The eleventh and final season of Happy Days, an American television sitcom, originally aired on ABC in the United States between September 27, 1983, and July 19, 1984. 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 | |
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Season 11 | |
No. of episodes | 22 |
Release | |
Original network | ABC |
Original release | September 27, 1983 July 19, 1984 | –
Season chronology | |
Background
editLike the three previous seasons, this season also consisted of 22 episodes, all of which were directed by Jerry Paris. When its spin-off Joanie Loves Chachi was canceled in 1982, Scott Baio and Erin Moran returned to Happy Days, after being special guest stars during its tenth season, which also marked the departure of Cathy Silvers, who returned on the two-part series finale in 1984. Meanwhile, another regulars from season ten –Linda Purl, Crystal Bernard, Billy Warlock and Heather O'Rourke– did not return for this season.
This season marked the return of Ron Howard and Don Most in three years, after the seventh season's finale in 1980; while Anson Williams, despite still being credited on the opening credits for this season, he only appeared on five episodes; eventually, Williams and Most did not appear on the finale. Pat Morita, who played Arnold, made his final appearance on the first episode of the season; while Al Molinaro, who played Al, returned for the series finale. The season began filming in May 1983 and ended in November of that year. Also, the title theme song was re-recorded in a more modern style. It featured Bobby Arvon on lead vocals, along with several backup vocalists. To accompany this version, new opening and closing credits were filmed, and the flashing Happy Days logo was redesigned, to make it more sitcom friendly.
After ten consecutive seasons leading ABC Tuesday night at 8:00 PM, the network was forced to regroup after its most-successful spin-off Laverne & Shirley ended its run in May 1983, and most importantly, a new show, The A-Team debuted on NBC in January of that year and began airing on the same night and timeslot as Happy Days, which saw its viewership decline during the 1982-83 television season, as it ended at number 28 on the Nielsen ratings, while The A-Team ended at number ten. For the 1983-84 season, the show left its popular 8:00 PM timeslot and was moved back half an hour to 8:30 PM, and a new series, the ultimately short-lived show Just Our Luck, took its place. It stayed on that timeslot, until the series finale, aired on May 8, 1984. However, there were five "leftover" episodes that ABC didn't have time to air during the regular season due to the Winter Olympics and the spring run of a.k.a. Pablo. Four of these aired on Thursday nights during the summer of 1984; the fifth ("Fonzie's Spots") aired on syndication on September 24, 1984. Due to its timeslot change and the rising popularity of The A-Team, ratings fell even further, ending at number 63, the show's lowest-watched season.
Cast and characters
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Main castedit |
Special guest starsedit
Recurring castedit
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Broadcast history
editThe season aired Tuesdays at 8:30-9:00 pm (EST)[1][2] and Thursdays at 8:00-8:30 pm (EST).[3]
Episodes
editNo. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Rating (households) | |||||||
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234 | 1 | "Because It's There" | Jerry Paris | William Bickley & Michael Warren | September 27, 1983 | 15.4 | |||||||
Fonzie realizes he never accomplished a goal he set for himself as a child, and begins to lose his edge. Only after a pep talk from Chachi does he regain his confidence and set out to attain his dangerous goal. He and Chachi celebrate at the top of the mountain. Meanwhile, Howard, Marion, and Chachi find a prized possession of Fonzie's and unknowingly... misplace it. Notes:
Also starring: Harris Kal as Bobby; Kevin Sullivan as Tommy. | |||||||||||||
235 | 2 | "The Ballad of Joanie and Chachi" | Jerry Paris | Richard Gurman | October 4, 1983 | 15.3 | |||||||
Chachi resents Joanie's busy college life and wants to settle down. Joanie decides that she and Chachi won't be able to resolve their differences. Notes:
Also starring: Kevin Sullivan as Tommy; Jerry Paris as Teacher (uncredited) | |||||||||||||
236 | 3 | "Where the Guys Are" | Jerry Paris | Nancy Steen & Neil Thompson | October 18, 1983 | 14.7 | |||||||
Roger, Potsie, and Chachi trick Fonzie into going to a singles resort to help him get over his breakup with Ashley. Notes:
