"Guess Who's Coming to Christmas"


This second "Guess Who's Coming" episode is of course a pivotal one for the series.  It is the last for Randolph Roberts, for all the Chucks, although I suppose there might be references to him later this season.  He and the other Cunninghams welcome Fonzie into their home for Christmas, after Richie sees through Fonzie's lies about spending the holiday with family.  (Fonzie does in fact have relatives, but maybe none of them lived close enough to visit overnight?)

A few other things:
  • I like that Wendy gets a non-dumb-blonde line for a change, since she can at least recognize parsley.
  • Chuck remains a dumb jock though.
  • Robert Casper was a Customer at the hardware store before but here is Orville, one of Howard's three employees.   (Where were these people when Richie had to cover the store and miss a rock concert in Season One?)
  • Marjorie Bennett is Mrs. Harrison here but would be a nameless Lady later.
  • Bill Idelson would write two more episodes, and Frank Buxton, who had written "Hardware Jungle" (the one where Richie had to cover the store), would direct two more episodes.

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