LAVERNE & SHIRLEY IN THE ARMY

LAVERNE & SHIRLEY IN THE ARMY / LAVERNE & SHIRLEY WITH THE FONZ
(ABC, October 10, 1981-November 13, 1982)
 
Hanna-Barbera Productions, Paramount Network Television

 

MAIN CAST:
Penny Marshall – Laverne DeFazio
Cindy Williams (season 1) & Lynne Marie Stewart (season 2) – Shirley Feeney
Ron Palillo – Sgt. Squeally
Kenneth Mars – Sgt. Turnbuckle
Henry Winkler – Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli (season 2)
Frank Welker – Mr. Cool (season 2), various

 

 

            Created by Garry Marshall, Lowell Ganz and Mark Rothman, Laverne & Shirley was the first spin-off of his popular sitcom Happy Days. The series centered on the titular characters, Laverne DeFazio (Penny Marshall) and Shirley Feeney (Cindy Williams), roommates who lived in 1950s Milwaukee, Wisconsin and worked together as bottle-cappers at the fictional Shotz Brewery; trying to scrape by in life and love. Laverne was a tough-talking, sarcastic tomboy from Brooklyn who always wore the letter “L” on her clothing (an idea from Marshall to help remind audiences which character she was), while Shirley was perky, positive, a bit meek and overly sensitive, leading her to overact frequently. Garry had stated in interviews that the series was essentially an extension of the dynamic between Lucy (Lucille Ball) and Ethel (Vivian Vance) from I Love Lucy.

The Fonz and Richie meeting Laverne & Shirley on Happy Days.

            The characters made their debut in the Happy Days season three episode “A Date with Fonzie”, where resident cool cat Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler) attempted to help his friend, Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard), get over being dumped by his long-time girlfriend by setting up a date with a couple of girls from his little black book. Their appearance made an impression and ABC approached them about starring in their own series. Marshall was receptive, but Williams was more interested in focusing on her budding movie career. Then-ABC casting executive Michael Eisner recast Shirley with Liberty Williams (no relation) and a few scenes were shot to present to the network. However, Liberty just didn’t have the same chemistry as Cindy, and the Marshall siblings managed to convince Cindy to do the series. The scenes were reshot with Cindy, Eisner “lost” the original film and presented the reshoots to the network, and the series was greenlit.

From top: Lenny, Squiggy, Carmine, Edna and Frank make up Laverne & Shirley's group.

            Joining the girls was Laverne’s Italian immigrant father, Fabrizio “Frank” DeFazio (Phil Foster), who ran a combination bowling alley/pizza parlor where the girls frequently hung out; Carmine Ragusa (Eddie Mekka), Laverne’s high-school sweetheart and on-again, off-again love interest who was a former boxer-turned-dance instructor; and their goofball greaser neighbors Leonard “Lenny” Kosnowski (Michael McKean) and Andrew “Squiggy” Squiggman (David Lander), which were created by the actors in college and were written into the show by them when they were hired as writers and consultants. Joining in the second season was five-time-divorced landlady Edna Babish (Betty Garrett), who would end up marrying Frank. For a time, some of the Happy Days characters would cross over into the series and vice versa.

            Laverne & Shirley debuted on ABC on January 27, 1976, running for 8 seasons. By its third, it had become the most-watched program according to Nielsen ratings. The show’s theme, “Making Our Dreams Come True” written by Charles Fox and performed by Cyndi Grecco, became a top 20 hit. Despite all that success, and the fact that the two women claimed to be close friends, the set was a constant battleground between them over things like who got more and better lines. For the sixth season, it was decided to move the setting to Burbank, California in order to allow for greater guest-star potential and to open up potential storylines of Laverne and Shirley looking to get into showbusiness (the stars were against this, feeling that the show would lose its gritty urban feel). Laverne and Shirley became gift wrappers at a department store, Frank and Edna managed a Texas barbecue restaurant, Carmine delivered singing telegrams while looking for acting work, and Lenny and Squiggy started a talent agency. Two new characters were added: Rhonda Lee (Leslie Easterbrook), a stereotypical dumb, voluptuous blonde who was trying to make it big in Hollywood, and Sonny St. Jacques (Ed Marinaro), a stuntman who was also the girls’ landlord (he was quickly written out, however). The series also experienced a time jump of two years, planting them in 1965 at the start of the Burbank episodes.

            A major shake-up occurred for the series’ final season when Williams had gotten married and became pregnant. An issue arose with her contract when the studio wanted her to work on her due date, which she refused. Unable to come to an agreement, Shirley was only seen for two episodes before being written out as having gone to live with her new husband on his Naval base. Williams ended up filing a lawsuit against Paramount for attempting to force her out of the show after previously agreeing to work her pregnancy into it. It was settled out of court. In the meantime, Marshall was left to headline the series alone, with her character now working for an aerospace company. Ratings fell, but the series still did respectably well enough to warrant another season. However, Marshall hadn’t even wanted to do the eighth and insisted she’d only do another if she got a significant raise and production was moved to New York. An expensive proposition, ABC passed and let the series end. 

Laverne & Shirley in their army fatigues.