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237 | 4 | "Welcome Home: Part 1" | Jerry Paris | Fred Fox, Jr. & Brian Levant | October 25, 1983 | 26.7 | |||||||
Discharged from the Army, Richie and Ralph return home; but after life in the Army, Richie wants to move to California to pursue a career as a screenwriter, which doesn't sit too well with his parents. Notes:
Special guest stars: Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham; Don Most (billed as Donald Most) as Ralph Malph; Lynda Goodfriend as Lori Beth Cunningham. | |||||||||||||
238 | 5 | "Welcome Home: Part 2" | Jerry Paris | Fred Fox, Jr. & Brian Levant | November 1, 1983 | 26.8 | |||||||
Irritated at his parents' disapproval of his wanting to move to California so soon; Richie visits a local bar in search of solace, which he finds in a little too much to drink that makes him lose control. However, Fonzie finds Richie and encourages him to follow his dreams; and Richie and Lori Beth decide to leave for Hollywood, with the Cunningham's blessing. Notes:
Special guest stars: Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham; Don Most (billed as Donald Most) as Ralph Malph; Lynda Goodfriend as Lori Beth Cunningham. | |||||||||||||
239 | 6 | "Glove Story" | Jerry Paris | Fred Fox, Jr. & Rich Correll | November 8, 1983 | 11.8 | |||||||
Tired of Fonzie treating him as a kid, Chachi enters a boxing tournament to try to earn some respect. But when Chachi breaks his hand practicing, he tries to keep it a secret. Notes:
Guest starring: Joe Nipote as Leo Epps; Sean O'Grady as Tiger Thompson; Arthur Batanides as Referee; Andy Steinfeld as Reginald Bandini; Peter Steinfeld as Elijah Bandini. | |||||||||||||
240 | 7 | "Vocational Education" | Jerry Paris | Brian Levant | November 15, 1983 | 15.7 | |||||||
Roger and Fonzie are hired as the new administrative team at George S. Patton Vocational High School, a school notorious for disciplinary problems. Their plans to reform the school are easier said than done. Notes:
Guest starring: Crispin Glover as Roach; Ken Osmond as Freddie Bascomb; Kathryn Fuller as Mrs. Shellenback. | |||||||||||||
241 | 8 | "Arthur, Arthur" | Jerry Paris | Marc Flanagan & Craig Heller | December 6, 1983 | 13.4 | |||||||
Fonzie learns he has a long-lost brother, Arthur "Artie" Fonzarelli (Michael Holden), who comes to Milwaukee with bad news about Fonzie's estranged father. Note: This episode was filmed on June 30, 1983. Guest starring: Michael Holden as Artie; Candi Brough as Marlene; Randi Brough as Darlene; Jay Lomack as attendant. | |||||||||||||
242 | 9 | "You Get What You Pay For" | Jerry Paris | John B. Collins | December 13, 1983 | 14.5 | |||||||
When Howard is constantly forced out of the bathroom by the household's other inhabitants, he decides to build a second bathroom. He hires Fonzie as the contractor and the shop students of Patton High to do the work - which Howard later realizes was a big mistake. Note: This episode was filmed on August 17, 1983. Guest starring: Wayne Morton as Dwight Mesmer; Andrew L. Paris as Shorty. | |||||||||||||
243 | 10 | "Kiss Me, Teach" | Jerry Paris | Fred Fox, Jr. | January 10, 1984 | 14.0 | |||||||
Joanie gets her first teaching job at the infamous Patton High School, but her pride gets in the way of her reasoning when she refuses to heed Chachi's advice. Joanie gets in way over her head when a student devises a plan to show his feelings for his teacher, whether Joanie likes it or not. Notes:
Guest starring: Edward Hartes as Frankie; Kathryn Fuller as Mrs. Shellenback; Anthony Thompkins as Dexter. | |||||||||||||
244 | 11 | "The People vs. The Fonz" | Jerry Paris | Richard Gurman | January 17, 1984 | 16.7 | |||||||
Fonzie allegedly strikes a student who is bullying another student. With Roger's help, he has to defend his actions at a school board hearing. Notes:
Guest starring: Nancy Steen as Mrs. Friedman; Ben Slack as Alex Johnson; Jeffrey Kramer as Martin Smith; Michael Leon as Mickey; Grant Heslov as Dennis; Joe Mays as Mr. MacKenzie; Doug Widtfeldt as Stretch. | |||||||||||||
245 | 12 | "Like Mother, Like Daughter" | Jerry Paris | Robert Pekurny | January 24, 1984 | 14.0 | |||||||
Howard gets jealous when Marion's old flame (special guest star Lyle Waggoner) comes for a visit, but gets really upset when he dates Joanie. Notes:
Guest starring: Lyle Waggoner as Frederick; Ellen Gerken as Monique. | |||||||||||||
246 | 13 | "Social Studies" | Jerry Paris | Paula A. Roth | January 31, 1984 | 14.1 | |||||||
