"Richie Fights Back"



This has dubious messages, although not as dubious as on the previous episode.  Still, I did laugh, especially at Richie beating up a leather jacket.  And it was nice to see Jeff Conaway as a greaser pre-Kenickie.  So I'm going with C+.

Notes:
  • Some backstory on Arnold here and, yes, him teaching martial arts is proto-Karate-Kid.
  • This is at least the second episode where Marion uses the word "frisky" in reference to Howard.
  • I feel like there was an earlier episode where Joanie hit a boy who tried to kiss her, but Marion supported her then but think it's un-lady-like here.
  • Susan Lawrence is back at Vivian.
  • Ken Lerner is Frankie here and on another '75 episode, but he'd later be two different characters named Rocco.  (At least, I assume they're different characters.)
  • Arthur Silver would write seven more episodes, and much later direct one for Laverne & Shirley.

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