            As the series was going on, Paramount Network Television was making moves to further cash in on the success of the Happy Days series of programs by expanding to a younger audience on Saturday morning. In 1980, the studio partnered with Hanna-Barbera Productions to produce The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang, which saw Fonzie, his new anthropomorphic dog Mr. Cool (Frank Welker), and two of his friends being whisked away across time in a malfunctioning time machine. Paramount expanded that arrangement to include an animated spin-off of Laverne & Shirley.

Sgt. Squeally in charge.

            Laverne & Shirley in the Army (only titled Laverne & Shirley on screen) debuted on ABC on October 10, 1981, with Marshall and Williams reprising their roles. The premise of the series was based on the fifth season episode “We’re in the Army, Now”, where Laverne and Shirley had enlisted in the Army and determined that military service wasn’t for them. Keeping on with that mindset, the animated Laverne and Shirley did what they could to try and get out of difficult assignments or be furloughed in exotic locations. Unfortunately, their direct supervisor, an anthropomorphic pig named Sgt. Squeally (Ron Palillo), was always breathing down their necks; ready to report the slightest infraction to his superior, Sgt. Turnbuckle (Kenneth Mars). Meanwhile, Laverne and Shirley just bumble their way through espionage, mad scientist schemes and top-secret government secrets. The girls were stationed at Camp Fillmore, which happened to share the name of the high school where the sitcom’s main cast went. None of the sitcom’s other characters appeared in the cartoon.

A fishy situation.

            For the 8-episode second season, the show was renamed Laverne & Shirley with The Fonz as Fonzie and Mr. Cool were integrated into the cast following the conclusion of their own cartoon. The two of them served as mechanics in the base motorpool. As production on the season coincided with Williams’ departure, she was replaced in the cartoon by Lynne Marie Stewart. The season and reruns of the first were aired alongside the third Happy Days animated spin-off, Mork & Mindy, in a block called the Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour. The series was written by Duane Poole and Tom Swale, who also served as story editors. Characters were designed by Ruben Aquino, Curtis Cim, Debbie Hayes, Don Morgan and Lew Ott. Hoyt Curtin and Paul DeKorte handled he music.

The Fonz bringing some cool to the Army.

            Unlike with The Fonz and the sitcom, not much merchandise was released for In the Army. A pencil-by-numbers set containing 6 pictures and 6 color pencils was made, and in 2019 CBS Home Entertainment released the complete first season as a manufacture-on-demand DVD.

           

 

EPISODE GUIDE:

Season 1:

“Invasion of the Booby Hatchers” (10/10/81) – After accidentally hijacking a secret army rocket, the girls end up captured by invading aliens.

 

“Jungle Jumpers” (10/17/81) – A parachute jump lands the girls on a jungle island caught between a local tribe and a giant ape.

 

“Naval Fluff” (10/24/81) – The girls are assigned to the Navy as enemy spies plan to attack their ship.

 

“April Fools in Paris” (10/31/81) – A furlough in Paris is anything but relaxing as the girls end up with the wrong suitcase containing plans for missiles.

 

“I Only Have Ice for You” (11/7/81) – The girls attempt to transfer to the entertainment unit only to have Squealy send them off to Antarctica where they find the Army occupied by a mad scientist.

 

“When the Moon Comes Over the Werewolf” (11/14/81) – The girls and Squealy end up on an island where they discover a mad scientist’s plot to turn everyone into werewolves via a spray.

 

“Bigfoot” (11/21/81) – The girls can’t convince Turnbuckle that they’ve seen Bigfoot.

 

“Two Mini Cooks” (11/28/81) – Another foul-up lands the girls on kitchen duty.

 

“Super Wacs” (12/5/81) – The girls sign up as players in the Army vs. Navy basketball game to get out of their duties only to discover practice is much harder.

 

“Meanie Genie” (12/12/81) – The girls end up fining the bottle of a grumpy genie.

 

“Tokyo-Ho, Ho” (12/19/81) – A mad scientist plots to steal an earthquake machine using an android duplicate of a General.

 

“The Dark Knight” (12/26/81) – Shirley hits her head and awakens with Laverne in the Middle Ages where they must battle an evil knight.

 

“Super Duper Trooper” (1/2/82) – An evil mastermind kidnaps the Army’s football teams in order to use their strength to power his robot.

 

Season 2:

“The Speed Demon Get-Away Caper” (9/25/82) – The girls and Squealy set out to clear Fonz’s name for car theft.

 

“Swamp Monsters Speak with Forked Face” (10/2/82) – The girls and company head out to obtain photographic proof of a swamp monster’s existence.

 

“Movie Madness” (10/9/82) – The girls impersonate stuntmen in order to meet the star of the film being shot at the base.

 

“One Million Laughs B.C.” (10/16/82) – The girls end up accidentally traveling back to prehistoric times.

 

“The Robot Recruit” (10/23/82) – A robot is sent to the base to sabotage the military games and the girls get the blame.

 

“All the President’s Girls” (10/30/82) – NO SYNOPSIS AVAILABLE.

 

“Laverne and Shirley and the Beanstalk” (11/6/82) – NO SYNOPSIS AVAILABLE.

 

“Raiders of the Lost Pork” (11/13/82) – NO SYNOPSIS AVAILABLE.

