Very enjoyable episode that was the pilot for Happy Days. Interestingly, it did not receive a contract or network slot until two years later, after Ron Howard starred in American Graffiti. Also interestingly, the production style, comedic elements and personalities of Marian, Richie and Potsie all remain unchanged when the show finally did become a series. The show even retained the same scene segue method and use of canned laughter (which was a staple in Love, American Style and many shows of that era). The episode recalls the nostalgia of the 1950's in the same way the series later did and provides a fun glimpse into the origins of a popular show that had an 11-year run. Only the three aforementioned characters of this show made it to the series two years later.
Faux pas, Richie tells dad to adjust the "rabbit ears" during the first use of the family's new TV. This show is set in the early 1950's and the phrase "rabbit ears", per Mirriam Webster, was first used in 1952. It certainly wasn't a common phrase back then (nor even in the 70's when I was growing up). It really reached prominence well after cable TV was introduced in the 80's as it became less common to use an antenna and thus "rabbit ears" became more common to contrast an antenna TV with cable. As a teenager whose family just got the first TV on its block, it is highly unlikely Richie would have referred to what most folks called an "antenna" as "rabbit ears."
And in the irony department, Henry Winkler was not allowed to wear a leather jacket in Season 1 as Fonzie (unless he was near his bike), but ABC relented for Season 2. However, Richie wore a leather jacket in this pilot (gasp! where were the ABC censors?), but never did on Happy Days.
