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Loves Chachi (1982-83)
Joanie Loves Chachi (1982-83)
Episode Guide
compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by:
references:
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-------------------
JOANIE LOVES CHACHI
-------------------
Miller-Milkis-Boyett production and Henderson Production Company,Inc.,
in association with
Paramount Television, a Gulf & Western company
for
ABC
Filmed before a live audience at Paramount Studios in Hollywood.
Created by Garry Marshall and Lowell Ganz.
Developed by Tom Miller and Bob Boyett.
Executive producers included Garry Marshall, Lowell Ganz, Ronny Hallin, Tom
Miller, Ed Milkis, and Bob Boyet.
Produced by Fred Fox, Jr. and James P. Dunne.
US Situation Comedy Series 1982-83 17 episodes x 30 min (23March1982-
13Sept1983)
Starring:
Scott Baio as Chachi Arcola
Erin Moran as Joanie Cunningham
with:
Al Molinaro as Al Delvecchio
Ellen Travolta as Louisa Arcola Delvecchio
Winifred Freedman as Annette
Robert Pierce as Bingo
Art Metrano as Uncle Rico Mastorelli
Derrel Maury
as Mario
Premise:
Teenage heartthrob Scott Baio starred in this short-lived spin-off from "Happy
Days", which saw Fonzie's young cousin
move to Chicago, with his mother, Louisa, and stepfather, Al, and try to start a
singing career. With him were best girl
Joanie, who shared the vocals, and his backup band: a spaced-out drummer named
Bingo, a chubby cousin named Annette, and
another cousin, Mario. Mario and Annette's father, Uncle Rico, was their agent.
Joanie and Chachi sang several numbers in
each episode, usually at Al and Louisa's newly opened restaurant. Though there
were new songs introduced in each episode,
and Chachi had girls in the audience swooning, neither the songs nor the show
caught on. Most of the cast soon returned
to Milwaukee and "Happy Days".
"Joanie Loves Chachi" Theme Song :
"You Look at Me," by Pamela Phillips and James P. Dunne,
sung by Erin Moran and Scott Baio.
Something magic in the way you hold me in your eyes
No one ever warned me love just takes you by surprise
I don't know what's come over me, you've got my hypnotized
when you look at me.
You look at me, soft as any touch could be
And suddenly, there's magic when you look at me
I feel like I'm in heaven every moment when
You look at me
You look at me, and suddenly I'm captured in your eyes
You look at me
############# Joanie Loves Chachi ############
############ season 1 Spring 1982 ############
##############################################
ABC Tuesdays 8:30-9:00pm Eastern (March 1982-April 1982) (4 episodes)
1.1 [--] Joanie Loves Chachi: CHICAGO (Premiere)
23 March 1982 ABC Tue
Written by Lowell Ganz
Directed by Tom Trbovich
Special Guest Stars:
Tom Bosley ......... Howard Cunningham (from Happy Days)
Marion Ross ........ Marion Cunningham (from Happy Days)
Co-starring
Bob Peirce ......... Bingo
Derrel Maury ....... Mario
Winifred Freeman ... Annette
Gary Epps .......... Tad
Featuring:
Joy Claussen ........ Carol
Patti Proctor ....... Girl #1
Julie Paris ......... Girl #2
Synopsis 1:
Chachi moves to Chicago with his mother and new stepfather Al; gets a chance to
become a singing star and asks Joanie
to join him in the windy city His family's move to Chicago gives Chachi a
wonderful chance to spend the summer singing
with a band, and Joanie jumps at the opportunity to travel to the windy city to
be with the man she loves.
Synopsis 2:
The Delvecchio household is in a tizzy as hordes of relatives arrive for the
opening night of Al and Louisa's new
restaurant, where Chachi is slated to make his Chicago singing debut.
Domineering Uncle Rico, a self-styled musical
entrepreneur, promises to book Chachi all over town if he's a hit. Chachi, who
has been pining for Joanie, invites her
to Chicago to perform with him.