THE BRADY KIDS

THE BRADY KIDS

(ABC, September 16, 1972-October 6, 1973)

Filmation Associates, Redwood Productions, Paramount Network Television

MAIN CAST:

Barry Williams (season 1) & Lane Scheimer (season 2) – Greg Brady

Maureen McCormick (season 1) & Erika Scheimer (season 2) – Marcia Brady

Christopher Knight – Peter Brady (season 1)

Keith Sutherland (as David E. Smith) – Peter Brady (season 2), Superman/Clark Kent

Eve Plumb – Jan Brady

Mike Lookinland – Bobby Brady

Susan Olsen – Cindy Brady

Larry Storch – Marlon, Mop Top, Chuck White, Fleetwood

Jane Webb – Ping, Pong, Babs, Lois Lane, Wonder Woman

            Fresh off the success of his series Gilligan’s Island, Sherwood Schwartz was working on his next show idea. After reading an article about people with children from previous marriages, Schwartz created a pilot script for a show he called Mine and Yours. The pilot centered on a widower marrying a divorcee, and the three children each one brought from their previous marriages. Schwartz shopped the script around to all three networks and, while they all liked it, they wanted changes made before committing to the script. Schwartz eventually shelved the project.

            In 1968, United Artists released the film Yours, Mine and Ours starring Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball, which centered on their characters, Frank Beardsley and Helen North, falling in love and getting married with a combined total of 18 children from their previous marriages (Beardsley had 10, North had 8). The film was a box office success, earning over ten times its production budget. Based on that success, and the similar premise, ABC decided to go forward with Schwartz’s series and made a thirteen-week commitment..

The Bradys: Cindy, Bobby, Jan, Peter, Marcia, Greg, Alice, Carol and Mike.

            The Brady Bunch kicked off with widowed architect Mike Brady (Robert Reed) meeting and falling in love with Carol Martin (Florence Henderson). The fate of Carol’s previous marriage was left intentionally ambiguous in a compromise with Schwartz after the network had objections to her being divorced. The catch-all was that each of them brought three children to the mix: Mike had his boys Greg (Barry Williams), Peter (Christopher Knight) and Bobby (Mike Lookinland), while Carol had her girls Marcia (Maureen McCormick), Jan (Eve Plumb) and Cindy (Susan Olsen). Adding to the chaos was Mike’s live-in housekeeper, Alice Nelson (Ann B. Davis). Situations arose from the new large family getting used to each other as well as dealing with the everyday problems life threw at them.

            The most notable aspect of the show was its innovative opening sequence. Making use of the new multi-dynamic image technique created by Canadian filmmaker Christopher Chapman, each of the series’ main cast appeared in a box on a three-by-three grid. As the show’s theme song by Peppermint Trolley Company (for season 1, the kids the remainder of the series) played and laid out the story of the Bradys to the viewers, the cast members seemed as if they were looking at each other between their boxes. The attention this effect gained because of the show led to it becoming known as “The Brady Bunch Effect”.

"What?! I ruined my hair and now you tell me we're cancelled?!"

            The Brady Bunch debuted on September 26, 1969 and became the first television series produced by Paramount Studios, which had been exclusively a movie studio until then. The show only achieved modest ratings during its run and the network would only renew it for 13 episodes at a time. At the conclusion of the fifth season (the only season or receive a full episode order), the show had reached enough episodes for a syndication package and was finally cancelled.

The Brady kids: Cindy, Greg, Bobby, Marcia, Peter and Jan.

            When the show was about to enter its fourth season, Schwartz approached Filmation about adapting the sitcom to animation in order to bring the Bradys to a younger audience that may be missing it in its prime time timeslot. Filmation chose to make a show centered solely on the Brady children, omitting Mike, Carol and Alice altogether. Additional focus was given to the band the children formed on the live show in an attempt to further perpetuate the success Filmation had earlier with The Archie Show and its fictitious band. 

The Bradys, Moptop, Ping and Pong staring at Marlon's latest goof up.

The Bradys had several new pet sidekicks for their adventures: a dog named Mop Top (replacing Tiger from the live series, voiced by Larry Storch); a talking mynah bird named Marlon (Storch), who flew by spinning his tail and was actually a wizard that frequently employed his magic to get the kids out of jams; and two panda cubs named Ping and Pong (Jane Webb) who only spoke in Chinese-like gibberish. Other new characters include classmates to the Bradys: primary antagonist Chuck White (Storch) who had no problems with cheating to win; his easygoing sidekick Fleetwood (also Storch); and Babs (Webb), who had a crush on Greg.

Superman: super babysitter.

Initially, Schwartz planned to hand over full control to producers Lou Scheimer and Norm Prescott. However, he took an active role in the show’s production; overseeing scripts and giving creative input. To save on both time and budget (Filmation’s trademark) an extensive amount of animation was reused from Filmation’s earlier teenaged band hit The Archie Show, as well bits and pieces from Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids. The show featured an introduction mimicking the sitcom’s, showing the real Brady kids transforming into their animated counterparts. The theme was composed by Frank DeVol and was similar to the live show’s with a greater touch of 70s style. Ray Ellis handled the rest of the series’ music.

Wonder Woman in her first television role.

