Movie
Happy Days , Season 3
Plot
A drama/comedy that ran in hour segments from 1974 to 1984. Set in Milwaukee, Wisconsin between the late 50’s and early 60’s, a
middle-class American family rents the apartment over their garage to a “greaser” and life will never be the same.
Starring
Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Tom Bosley, Marion Ross, Anson Williams, Donny Most, Erin Moran, and more.
Review
Richard Cunningham (a.k.a Richie), the all-American “goodie two shoes” befriends the neighborhood thug, Arthur Fonzarelli (a.ka. Fonzie)
or is it the other way around? Seems Richie was challenged to a fight by one of Fonzie’s gang members after school and instead of
backing down, he actually shows up!
Fonzie, both bewildered and intrigued by Richie’s naïve boldness decides to protect him from imperiling doom. The two soon become
friends and learn to lean on each other during both good and bad times.
Then one day Fonzie’s grandmother needs a place to stay so he gives up his apartment and moves in with the Cunningham’s—making the loft
above their garage his new apartment.
Living so close to the Cunninghams makes it impossible for Fonzie to stay a rebel for long and while he never loses his “bad guy” charm,
he does learn a thing or two about loyalty, family, friendship, and reaching for your dreams.
The Cunninghams, too, learn a few things from Fonzie as he shares his street-smart wisdom and outsider observations. But it’s Richie
that benefits the most from his relationship with Fonzie as he learns more about dating, asking girls out, and standing up for himself
and what he believes in.
Season three has to be my favorite season as it tackled so many issues and did it in a way that was both humorous and teaching. Issues
like bullying, racism, puppy love, stereo-types, verbal abuse, friendship issues, choosing outward looks over health, dealing with
unsupportive spouses,
First there’s the scuffle Richie finds himself in with the local gang—a gang Fonzie used to be a part of. Instead of stepping in to
save the day, or allowing Richie to run and hide, Fonzie teaches Richie to stand up for himself; man to man, fist to fist. Of course in
today’s society standing up to a gang member could result in ultimate death and therefore isn’t a wise choice.
Second there’s the controversial episode dealing with racial separation. Fonzie introduces an African-American drummer to Richie whose
band is in dire need of a drummer. Upon hearing him play, Richie decides to have him play at their neighborhood luau. There’s only one
problem. The parents of the other kids won’t let them come. Learning that Richie’s party is a bust, the drummer decides to back out so
that the other kids could attend but Richie will have no part of it. He decides to have the party without the other kids and ends up
having a great time.
And then there’s the dance contest Fonzie enters with Richie’s mom, Marion. Turns out everyone in the family finds Marion’s need to
enter the dance contest a big joke and no one will support her. Hurt and saddened by their remarks she enlists Fonzie to be her dance
partner. But there’s trouble in the Cunningham home when Richie’s Dad, Howard, suspects an affair and marital discord. In the end the
family show up to support their mom and congratulate her on doing a fabulous job with the Tango.
Your Task
The relationship between Richie and Fonzie was an unusual mix but one that worked well. They used their differences to enhance each
other’s lives instead of trying to conform one into the other. They accepted the need to distance themselves at times and to reach out
to each other at other times. In today’s world, such friendships are rare. As you watch season three of Happy Days, think about these
things and take the time to talk to your kids after each episode about what they would have done in similar situations and what made the
friendship work in this particular episode, then ask how they would do things differently in the future.
Order Happy Days today!
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Alyice Edrich is the author of Tid-Bits For New Signing Agents.
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