With Joanie and Chachi officially broken up, Chachi starts to doubt his ability to ask girls out. Fonzie tries to help, telling him he has "Fonzarelli Power." Note: This episode was filmed on June 24, 1983. Guest starring: Denise Halma as Karen; Katherine Kelly Lang as Kim. | |||||||||||||
247 | 14 | "The Spirit Is Willing" | Jerry Paris | Larry Strawther | April 24, 1984 | 12.9 | |||||||
While working on a 1950s car, Fonzie tells a few of his students that he wishes things could be the way they were in the '50s when he was younger, and he meets a young woman named Nancy Haley. When he later goes to Nancy's house to return her purse, he learns from the current residents that the previous residents had a daughter named Nancy - but she died in a car accident years ago. Note: This episode is loosely based on the 1965 Dickey Lee hit "Laurie (Strange Things Happen)," which itself is based on the urban legends known as the vanishing hitchhiker and Resurrection Mary; and because of it, the episode also reflects the teen death song phenomenon from that period. Guest starring: Alexa Hamilton as Nancy Haley; Patti Karr as woman. | |||||||||||||
248 | 15 | "Fonzie Moves Out" | Jerry Paris | Nancy Churnin | May 1, 1984 | 15.54 | |||||||
When it appears the Cunninghams are planning to sell their home (so Howard can accept a job as vice president of a hardware store chain based in New York state), Fonzie may have to leave, too. Fonzie eventually gets his own apartment and adjusts to his new life. Note: This episode was filmed on October 28, 1983. Guest starring: Maggie Roswell as Joyce James; Ann Gillespie as Sharon; Stanley Brock as Maki Maki; Julie Paris as Ann. | |||||||||||||
249 | 16 | "Passages" | Jerry Paris | Neil Thompson & Nancy Steen | May 8, 1984 | 20.0 | |||||||
250 | 17 | William Bickley & Michael Warren and Brian Levant & Fred Fox, Jr. | |||||||||||
Joanie and Chachi realize that they were meant for each other, and Chachi proposes to Joanie, and she accepts. Meanwhile, Fonzie becomes a Big Brother to a young orphan named Danny (Danny Ponce), and decides to adopt him; however, Fonzie's dream may be derailed when he finds out about regulations prohibiting single parents from adopting. After Fonzie almost gets into trouble when Danny runs away from the orphanage to be with him, Howard learns of the restrictions, and he confronts the adoption agency on Fonzie's behalf - which leads to the agency reconsidering. On the day of Joanie and Chachi's wedding, Fonzie adopts Danny and Richie and Lori Beth arrive just in time to watch Joanie and Chachi tie the knot. Fonzie serves as Chachi's best man and Jenny is Joanie's maid of honor. Notes:
Special guest stars: Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham; Al Molinaro as Al Delvecchio; Ellen Travolta as Louisa Delvecchio; Cathy Silvers as Jenny Piccalo; Lynda Goodfriend as Lori Beth Cunningham and Frances Bay as Grandma Nussbaum. | |||||||||||||
251 | 18 | "So How Was Your Weekend?" | Jerry Paris | Paula A. Roth | June 28, 1984 | 13.67 | |||||||
Marion and Joanie spend a weekend with Marion's mother. Notes:
Guest starring: Billie Bird as Mother Kelp; Rhonda Aldrich as pizza person. | |||||||||||||
252 | 19 | "Low Notes" | Jerry Paris | Al Aidekman | July 5, 1984 | 13.9 | |||||||
Chachi gets a job as a ballroom dancing instructor to pay back the half of the rent he owes Potsie. Note: This episode was filmed on July 28, 1983. Guest starring: Linda Kaye Henning as Jean Kelly; Eve Smith as Mrs. Wilson; Dolores Albin as Sylvia; Ralph Steadman as football player. | |||||||||||||
253 | 20 | "School Dazed" | Jerry Paris | Roger Garrett | July 12, 1984 | 13.8 | |||||||
Joanie tries to help one of her students who has a problem with drugs. Note: This episode was filmed on September 2, 1983. Guest starring: Elinor Donahue as Mrs. Broderick; Marta Kober as Jesse; Lee Anthony as Milton Broderick; Rick Lantz as Attendant. | |||||||||||||
254 | 21 | "Good News, Bad News" | Jerry Paris | William Bickley & Michael Warren | July 19, 1984 | 13.5 | |||||||
Chachi is devastated when he learns he has diabetes. Notes:
Guest starring: Martin Ferrero as Omar; Neil Thompson as D.J. | |||||||||||||
255 | 22 | "Fonzie's Spots" | Jerry Paris | Bob Brunner and Ken Hecht | Aired in syndication | N/A | |||||||
Howard's position as the Grand Poobah at the Leopard Lodge is threatened when he realizes he hasn't recruited any new members in the past five years; so Fonzie, Roger, and Chachi volunteer to join. Notes:
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