I was leaning towards a C+ for this January 29, 1974 episode, because it felt like the comic timing was off, but Bosley is again the best thing about it, wise and drily funny. Notes:
- To confuse things further, it's a bachelor party for Potsie's cousin Arnold, while the sign at the drive-in restaurant says "Arnold's," but it's run by "Arthur," and we already know that Fonzie's first name is Arthur.
- The boys look for Fonzie's approval, a literal thumb's up.
- Potsie is again the relatively sophisticated one, well, compared to Richie.
- Ralph as joker is here in embryonic form.
- It's an interesting decision to make the cake-girl a wisecracking dancer rather than a stripper, especially in light of Laverne & Shirley's "bachelor party" episode two years later.
- Chuck communicates partly through dribbling a basketball.
- Joanie marvels at how Richie is growing up, by getting drunk.
- This is the second episode in a row to mention Aunt Bessie. There's also an Uncle Leo. And if I recall correctly, we'd actually meet Grandma Rose. (Marion's mother I think.)
- If Lennie Weinrib's voice sounds familiar, you're probably a Gen-Xer or Gen-Yer who watched cartoons.
- Beatrice Colen makes her first of twenty-two appearances as carhop Marsha Simms.
- William S. Bickley would write sixteen more episodes, Bob Brunner fifteen.
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