The Brady Kids debuted on ABC on September 9, 1972 as an installment of The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie called “The Brady Kids on Mysterious Island”. The 1-hour pilot movie was later split into the series’ first two episodes, “Jungle Bungle”, and began airing the following week. Filmation took some liberties and had characters from other properties interact with the Bradys, such as the wizard Merlin from Arthurian legend and Silver from The Lone Ranger (a character Filmation would produce adventures for a few years later). Filmation also featured crossovers with DC Comics’ Superman (Keith Sutherland) and Lois Lane, as well as Wonder Woman (both Webb) in her first appearance outside of the comics (a television show was attempted in 1967 by Greenway Productions, but only resulted in a short unaired pilot). The inclusion of Superman and Wonder Woman was Filmation’s attempt to see if action programs could be welcomed back on the air after the hoopla over violence of the late 1960s, as well as if they could sell a “woman’s show” in order to get a strong, female character out there (they later would with The Secrets of Isis and She-Ra). The entire series was written by Marc Richards.

Ad for ABC's new Saturday programs.

The first season ran for the contracted 17 episodes, but Filmation wanted to produce five more to bring the episode number up to the required syndication amount. Harvey Shotz, agent for the kids, persuaded them to reject Filmation’s request to extend their contracts. Filmation threatened to sue the kids as well as replace them if need be. Ultimately, the three older kids held firm while the younger ones agreed to the extension. Replacing the departing actors were Scheimer’s children Lane and Erika as Greg and Marcia, respectively, and Sutherland (credited as David E. Smith) as Peter. The abbreviated 5-epsiode season came and went in 1973, but the show stayed on the air in reruns until August of 1974 when ABC’s new fall schedule was set to begin. A character introduced during the second season, magically-powered teacher Miss Tickle (a play on “mystical”, voiced by Lola Fisher), was spun-off into her own series called Mission: Magic! that aired the same year. Interestingly enough, the show’s timeslot ended up being taken over by Super Friends, which was produced by rival studio Hanna-Barbera after they acquired the DC Comics license.

While the live Bradys continued to get airplay in syndication and several revival attempts were made, the animated Bradys all but disappeared--at least until 1996. In 1995, Paramount Pictures produced a theatrical movie picking up from the conclusion of the fifth season called The Brady Bunch Movie. The movie featured a new, younger cast in the same roles and followed the principal joke that while the rest of the world had gone on to the 1990s the Bradys were obliviously stuck perpetually in the 70s. A Very Brady Sequel, which hit theaters the following year, featured the return of the characters from The Brady Kids in a dream sequence brought on when Alice (Henriette Mantel) unknowingly gave a man posing as Carol’s (Shelley Long) ex-husband, Roy (Tim Matheson), psychedelic mushrooms in his spaghetti. The only difference was that the animated Jan didn’t wear glasses as she did on the cartoon, and had darker hair and braces.

The Brady Kids DVD.

In 2007, Paramount Home Video released The Brady Bunch: The Complete Series on DVD. Included on a bonus disc were the first two episodes of the animated series, along with a couple of the TV reunion movies. The 2015 re-release of this set excludes that extra disc. In 2016, Paramount released the complete animated series to DVD. For the franchise’s 50^th anniversary, Paramount released a complete collection DVD featuring all of the shows and movies except for the short-lived variety show, The Brady Bunch Hour.

EPISODE GUIDE:

Season 1:

“Jungle Bungle, Part 1” (9/16/72*) – The Bradys and Mop Top enter a balloon race and end up stranded on a mysterious island.

“Jungle Bungle, Part 2” (9/23/72*) – The Bradys meet Marlon, Ping and Pong on the island.

*Originally aired together on The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie on 9/9/72.

“Double Trouble” (9/30/72) – Peter’s wish to look like movie star Clint Flint has Marlon magically switch their bodies.

“Long Gone Silver” (10/7/72) – Marlon attempts to turn Bobby’s Lone Ranger pin into real silver, but ends up conjuring up the actual Silver instead.

“Cindy’s Super Friend” (10/14/72) – When the Bradys are tricked into painting a bank with invisible paint to make it easier to rob, it’s up to Superman to save the day.

“Pop Goes the Mynah” (10/21/72) – The Bradys have to rescue Marlon after he’s sealed into a soda can.

“Who Was that Dog…?” (10/28/72) – Mop Top falls for a French Poodle at a pet show, but Marlon accidentally turns her into a barking woman.

“It Ain’t Necessarily Snow” (11/4/72) – Marlon’s magic complicates things when Greg tries to learn to ski to beat Chuck in a race.

“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the End Zone” (11/11/72) – The Bradys end up in a spaceship and befriending real Venusians.

“That Was No Worthy Opponent, That Was My Sister” (11/18/72) – Chuck sabotages Greg and Marcia’s campaigns so that he can win class president.

“You Took the Words Right Out of My Tape” (11/25/72) – The Bradys end up involved in trying to save the Crown Jewels from a pair of thieves.

“Give Me a Home Where the Panda Bears Roam and the Dog and the Mynah Bird Play” (12/2/72) – Marlon’s magic causes chaos on the cattle drive the Bradys go on.

“It’s All Greek to Me” (12/9/72) – Marlon’s magic sends the Bradys and Wonder Woman to ancient Greece.

“The Big Time” (12/16/72) – The kids all come up with their own acts in order to enter a television talent show.

“Marlon’s Birthday Party” (12/23/72) – The Bradys’ surprise party for Marlon is put on hold when he and Merlin accidentally change places in time.

