Disclaimer

If you do not know me (I mean, really know me) then there is something you need to understand before you read this blog: I value the truth above everything else... except a good laugh. A good laugh will almost always beat the truth as far as I’m concerned. Everything you read on this blog will be true, somewhat true, or something I made up in an effort to get a laugh. Sometimes I will go on a rant that I don’t really mean (or only kind of mean). Sometimes I will mean what I write only to completely change my mind a year, month, or day later. Such is life. By reading this blog you agree not to get offended by anything I write (or, at the very least, you agree not to tell me or anyone else that you are offended). It is worth noting that my employer does not endorse my blog (or even read it, to tell you the truth). The Wife also does not endorse my blog (though she will read it from time to time). I am not paid to write this... it’s just my way of giving back to the community. I have, and will, touch on a wide range of subjects and will give my opinion on these subjects. Again, most of what I say is for laughs but every now and then I will say what I really think and feel (see my views on Westboro Baptist Cult). How will you know when I’m serious and when I’m trying to get a laugh? You’ll know. And if you don’t know, well... maybe this isn’t the best thing for you to be reading. So, sit back, read and enjoy. Leave comments if you want and don’t be afraid to publicly follow me.



Saturday, May 12, 2012

Happy Days

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Second Lieutenant Almond E. Fisher (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on September 12-13, 1944, near Grammont, France. His citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on the night of 1213 September 1944, near Grammont, France. In the darkness of early morning, 2d Lt. Fisher was leading a platoon of Company E, 157th Infantry, in single column to the attack of a strongly defended hill position. At 2:30 A.M., the forward elements were brought under enemy machinegun fire from a distance of not more than 20 yards. Working his way alone to within 20 feet of the gun emplacement, he opened fire with his carbine and killed the entire guncrew. A few minutes after the advance was resumed, heavy machinegun fire was encountered from the left flank. Again crawling forward alone under withering fire, he blasted the gun and crew from their positions with hand grenades. After a halt to replenish ammunition, the advance was again resumed and continued for 1 hour before being stopped by intense machinegun and rifle fire. Through the courageous and skillful leadership of 2d Lt. Fisher, the pocket of determined enemy resistance was rapidly obliterated. Spotting an emplaced machine pistol a short time later, with 1 of his men he moved forward and destroyed the position. As the advance continued the fire fight became more intense. When a bypassed German climbed from his foxhole and attempted to tear an Ml rifle from the hands of 1 of his men, 2d Lt. Fisher whirled and killed the enemy with a burst from his carbine. About 30 minutes later the platoon came under the heavy fire of machineguns from across an open field. 2d Lt. Fisher, disregarding the terrific fire, moved across the field with no cover or concealment to within range, knocked the gun from the position and killed or wounded the crew. Still under heavy fire he returned to his platoon and continued the advance. Once again heavy fire was encountered from a machinegun directly in front. Calling for hand grenades, he found only 2 remaining in the entire platoon. Pulling the pins and carrying a grenade in each hand, he crawled toward the gun emplacement, moving across areas devoid of cover and under intense fire to within 15 yards when he threw the grenades, demolished the gun and killed the guncrew. With ammunition low and daybreak near, he ordered his men to dig in and hold the ground already won. Under constant fire from the front and from both flanks, he moved among them directing the preparations for the defense. Shortly after the ammunition supply was replenished, the Germans launched a last determined effort against the depleted group. Attacked by superior numbers from the front, right, and left flank, and even from the rear, the platoon, in bitter hand-to-hand engagements drove back the enemy at every point. Wounded in both feet by close-range machine pistol fire early in the battle, 2d Lt. Fisher refused medical attention. Unable to walk, he crawled from man to man encouraging them and checking each position. Only after the fighting had subsided did 2d Lt. Fisher crawl 300 yards to the aid station from which he was evacuated. His extraordinary heroism, magnificent valor, and aggressive determination in the face of pointblank enemy fire is an inspiration to his organization and reflects the finest traditions of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Major Bernard Francis Fisher (US Air Force) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on March 10, 1966, at Bien Hoa and Pleiku, Vietnam. His citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On that date, the special forces camp at A Shau was under attack by 2,000 North Vietnamese Army regulars. Hostile troops had positioned themselves between the airstrip and the camp. Other hostile troops had surrounded the camp and were continuously raking it with automatic weapons fire from the surrounding hills. The tops of the 1,500-foot hills were obscured by an 800 foot ceiling, limiting aircraft maneuverability and forcing pilots to operate within range of hostile gun positions, which often were able to fire down on the attacking aircraft. During the battle, Maj. Fisher observed a fellow airman crash land on the battle-torn airstrip. In the belief that the downed pilot was seriously injured and in imminent danger of capture, Maj. Fisher announced his intention to land on the airstrip to effect a rescue. Although aware of the extreme danger and likely failure of such an attempt, he elected to continue. Directing his own air cover, he landed his aircraft and taxied almost the full length of the runway, which was littered with battle debris and parts of an exploded aircraft. While effecting a successful rescue of the downed pilot, heavy ground fire was observed, with 19 bullets striking his aircraft. In the face of the withering ground fire, he applied power and gained enough speed to lift-off at the overrun of the airstrip. Maj. Fisher's profound concern for his fellow airman, and at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.

