What if Happy Days" and "Laverne & Shirley" Had Ended Their Runs Earlier? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

James28 · 11-12-2020, 12:36 AM

Now, there is popular agreement among Sitcoms Online users that Happy Days should have been cancelled in 1980 when Ron Howard and Don Most departed from it. And I guess by that same point, Laverne & Shirley was just running out of ideas in its original Milwaukee setting.

During the early 1980s, younger, more promising sitcoms on the ABC Network were being held back left and right, like 9 to 5, It's a Living, and Too Close for Comfort, thanks to the continued runs of Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley. 9 to 5 and TCFC looked like ratings success one year, and the next year, ABC does something to those shows that forces a huge ratings decline.

What I would have done is end both Happy Days AND Laverne & Shirley after the 1980-81 season (HD's eighth season and L&S's sixth). Allow Ron Howard and Donny Most to return for one last year of HD, and let the title characters of L&S stay in Milwaukee for one more year, with their move to California taking place in its series finale (it should be noted that L&S, despite the massive ratings success in its early years, never had an official series finale episode in real life).

Under that alternate timeline, how would Happy Days's and Laverne & Shirley's storylines for 1980-81 have been different? For starters, Happy Days's "Passages" finale would have been shifted three years earlier as a consequence, and I don't think the Joanie Loves Chachi spinoff would have existed at all.

Dr. Thong · 11-21-2020, 09:13 PM

I would have just ended both shows in 1980 and have the final Happy Days episode be Richie, Potsie, and Ralph graduating from college; maybe even add in Richie proposing to Lori Beth and we would get a glimpse of the boys talking about what their futures would be like. Maybe even bring back Arnold for the graduation.

And L&S then too because fall 1980 was when they moved to California and the show went steadily downhill from that point going forward.

OneWayFilms · 11-21-2020, 10:03 PM

Yeah....they milked both shows for every ounce they could get and the show suffered as a result.

Dr. Thong · 11-22-2020, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneWayFilms

Yeah....they milked both shows for every ounce they could get and the show suffered as a result.

I think most shows have maybe four or five good seasons; after that, it's just milking it to keep it going.

As much as I loved Happy Days, it was showing signs of old age in Ron Howard's final season, the 7th.

James28 · 01-06-2021, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

I would have just ended both shows in 1980 and have the final Happy Days episode be Richie, Potsie, and Ralph graduating from college; maybe even add in Richie proposing to Lori Beth and we would get a glimpse of the boys talking about what their futures would be like. Maybe even bring back Arnold for the graduation.

And L&S then too because fall 1980 was when they moved to California and the show went steadily downhill from that point going forward.

Oh, I'm sorry, Dr. Thong. The reason why I decided on 1981 instead of 1980 was because it's for the sake of not knowing when Ron Howard decided to leave Happy Days. Could he have decided on it after production on season 7 had been completed, or beforehand? Beforehand would have been better.

Chocolate Moose · 01-06-2021, 07:59 PM

Agreed. Leave them wanting more!

DEH55 · 02-20-2021, 08:21 PM

When they found out Ron Howard was leaving then they should have wrapped things up. it would have spared us the Joanie and Chachi years. as a kid i remember the other kids at school had moved on from Happy Days by the time Roger had arrived. it was not cool anymore. Even the Fonz wasn't considered cool anymore.

CJMD03 · 02-21-2021, 03:32 AM

They really ran the shows into the ground.

TVFactFan · 02-21-2021, 04:05 AM

This applies more to HD than Laverne and Shirley since HD had 11 seasons. L&S ended at the right time, when shirley left the show

DJM77 · 02-21-2021, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

This applies more to HD than Laverne and Shirley since HD had 11 seasons. L&S ended at the right time, when shirley left the show

It continued for a while after she left. It was a mistake.

favoriteshow · 02-21-2021, 03:39 PM

It appears that pregnant in real life actors weren't treated well. They were basically written off as it happened to when Cindy Williams was on L&S. And it happened years later on Fresh Prince of Bel Air with Janet Hubert, where she was re-cast.

Although it was unprecedented, L&S should have taken some time off, and resumed when Cindy Williams was ready to return. And maybe the show just stayed in Milwaukee rather than go to LA. However, I'm not sure if it would have succeeded any longer in duration, but maybe.

Fallon97 · 07-14-2021, 06:26 PM

I guess I'm in the minority but I loved both Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley later years.

TVFactFan · 07-14-2021, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fallon97

I guess I'm in the minority but I loved both Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley later years.

Why

Crusinforabrusin2.5 · 07-20-2021, 10:57 PM

Happy Days should've ended at season 6 as that was the last season that truly felt like a show about the 1950s. Starting with season 7, things got strange and very 70s-esque which made for some weird viewing. The post Richie years aren't bad but certainly steer clear of the original purpose of the show.