“The Richest Man in the World” (12/30/72) – The Bradys try to help a poor man, not knowing he’s actually the world’s wealthiest.

“Wings” (1/6/73) – The Wrong brothers steal parts of the Bradys’ road rally racer in order to build an airplane.

Season 2:

“Frankincense” (9/8/73) – The Bradys have to retrieve their jewel-eating robots from the thieves that took them for their own uses.

“Teacher’s Pet” (9/15/73) – Marlon loans Cindy a wizard’s ceramic cat that comes to life whenever a spell is recited, and Marlon accidentally turns it into a hippopotamus.

“Marcia’s Lib” (9/22/73) – A camping rivalry ends up seeing the Brady kids lost in the woods.

“Ceiling Zero” (9/29/73) – Marlon conjures legendary painter Michael Angelglow to paint the kids’ treehouse, and he ends up abducted by art thieves.

“Who Believes in Ghosts?” (10/6/73) – The Bradys’ attempts to restore an old house are foiled by the thieves hiding out there.


Originally posted in 2016. Updated in 2020

MORK & MINDY/LAVERNE & SHIRLEY/FONZ HOUR

MORK & MINDY/LAVERNE & SHIRLEY/FONZ HOUR

(ABC, September 25, 1982-March 26, 1983)

Hanna-Barbera Productions, Ruby-Spears Productions, Paramount Network Television

MAIN CAST:

Robin Williams – Mork

Pam Dawber – Mindy McConnell

Conrad Janis – Frederick McConnell

Ralph James – Orson

Frank Welker – Doing, various

Mark L. Taylor – Hamilton DuPont, Jr.

Stan Jones – Principal Caruthers

            Before Robin Williams became a household name, he was a hyperactive alien who sat on his head.

Mork with Richie and Fonzie at Arnold's.

            The retro 1950s sitcom Happy Days was entered into the world of science fiction by having an alien attempt to abduct Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard) only to be saved by the show’s most popular character, the Fonz (Henry Winkler). Creator Garry Marshall cast Williams in the role of Mork from Ork almost immediately after Williams sat on his head at the audition (a move that was worked into the character), stating that he was the only alien to audition for the role. The season five episode “My Favorite Orkan” was initially planned to be an elaborate dream sequence, but when the character proved to be popular they re-edited the ending to have Mork wipe the memories of the experience from everyone’s minds. Mork’s creation was inspired by director Jerry Paris’ previous series, The Dick Van Dyke Show. In particular, the episode “It May Look Like a Walnut” which featured a dream with an alien encounter. 

            Mork (and Williams) was given his own show in Mork & Mindy, which was set in present day Boulder, Colorado. Mork was assigned by his unseen and long-suffering superior, Orson (Ralph James), to travel to Earth and study human behavior (as well as get rid of Mork who was a practitioner of humor, which was forbidden on Ork). Mork arrived in an egg-shaped spacecraft and eventually met and befriended Mindy McConnell (Pam Dawber), who allowed him to move into her attic. The series focused on Mork’s attempts to assimilate into and understand human behavior while his own Orkan customs tended to get in the way (thanks in part to the manic and improvisational comedic stylings of Williams). Mork’s greeting of “Na-nu na-nu” and expletive declaration of “shazbot” became popular sayings outside of the show.

Mork, Mindy and their little bundle of aging comedian.

            The sitcom debuted on ABC on September 14, 1978 and eventually outperformed both Happy Days and its other successful spin-off, Laverne & Shirley. The network attempted to use the show’s popularity in a bit of counter-programming against the competition and moved it to a new timeslot. They also attempted to attract a younger demographic by giving the theme song a disco aesthetic, dropping the characters of Mindy’s father, Frederick (Conrad Janis), and his mother-in-law, Cora (Elizabeth Kerr) and replacing them with new ones, and changing the focus to the developing romance between Mork and Mindy. These changes, however, proved detrimental to the series and it suffered a dramatic drop in ratings. For the third season, it was moved back to its original timeslot and Fred and Cora were reinstated in an attempt to bring the show back to basics. When that failed, wilder ideas were pushed in order to make full use of Williams’ talents. ABC reluctantly renewed the show for a final season in which one of Williams’ idols, Jonathan Winters, was added as Mork and Mindy’s adult child, Mearth (Orkans age in reverse), and numerous special guest-stars made appearances. But, the show’s ratings continued to plummet. Even though it ended in 60^th place in the ratings, it certainly helped to launch Williams’ long and varied career.

Fred, Eugene, Caruthers, Doing, Mork, Mindy and Hamilton.

            Encouraged by the show’s earlier success and furthering their attempt for a younger demographic, ABC commissioned an animated version of the show for their Saturday morning line-up. ABC had done so previously with The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang and Laverne & Shirley in the Army. The premise of the animated Mork & Mindy was largely the same as its parent show, except both Mork and Mindy were de-aged to teenagers attending high school run by Principal Caruthers (Stan Jones). Williams, Dawber, Janis and James all returned to voice their respective characters (the first of many voice-over credits for Williams to come), and Eugene, Mork’s child friend from the live show’s first season, returned voiced by Shavar Ross. The snobbish bully Hamilton DuPont, Jr. (Mark L. Taylor) was introduced as a villain-type, trying to win over Mindy when not causing trouble for others. The character of Cora made no appearances. Mork was given a pet to accompany him on his mission: a pink, six-legged dog-like creature named Doing (Frank Welker). Of course, while Mork was still bizarre by Earth standards, his antics were comparatively toned down due to the limitations of animation and lack of room for the improvisation that made the character stand out.

