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Season 1 – Happy Days

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Happy Days 1974 Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
68% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 55% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Set in 1950s and 1960s Milwaukee, this series tells the story of the Cunningham family -- father Howard, mother Marion, son Richie and daughter Joanie. Howard owns a hardware store, while Marion stays at home. Richie's best friends are Potsie and Ralph. Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli is the local bad boy, riding a motorcycle and filling his days with fixing cars and dating girls. During the show's run, Richie leaves home to join the U.S. Army.
Happy Days — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Happy Days' nostalgic presentation of the 1950s may ring hollow for those who actually lived them, but a charming ensemble and toe-tapping soundtrack make the fantasy appealing.

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Critics Reviews

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John J. O'Connor New York Times That's the trouble with nostalgia. It's dishonest. And within the context of a situation comedy it's more dishonest than usual. Feb 11, 2021 Full Review Lee Winfrey Philadelphia Inquirer I tuned in prepared to hate a show with two characters on it named Potsie and Fonzie, but it didn't turn out that way. Feb 11, 2021 Full Review Will Jones Minneapolis Star Tribune The minds behind Happy Days, I fear, have no nostalgic feeling for life as it really was in the '50s. What they're really yearning for is a return to TV's family situation comedies of the period... Reruns could serve as well. Maybe better. Feb 11, 2021 Full Review John V. Hurst Sacramento Bee I enjoyed it. It evoked that painful, now funny, period of adolescence. I couldn't help wondering, though, if the women who watched this show enjoyed it much. Feb 11, 2021 Full Review Dwight Newton San Francisco Examiner Jukebox music interludes are good and rousing. Most everything else is good and silly. Feb 11, 2021 Full Review Win Fanning Pittsburgh Post-Gazette As the series continues I suspect this character of Fonzie, excellently played by Henry Winkler, will contribute substantially to its success. Winkler has struck a nice balance between the town tough and an understanding "older" confidant. Feb 11, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Iconic & fun show that gave the world The Fonz. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Happy Days — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Ron Howard

Richie Cunningham

Henry Winkler

Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli

Tom Bosley

Howard Cunningham

Marion Ross

Marion Cunningham

Anson Williams

Warren "Potsie" Weber

Don Most

Ralph Malph

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jan 15, 1974 All the Way Potsie fixes Richie up with Mary Lou Mulligan, who has a questionable reputation. Details Episode 2 Aired Jan 22, 1974 The Lemon Richie and Potsie pool their funds for a sporty 1950 convertible that proves to be all show and no go. Details Episode 3 Aired Jan 29, 1974 Richie's Cup Runneth Over Potsie wrangles Richie an invitation to his first bachelor party. Details Episode 4 Aired Feb 5, 1974 Guess Who's Coming to Visit Richie and Potsie sneak out of the house to watch Fonzie in an illegal drag race. Details Episode 5 Aired Feb 12, 1974 Hardware Jungle Richie volunteers to forgo a rock concert date to run his father's hardware store for the first time. Details Episode 6 Aired Feb 19, 1974 The Deadly Dares Richie and Potsie have to fulfill six dares to earn their jackets when they try to become members of the Demon Club. Details Episode 7 Aired Feb 26, 1974 Fonzie Drops In Richie receives an unexpected education when he encourages Fonzie to re-enroll at Jefferson High. Details Episode 8 Aired Mar 5, 1974 The Skin Game Richie and Potsie use false identity cards to get into a burlesque show. Details Episode 9 Aired Mar 12, 1974 Breaking Up Is Hard to Do Richie and Arlene split up only to discover that it's too late to line up other dates for the prom. Details Episode 10 Aired Mar 26, 1974 Give the Band a Hand Richie and his friends set out to conquer their financial woes as a rock 'n' roll band. Details Episode 11 Aired Apr 2, 1974 Because She's There Richie reluctantly agrees to go on a blind date with a girl who towers over him. Details Episode 12 Aired Apr 9, 1974 In the Name of Love Potsie and Ralph are both in love with a new student who only has eyes for Richie -- as a tutor. Details Episode 13 Aired Apr 16, 1974 Great Expectations Richie befriends a free-spirited girl who is pregnant and needs help. Details Episode 14 Aired Apr 23, 1974 Best Man When Howard's black Army buddy asks him to be his best man, the Cunninghams invite the couple to be married in their home. Details Episode 15 Aired Apr 30, 1974 Knock Around the Block Richie is befriended by the leader of the Dukes gang when he helps the boy's sister. Details Episode 16 Aired May 7, 1974 Be the First on Your Block The Cunninghams decide to build a family bomb shelter and try to keep it a secret. Details

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Season Info

Director
Jerry Paris, Mel Ferber, Don Weis, Herb Wallerstein, Peter Baldwin
Network
ABC
Rating
TV-G
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jan 15, 1974