The Happy Days sitcom was modified to make its episodes cater to broad comedy. And like many other shows where the comedy isn’t limited to the fictional scenes alone, Happy Days did have its fair share of incidents and bloopers while at work.
While preparing to shoot a new scene, the production staff noticed that Arthur Fonzarelli’s iconic jacket was missing on the set. They couldn’t believe it could have stolen, but that seems to be the case. With the jacket nowhere to be found, they had to scramble to get a new one that would exactly look like the original. To match it, they had one specially made and this was what Fonzie wore when he jumped the shark.
A Joke at Chuck's Expense
If you paid attention to what American actor, Jim Carrey, said in the movie Cable Guy, you would have noticed he poked fun at a character in the Happy Days sitcom. There’s no reason to be offended about the reference though. In fact, it just provides an example of how it pays to be attentive when watching a movie to appreciate the humor!
Jim Carrey said he was the long-lost Chuck Cunningham, and you may remember how Richie’s brother disappeared from the series with no explanation at all. If you had were one of those viewers who wondered whatever happened to him, well, that’s the whole essence of Jim’s clever reference.
Why Wisconsin?
Some fans wonder why Milwaukee, Wisconsin was chosen as the show’s perceived location, and if it could have been any other place. The show’s storyline was focused on the lifestyle during the '50s in Midwestern United States, and the location happened to have that appeal. Producers felt that this would resonate with its viewers, too.
Director, Garry Marshall, also wanted the show to be as credible as possible, and knowing that Tom Miller, one of its producers, lived in Milwaukee and knew its ins and outs, they would have a kind of hometown advantage, so to speak.
The Shows College Jock
Although Chuck Cunningham, brother of Richie and Joanie Cunningham, may have been deemed a redundant character, it is worth revisiting the quirks of his role. Chuck was in college, and he was a basketball player, too, but the show’s producers wanted viewers to remember him for two particular things.
Before his short-lived character mysteriously disappeared from the show, Chuck Cunningham was spotlighted as the dumb sibling. Also, he was regularly shown on-screen eating or holding a sandwich, or, dribbling a basketball; some very vapid things to remember him by.
Erin Moran's One Day Substitute
Erin Moran’s role in the show as Joanie Cunningham certainly had challenges peculiar to the character. Joanie was a very nosy sister, and that meant she had to be energetic and feisty at the same time. Erin was as natural as you can get in portraying those qualities, but that role wasn’t exclusive to her. Well, for 24 hours anyway.
Joanie was originally played by another actress, but it did not take long for the producers of the show to realize that Erin was too perfect of a fit to pass up.