Itself a spinoff from “Love American Style”, “Happy Days” launched it’s own spinoff shows. Some became as popular as the Happy Days parent show, while others were bombs which fizzled before one season.
Laverne and Shirley” was a spinoff of Happy Days, where both actresses initially appeared, and would visit Happy Days more than once when both shows were in production. Produced by Paramount and Miller-Milkis Productions, Laverne and Shirley ran on ABC from 1976 to 1983.
Laverne and Shirley starred Laverne, played by Penny Marshall and Shirley, played by Cindy Williams, was quite a successful show. The show was centered around the comedic, sometimes bittersweet ups and downs of two young single girls. Laverne and Shirley were sharing an apartment in Milwaukee while working in one of the beer breweries during the 1950s. Their two goofy, immature co-workers, Lenny and Squiggy, were played by David Lander and Michael McKeon. Eddie Mekka played Shirley’s boyfriend Carmine.
“Out of the Blue” starring Jimmy Brogan as an angel named Random, premiered on its own, then one week later made an appearance on a Happy Days episode. Random was an angel in training, posing as a human renting a room from a family while working as a high school teacher. Out of the Blue ran 9 episodes from September to December 1979, produced by Paramount and aired on CBS.
“Blansky’s Beauties” was a spinoff starring Nancy Walker as the cousin of Howard Cunningham of Happy Days. Blansky managed and shared her home with a group of Las Vegas chorus girls. Unlike Happy Days, Blansky’s was set in the present. Eddie Mekka starred as Blansky’s nephew, while also playing Shirley’s boyfriend in Laverne and Shirley. In one episode, Blansky recalled working with a clumsy girl named Laverne DeFazio back in the day, a reference to Laverne on Laverne and Shirley.
Blansky was also the acting debut of Scott Baio, who went on to make guest appearances on Happy Days as Chachi, then spun off to Joanie loves Chachi. Blansky’s Beauties was canceled after 13 episodes between February and June 1977.
“Joanie Loves Chachi” starring Erin Moran, who starred as the Cunningham daughter on Happy Days, with Scott Baio, who was introduced on Happy Days as a friend of Richie Cunningham. Actor Al Molinaro starred as Chachi’s stepfather, while also starring as owner of Arnold’s Drive-In on Happy Days. Joanie loves Chachi spanned 17 episodes over 2 seasons, produced by Paramount and shown on CBS from March 1982 to May of 1983.
“Mork and Mindy” was the spinoff from an alien character who appeared on a Happy Days episode. It introduced actor comedian Robin Williams as Mork from Ork, which made him a top star. Mindy was played by Pam Dawber, who befriended him initially unaware that he was an alien, then agreed to keep it a secret. Mork and Mindy was a very successful show for most of it’s run from 1978 to 1982.