Laverne and Shirley I feel ended at right about the correct time, though we could've done without the ill-fated final season without half of its namesake. Unlike others, I didn't mind their move to California and thought it was a refreshing move for the show.

shotzette · 07-21-2021, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James28

I don't think the Joanie Loves Chachi spinoff would have existed at all.

We can dream...

I think both series should have ended earlier. I'm a bit in the minority in liking S6 of Laverne and Shirley, but only for it's FOW moments. They should have cut the show off then and given everyone some closure.

Happy Days also should have ended either when Howard and Most left, or the season after. After that it became just the Fonzie, Chachi, Joanie, and Roger, poop fest that we all remember.

11-12-2020, 12:36 AM	#1
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,976	What if Happy Days" and "Laverne & Shirley" Had Ended Their Runs Earlier? Now, there is popular agreement among Sitcoms Online users that Happy Days should have been cancelled in 1980 when Ron Howard and Don Most departed from it. And I guess by that same point, Laverne & Shirley was just running out of ideas in its original Milwaukee setting. During the early 1980s, younger, more promising sitcoms on the ABC Network were being held back left and right, like 9 to 5, It's a Living, and Too Close for Comfort, thanks to the continued runs of Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley. 9 to 5 and TCFC looked like ratings success one year, and the next year, ABC does something to those shows that forces a huge ratings decline. What I would have done is end both Happy Days AND Laverne & Shirley after the 1980-81 season (HD's eighth season and L&S's sixth). Allow Ron Howard and Donny Most to return for one last year of HD, and let the title characters of L&S stay in Milwaukee for one more year, with their move to California taking place in its series finale (it should be noted that L&S, despite the massive ratings success in its early years, never had an official series finale episode in real life). Under that alternate timeline, how would Happy Days's and Laverne & Shirley's storylines for 1980-81 have been different? For starters, Happy Days's "Passages" finale would have been shifted three years earlier as a consequence, and I don't think the Joanie Loves Chachi spinoff would have existed at all.
	__________________ "When the run of a network TV show has ended, some go out with a bang, some with a whimper, but all are...Future Endeavored." "Stay Safe"? More like "Stay Sad". #2020Hurts

11-21-2020, 09:13 PM	#2
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	I would have just ended both shows in 1980 and have the final Happy Days episode be Richie, Potsie, and Ralph graduating from college; maybe even add in Richie proposing to Lori Beth and we would get a glimpse of the boys talking about what their futures would be like. Maybe even bring back Arnold for the graduation. And L&S then too because fall 1980 was when they moved to California and the show went steadily downhill from that point going forward.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

01-06-2021, 07:59 PM	#6
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,888	Agreed. Leave them wanting more!
	__________________ How long a minute is, depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.

11-21-2020, 10:03 PM	#3
OneWayFilms Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 02, 2005 Posts: 110	Yeah....they milked both shows for every ounce they could get and the show suffered as a result.

02-20-2021, 08:21 PM	#7
DEH55 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 19, 2020 Posts: 320	When they found out Ron Howard was leaving then they should have wrapped things up. it would have spared us the Joanie and Chachi years. as a kid i remember the other kids at school had moved on from Happy Days by the time Roger had arrived. it was not cool anymore. Even the Fonz wasn't considered cool anymore.

02-21-2021, 03:32 AM	#8
CJMD03 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 18, 2018 Posts: 422	They really ran the shows into the ground.

02-21-2021, 04:05 AM	#9
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,029	This applies more to HD than Laverne and Shirley since HD had 11 seasons. L&S ended at the right time, when shirley left the show

02-21-2021, 03:39 PM	#11
favoriteshow Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 08, 2018 Posts: 587	It appears that pregnant in real life actors weren't treated well. They were basically written off as it happened to when Cindy Williams was on L&S. And it happened years later on Fresh Prince of Bel Air with Janet Hubert, where she was re-cast. Although it was unprecedented, L&S should have taken some time off, and resumed when Cindy Williams was ready to return. And maybe the show just stayed in Milwaukee rather than go to LA. However, I'm not sure if it would have succeeded any longer in duration, but maybe.

07-14-2021, 06:26 PM	#12
Fallon97 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2007 Location: America Posts: 1,271	I guess I'm in the minority but I loved both Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley later years.

07-20-2021, 10:57 PM	#14
Crusinforabrusin2.5 Gone for now, but I'll be back Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 17, 2019 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 451	Happy Days should've ended at season 6 as that was the last season that truly felt like a show about the 1950s. Starting with season 7, things got strange and very 70s-esque which made for some weird viewing. The post Richie years aren't bad but certainly steer clear of the original purpose of the show. Laverne and Shirley I feel ended at right about the correct time, though we could've done without the ill-fated final season without half of its namesake. Unlike others, I didn't mind their move to California and thought it was a refreshing move for the show.