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Joanie Loves Chachi

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Joanie Loves Chachi
GenreSitcom
Created byLowell Ganz
Garry Marshall
Developed byThomas L. Miller
Robert L. Boyett
Written byCheryl Alu
James Patrick Dunne
Lowell Ganz
Terry Hart
Neil Rosen
George Tricker
StarringErin Moran
Scott Baio
Al Molinaro
Ellen Travolta
Art Metrano
Opening theme"You Look at Me", performed by Scott Baio and Erin Moran
ComposerHoward Pearl
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes17
Production
Executive producersLowell Ganz
Robert L. Boyett
Ronny Hallin
Garry Marshall
Edward K. Milkis
Thomas L. Miller
ProducersJames Patrick Dunne
Fred Fox, Jr.
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time22–24 minutes
Production companiesParamount Television
Miller-Milkis-Boyett Productions
Henderson Productions
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseMarch 23, 1982 (1982-03-23) –
May 24, 1983 (1983-05-24)
Related

Joanie Loves Chachi is an American sitcom television series and a spin-off of Happy Days that aired on ABC from March 23, 1982, to May 24, 1983. It stars Erin Moran and Scott Baio as the characters Joanie Cunningham and Chachi Arcola, respectively. The series was cancelled after 17 episodes, in its second season, due to a drop in ratings.

Storyline

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The series is set in the early to mid-1960s and follows the exploits of Joanie and Chachi as they moved to Chicago and tried to make it on their own with a rock band and a music career at a time when the British Invasion was looming (one episode was titled "Beatlemania"). It mixed the traditional elements of a sitcom with musical performances on each show by Baio and Moran; their characters sang to one another in the opening credit sequence of the show. Their backup band consists of a spaced-out drummer named Bingo and Chachi's blasé cousins Mario and Annette.

The series also starred Ellen Travolta as Louisa Delvecchio, Chachi's mother, and Al Molinaro as Al Delvecchio, Chachi's stepfather (and formerly the owner of Arnold's Drive-In in Happy Days), who opened a restaurant in which Chachi and Joanie performed most of their music. Art Metrano played Chachi's uncle Rico Mastorelli, who was the band's manager and helped Joanie and Chachi advance in their careers. Winifred Freedman played Rico's daughter, Annette, Chachi's cousin and bandmate.

Like other Garry Marshall-related sitcoms such as Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley, Joanie Loves Chachi had its share of anachronisms. The show was set in the 1960s yet characters were styled in a manner more true to the 1980s.

Production

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Joanie Loves Chachi was the first Miller-Boyett (and only Garry Marshall–produced) sitcom developed by Thomas L. Miller and Robert L. Boyett, and was created by Lowell Ganz and Garry Marshall. This is the only Garry Marshall/Miller-Boyett sitcom that does not have Charles Fox and/or Norman Gimbel as the show's theme song/music cue composer.

An urban legend circulated that the show was the highest-rated American program ever in Korea due to "chachi" being a Korean word for "penis". In actuality, the show was never broadcast to the general public of Korea, only to U.S. servicemen stationed in South Korea, and has never even been dubbed or subtitled in Korean.[1]

Scott Baio later recalled:

All the Happy Days people had written the first four episodes, when the show got picked up for series, but then they left to go back to Happy Days, and we were stuck with new writers who didn't know us. So that was a problem. And then some of the people on the show had chemical issues, and that was a problem. It was just on and on and on, and it just sort of all crumbled and fell apart. In retrospect, if given the choice again, I would not have done that show. That was just the wrong idea. If I had to do it all over again, I would've waited 'til Happy Days was over until I did anything else. [emphasis in original][2]

Erin Moran also recalled:

I liked working with the people. But I didn't even want to do it. I wanted to stay on Happy Days. They were running them at the same time.[3]

Cast

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Episodes

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Series overview

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SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
14March 23, 1982 (1982-03-23)April 13, 1982 (1982-04-13)
213September 30, 1982 (1982-09-30)May 24, 1983 (1983-05-24)

Season 1 (1982)

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No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Chicago"Tom TrbovichLowell GanzMarch 23, 1982 (1982-03-23)

Joanie and Chachi move to Chicago where they audition for a summer singing job, but Joanie is considered too wholesome for the gig.

