. Note: A Rebel Without a Cause movie visit is shown with no mention of James Dean's death. The film was released October 27, 1955, barely a month after his death. Guest starring: Ivor Francis as Dr. Castle; Christina Hart as Carole; Cathey Paine as Girl; Pamela Peters as Annie. | ||||||
| 21 | 5 | "R.O.T.C." | Jerry Paris | Mickey Rose | October 8, 1974 | |
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Richie is chosen to be put in charge of his R.O.T.C. Army cadet force at Jefferson High; but he has a battle on his hands to put his pals, including Potsie and Ralph, into shape; and finds out that command and friendship are two very different things. Note: This episode was filmed on July 15, 1974. Guest starring: Dave Ketchum as Lt. Colonel Binicky; Richard Kuller as Charlie. | ||||||
| 22 | 6 | "Haunted" | Garry Marshall | Bruce Shelly & Dave Ketchum | October 29, 1974 | |
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It's trick-or-treat time when the gang indulge in frightening frolics as Ralph plans to hold his annual Halloween party at the old Simpson house, which is supposedly haunted by the ghost of the headless "Old Lady Simpson." Richie must confront his own fears about the ghost. Notes:
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| 23 | 7 | "Wish Upon a Star" | Herb Wallerstein | Dick Bensfield & Perry Grant | November 12, 1974 | |
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Richie wins a date to the school dance with Hollywood starlet Cindy Shea (Cheryl Ladd). But what on earth will his girlfriend say? And is Richie really cut out for a life of glitz and glamour? Guest starring: Cheryl Ladd as Cindy; Frank Ashmore as Johnny; James Daughton as Larry; Bryan O'Byrne as Mr. Carlyle; Michael Dan Wagner as Student. | ||||||
| 24 | 8 | "Not With My Sister, You Don't" | Jerry Paris | Dick Bensfield & Perry Grant | November 19, 1974 | |
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Marion and Howard are apprehensive about Joanie's first date. Their worries deepen when they learn that her date is Fonzie's young nephew Spike. After a talk about the birds and the bees, Richie is instructed to use his own date to keep an eye on his little sister. Note: This episode introduces Danny Butch as Spike. Guest starring: Susan Denbo as Carol; Don Potter as Harry. | ||||||
| 25 | 9 | "Big Money" | Jerry Paris | Greg Strangis & Jerry Rannow | November 26, 1974 | |
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Richie is a contestant on a TV trivia game show Big Money. Richie's friends and family all help him brush up on his baseball knowledge—but then he is given an envelope by the host (Dave Madden) with the answers. Will Richie follow his conscience or take the money and run ? Notes:
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| 26 | 10 | "A Star is Bored" | Jerry Paris | Bobby Boswell | December 3, 1974 | |
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Richie, Potsie, and Ralph plan to mount a production of Hamlet to raise money for baseball uniforms. When they are unable to get a celebrity to play the lead role, they persuade Fonzie to take the part. Guest starring: Britt Leach as Reverend Harlan; Alice Nunn as Mrs. Stewart; Ronnie Schell as Monty Miller. | ||||||
| 27 | 11 | "Guess Who's Coming to Christmas" | Frank Buxton | Bill Idelson | December 17, 1974 | |
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The gang is looking forward to spending Christmas with their families, but Richie discovers that Fonzie will be spending his all alone; so he invites Fonzie home to spend Christmas with the family. Notes:
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| 28 | 12 | "Open House" | Jerry Paris | Bill James | January 7, 1975 | |
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While Richie's parents are away, Richie and Potsie unexpectedly find themselves hosting three stranded young women whose car has broken down. Guest starring: Melanie Baker as Lisa Ellis; Nancy Bell as Chris; Colleen Camp as Rose; Cindy Cassell as Penny; Joan Prather as Ruth; Patricia Wilson as Carhop | ||||||
| 29 | 13 | "Fonzie's Getting Married" | Jerry Paris | Lowell Ganz & Mark Rothman | January 14, 1975 | |
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Fonzie suddenly announces that he is getting married, and Howard recognizes the girl (Nellie Bellflower) as a stripper he saw at a hardware convention in Chicago. Notes:
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| 30 | 14 | "The Cunningham Caper" | George Tyne | Michael Weinberger & James Ritz | January 21, 1975 | |