Gunner’s Mate First Class Frederick Thomas Fisher (US Navy) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on April 1, 1899, on board the USS Philadelphia. His citation reads:

On board the U.S.S. Philadelphia, Samoa, Philippine Islands, 1 April 1899. Serving in the presence of the enemy on this date, Fisher distinguished himself by his conduct.


Mom’s Top 5 Movies

5. Nine to Five

4. Mr. Holland’s Opus

3. Pretty Woman

2. The Sound of Music

1. Gone With the Wind


The I’m just sayin… Top 2,613 Movies of All-Time Countdown

1209 The Big Country
William Wyler
Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Jean Simmons, Carroll Baker, Burl Ives
1958

1208 Oh Heavenly Dog
Joe Camp
Chevy Chase, Jane Seymour, Omar Sharif
1980

1207 This Man's Navy
William Wellman
Wallace Beery, Tom Drake
1945

1206 Loose Cannons
Bob Clark
Gene Hackman, Dan Aykroyd, Dom DeLuise
1990

1205 Hostage
Florent Emilio Siri
Bruce Willis, Kevin Pollak
2005

1204 North
Rob Reiner
Elijah Wood, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bruce Willis, Alan Arkin, Dan Aykroyd, Reba McEntire, Jon Lovitz, Kathy Bates, John Ritter, Faith Ford
1994

1203 Mo' Money
Peter MacDonald
Damon Wayans, Marlon Wayans
1992

1202 In Beaver Valley
James Algar
Winston Hibler
1950

1201 Driven
Renny Harlin
Sylvester Stallone, Burt Reynolds, Kip Pardue, Til Schweiger, Gina Gershon, Estella Warren, Cristian de la Fuente
2001

1200 White Man's Burden
Desmond Nakano
John Travolta, Harry Belafonte
1995

1199 Days of Heaven
Terrence Malick
Richard Gere, Brooke Adams
1978

1198 The Black Godfather
John Evans
Rod Perry
1974

1197 The Greatest Story Ever Told
George Stevens
Max von Sydow, Charlton Heston, Jose Ferrer, Claude Rains, Angela Lansbury, David McCallum, Telly Savalas, Sidney Poitier, John Wayne
1965

1196 Forty Shades of Blue
Ira Sachs
Rip Torn, Dina Korzun, Darren E. Burrows
2005

1195 Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
Richard Pryor
Richard Pryor, Paula Kelly, Wings Hauser
1986

1194 How to Commit Marriage
Norman Panama
Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, Jane Wyman
1969

1193 I, Robot
Alex Proyas
Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan
2004

1192 X-Men: The Last Stand
Brett Ratner
Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen
2006

1191 In Old Oklahoma
Albert S. Rogell
John Wayne, Gabby Hayes, Dale Evans
1943

1190 Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Carlos Saldanha, Mike Thurmeier
Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Queen Latifah, Josh Peck, Simon Pegg
2009

1189 Bandslam
Todd Graff
Aly Michalka, Vanessa Hudgens, Gaelan Connell, Scott Porter, Lisa Kudrow
2009
Charlotte Banksasks: "Hi, I'm Charlotte. Nice to meet you".
Sa5m: "I've known you since 5th grade".
Charlotte Banksasks: "...Hmm".

