Imagine a world without "Happy Days." Hard to fathom, right? This iconic sitcom, a cornerstone of television history, almost didn't happen! And shockingly, its origin story involves a forgotten anthology series. Buckle up, because the journey from obscurity to primetime success is wilder than you think.
"Happy Days," seemingly a slam dunk for ABC executives in retrospect, faced a rocky road to air. They even considered a disastrously bad title, showing how unsure they were! The show went through multiple iterations before landing on its final, beloved form. One of these early versions was nestled within the framework of "Love, American Style," a comedy anthology series that aired on ABC from 1969 to 1974. This show, featuring multiple romantic comedy vignettes and recurring performers playing different characters, became an unexpected incubator for a cultural phenomenon. Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford graced the screen as guest stars, but its most significant contribution might be the very first glimpse of what would become "Happy Days."
The sitcom that would capture the hearts of baby boomers, eager to reminisce about their 1950s childhoods, began as a pilot conceived by Michael Eisner (yes, that Michael Eisner, former Disney CEO!) and Tom Miller, a former Paramount development head. Eisner recounts that the idea sparked during a snow-induced delay at Newark airport. Capitalizing on the rising wave of 1950s nostalgia, they enlisted Garry Marshall (the eventual creator of "Happy Days" and other hits like "Laverne & Shirley" and "Mork & Mindy") to refine and write the pilot.
Initially titled "New Family in Town," the series centered on a minister and his family navigating life in the 1950s. But here's where it gets controversial... no one wanted it! Eisner, however, remained persistent. He eventually managed to get a pilot based on his script produced. Filmed in 1971, it featured several actors who would later become central figures in "Happy Days." But before the sitcom could materialize, Eisner's original pilot needed to air. With Paramount hesitant to commit to a full series, the episode was repurposed and integrated into "Love, American Style."
"Happy Days" made its debut as an episode of "Love, American Style" titled "Love and the Television Set" (later cleverly renamed "Love and the Happy Days" to capitalize on the sitcom's eventual triumph). Aired on ABC on February 25, 1972, the episode portrays the Cunningham family becoming the first in their Milwaukee, Wisconsin neighborhood to own a television. Naturally, Richie Cunningham and Potsie Weber, ever the teenage boys, see the TV as a magnet for attracting girls. Richie invites Arlene Nestrock over to watch, sparking a temporary rift with Potsie. By the episode's conclusion, Arlene reveals she's already "going steady" with William Jack "Bag" Zombrowski, dashing Richie's romantic hopes. Potsie returns to Richie's house, entering through the bedroom window (as best friends often do), and the two reconcile.
Remarkably, several actors reprised their roles in "Happy Days." Ron Howard portrayed Richie Cunningham, Marion Ross played his mother, Marion, and Anson Williams was Potsie Weber. These are among the few major actors from "Happy Days" still with us today, a testament to the show's enduring legacy. Howard Cunningham was initially played by Harold Gould, later replaced by Tom Bosley for the series. Chuck Cunningham saw two replacements, originally played by Ric Carrott, then Gavan O'Herlihy and Ralph Roberts. Joanie Cunningham was portrayed by Susan Neher, succeeded by Erin Moran for "Happy Days." "Love and the Television Set" also featured a character named Grandma (Nellie Burt) who didn't make the cut for the sitcom. And this is the part most people miss... the iconic Arthur Fonzarelli, the greaser brought to life by Henry Winkler, was nowhere to be found in this original pilot!
So, how did Garry Marshall transform an unsuccessful pilot, repurposed for an anthology series, into "Happy Days?" Well, without that repurposing, the beloved sitcom might never have existed.
"Love and the Television Set" inadvertently inspired George Lucas to cast Ron Howard as Steve Bolander in his 1973 coming-of-age masterpiece, "American Graffiti." Set in the early 1960s, the film, a nostalgic look at the fading vestiges of 1950s culture, follows Steve and his friends on their last night of summer vacation. Made for a mere $777,000, "American Graffiti" grossed a staggering $140 million worldwide, prompting ABC to reassess Marshall's repurposed pilot.
If 1950s nostalgia resonated so profoundly with audiences, as "American Graffiti" demonstrated, a sitcom featuring one of the movie's leads in a similar role seemed like a guaranteed hit. And hit it did, but not before a new pilot titled "All the Way" was produced. ABC finally greenlit "Happy Days" (despite Marshall's initial title idea being, shall we say, less than stellar). "All the Way" served as the inaugural episode. While Harold Gould was initially slated to continue as Howard Cunningham, scheduling conflicts led to Tom Bosley taking over the role. Erin Moran replaced Susan Neher as Joanie, and several new characters were introduced, most notably, Henry Winkler's indelible Fonzie.
Having navigated its unconventional path to air, "Happy Days" premiered in January 1974. Interestingly, the show later incorporated footage from "Love and the Television Set" into flashback scenes in the season 2 episode "Who's Sorry Now," even bringing back Tannis G. Montgomery as Arlene Nestrock. Did you know about this connection? Do you think "Happy Days" would have been as successful without the initial exposure on "Love, American Style"? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