This promotional art for the series was the only time the characters ever met.

            The animated Mork & Mindy was featured on ABC’s Saturday Morning Pac Preview Party hosted by Dick Clark the night before its debut on September 25, 1982; four months after its live counterpart was cancelled. It was aired alongside the second season of Laverne & Shirley in the Army, which was renamed Laverne & Shirley with the Fonz after the characters of Fonzie (Winkler) and Mr. Cool (Welker) were added to the cast upon the cancellation of Happy Days Gang. Both shows were given the blanket title of The Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour, with the introduction largely focused on establishing the Mork cartoon.

Mork is beside himself.

Story direction was handled by Gary Goldstein, Cullen Houghtaling, Alex Lovy, Tom Minton, Dave Russell, Hank Tucker and Sharon Rolnick, with Norman Maurer serving as story editor and Walt Kubiak and Gordon Kent serving as story supervisors. The music was composed by Hoyt Curtin and Paul DeKorte.  The show was jointly produced by Hanna-Barbera and Ruby-Spears Productions, both of which were owned by Taft Broadcasting, in association with Paramount Network Television, who produced the Happy Days franchise of programs. Ultimately, Mork & Mindy didn’t go beyond its single season. With its conclusion and the end of Laverne & Shirley, the Happy Days animated universe came to a close.

EPISODE GUIDE:

“Who’s Minding the Brat?” (9/25/82) – Mork babysits the principal’s daughter, which leads her to accidentally be changed into a Cave Ork.

“The Greatest Shmo on Earth” (10/2/82) – Mork, Mindy and Eugene have to rescue Doing from an evil circus ringmaster.

“To Ork or Not to Ork” (10/9/82) – Mork attempts to learn about love from Eugene while Mindy and Hamilton are cast in the school play: Romeo & Juliet.

“Orkan Without a Cause” (10/16/82) – Feeling lonely and neglected, Mork joins a motorcycle gang and unknowingly aids their crimes.

“Mork Man vs. Ork Man” (10/23/82) – When Mork accidentally breaks the video game Orson sent him for his birthday, Mork uses his powers to fix it and brings the main character to life.

“Which Witch is the Witch’ (10/30/82) – Orson sets Mork up with a witch date who takes a fancy to Hamilton and gives him magical powers.

“Every Doing Has His Day” (11/6/82) – Mork plans to fake a robbery in order to get Mr. McConnell to allow Doing back into the house.

“Beauty or the Beast” (11/13/82) – Mork attempts to use his powers to heal Mindy’s bug bite before her beauty contest, but accidentally turns her into a gorilla.

“Morkel and Hyde” (11/20/82) – Mork splits himself so he can be at two places at once, unfortunately one of the Morks turns out to be evil.

“The Wimp” (11/27/82) – NO SYNOPSIS AVAILABLE.

“Ride ‘em, Morkboy” (12/4/82) – The eggs Mork prepared for Orson ends up being eaten by rodeo animals, which causes them to act uncharacteristically.

“Meet Mork’s Mom” (12/11/82) – When Mork’s parents are sent to Earth for a meeting with the principal, they’re abducted by a wealthy man who believes they’ve found the fountain of youth.

“Muddle in a Huddle” (12/18/82) – A rival football team feeds Mork’s team his eggs so that they’ll play poorly.

“The Incredible Shrinking Mork” (12/25/82) – Mork shrinks himself, Mindy and Doing in order to pursue a sewer rat that steals the principal’s watch.

“The Invisible Mork” (1/8/83) – After challenging a bully to a wrestling match for Mindy, Mork drinks a protein shake that activates an allergy that turns him invisible.

“The Fluke Spook” (1/15/83) – A sudden rainstorm interferes with a picnic outing and causes Mork, Mindy and friends to take refuge in a haunted house.

“Mayhem for the Mayor” (1/22/83) – Mork and Mindy continue an injured Fred’s campaign for mayor against the unscrupulous DuPonts.

“Coo Coo Caveboy” (1/29/83) – NO SYNOPSIS AVAILABLE.

“A Treasure Ain’t No Pleasure” (2/5/83) – NO SYNOPSIS AVAILABLE.

“The Mork with the Midas Touch” (2/12/83) – NO SYNOPSIS AVAILABLE.

“Extra-Terrestrial Toddler” (2/19/83) – Mistaking a movie robot for an Orkan creature, Mork zaps it back to Ork and he and Mindy have to retrieve it.

“Time Slipper Slip-Up” (2/26/83) – Mork uses his diamond slippers to take him and Mindy back to ancient Egypt for their report.

“Super Mork” (3/5/83) – After screwing up on the school paper, Orson grants Mork’s wish to be more like Superguy and sends him a super-powered suit.

“Mork P.I.” (3/12/83) – Mork becomes a private eye to prove he was framed for stealing a test’s answers from the principal’s office.

“Monkey on My Back Pack” (3/19/83) – Mork inadvertently helps foreign spies steal the Army’s new top secret rocket pack.