Will Burton: "I think if you tried signaling, people would honk less".
Charlotte Banksasks: "They don't need to know my business".
Will Burton: "...It's not really a privacy issue".

1188 A Prairie Home Companion
Robert Altman
Garrison Keillor, Woody Harrelson, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Kline, Lindsay Lohan, Meryl Streep
2006

1187 Cleopatra
Joseph Mankiewicz
Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Rex Harrison
1963

1186 Class of 1984
Mark L. Lester
Perry King, Timothy Van Patten, Michael J. Fox
1982

1185 SpaceCamp
Harry Winer
Kate Capshaw, Lea Thompson, Kelly Preston, Larry B. Scott
1986
Kevin: "What's the worst thing that can happen? We'll all die, right?"

1184 X-Men: First Class
Matthew Vaughn
James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Bacon, January Jones, Rose Byrne, Nicholas Hoult, Jennifer Lawrence, Oliver Platt, Ray Wise, Zoë Kravitz, Caleb Landry Jones, Lucas Till, Edi Gathegi, Jason Flemyng
2011

1183 Jumper
Doug Liman
Samuel L. Jackson, Hayden Christensen, Rachel Bilson, Jamie Bell
2008

1182 Inside Man
Spike Lee
Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster
2006

1181 Indecent Proposal
Adrian Lyne
Robert Redford, Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson
1993
Jeremy: [on the phone] "Let me get this straight. He offered you a million dollars for a night with your wife? As in *your* wife Diana? And you agreed to it? I don't know what to say. How could you do something like that? *How could you negotiate without me?* Never negotiate without your lawyer. Never! For a woman like Diana I could have gotten you at least two million".

1180 Friends with Money
Nicole Holofcener
Jennifer Aniston, Joan Cusack, Catherine Keener, Frances McDormand
2006

1179 Freedomland
Joe Roth
Samuel L. Jackson, Julianne Moore
2006

1178 Fail-Safe
Sidney Lumet
Henry Fonda, Walter Matthau, Fritz Weaver, Larry Hagman
1964

1177 Firewalker
J. Lee Thompson
Chuck Norris, Louis Gossett, Jr.
1986

1176 Fever Pitch
Richard Brooks
Ryan O'Neal, Giancarlo Giannini, Catherine Hicks, Chad Everett
1985

1175 Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Tim Story
Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis
2007

1174 Escape from New York
John Carpenter
Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Isaac Hayes
1981

1173 Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Stephen Daldry
Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Thomas Horn, Max von Sydow, Viola Davis, John Goodman, Jeffrey Wright, James Gandolfini
2011

1172 Doctor Zhivago
David Lean
Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Rod Steiger, Geraldine Chaplin, Alec Guinness
1965

1171 End Game
Andy Cheng
Cuba Gooding, Jr., James Woods, Angie Harmon
2006

1170 Easy A
Will Gluck
Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes, Thomas Haden Church, Patricia Clarkson, Cam Gigandet, Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm McDowell, Aly Michalka
2010

1169 Dolphin Tale
Charles Martin Smith
Harry Connick, Jr., Ashley Judd, Nathan Gamble, Kris Kristofferson, Cozi Zuehldorff and Morgan Freeman
2011

1168 Donnie Darko
Richard Kelly
Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore, Mary McDonnell, Katharine Ross, Patrick Swayze, Noah Wyle
2001

1167 Don't Throw That Knife
Jules White
Three Stooges
1951

1166 Despicable Me
Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud
Steve Carell, Miranda Cosgrove, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Kristin Wiig, Will Arnett, Ken Jeong, Danny McBride, Julie Andrews
2010

1165 Definitely, Maybe
Adam Brooks
Ryan Reynolds, Isla Fisher, Derek Luke, Abigail Breslin, Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz
2008

