List of Happy Days Episodes - Season 5 (1977/78)

Season 5 (1977/78)

Episode # Air date Title Written by Directed by Overview
88 September 13, 1977 "Hollywood" (Parts 1 & 2) Joe Glauberg & Walter Kempley Jerry Paris A couple of Hollywood talent scouts look for mechanic Fonzie when their limousine breaks down while passing through Milwaukee, and when they find him they like the look of him. Thinking that he could be the next James Dean, they invite him to Hollywood for a film audition. With Potsie and Ralph eager to impress the scouts too, Fonzie invites them and the Cunningham family to join him on his trip to Hollywood. But his big screen test is not all that the Fonz has to concern himself with—he also has a water skiing challenge with obnoxious local hero The California Kid to contend with.
  • Note: This episode introduces Scott Baio as Chachi Arcola, Fonzie's cousin and future boyfriend (later husband) of Joanie.
89 September 20, 1977 "Hollywood" (Part 3) Fred Fox Jr. Jerry Paris The California Kid has challenged the Fonz to jump a tiger shark, being held just offshore, on water skis, convinced that he will be too scared and back out. But Fonzie is too proud to back down and accepts the challenge. Meanwhile, Richie—after wowing the talent scout at Fonzie's audition—struggles to make a decision about the film contract that he has been offered.
  • Note: This episode inspired the term "Jumping the shark" to indicate the point at which a television series begins to decline in quality or loses its earlier appeal.
90 September 27, 1977 "Hard Cover" Brian Levant Jerry Paris Concerned about the lack of action in his love life, Richie asks Fonzie for some dating advice. The Fonz suggests that they go to the college library to meet sophisticated girls, where Richie meets the attractive Lori Beth. But when they go back to her dorm, Richie learns that the hall's doors are locked at 10 p.m. sharp, and he is now locked in for the night. If he is discovered, Lori Beth will be expelled.
  • Note: This episode introduces Lynda Goodfriend as Lori Beth Allen, Richie's girlfriend and future wife. (Goodfriend had previously appeared as a different character, Kim, in the previous season).
91 October 4, 1977 "My Cousin the Cheat" Walter Kempley Jerry Paris When Chachi gets in trouble with the truant officer for skipping school, Fonzie tells his young cousin that if he gets good grades he can have a part-time job at the garage, as an incentive to stay in school. But the idea backfires when Chachi decides to cheat on an exam, tricking the answers out of Joanie. When the Fonz finds out, he is enraged.
92 October 25, 1977 "Fonsillectomy" Marty Nadler Jerry Paris Fonzie is ill, and the doctor says he must go into the hospital the next day to have his tonsils removed, meaning that he will miss the Cunninghams' Halloween party. The Fonz does not take the news well; worse still, the only available room in the hospital is on the children's ward.
  • Note: Tom Bosley's daughter Amy plays one of the "trick-or-treaters" while two of director Gary Marshall's children play as hospitalized children. Also note the continuity error; in the episode 'Haunted', Fonz tells an anecdote about having his tonsils out as a child.
93 November 1, 1977 "The Apartment" Dixie Brown Grossman Jerry Paris Richie, Potsie and Ralph rent an apartment owned by Chachi's mother. Despite its run-down condition, they are all excited to have a place of their own. But things turn sour when Potsie and Ralph continually argue, leaving Richie desperately trying to keep the peace.
  • Note: Potsie and Ralph continue to live in the apartment after this episode. (Richie decides to return home). This situation remains until Richie and Ralph leave the series.
94 November 8, 1977 "Fonzie and Leather Tuscadero" (Part 1) Bob Brunner Jerry Paris Pinky's sister Leather Tuscadero (Suzi Quatro), a reformed thief, comes to town with her band The Suedes to audition for a gig at Arnold's. Fonzie is wary of her after having his heart broken by Pinky, not to mention that Leather once stole his wallet and comb. But that is the least of Leather's worries; Officer Kirk threatens to close the place down if Al hires any ex-cons.
  • Note: Suzi Quatro makes her first of seven appearances as Leather Tuscadero. The producers reportedly offered to give Quatro a spin-off series based on the character, but Quatro turned the offer down. Only passing references are made to Pinky, after Roz Kelly was dropped due to disagreements with the producers.
95 November 15, 1977 "Fonzie and Leather Tuscadero" (Part 2) Bob Brunner Jerry Paris Leather & The Suedes are about to go on tour, beginning in San Francisco. Joanie, who has been singing with the group, is determined to go with them. But when her parents veto her plan, she runs away, determined to join the group anyway.
96 November 22, 1977 "My Fair Fonzie" Warren S. Murray Jerry Paris A rich socialite (Morgan Fairchild) and her snobbish cousin invite the Fonz to a posh yacht-club dinner party, intending to make a fool out of him in front of everyone. But Al overhears the scheme, and thanks to a crash course in etiquette by the Cunninghams, Fonzie turns the tables on them.
97 November 29, 1977 "Bye Bye Blackball" Barry Rubinowitz Jerry Paris Richie, Potsie and Ralph are desperate to join the best fraternity on campus, but first they have to survive the Hell Week initiations. They are prepared to go through anything, but will Richie choose the fraternity over loyalty to his friends?
98 December 6, 1977 "Requiem for a Malph" Steve Zacharias Jerry Paris Ralph is in love with Kitty, a beautiful young woman, who is in an unhappy relationship with the football team's star fullback, Rebel E. Lee. When Rebel finds out about the pair's relationship, he is furious with Ralph. Instead of a fight, Fonzie arranges a boxing match between the pair to settle the dispute. But there's one problem: Ralph cannot box to save his life.