Back in Milwaukee, Chachi's call shakes Joanie out of the doldrums. However,
she's a bit late getting to Chicago.
Chachi reluctantly agrees to go on without her, with Uncle Rico's blase kids,
Annette and Mario, and a spaced-out drummer
named Bingo as backups. He's an absolute smash. When Joanie finally arrives, she
is shocked to find Chachi mingling
merrily with his adoring female fans. Uncle Rico quickly notes Joanie's sweet
demeanor and questions whether she's hot
enough to be part of Chachi's act. The next night, a surprisingly sultry Joanie
proves she can really steam up the stage.
But she gets more than she bargained for in audience appreciation just at the
moment her parents arrive unexcpectedly.
1.2 [--] Joanie Loves Chachi: THE PERFORMANCE
30 March 1982 ABC Tue
Written by Fred Fox, Jr.
Directed by Tom Trovich.
Featuring:
Emily Moultrie ........ Claudia
Synopsis 1:
Joanie is faced with a dilemma; singing at the the home of a top record producer
or attending Richie Jr.'s first
birthday party Joanie is torn between singing at the home of a hot-shot record
producer - the band's first big break
- or attending a huge family bash for Richie Jr's first birthday, until Chachi's
antics at rehearsal force a decision
they both soon regret.
Synopsis 2:
Chachi's Uncle Rico finally brings about the band's first entry into the big
time: performing at a birthday party at the
home of record producer Bozz Jackson. Joanie faces a dilemma when she realizes
that the Jackson party conflicts with a
celebration in Milwaukee for Richie Jr's first birthday that is attracting
relatives from all over the globe. Realizing
how important the performance is to Chachi, Joanie chooses to stay in Chicago.
But when rehearsal jitters make Chachi a
raving madman, Joanie reverses her decision - leaving Chachi with a flaky band,
no singing partner, and, it seems, no girlfriend.
1.3 [--] Joanie Loves Chachi: I DO, I DON'T, I DO
6 April 1982 ABC Tue
Written by William Bickley and Michael Warren
Directed by Joel Zwick
Guest Starring:
Anson Dowenes ......... Wendell
Co-Starring:
John C. Becher ........ The Minister.
Synopsis 1:
Joanie and Chachi play matchmaker for Annette, but they have reason for regret
when the groom-to-be makes a pass at
Joanie Joanie and Chachi play cupid for Annette - and succeed beyond their
wildest dreams when her new beau proposes
- but then makes a pass at Joanie at the wedding rehearsal.
Synopsis 2:
Joanie prompts Chachi to play matchmaker after a performance at Delvecchio's,
when Wendell, a stranger in the audience,
can't take his eyes away from their guitarist, Chachi's chubby cousin Annette.
To their astonishment, four dates later,
Wendell proposes. While Uncle Rico eagerly plans a cut-rate wedding, Chachi, Al,
and Louisa are wary of Annette's impulsive
decision. Joanie, however, is convinced love will conquer all. but her romantic
notions are upset when Wendell makes a
pass at her in the chapel.
1.4 [--] Joanie Loves Chachi: COLLEGE DAYS
13 April 1982 ABC Tue
Written by James P. Dunne
Directed by Lowell Ganz.
Guest Starring:
Jeff Lester ......... Chip
Co-starring:
Chris McDermott ..... Suki
Brian Byers ......... "Squelch."
Featuring:
Lisa Lindgren ....... Judi
Rick Lantz .......... The Drunk
Synopsis 1:
Chachi suggests that Joanie spend more time at the college to help alleviate her
homesickness, but he soon regrets
his decision as she becomes the darling of fraternity row When Joanie gets
homesick, Chachi encourages her to hang out
at the college with her roomate, but he's soon stricken with a bad case of
heartache when Joanie not only falls in love
with learning, but also becomes the darling of fraternity row.
