Rating: 
Summary: AAAAAYYYY, I LIKE IT!
Review: In my humble opinion, these are the best episodes of the entire series. The feel is right. To me, once this show went to being filmed in front of an audience, the characters became over-blown and unbelievable, the story lines were ludicrous, and the live audience response was exceptionally annoying! Of course, that's when it really became a hit!
But these are the episodes I watched when I would see it in re-runs. These were really fun episodes. Fonz going back to school, Richie being grounded for life, Potsie and Richie going halves on a wreck of a car, they're fun episodes. And I have to agree with the reviewer who commented on the picture quality. It IS really exceptional!
Rating:
Summary: Before it jumped the shark. . .
Review: "Happy Days" was one of the most popular television series in the 1970s. The premise focused on Richie Cunningham, a high school kid living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the 1950s. Everyone knows about Fonzie, Potsie, Ralph Malph and the Cunninghams. What most people forget is the serie's initial focus was on the relationship between Richie and Potsie. In fact, the premise for "Happy Days" arose from an episode on "Love, American Style," entitled "Love and the Happy Day." That episode also featured Ron Howard in Richie's role.The first season of "Happy Days" features several differences from its later incarnation, especially as it involves the role of the Fonz. The Fonz was NOT a major character in the initial shows. Watch these episodes and notice he wore a white--not black--jacket. Also, Fonz never strayed far from his motorcycle. And, of course, there's also the matter of Richie's older brother, Chuck, who simply disappeared after a few episodes. I'm a fan of "Happy Days," and I think some of the serie's stronger writing and more memorable episodes are from the first couple seasons. I especially like the first season, which for some reason maintains a poignancy that the show lost as it became enormously popular. At this time, it doesn't appear that any commentary will accompany the dvds. It doesn't matter to me because this season stands on its own. Five stars.
Rating:
Summary: happy days complete first season
Review: c'mon any true fan of the show would quickly come to realize that every episode in this box contains a few extra scenes that weren't shown on the televised versions. I've watched all the first season episodes that were recorded off nick at night and none contained as complete versions of each episode as this box set contains. Anyway all of the first season episodes are true classics and worth twice the asking price even without any extras. The extra footage alone is worth the asking price.
I was disappointed with the lack info on these shows. I wish there was some kind of book included in the set. Although there are plenty of websites with very detailed info that one can visit anytime. Even one that lists episode for episode what props were used in Arnolds- such as jukeboxes, pinball machines etc. All in all I'm completely jazzed that Happy Days has been released and look foward to future non-chochie box sets. Fabamundo!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: A blast from the past!
Review: Garry Marshall and two of his friends created this nostalgic sitcom. Like CBS's All In The Family,it would spin off and handful of other sitcoms. In the case of Happy Days,it would later spin off Laverne & Shirley,Mork & Mindy and the disappointing Joanie Loves Chachi. Happy Days premiered on February 1,1974 as did CBS's Good Times. That same day,Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham celebrated his twentieth birthday. He was already a TV veteran playing Opie Taylor on CBS's The Andy Griffith Show. Howard had top billing through the 1979-80 season(he left HD after that season). HD was first set in the late 1950's in Milwaukee,Wisconsin. Henry Winkler is Arthur "Fonz" Fonzarelli,a black leather-clad motorcyclist who would often give Richie advice on how to score with girls. Marion Ross is Marion,mother of Richie and his sister Joanie(Erin Moran). Richie's and Joanie's father is Howard(Tom Bosley) who owns and operates a hardware store. Richie and Fonz often hung out a neighborhood restaurant,Arnold's. Arnold was Oriental,played by Pat Morita,who'd later appear in The Karate Kid movies. Richie attended Jefferson High School during this season with some other buddies,Ralph Malph(Donny Most) and Warren "Potsie" Weber(Anson Williams). Richie's schoolmates hung out at Arnold's as well,occasionally bringing their dates,some turning out to be girlfriends. The first season theme was ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK,the hit song recorded by Bill Haley & The Comets(on Hit Parade in 1955). You can see Joanie with her long hair in a ponytail(this became a fad in 1954). You can also see Richie,Potsie and Ralph wearing button-down sweaters with their JHS colors and insignia also. Many HD fans also have seen the 1978 Paramount film GREASE,set in the late fifties as well.
Rating:
Summary: Happy Days are here again
Review: How can it possibly be thirty years already since Happy Days first premiered? That fact makes a guy feel very old, for I can't imagine having grown up without Happy Days; fortunately, being able to watch these classic episodes brings back great memories that almost make me feel young again. As a little kid growing up in the 70s, Happy Days was - without question - the show. I was trying to be Fonzie - strutting around, giving thumbs up, and saying Heyyyy! all the time - even before I learned to read. The show remained a constant presence in my life throughout the 1980s, as well, as it was a staple of after-school programming (back before all the talk shows took over). The first season's episodes were never really my favorite - mainly because a lot of changes were made at the start of the second season, Richie was a little wild that first year, Joanie was still a few years away from babehood, Fonzie was basically just a peripheral character, and - let's face it - there was just way too much Potsie in these early shows. In the first season, Potsie was the second-most important character, although Howard and Marion came on strong in the last half of the season.