1164 Desperate Journey
Raoul Walsh
Errol Flynn, Ronald Reagan
1942

1163 Death at a Funeral
Neil LaBute
Loretta Devine, Peter Dinklage, Danny Glover, Regina Hall, Martin Lawrence, James Marsden, Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, Zoe Saldana, Columbus Short, Luke Wilson
2010

1162 Deal of the Century
William Friedkin
Chevy Chase, Gregory Hines, Sigourney Weaver
1983

1161 Contact
Robert Zemeckis
Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey, James Woods, Angela Bassett, John Hurt, Tom Skerritt, David Morse
1997

1160 Congo
Frank Marshall
Dylan Walsh, Laura Linney, Ernie Hudson, Tim Curry, Grant Heslov, Joe Don Baker
1995

1159 Cops and Robbersons
Michael Ritchie
Chevy Chase, Jack Palance
1994

1158 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Phil Lord, Chris Miller
Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Andy Samberg, Bruce Campbell, Mr. T, Bobb'e J. Thompson, Benjamin Bratt, Neil Patrick Harris, Al Roker, Lauren Graham, Will Forte
2009

1157 Moonraker
Lewis Gilbert
Roger Moore
1979
James Bond: "Bond, James Bond"

1156 Cliffhanger
Renny Harlin
Sylvester Stallone, John Lithgow, Michael Rooker, Janine Turner
1993

1155 City of Angels
Brad Silberling
Nicolas Cage, Meg Ryan, Andre Braugher, Dennis Franz
1998

1154 City Slickers
Ron Underwood
Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern, Bruno Kirby, Patricia Wettig, Helen Slater, Jack Palance
1991

1153 Car Wash
Michael Schultz
Antonio Fargas, Franklyn Ajaye, George Carlin
1976

1152 Charlie's Angels
McG
Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu, Bill Murray, Sam Rockwell, Tim Curry, Crispin Glover, Kelly Lynch, Tom Green
2000

1151 Chasing Amy
Kevin Smith
Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, Jason Lee, Jason Mewes
1997

1150 Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N.
Raoul Walsh
Gregory Peck, Virginia Mayo
1951

1149 Caddyshack II
Allan Arkush
Jackie Mason, Dyan Cannon, Randy Quaid, Robert Stack, Jonathan Silverman, Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd
1988
Jack Hartounian: "My father was Armenian. My mother was half Jewish, half English, half Spanish".
Chandler Young: "That's three halves".
Jack Hartounian: "Oh, she was a big woman".

1148 Bulletproof
Ernest R. Dickerson
Damon Wayans, Adam Sandler, James Caan
1996

1147 Blue Collar
Paul Schrader
Richard Pryor, Harvey Keitel, Yaphet Kotto
1978

1146 Blue Skies
Stuart Heisler
Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Joan Caulfield
1946

1145 Blue Valentine
Derek Cianfrance
Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams
2010

1144 Booty Call
Jeff Pollack
Jamie Foxx, Tommy Davidson, Vivica A. Fox, Tamala Jones
1997

1143 Boys Next Door, The
Penelope Spheeris
Charlie Sheen, Maxwell Caulfield, Patti D'Arbanville
1985

1142 Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!
George Marshall
Bob Hope, Elke Sommer, Phyllis Diller
1966

1141 Boomerang
Reginald Hudlin
Eddie Murphy, Robin Givens, Halle Berry, David Alan Grier, Grace Jones, Martin Lawrence, Chris Rock
1992

1140 Black Hawk Down
Ridley Scott
Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Tom Hardy
2001

1139 Black Knight
Gil Junger
Martin Lawrence
2001

1138 Blue City
Michelle Manning
Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, David Caruso
1986

1137 Boiler Room
Ben Younger
Giovanni Ribisi, Nia Long, Vin Diesel, Ben Affleck
2000

1136 Boiling Point
James B. Harris
Wesley Snipes, Dennis Hopper, Viggo Mortensen
1993

1135 Battlefield Earth
Roger Christian
John Travolta, Forest Whitaker, Barry Pepper
2000

1134 Bird on a Wire
John Badham
Mel Gibson, Goldie Hawn
1990

1133 Beetlejuice
Tim Burton
Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O'Hara, Winona Ryder
1988

1132 Angels & Demons
Ron Howard
Tom Hanks, Ayelet Zurer, Ewan McGregor, Stellan Skarsgård, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Pierfrancesco Favino, Nikolaj Lie Kaas
2009