Synopsis 2:
When homesickness leaves Joanie listless, Chachi suggests that spending time at
the college with her roommate, Suki,
might be the cure she needs. Suki's friends in a fraternity take a shine to
Joanie and hire the band to perform at their
next mixer. Chachi objects, but is overruled by Mario, Annette and Bingo who
can't wait to party. Jealousy isn't Chachi's
only ailment. He fears that Joanie's new interest in academics will soon leave
him behind. But when the fraternity
mixer becomes a raucous beer blast, Chachi learns a lesson no found in books.
############# Joanie Loves Chachi ############
############### season 2 1982-83 #############
##############################################
ABC Thursdays 8:00-8:30pm Eastern (Sep 1982-Dec 1982) (11 episodes)
2.1 [--] Joanie Loves Chachi: FONZIE'S VISIT
30 September 1982 ABC Thur
Special Guest Star:
Henry Winkler ......... Fonzie (from Happy Days)
Susan Cotton .......... Linda
Featuring:
Grant Heslov .......... Mark
Joel Zwick directed the teleplay by Dana Olsen.
Synopsis 1:
Joanie, Chachi, and the band "adopt" the visiting Fonzie as their "dad" in order
to land a job on a tv show
Fonzie breezes into the Windy City unexpectedly as Joanie and Chachi are about
to audition for a TV show and is amazed
when he is greeted as "dad" by all five members of the band and thrust into
their midst as trombonist.
Synopsis 2:
As Fonzie arrives at the Delvecchios, Joanie and Chachi rush off to their
audition for the "Twist Fever" show, forgetting
their tambourine. The Fonz and Louisa decide to deliver it to the studio,
leaving Al upset that he failed to hug Chachi in
their new father-son relationship. At the TV studio, the band learns from Linda
that she is looking for a family act and
Joanie blurts out that their group is the Arcola Family Band. When Fonzie and
Louisa arrive, Chachi whispers an explanation
to Fonzie and begs him to go along with the "dad" role because this is the kid's
big chance. Joanie whispers the same
information to Louisa. Al is confused and hurt when he arrives and Chachi,
afraid that he will blow the whistle that they
are not a family band, refuses to recognize Al as his father.
2.2 [--] Joanie Loves Chachi: JOANIE'S ROOMMATE
14 October 1982 ABC Thur
Written by George Tricker and Neil Rosen.
Directed by Joel Zwick
Special Guest Stars:
Tom Bosley ......... Howard Cunningham (from Happy Days)
Marion Ross ........ Marion Cunningham (from Happy Days)
Co-Starring:
Deanna Olivier ..... The Girl
Synopsis 1:
Howard and Marion rush to Chicago when they mistakenly believe that Joanie and
Chachi are sharing an apartment Joanie
receives an unexpected visit from her parents, Howard and Marion Cunningham,
after Chachi answers Joanie's phone in the
middle of the night and Howard suspects the worst.
Synopsis 2:
The Cunninghams arrive at Joanie's apartment to find Chachi wearing their
daughter's bathrobe and a pink shower cap while
he's helping Joanie with plastering repairs. A desperate Joanie plasters
Chachi's face in the hope that he will not be
recognized, since she tried to pass him off as an opera-singing female roommate
during her phone conversation with Howard.
Joanie is then ordered to start packing to return to Milwaukee. Meanwhile, the
Cunninghams drop by at Chachi's place and
accuse his mother and stepfather of letting him run wild. Chachi gets caught in
the crossfire, and chooses Marion as the
most reasonable one to hear his side of the story.
2.3 [--] Joanie Loves Chachi: ONE ON ONE
21 October 1982 ABC Thur
Written by Larry Levinson
Directed by Howard Storm
Special Appearance by:
Basketball star Nancy Lieberman
Synopsis 1:
Chachi's sexist attitude angers Joanie, who gets him to agree to a one-on-one
basketball game with her college friend,
Nancy. Joanie is irate over Chachi's attitude regarding the equality of women,
and taunts him into a game of one-on-one
basketball with her friend, Nancy, who plays on a college team.