“On Your Mork, Get Set, Go!” (3/26/83) – When Mork accidentally destroys the prize money for a race, he enters so that he can win and prevent anyone from thinking Mindy stole it.


Originally posted in 2016. Updated in 2020.

THE FONZ AND THE HAPPY DAYS GANG

THE FONZ AND THE HAPPY DAYS GANG

(ABC, November 8, 1980-November 28, 1981)

Hanna-Barbera Productions, Paramount Network Television

MAIN CAST:

Henry Winkler – Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli

Ron Howard – Richie Cunningham

Donny Most – Ralph Malph

Frank Welker – Mr. Cool

Didi Conn – Cupcake

Wolfman Jack – Opening Narrator

             It’s not unusual for people to look back on a certain era (usually when they were kids) with fondness and fascination (heck, we’re living that now). For people of the 1970s, that era was the 1950s. Garry Marshall attempted to capture that nostalgic interest by creating a show set in an idealized version of 1950s America. Unfortunately, the networks passed on his pilot and it was used instead as an episode of the anthology series Love, American Style called “Love and the Television Set” (later renamed “Love and the Happy Days” in syndication). The episode ended up being used by George Lucas in his decision to cast the pilot’s star, Ron Howard, in his upcoming 1950s movie, American Graffiti.

             After the success of Graffiti, Marshall and ABC recast and reshot the pilot and it was picked up as the series Happy Days. The sitcom originally revolved around the Cunningham family in 1950s Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Howard returned as middle child Richie, as did Marion Ross as his mother Marion and Anson Williams as one of his best friends, Potsie Weber. Joining them was Tom Bosley as patriarch Howard, Gavan O’ Herlihy and then Randolph Roberts as older brother Chuck (who was written off in the second season), Erin Moran as youngest daughter Joanie, and Donny Most as Richie’s other best friend, Ralph Malph. The breakout character, however, was initially a secondary one: Arthur Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler), aka “The Fonz” or “Fonzie” to his friends. Fonzie was the personification of cool: he wore a leather jacket (originally a windbreaker as the network was concerned the leather would make him seem too shady) and rode a motorcycle (which was always with him at first as he was allowed to wear the leather jacket when riding it), could summon a legion of pretty girls with a snap of his fingers, play the jukebox without any money, and when he spoke everyone listened. Fonzie connected with audiences, and his role grew and evolved to become the star of the show. Plots would begin to move away from the family experiences in a 1950s backdrop to follow the antics of Fonzie and the people he interacted with.

The original principal cast of Happy Days: Winkler, Bosley, Williams, Most, Moran, Ross and Howard.

             Happy Days debuted on January 15, 1974, using Bill Haley & His Comets’ “Rock Around the Clock” as its theme before adopting the more-recognized “Happy Days” by Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox. The series proved to be a success, although it would take a few seasons for it to reach the top of the ratings charts. The show managed to run for 11 seasons and became the launching point for several spin-off series: Fonzie’s gal pals Laverne DeFazio (Penny Marshall, Garry’s sister) and Shirley Feeney (Cindy Williams) became single roommates working at a brewery in Laverne & Shirley; Initially appearing in a dream sequence, the alien Mork from Ork (Robin Williams) was given a human friend in Mindy McConnell (Pam Dawber) and his own show, Mork & Mindy; Howard Cunningham’s cousin and former Las Vegas showgirl, Nancy Blansky (Nancy Walker), was the subject of Blansky’s Beauties; After Blansky’s cancellation, Scott Baio’s character of Chaci was added to the Happy Days cast where he and Joanie eventually married and received their own brief show, Joanie Loves Chachi; and finally, Angel-in-training Random (Jimmy Brogan) acted as a guardian angel for a family in Out of the Blue (although a scheduling error had the show debut before the character’s technical first appearance on Happy Days).

             Happy Days also became the origin of the phrase “jump the shark.” The phrase was coined by Jon Hein in 1986 and is a term used to describe when something in entertainment begins using desperate attempts to keep viewers interested or boost ratings. It’s become the indication that something has gone on long past its prime and the people behind it are clearly running out of ideas. In the case of Happy Days, the term was quite literal as the show had Fonzie jump over a shark on water skis during the fifth season premier. Although the episode’s writer, Fred Fox, Jr., debated the validity of that phrase considering the show ran an additional six seasons, there was no stopping its entering into the American lexicon.

Fonzie, Mr. Cool, Cupcake, Richie and Ralph.

             While the Happy Days universe was spread out all over prime time, it was decided that wasn’t quite enough and the producers set their sights on their younger audience on Saturday morning. Often viewed as one of the show’s “jump the shark” moments, The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang was produced by Hanna-Barbera and Paramount Network Television and featured Fonzie, Richie and Ralph being whisked away in a malfunctioning time machine by the magical future girl Cupcake (Didi Conn). Also joining them was Fonzie’s new anthropomorphic dog, Mr. Cool (Frank Welker). The three Happy Days cast members supplied the voices for their animated counterparts (billed as “guest appearances”), despite the fact that Howard and Most had left the main show at the conclusion of the seventh season months before the cartoon premiered. The characters were designed by Ruben Aquino, Curtis Cim, Debbie Hayes, Don Morgan and Lew Ott.

Getting a Geico quote?