Richie really wasn't a clean-cut paragon of virtue in Season One. In the very first episode, he set out to go "All the Way" with a girl who had a "reputation." Over the course of the next fifteen shows, he came home drunk (accompanied by a stripper) from a Marine's bachelor party, got arrested after he snuck out of the house to attend a drag race, put himself through "The Deadly Dares" in order to join The Demons, used a fake ID to get into a strip club, lost his band mates' money in a poker game, came close to leaving home with a bunch of beatniks, almost got a tattoo to impress a girl, and almost got himself into a rumble with The Dukes. Of course, he learned important lessons from all of his adventures - except the lesson that he should stop going along with all of Potsie's hare-brained schemes and plans. There are some truly classic moments in these first 16 episodes, such as Fonzie selecting Richie (in drag) to dance at the sock hop, Richie's first drunk in "Richie's Cup Runneth Over" and Richie's blind date with a really tall girl in "Because She's There."
The gang's all here for the most part, but Ralph Malph is just a jokester you see at Arnold's or parties/dances, and Fonzie is largely just the local king of cool. Both characters' presence tends to increase as the season progresses, but the only real character development we see of Arthur Fonzarelli comes when Fonzie decides to go back to high school in "Fonzie Drops In." Then, of course, there's Chuck, the infamous oldest son of the Cunninghams who simply disappears after this first season. The question is not really why his character was purged from the show with such Stalinist diligence; instead, it's why was he ever there to start with? He did nothing on the show except dribble a basketball.
It's interesting to see how the show became a little more serious as the first season drew to a close. While thoughts of making out with girls were never far from Richie's mind, we witness a rather poignant example of growing up when Richie and Howard square off over the beatnik way of life, see the show take racism head-on in "The Best Man" when Howard has his black army buddy's wedding at his house in spite of his neighbors' protests, and take a moment to reflect on the dangers of the nascent Cold War and the A bomb back in the 1950s.
I hope this Happy Days Season One collection sells like hotcakes because I want all of the other seasons ASAP. I like the next few seasons better, but a lot of fans probably have a special love for these early episodes. If you're a rabid Fonzie fan, don't expect to see the Fonz you know and love in these first season shows, though - there are only glimpses of the central character he would become. Keep in mind, as well, that there are only 16 shows in this first season - Happy Days debuted on January 15, 1974. There are also no extras whatsoever included on these 3 DVDs, a fact which is quite disappointing. Frankly, that means this collection is overpriced. At least we have the episodes themselves, though - and that is a treasure in and of itself.
Rating:
Summary: Bring on season 2!!!
Review: I am part of the camp who thinks the earliest seasons of Happy Days were the best. This first season aired in the first half of 1974, and The Fonz was a smaller character (he's not even in the opening credits in season 1). However, these early single-camera episodes bring out the best of the series IMO.
If you compare these episodes to a season 4 episode for example, you can see vastly different tones for the series (it went live in season 3). The earlier episodes are a lot more authentic 50's, while it became more and more a product of the 70's and 80's in the latter years.
When the show went live, we didn't see as much outside action, as many of the funniest moments of the first season take place outside of Arnold's.
I hope Paramount announces season two soon, I love the early (first 4) seasons of this show and will gladly add them to my library as soon as they come out.
$39.99 might seem insane for a show without extras, but these are the uncut (over 25 mins on average) episodes as they haven't been seen since 1974, and as icing on the cake, it is very cool to see the old-school red Paramount tags that have long been replaced at the end. The only downfall is that some scenes have really dirty prints, but I am willing to overlook it. Happy Days does not look this great on tv.
Rating:
Summary: excellent quality
Review: i have never seen a dvd as clear as this one. the quality on this first season looks almost high definition. it looks way way better than other sitcoms. i recomend this to every happy days fan. buy this and you will love it. it's super duper clear.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Episodes, No Good Bonus Materials
Review: I have to say, as a huge Happy Days fan, I was very pumped to see a DVD of their first season, and I have to say the episodes are each classics!! Who cannot love Happy Days when Fonzie was still cool, and Chuck was still alive!!!!!
The only disappointment in this multi disk set is the lack of bonus materials. I knew that before I bought the product, but you would think such a classic series would have some behind the scenes featurettes. Oh well, maybe season two.
Rating:
Summary: Please do all the seasons+ Joannie loves Chachi
Review: I just loved watching the show. I grew up thinking that Scott Baio was the cutest thing around. ( still is)
I would love it if they can put all the seasons on dvd and also branch out and put Joannie Loves Chachi on dvd. I know I would buy it right away.
Rating:
Summary: My prayers have been answered
Review: I loved watching this series as a little girl, and am thrilled that somebody in Hollywood is finally listening to our suggestions. Happy Days needed to be released on DVD a very long time ago. Although I was unusual in wanting to be like Fonzie to help others (the apparent early stirings of an activist!) and instead wanted to date Warren 'Potsie' Webber (I still cannot remember why I thought he was hot!) I still loved the series. Even in grad school, I schedule afternoon appointments around the time Happy Days comes on the local station so I can watch the series again. The first season is special in it's own right because later-discarded older brother Chuck Cunningham, a nice (if prototypical) all American jock is shown. Fonzie is dressed in a windbreaker jacket to soothe network in-house censors who imagined the series would accidentally promote criminal activity among American youth if that character wore a black leather jacket. Plus, instead of the phenomena which he assumed in later seasons, Fonzie himself is a minor character this season; The show was originally supposed to revolve around the Cunningham family's Cold-War era Wisconsin life. I only hope the studio eventually releases all seasons and does not(as with Charlies Angels, and Angel: The Series)release one or a couple of seasons and then later decide that the public no longer wants to see this show. Syndication on many 2004 cable and network channels clearly indicates the enduring longevity of Happy Days---and so does a leather jacket on permanent display in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. All seasons must be released!
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