1131 American Outlaws
Les Mayfield
Colin Farrell, Scott Caan, Ali Larter
2001

1130 All the King's Men
Steven Zaillian
Sean Penn, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Anthony Hopkins, Mark Ruffalo, James Gandolfini
2006

1129 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze 
1991

1128 Pinocchio
T. Hee, Wilfred Jackson, Jack Kinney
1940

1127 The Producers
Mel Brooks
Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, Kenneth Mars, Dick Shawn
1968
Max Bialystock: "How could this happen? I was so careful. I picked the wrong play, the wrong director, the wrong cast. Where did I go right?"

1126 17 Again
Burr Steers
Zac Efron, Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon, Matthew Perry, Melora Hardin, Michelle Trachtenberg, Sterling Knight
2009

1125 Rambo
Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone, Julie Benz
2008

1124 Rocky V
John Avildsen
Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Tommy Morrison
1990
[Takes off his golden glove necklace]
Mickey: "See that? This is the favorite thing that I have on this Earth. And Rocky Marciano give me that. You know what it was? His cufflink. Huh? And now I'm givin' it to you and it, it's gotta be like a, like an angel on your shoulder see? If you ever get hurt and you feel that you're goin' down this little angel is gonna whisper in your ear. It's gonna say, 'Get up you son of a bitch 'cause Mickey loves you'."

1123 A Snitch in Time
Edward Bernds
The Three Stooges
1950

1122 Kingpin
Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly
Woody Harrelson, Randy Quaid, Vanessa Angel, Bill Murray
1996

1121 About Last Night...
Edward Zwick
Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, James Belushi, Elizabeth Perkins
1986

1120 10,000 BC
Roland Emmerich
Steven Strait, Camilla Belle, Cliff Curtis
2008

1119 Cheaper by the Dozen
Shawn Levy
Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt, Hilary Duff, Tom Welling, Piper Perabo, Ashton Kutcher
2003

1118 Code of the Secret Service
Noel M. Smith
Ronald Reagan, Rosella Towne, Eddie Foy Jr., Moroni Olsen
1939

1117 Airplane II: The Sequel
Ken Finkleman
Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Lloyd Bridges, Chad Everett, William Shatner, Rip Torn, Raymond Burr, Sonny Bono
1982
Steve McCroskey: "Jacobs, I want to know absolutely everything that's happened up till now".
Jacobs: "Well, let's see. First the earth cooled. And then the dinosaurs came, but they got too big and fat, so they all died and they turned into oil. And then the Arabs came and they bought Mercedes Benzes. And Prince Charles started wearing all of Lady Di's clothes. I couldn't believe it".

Steve McCroskey: "Jacobs, what have you got on Elaine Dickinson?"
Jacobs: "Well, I'm two inches taller, a better dancer, and much more fun to be with".

116 The Bodyguard
Mick Jackson
Kevin Costner, Whitney Houston, Gary Kemp, Bill Cobbs, Ralph Waite
1992

1115 Waterworld
Kevin Costner
Kevin Costner, Dennis Hopper, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Tina Majorino
1995

1114 Chain Reaction
Andrew Davis
Keanu Reeves, Morgan Freeman, Rachel Weisz, Fred Ward, Brian Cox
1996

1113 The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
David Slade
Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene, Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser, Kellan Lutz, Nikki Reed, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Jackson Rathbone, Bryce Dallas Howard, Billy Burke, Jodelle Ferland, Dakota Fanning, Xavier Samuel, Julia Jones, Jack Huston
2010

1112 House Party
Reginald Hudlin
Kid 'n Play, Robin Harris
1990

1111 Porky's
Bob Clark
Kim Cattrall, Mark Herrier, Wyatt Knight
1982

1110 Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Stephen Herek
Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, George Carlin
1989