Songs performed: "Do You Want My Love" (sung by Scott Baio) and "Too Young To Know" (sung by Scott Baio and Erin Moran).
Special guest stars: Tom Bosley as Howard Cunningham and Marion Ross as Marion Cunningham.
22"The Performance"Tom TrbovichFred Fox, Jr.March 30, 1982 (1982-03-30)

The band has a big audition for a record producer, but Chachi's attitude causes Joanie to decide to attend her nephew's birthday party in Milwaukee instead of singing with the band.

Songs performed: "Puttin' It All Together" (sung by Scott Baio and Erin Moran).
33"I Do, I Don't, I Do"Joel ZwickWilliam Bickley & Michael WarrenApril 6, 1982 (1982-04-06)

Joanie notices a guy looking at Annette during a performance at Delvecchio's, and she and Chachi introduce Annette and the guy, Wendell. They quickly hit it off and decide to get married within three weeks of their first meeting.

Songs performed: "Too Young To Know" and "I'll Take You Back" (sung by Scott Baio and Erin Moran).
Note: "I'll Take You Back" appeared as a track from Scott Baio's second album The Boys Are Out Tonight (1983).
44"College Days"Lowell GanzJames P. DunneApril 13, 1982 (1982-04-13)

Chachi becomes jealous when Joanie becomes a favorite among the college fraternity brothers.

Songs performed: "Lookin' Good, Feelin' Fine" (sung by Scott Baio and Erin Moran) and "The Lasting Kind" (sung by Erin Moran).
Note: "Lookin' Good, Feelin' Fine" was previously performed by Baio and Moran on the Happy Days season 9 episode "No, Thank You".

Season 2 (1982–1983)

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No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
51"Fonzie's Visit"Joel ZwickDana OlsenSeptember 30, 1982 (1982-09-30)

Fonzie decides to pay a visit to Joanie and Chachi in Chicago.

Songs performed: "Makin' Room for a Friend" and "You and Me and Summer" (sung by Scott Baio and Erin Moran).
Special guest star: Henry Winkler as Fonzie.
62"Joanie's Roommate"Joel ZwickGeorge Tricker & Neil RosenOctober 14, 1982 (1982-10-14)

The Cunninghams are concerned when they call Joanie late at night and Chachi picks up the phone.

Special guest stars: Tom Bosley as Howard Cunningham and Marion Ross as Marion Cunningham.
73"One-on-One"Howard StormLarry LevinsonOctober 21, 1982 (1982-10-21)

Joanie and Chachi argue about gender superiority. Chachi believes that, specifically, men are better than women at basketball, so Joanie challenges him to go one-on-one with her female friend who plays on the school's team.

Songs performed: "Our Love Was Meant to Be" (sung by Scott Baio and Erin Moran).
84"No Nudes Is Good Nudes"Lowell GanzTerry HartOctober 28, 1982 (1982-10-28)

Joanie goes out for coffee with her art teacher. She says it isn't a date, but Chachi insists it is. He goes to Joanie's school to check up on her teacher and sees that he's a young blonde. To avoid being seen by Joanie as she and other students enter the room, he tells the teacher that he is the model and soon learns that he will be posing nude.

Songs performed: "That's My Kind of Lovin" (sung by Scott Baio and Erin Moran).
95"Everybody Loves Aunt Vanessa"John TracySteve Granat & Mel ShererNovember 4, 1982 (1982-11-04)

Louisa's friend from high school, Vanessa, who is a record producer, comes for a visit and asks the band to play for her. Mario suspects Vanessa is interested in Chachi for more than just his music.

Songs performed: "That's Why I Love You" (sung by Scott Baio and Erin Moran).
106"Beatlemania"John TracyGary MenteerNovember 11, 1982 (1982-11-11)

While visiting her friend who is a nurse, Joanie is convinced she saw Paul McCartney at the hospital.

Songs performed: "Wanted for Love" (sung by Scott Baio).
Note: "Wanted for Love" appeared as a track from Scott Baio's eponymous debut album (1982).
Note 2: This episode was filmed on October 1, 1982.
117"Best Foot Forward"Henry WinklerJoan Brooker & Nancy EddoNovember 18, 1982 (1982-11-18)

Against Louisa's wishes, Joanie and Chachi go to an exotic French film and try to leave when Al and Louisa show up to watch the same film.

Note: This episode marked Henry Winkler's directional debut.
128"Goodbye Delvecchio's, Hello World"John TracyGeorge Tricker & Neil RosenNovember 25, 1982 (1982-11-25)

After repeatedly being warned about showing up late for and taking excessive breaks during performances, Al and Louisa are left no choice but to fire the band.