Synopsis 2:
Joanie complains to Louisa and Uncle Rico after Chachi and Mario make excuses to
stop Nancy from joining their game at
the recreation center. Joanie is far from thrilled with Chachi's reaction to
Uncle Rico's ignorant ideas on the inferiority
of women. She traps Chachi into agreeing to the game with Nancy, not realizing
that it will attract a screaming crowd,
including Chachi's relatives.
2.4 [--] Joanie Loves Chachi: NO NUDES IS GOOD NUDES
28 October 1982 ABC Thur
Written by Terry Hart
Directed by Lowell Ganz
Guest Starring:
Gerald Berns ......... Professor Logan.
Co-Starring;
Harold Ayer .......... Professor Harland,
Charles Stewart ...... Grand Poobah
Darian Mathias ....... Mary Beth
Synopsis 1:
Chachi is barely aware of what it entails when he winds up as a model for
Joanie's art class Jealous Chachi winds
up as the model for Joanie's art class - not realizing that he has to pose in
the nude.
Synopsis 2:
An argument over jealousy brews when Joanie announces she may miss band
rehearsal that night because her art professor
is taking her out for coffee after class. She insists that it is no more a date
than Chachi's claim that he took a blonde
to lunch for business purposes only. That evening Joanie drops by the Delvecchio
apartment to pick up her sketch pad.
Rico stirs Chachi into action with a remark that taking the pad is a good cover
for Joanie.
2.5 [--] Joanie Loves Chachi: EVERYBODY LOVES AUNT VANESSA
4 November 1982 ABC Thur
Written by Steve Granat and Mel Sherer
Directed by John Tracy
Synopsis 1:
Chachi innocently envisions a big break when a glamorous, older record producer
takes an interest in him - but she
has more than music on her mind Chachi beleives that a beautiful older woman
record producer is interested in the band,
but she envisions a romance.
Synopsis 2:
When the fashionable Vanessa shows up at the restaurant, Louisa initially
doesn't recognize her, and sends Joanie for her
high school yearbook. She proves to be an old classmate. Louisa introduces
Chachi, and Vanessa, impressed by his looks,
agrees to hear his band. Mario tries unsuccessfully to warn Chachi about rich
older women. Chachi begins to get nervous
after the band performance and the smooth way Vanessa dismisses Joanie for the
evening. Then Vanessa invites Chachi to a
party in her hotel room, pretending that she has invited the other band members.
Jessica Walter guest stars as Vanessa.
2.6 [--] Joanie Loves Chachi: BEATLEMANIA
11 November 1982 ABC Thur
Written by Gary Menteer
Directed by John Tracy
Guest Starring:
Mitch Weissman ....... Marvin O. Pizika
Co-starring:
Curt Ayers ........... Mr. Cassidy
Joy Claussen ......... Nurse Benson
Hillary Horan ........ Janice
Rob Monroe ........... the man
Synopsis 1:
Joanie believes she a patient she's seen in a hospital is Paul McCartney and she
and Chachi try to lure him to the club
Beatlemania invades Delvecchio's after Joanie announces that she's seen Paul
McCartney incognito in a hospital, and she
and Chachi lure the patient to a well-advertised "rehearsal" with their band to
improve business.
Synopsis 2:
Chachi doubts Joanie's news that the famous star has been hospitalized for
exhaustion, using the name Marvin O. Pizika,
until he and Annette see the young Englishman for themselves. When Marvin admits
that he plays guitar and misses jamming
with the lads back home, Chachi invites him to a jam session at the restaurant
the following night. Meanwhile, Joanie and
Chachi tell the world about Paul's appearance - never dreaming that he might not
be Paul.
2.7 [--] Joanie Loves Chachi: BEST FOOT FORWARD
18 November 1982 ABC Thur
Written by Joan Brooker and Nancy Eddo
Directed by Henry Winkler (making his directorial debut)
Guest Cast:
Martin Ferrero ....... Mr. Bresner
Ann Travolta ......... cashier
Tony Imparato ........ Terrence
Synopsis 1:
Against parental orders, Joanie and Chachi slip off to see a French art film,
only to be caught at the theatre by Al
and Louisa Joanie and Chachi decide they're adult enough to ignore parental
orders, and slip off to a much-banned
French art film - only to be caught by Al and Louisa when Joanie's foot becomes
jammed in a theatre seat.