1109 The Rainmaker
Joseph Anthony
Katharine Hepburn, Burt Lancaster
1956

1108 The Green Berets
Ray Kellogg, John Wayne
John Wayne, David Janssen, Jim Hutton, Aldo Ray
1968

1107 10 Things I Hate About You
Gil Junger
Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Larisa Oleynik, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, David Krumholtz
1999

1106 Wild Hogs
Walt Becker
John Travolta, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence, William H. Macy, Marisa Tomei
2007

1105 A Fish Called Wanda
Charles Crichton
John Cleese, Kevin Kline, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Palin
1988

1104 13 Going on 30
Gary Winick
Jennifer Garner
2004

1103 Above the Rim
Jeff Pollack
Duane Martin, Leon, Tupac Shakur
1994

1102 Hello, Dolly!
Gene Kelly
Barbra Streisand, Walter Matthau, Michael Crawford, Marianne McAndrew, Danny Lockin, Louis Armstrong
1969
Horace: "Eighty percent of the people in the world are fools and the rest of us are in danger of contamination".

1101 Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein
Charles Barton
Bud Abbott, Lou Costello
1948


The I’m just sayin… Kid Show of the Week

As always, thanks to Wikipedia for most of this info...

The Kid Show of the Week this week is Happy Days. Happy Days is sitcom that originally aired from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984, on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series presents an idealized vision of life in the mid-1950s to mid-1960s United States.

Set in the Midwestern city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the series revolves around teenager Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard) and his family: his father, Howard (Tom Bosley), who owns a hardware store; traditional homemaker mother Marion (Marion Ross); younger sister Joanie (Erin Moran); and high school dropout, biker and suave ladies man Arthur "Fonzie"/"The Fonz" Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler), who would eventually become the Cunninghams' upstairs tenant. The earlier episodes revolve around Richie and his friends, Warren "Potsie" Weber (Anson Williams) and Ralph Malph (Donny Most), with Fonzarelli as a secondary character. As the series progressed, Fonzarelli proved to be a favorite with viewers and soon more story lines were written to reflect his growing popularity. Fonzie befriends Richie and the Cunningham family, and when Richie (Ron Howard) left the series for military service, Winkler's Fonzie became the central figure of the show. In later seasons, other characters were introduced including Fonzie's young cousin, Charles "Chachi" Arcola (Scott Baio), who became a love interest for Joanie Cunningham. One interesting fact is that Henry Winkler and Tom Bosley are the only two cast members to appear in every episode.

Originally spun off from a one-episode teleplay on the anthology series Love, American Style, the series spawned the hit television shows Laverne & Shirley and Mork & Mindy as well as two non-hits Joanie Loves Chachi and Blansky's Beauties (the latter featuring Nancy Walker as Howard's cousin). The leather jacket worn by Winkler during the series currently hangs in the Smithsonian Institution.

Seasons 1 and 2 of the series used a newly recorded version of "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets (recorded in the fall of 1973) as the opening theme song. This recording was not commercially released at the time, although the original 1954 recording returned to the American Billboard charts in 1974 as a result of its use on the show. The "Happy Days" recording had its first commercial release in 2005 by the German label Hydra Records. The show's closing theme song in Season 1 was a fragment from "Happy Days," whose music was composed by Charles Fox and whose lyrics were written by Norman Gimbel. According to SAG, this version was performed by Jimmy Haas on lead vocals, Ron Hicklin of the Ron Hicklin Singers, Stan Farber, Jerry Whitman, and Gary Garrett on backing vocals, and studio musicians. From Seasons 3–10 inclusive, a longer version of "Happy Days" replaced "Rock Around the Clock" at the beginning of the show. Released as a single in 1976 by Pratt & McClain, "Happy Days" cracked the Top 5. The show itself finished the 1976–77 television season #1, ending the five-year Nielsen reign of All in the Family.

The term "jumping the shark" arose from a fifth season episode that aired on September 20, 1977. Fonzie (clad in swim trunks and leather jacket) jumps over a shark on waterskis. Happy Days continued to be successful for years after literally "jumping the shark."

This is a great show to watch with kids. It’s got a great cast and probably the coolest TV characters of all time.

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