Songs performed: "I'll Take You Back" (sung by Scott Baio and Erin Moran).
Note: "I'll Take You Back" appeared as a track from Scott Baio's second album The Boys Are Out Tonight (1983).
Note 2: This episode was filmed on September 17, 1982.
139"Term Paper"John TracyCheryl Alu & Barry O'BrienDecember 2, 1982 (1982-12-02)

Faced with work to do for other classes, Joanie asks Mario to type her 30-page history paper for her. After he finishes it, Mario accidentally burns it on the kitchen stove. When her teacher hands back the graded papers, he notes that Joanie and another student's are exactly the same.

Songs performed: "He's So Fine" (sung by Erin Moran).
1410"My Dinner with Chachi"John TracyPaula A. RothDecember 9, 1982 (1982-12-09)
After preparing a terrible stew for Chachi, Joanie daydreams about their golden years when he leaves her for a woman that can cook. Not wanting her life to mirror the dream, Joanie enlists the help of Louisa to make a great dinner for Chachi.
1511"Christmas Show"John TracyStory by : Cheryl Alu & Nancy Churnin
Teleplay by : Lesa Kite & Cindy Begel		December 16, 1982 (1982-12-16)
On Christmas Eve, a night which Al wanted to spend at home with his close family and friends, Rico books the band to perform on the Christmas Radio Special. After stopping to pick up a hitchhiker on their way to the studio, their van gets stuck in the snow.
1612"First Love, Last Love"John TracyTerry HartMay 17, 1983 (1983-05-17)
Chachi is convinced that Joanie will leave him when her first love comes back on the scene.
1713"The Elopement"John TracyJames P. Dunne & Millee TaggartMay 24, 1983 (1983-05-24)

After seeing how much in love Louisa's aunt and uncle are after 50 years of marriage, Joanie and Chachi decide to elope.

Songs performed: "Love Me Tender" (sung by Scott Baio and Erin Moran).

Home media

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On February 4, 2014, CBS DVD (distributed by Paramount) released Joanie Loves Chachi - The Complete Series on DVD in Region 1.[4]

Reception

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The show debuted as a mid-season replacement and initially attracted high ratings, benefiting from two factors: it aired immediately following its parent series, Happy Days, and had only reruns competing for its time slot.[1] The ratings plummeted in Season 2 with a move to Thursday nights, which put Joanie Loves Chachi up against CBS' Magnum, P.I., and it was pulled from the schedule by the year's end, with its final two episodes airing in the spring of 1983.[1] The characters were rolled back into Happy Days for that program's final season. ABC determined that the show was losing too much of its lead-in, suggesting low appeal if the show were moved.

In 2010, TV Guide Network listed the show at #17 on its list of 25 Biggest TV Blunders.[5]

US TV Ratings

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Season Episodes Start Date End Date Nielsen Rank Nielsen Rating Tied With
1981-82 4 March 23, 1982 April 13, 1982 4 23.3[6] Three's Company
1982-83 13 September 30, 1982 May 24, 1983 70[7] N/A N/A

References

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  1. ^ a b c Mikkelson, David (June 24, 2000). "Was 'Joanie Loves Chachi' the Highest-Rated TV Show Ever in Korea?". Snopes. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  2. ^ Harris, Will (3 April 2014). "Scott Baio talks Chachi, Bob Loblaw, and Howard Cosell". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  3. ^ Ellis-Petersen, Hannah; Collins, Pádraig (2017-04-23). "Erin Moran, actor who played Joanie Cunningham in Happy Days, dies at 56". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-04-24.
  4. ^ "Joanie Loves Chachi DVD news: Box Art for Joanie Loves Chachi - The Complete Series: Seasons 1 & 2 - TVShowsOnDVD.com". Archived from the original on 2014-01-01.
  5. ^ "Breaking News - TV Guide Network's "25 Biggest TV Blunders" Special Delivers 3.3 Million Viewers". thefutoncritic.com. 2010-03-02. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
  6. ^ Lina. "The TV Ratings Guide: 1981-82 Ratings History -- Primetime is Awash in a Bubble Bath as Nighttime Soaps Become the Rage". Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  7. ^ Lina. "The TV Ratings Guide: 1982-83 Ratings History -- Soap Bubbles Rise, Several Veterans Part and NBC Renews Poorly Rated Masterpieces". Retrieved 1 April 2018.
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