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Happy Days
(Rated TV-G, Comedy, Starring Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Tom Bosley, Where to watch: TV Land, Syndicated, DVD)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Aaaaay! Classic feel-good sitcom is hokey but fun.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 7 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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Sexy stuff:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Happy Days was written by Lucy Maher
Parents need to know that this landmark '50s-set sitcom (which originally aired from the mid-'70s to the mid-'80s) is squeaky clean, especially by today's primetime standards. Although the show is definitely still funny a few decades down the line and will appeal to adults who remember it fondly, today's kids may not be able to relate to some of the scenarios it portrays and may find the dialogue trite or cheesy.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about how TV has changed over the years. How are the situations seen in shows from the '60s and '70s different from what's onscreen today? Are the underlying problems the characters deal with all that different, or it is just that viewers have gotten more accepting of crass dialogue and mature situations over the years? How does the show idealize the '50s? Is the show any less appealing because of that idealism? What might a more realistic '50s-set sitcom be like?
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More on Happy Days
What’s the Story?
Set in a sanitized, idealized version of the 1950s, HAPPY DAYS centers on the life of the middle-class Cunningham family and follows the ups and downs they weather together in Milwaukee, Wisc. One of TV's truly classic comedies, it originally aired from 1974-1984 and is responsible for several spin-offs (including Laverne & Shirley), as well as one of pop culture's most iconic characters: Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler) began his TV life as a local thug, but he quickly morphed into the Cunninghams' family friend, growing particularly close to clean-cut son Richie (Ron Howard). Richie's parents -- hardware store owner Howard "Mr. C" Cunningham (Tom Bosley) and homemaker Marion "Mrs. C" Cunningham (Marion Ross) -- hold down the fort, while Richie and his younger sister, Joanie (Erin Moran) cope with growing up. Rounding out the group are Fonzie's cousin Chachi (Scott Baio) and Richie's buddies Ralph Malph (Don Most) and Potsie (Anson Williams).
Is It Any Good?
Among the scenes that take place at the local drive-in and diner are situations that revolve around comic confusion and misunderstanding, which is still a popular plot device in today's sitcoms. But it's all a lot more innocent that what might appear on an ensemble sitcom like Friends or Cheers. In one episode, for example, Ralph and Potsie go to great lengths to hide the fact that they left the Cunninghams' gate open, allowing Fonzie's new dog to escape.
Happy Days has always been perfect for family viewing (and always will be, despite that whole idealizing-the-'50s thing), but the dated settings and situations may conspire to have tweens and older kids leaving it off their personal must-see list.
Our Members Say
See all 3 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Comedy for all the family
This is a clean, innofensive situation comedy.
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
Happy Days is an iffy show for children under the age or 12. This show is about guys trying to get girls to go out with them. It's not a real wholesome show. My parents didn't allow me to watch untill I was 12 and even then they were still kind of iffy about it. I hope this helped!
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 100% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
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