Reliving Happy Days

  The "last episodes," except for that whole "five leftovers for summer" thing.  At the time, I probably felt the feels, although I mainly remember going, "But what about Chuck???" at Howard's speech.  (OK, and finding it implausible that Joanie & Chachi were Kinks fans.)  This time, well, I don't care all that much about Joanie & Chachi getting married (other than she could do much better), although it's nice to glimpse Richie et al. again.  I really don't care about yet another plot of "Fonzie wants to be a father," especially since I've never seen this kid on other episodes.  I'm giving a C for Part 1 and a C+ for Part 2. Notes: Pamela Dunlap is Doris Charles in both parts, and Danny Ponce is Danny in both.  I'll note that allegedly (according to IMDB but not on my copy) Harris Kal is Bobby and Kevin Rodney Sullivan is Tommy, the last time for both.  They were at best filler all these post-Richie seasons, ne...

My wish to be done with Patton H.S. has not yet come true.  Not only is the message dubious (it's OK for a teacher to punch a bullying student), but the jokes aren't especially funny.  (Special shoutout to the one Joanie makes about Uncle Tom's Cabin. )  I'm giving a D+. Notes: According to IMDB, the reference to Fonzie punching Howard is to the next episode to air.  No one mentions him throwing a student out the window, although that was Joanie's attempted rapist, so I don't mind that.  But I'm just saying, if you want to prove Fonzie has recently been violent. Joe Mays was Mr. Henri on HD the previous year and is Mr. MacKenzie here. Grant Heslov was Mark on Joanie Loves Chachi and is Dennis Morton here. Jeffrey Kramer had two roles on Laverne & Shirley, was Lefty on HD back in '75, and is Martin Smith here. Nancy Steen had written three of her four HD scripts by this point, but she also acted a bit, for instance as Helen Anderson on Mork & Mind...

Well, we actually get some closure about Ashley, see below.  And Potsie is around quite a bit.  Plus, Rita Wilson (different character than before).  So C+. Notes: It's a bit of a shock to hear Roger of all people use the phrase "cheap sex." So, Ashley's ex cleaned up his act, came back, and wanted to be a family again. Ashley was torn, but Fonzie stepped aside because of how Heather looked at her daddy.  No one knows about this until Fonzie confides in the Rita Wilson character.  (And I do really like the scene between them.) Chachi doesn't like being trapped in a bed with Roger, but later he thinks the two of them and Potsie should hang out more because they have a good chemistry for picking up chicks. This is clearly set after Joanie & Chachi's breakup. Chachi is now 20. This episode features all seven of the cast we see in the opening credits.  I forgot to mention earlier that there's a different jukebox and a different rendition of the song, but w...

I have to go with a C because Jenny is both a heartless bitch and someone we're meant to feel sorry for, although I do admit that I like that we get yet another Hawaiian-themed party, and Fonzie gives good advice, for the second episode in a row. Notes: This is also the second HD episode in a row where the backyard is shown. James Start is Frank and I continue to have no idea who this is. Cathy Silvers's sister Candace returns as her cousin Carla Bee. Ashley and Heather are gone now and I don't remember if it's explained in Season Eleven what happened to them. This is the last episode for both K.C. and Flip, but presumably they either went off to college or returned to their respective parents. Season Ten of Happy Days ranges from D+ to a surprising B, but half of the twenty-two episodes are C+, so this comes out to a low C+ average, better than Seasons Eight and Nine but still not great.  The new characters don't particularly harm the show, but neither do they give...

Although this episode did make me laugh a couple times, and it gives Arnold another chance to sing, and we actually get a bit more development of K.C. and Melvin, Fonzie again gives dubious advice, telling Melvin about stalking Ashley, so that Melvin thinks women don't mean it when they say no.  I do like K.C. defending herself, but not her offering a study date with Melvin in two months.  Of course, there are costumes.  So I'm going with a C. Notes: Among the movies referred to as if still in theaters are To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), Son of Flubber (1963), and the Gidget series (1959 to '63).  Maybe the Cunninghams go to discount theaters, where the films don't show up until a year or two after release. Clarence plays the drums in Arnold's band.  It's his last credited appearance. Fonzie misses his talks with Richie, as do we all. This is the first of four HD episodes co-written by Nancy Steen and Neil Thompson