MovieChat Forums > Happy Days (1974) Discussion > No sitcom in history dropped in quality ...

No sitcom in history dropped in quality as dramatically as Happy Days.

posted 8 years ago by gargantuaboy
37 replies | jump to latest

No sitcom ever dropped in quality as dramatically as Happy Days. The first two or three seasons were absolutely wonderful along with one of the finest Christmas episodes ever done. Of course I'm referring to the episode where Fonzie brags about his huge family Christmas Eve he will be attending and Richie finds him all alone eating ravioli out of a can in the garage. Happy Days is a fantastic show in those early years, by the time it got to Mork from Ork freezing Fonzie at Arnolds, the show was a dreadful mess. Barely recognizable.

[–] ItsEddieHaskellBeyotch 8 years ago

Lack of quality or not, it stayed on 11 seasons and became an American institution and generally one of the most popular shows in television history; had it stayed on just those first couple years and gotten cancelled we wouldn't be speaking much of it now.

When there's no more room in Hollywood, remakes shall walk the Earth.

[–] hyperjet 8 years ago

Sure we would. Look at Gilligan's Island, The Musters, Star Trek. They all lasted around three seasons and have become iconic. I would have rather seen three or four seasons of the well made original Happy Days than the long running circus it became.

[–] ItsEddieHaskellBeyotch 8 years ago

I just don't see the original two seasons of Happy Days as rerun fodder like those shows became.

When there's no more room in Hollywood, remakes shall walk the Earth.

[–] crypticanomaly73 8 years ago

The first couple of seasons were quite dark, the guys talked about scoring with women not just making out with them. The Fonz really did come across as a hood rather than a wuss with an underprivileged background.

I also agree that Laverne and Shirley was never a great show, nothing ever actually happens in the episodes and when they finish you have already forgotten what it was about.

Sometimes a movie or tv show plot is so stupid that only the stupid can understand it.

[–] rhs6358 7 years ago

Five words: "Filmed Before A Live Audience"

If you remember, the early episodes were on film, not videotape, were not filmed in front of an audience and you got a higher quality result. They dumbed it down to appeal to a "target audience". It became The Fonzie Show. The feel of the 1950's were not only lost, they didn't even care. They would, once in a while, make references to President Kennedy or The Beach Boys or whatever, but it was a 1978 show. The long hair, the styles, etc.

And, yes, it would still be popular had they stopped after 3 seasons. It's 61 years since The Honeymooners ran ONE season and it's still a much-beloved show, selling tons of DVD's.

[–] pioneergrrrl 7 years ago

Okay not a sitcom---but I want to nominate Buffy the Vampire Slayer as runner up

First seasons---when it was about teen girl in high school fighting evil (both of supernatural and growing up) it was cool. Then when they moved her to college...and especially real world, it tanked

They needed to have ended the series after the high school graduation

And third place Beverly Hills 90210--which was supposed to be about the Walsh family adjusting to life in Beverly Hills. Somebody decided to STILL continue the series w/out zero Walshes around?? Not cool. Cancel the series!1

[–] wordsatplaytoday 7 years ago

I agree.

It jumped the shark before it jumped the shark.

I think it was better when it was a dramady and before The Fonz became this unrealistic superman type of character.

Let me know if I'm on your ignore list.
Thanx!

[–] modica (4169) 5 years ago

The show really started to get worse in season three when they switched to a live audience. A lot of the nostalgia was lost and the show focused more on Fonzi. Season three was the beginning of the down slide, but it still had some really good moments. Season 4 was a total mess and the quality dropped quickly after that due to the fact that they were now a hit and I guess the producers felt that they needed to be zanier and less nostalgic.

I have to disagree about Laverne and Shirley. I always felt that it was a better show. It stayed good until they went to California and then the show jumped the shark.