             Debuting on ABC on November 8, 1980, The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang followed the characters as they travelled from one era to another looking to return to 1957 Milwaukee. However, the faulty time machine and Cupcake’s screwy magic usually ended up sending them farther and farther away from their goal. Cupcake also used her magic to disguise themselves in loosely era-appropriate attire (read: not very convincing disguises). Radio personality Wolfman Jack, who had worked with Howard in American Graffiti, was tapped to provide the opening narration for the program explaining the overall plot to the audience over a backdrop of 50s-esque music by Hoyt Curtin and Paul Dekorte. The show was written by Duane Poole, Tom Swale, Diane Duane, Joan Brooker, Paul Haggis, Michael Maurer, Jeffrey Scott and Alexandra Stoddart. Poole and Swale served as story editors with Barry Blitzer and Ray Parker.

Chariots of fire.

             The series ran for two seasons. During the second season, a Laverne & Shirley animated spin-off debuted called Laverne & Shirley in the Army. Upon the conclusion of The Fonz, Fonzie and Mr. Cool were moved over to that show for its 8-episode second season where the show was renamed Laverne & Shirley with the Fonz. It aired alongside the animated spin-off of Mork & Mindy as part of the Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour. Originally, Hanna-Barbera wanted to pair Fonzie up with Scooby-Doo, but beyond some artwork for the potential series no production had ever moved forward on it.

Puffy stickers.

             Like its parent series, Happy Days Gang received its own share of merchandising to help promote it and generate some extra income. Imperial released a set of puffy stickers, a miracle bubble shooter, Bubb-A-Loons (the plastic balloons you blow from a tube and stick) and a Hi-Bounce Ball all featuring images of the show’s characters. Larami made a wallet, Walkman and a Fonz Viewer. Gordy released a set of pins; Hasbro an acrylic paint-by-numbers set; APC a rub-down transfer game; and there was even a belt and handheld pinball game. In 2019, CBS Home Entertainment finally released the entire series to DVD.

EPISODE GUIDE:

Season 1:

“King for a Day” (11/8/80) – The gang ends up in 1 Million B.C. where Ralph is made the king for a day of a tribe of cave people, which could end up costing him his life.

“May the Farce Be With You” (11/15/80) – The time machine and Cupcake’s magic send the time machine to the moon in 2057 where the gang has to foil an alien invasion plot.

“Arabian Knights” (11/22/80) – In ancient Iraq, the gang is enlisted to help King Nebuchadnezzar II rescue his Hanging Gardens from an evil prince.

“Bye-Bye Blackbeard” (11/29/80) – The gang has to help Blackbeard find a lost treasure.

“Westward Whoa!” (12/6/80) – The gang ends up in the Old West and in the company of Billy the Kid.

“Ming Fu to You, Too!” (12/13/80) – Cupcake uses her magic to defeat an evil sorcerer and retrieve the Hongwu Emperor’s throne.

“The Vampire Strikes Back” (12/20/80) – The time machine finally ends up back in 1957, but in Transylvania courtesy of Count Dracula.

“You’ll Never Get Witch” (12/27/80) – Cupcake is captured by a witch hunter during the Salem Witch Trials.

“The 20,000 Drachma Pyramid” (1/3/81) – Ralph falls in love with Cleopatra in ancient Egypt.

“It’s a Jungle Out There” (1/10/81) – The gang has to save the Incas from Francisco Pizzaro.

“Gone with the Wand” (1/17/81) – The gang must rescue King Arthur from the clutches of the evil Black Knight.

“Science Friction” (1/24/81) – Cupcake uses her magic to bring the gang into Jules Verne’s imagination.

“Greece is the Word” (1/31/81) – The gang has to save Hercules from Medusa.

Season 2:

“The French Correction” (9/12/81) – In 1625 France, the gang has to find the missing king while protecting the queen from an evil count set on conquering the kingdom.

“The Ridiculous Renaissance” (9/19/81) – The gang ends up in Italy where they meet Leonardo da Vinci.

“Fonz Boone” (9/26/81) – Ending up in the days of the American frontier leads the gang to save the legend of Daniel Boone.

“Haiku Humor” (10/3/81) – In 17^th Century Japan, the gang meets poet Matsuo Basho and Ralph is challenged to a samurai showdown.

“It’s All Downhill From Here” (10/10/81) – The time machine ends up at the 1953 Mount Everest Expedition led by Sir Edmund Hillary.

“Three Scientists & A Coconut” (10/17/81) – The gang ends up on a Cuban Island with Isaac Newton, Nikola Tesla, and Marie Curie.

“Fords & Sorcery” (10/24/81) – Cupcake helps Henry Ford with his car business.

“There’s No Place Like Rome” (10/31/81) – The gang encounters Emperor Nero in Ancient Rome.

“The Other Gang” (11/7/81) – A short circuit strands the gang in 1927 Chicago where they meet Al Capone.

“Fonz’s Christmas Carol” (11/14/81) – The gang uses the time machine to give cold Charles Dickens the Christmas spirit.

“Ralph Takes Flight” (11/21/81) – Ending up in 1935 Hawaii puts the gang as passengers on Amelia Earhart’s famous flight.

“All’s Fair at the World’s Fair” (11/28/81) – The time machine becomes the star attraction of the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco.


Originally posted in 2016. Updated in 2024.