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Richie stays at home sick while the rest of the family take in a movie at the theatre. But then he hears noises downstairs, and finds himself face to face with a burglar, who forces him to help gather up the family's valuables. Note: Richie references Chuck in this episode when he tells the burglar that his brother, sister and him saved up to buy the silverware for their parents' 10th anniversary. Guest starring: Herb Edelman as Burglar. | ||||||
| 31 | 15 | "The Not Making of a President" | Jerry Paris | Lloyd Garver & Ken Hecht | January 28, 1975 | |
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It's election time, and Richie decides exactly which candidate to support—the one a cute blonde girl is campaigning for. But Richie becomes a victim of politics when his campaign efforts for Adlai Stevenson fall on the wrong side of Howard's political views. Meanwhile, Fonzie supports Dwight Eisenhower. Notes:
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| 32 | 16 | "Cruisin'" | Jerry Paris | Ron Friedman | February 11, 1975 | |
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With Marion having dented Richie's car; Richie, Potsie, and Ralph are forced to use Howard's DeSoto to go cruising for girls to ask to an upcoming dance. But the girls they meet are girlfriends of members of the Dragons, a local street gang who challenges them to a drag race. Note: Maureen McCormick portrays the girlfriend of one of the members of the Dragons. Guest starring: Maureen McCormick as Hildie; Michael Lembeck as Dooley. | ||||||
| 33 | 17 | "The Howdy Doody Show" | Jerry Paris | Bob Brunner | February 18, 1975 | |
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Facing a deadline for the school newspaper, Richie tries to get a photo of Clarabell the Clown from The Howdy Doody Show without makeup. To gain access to the set, Richie plans to get Ralph to enter a Howdy Doody lookalike contest, which the show is conducting. Guest starring: Buffalo Bob Smith as Himself; Bob Brunner as Clarabelle the Clown; Bruce Kimmel as Mark. | ||||||
| 34 | 18 | "Get a Job" | Jerry Paris | Bill Idelson | February 25, 1975 | |
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To earn some money; Richie, Potsie, and Ralph advertise as handymen, and agree to fix the fence of an attractive young divorcée. Ralph and Potsie each fancy their chances with the woman; but after they abandon Richie, she asks Richie to have dinner with her. Guest starring: Leslie Charleson as Ms. Dorothy Kimber. | ||||||
| 35 | 19 | "Fonzie Joins the Band" | Frank Buxton | Ben Joelson & Art Baer | March 4, 1975 | |
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Fonzie joins Richie's band to impress girls, but only has the talent to play the bongos. Guest starring: Adam Arkin as Bo; Susan Richardson as Carol Danson. Songs performed: "Splish Splash" – performed by Anson Williams (lead vocals); Ron Howard (piano); Donny Most (saxophone) and Neil J. Schwartz (drums). | ||||||
| 36 | 20 | "Fish and the Fins" | Jerry Paris | Phil Mishkin | March 11, 1975 | |
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No one believes Richie when he says he knows a member of the group Johnny Fish & The Fins (Flash Cadillac and The Continental Kids). Guest starring: Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids as Fish and the Fins; Georganne La Piere as Corrine; Marjorie Bennett as The Lady; Borah Silver as Guard; Shelley Sparlock as Girl; Hank Stohl as Announcer. Songs performed: "Young Blood" – performed by Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids: Sam "Flash" McFaden (guitar, vocals); Kris "Angelo" Moe (piano, vocals); Linn "Spike" Phillips III (guitar, vocals); Dwight "Spider Dumas" Bement (saxophone); Warren "Butch" Knight (bass, vocals); Wally Stewart (drums). | ||||||
| 37 | 21 | "Richie's Flip Side" | Herb Wallerstein | Greg Strangis & Jerry Rannow | March 18, 1975 | |
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Fame goes to Richie's head when he becomes a disc jockey. Guest starring: Warren Berlinger as DJ Charlie the Prince; Jesse White as Norman Bander; Jean Fraser as Sandy; Alberto Isaac as Busboy. | ||||||
| 38 | 22 | "Kiss Me Sickly" | George Tyne | Story by : Paul Lichtman & Howard Storm Teleplay by : Michael Weinberger & James Ritz | April 29, 1975 | |
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Richie inadvertently makes out with Fonzie's girlfriend, and fears he may have contracted mono. Notes:
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| 39 | 23 | "Goin' to Chicago" | George Tyne | Frank Buxton | May 6, 1975 | |
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Richie, Potsie, and Ralph go on a trip to Chicago with the school choir. Not wanting to stay in their hotel room all night, Ralph convinces them to sneak out and see a comedy show at a burlesque house. Notes:
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