99 December 13, 1977 "Nose for News" Walter Kempley Jerry Paris After getting a 'D' on a paper for his investigative reporting class, Richie decides to search for a big story to help improve his grade. Perhaps Howard's battle with the sanitation department that is trying to force him to pay a weekly surcharge is the big story he needs!
100 January 3, 1978 "Grandpa's Visit" George F. Slavin Jerry Paris Howard's 65-year-old father, Sean "Cap" Cunningham (Danny Thomas), a police detective recently forced into retirement, comes to visit the family, but announces that he is already bored with retirement and plans to look for a job. Will he find a job that suits him?
  • Note: From this episode on, Al Molinaro (Al) and Scott Baio (Chachi) are added to the opening credits.
101 January 10, 1978 "Potsie Gets Pinned" Fred Fox Jr. Jerry Paris Potsie falls in love with Jennifer Jerome, a girl in a kissing booth. After just one date, Potsie decides that he wants to marry her. The rest of the gang are unsure it's right for Potsie and persuade Howard to have a talk with him, who suggests that they get "pinned" instead. (These two were later married in real life)
102 January 17, 1978 "Joanie's First Kiss" Barbara O'Keefe Jerry Paris Joanie is asked out on a date by David O'Dooley, a hunky senior who owns a car. Howard is against the date, and when he reluctantly agrees, Richie and the Fonz advise her on how to fend off any unwanted advances. Will all this lead to Joanie's first kiss?
103 January 24, 1978 "Marion's Misgivings" Fred Maio Jerry Paris After a friend of the family leaves his wife for a younger woman, Marion begins to worry that Howard might do the same to her, and decides to try to prove to him that she's still young at heart—but goes completely over the top, Salome-style.
104 January 31, 1978 "Richie Almost Dies" Marty Nadler Jerry Paris Richie has bought a motorcycle; his parents are very unhappy about it, but he convinces them that all will be okay. He is then involved in a very serious accident on the bike, which leaves him in a coma. As the rest of the gang anxiously await news, Fonzie holds a bedside vigil to try to help pull his friend though.
  • Note: This episode is noted for being the occasion when, praying to God for Richie to recover, Fonzie breaks down in tears. In the 30th anniversary special it was revealed that this was done at the request of teachers of abused children. The children admired the Fonz's "cool", but the teachers requested the show prove it was okay to show emotion at times as well.
105 February 7, 1978 "Spunkless Spunky" James Ritz Jerry Paris Fonzie's dog Spunky seems to be depressed. After a visit to the veterinarian, it is suggested that Spunky's problem is mental. Dr. Joyce Brothers (guest starring as herself) comes to take a look at him. (Spunky seems to have changed gender between seasons!)
106 February 14, 1978 "Be My Valentine" Fred Maio Jerry Paris It is Valentine's Day, and at Arnold's, as the gang exchange cards and gifts, Joanie daydreams about the romantic songs that they could sing to each other. Guest Star: The Brady Bunch's Christopher Knight
107 February 21, 1978 "Our Gang" Brian Levant Jerry Paris When Chachi arrives at Arnold's wearing a gang jacket, Richie tells him the story of how he first met the Fonz, who was involved with a gang, to try to illustrate to Chachi that gangs are nothing but trouble.
108 February 28, 1978 "My Favorite Orkan" Joe Glauberg Jerry Paris Mork (Robin Williams), an alien from the planet Ork, arrives on Earth and tries to take Richie back to his native planet as an example of an average "humdrum" human, but Fonzie stands in his way.
  • Note: Two versions of this episode exist. On its original broadcast, it was revealed that the events were all just Richie's dream, with a man who looks strangely like Mork knocking at the door in the final scene asking for directions. Afterwards, when it was decided to give Mork his own series (Mork and Mindy), an extension of the final scene was added, with Mork, outside of the Cunninghams' house (after having knocked on the door) communicating with Orson, who sent him on another mission to 1978, setting the scene for Mork and Mindy.
109 March 23, 1978 "Fourth Anniversary Special" Bob Brunner & Samuro Mitsubi Jerry Paris Lori Beth has to write a report on the average middle-class American family, and interviews various characters about their memories of Richie and his parents. But Richie is concerned that she is trying to find out about his previous girlfriends.
110 May 9, 1978 "Do You Want to Dance?" Fred Fox Jr. Jerry Paris Fonzie has fallen in love with his girlfriend, a moderately successful ballet dancer, but must face the fact that the girl may be happier dancing professionally in New York.
111 May 16, 1978 "Second Wind" Brian Levant Jerry Paris Al is to receive the Man of the Year award from The Sons of Italy, but he doesn't have a date. Fonzie sets him up with Anna, a meter maid, and Al quickly falls in love with her.
112 May 23, 1978 "Rules to Date By" Joe Glauberg Jerry Paris When Richie gets jealous of Lori Beth's friendships with other men, they argue and break up, but agree to go on a weekend trip where the band is performing with Leather & The Suedes. However, it doesn't put an end to their squabbling.
113 May 30, 1978 "Fonzie for the Defense" Dave Ketchum & Tony Di Marco Jerry Paris Howard and Fonzie are called up for jury duty. The case involves a black biker who is accused of stealing an old lady's purse, and seems to be a very open-and-shut case. Fonzie, however, is the only one who is certain that the young man is "not guilty-amundo", and must convince the rest of the jury.

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