Synopsis 2:
Louisa makes it clear that she does not want son Chachi and Joanie to see the
critically acclaimed film that has already
been banned in eight states. After she leaves with Al to visit a relative,
Joanie and Chachi, pretending that they are 21,
gain entrance to the theatre. Suddenly, they realize that Louisa and Al are
sitting behind them, and try to sneak out, but
Joanie's foot is solidly wedged in the seat in front of her.
2.8 [--] Joanie Loves Chachi: GOODBYE DELVECCHIO'S, HELLO WORLD
25 November 1982 ABC Thur
Teleplay by George Tricker and Neil Rosen.
Directed by John Tracy
Guest starring
Michael Alldredge ..... McNulty
Bill Kirchenbauer ..... Phil
Co-Starring:
John Fragnoli ......... Jeff
Featuring:
Don Davis ............. Benny.
Synopsis 1:
Al fires the band because of the members' careless habits and lax attitude, but
the group gets another job at an Irish pub
Anguished Al fires the band at Louisa's insistence, but Joanie and Chachi land
on their feet - dancing with the customers
- at an Irish pub where the group has
to play jigs.
Synopsis 2:
When the five band members persist in showing up late for work and being
careless about their show schedule, Louisa decides
that she and Al will have to be tougher. Al gives Joanie and Chachi the bad news
during a monopoly game. Brash Uncle Rico
brags that he has scheduled another gig for the band at a "Classier Place,"
McNulty's Pub. After the band survives a
five-hour performance, McNulty insists that they pay for their food. They long
to be back at Delvecchio's, but Al has hired
on a one-man band and the place is jumping.
2.9 [--] Joanie Loves Chachi: TERM PAPER
2 December 1982 ABC Thur
Teleplay by Cheryl Alu and Barry O'Brien
Directed by John Tracy
Guest Starring:
Dean Santoro .......... Professor Hollis
Co-Starring:
Steven Baio ........... Jerry Wood
William Woff .......... Bill Ziegler
Synopsis 1:
Mario's bumbling causes Joanie to be accused of cheating in a college course.
Stunned Joanie turns to Chachi after she's
accused of cheating because her term paper - typed by Mario - is identical to
that of another university student.
Synopsis 2:
Joanie's schedule is so jammed with school assignments that she trusts Mario to
type her paper on the Civil War. She
submits it to Professor Hollis, unaware that Mario accidentally burner her
masterpiece while tending the stove. After
Professor Hollis lowers the boom on Joanie and Jerry Wood for submitting the
same paper, word for word, Mario confesses.
When Joanie's paper burned, he bought her another - the same one purchased by
Jerry.
2.10 [--] Joanie Loves Chachi: MY DINNER WITH CHACHI
9 December 1982 ABC Thur
Written by Paula Roth
Directed by John Tracy
Guest Starring:
Greg Finley ......... the doctor
Synopsis 1:
When Joanie gets angry because Chachi kidded her about her cooking, he goes to
Al and Rico for advice on how do deal
with women Joanie's surprising anger at Chachi for joking about her awful
cooking sends him to Al and Uncle Rico for
man-to-man advice on how to get alone with women, while Joanie and Louisa
commiserate about men.
Synopsis 2:
Joanie confides to Louisa about a recurring dream in which it is 50 years later
and Chachi is marrying a woman who can
cook. Chachi's sympathetic mom offers to teach Joanie how to cook Chachi's
favorite dish: shrimp marinara. She takes a
box of shrimp from the restaurant delivery, not realizing that the shipment is
spoiled. Meanwhile, Chachi, in his talk
with Al and Uncle Rico, learns that diplomacy is a "must" in getting along with
women. Then Joanie proudly serves Chachi
the shrimp dish, pressing him to eat it all, and he insists - diplomatically -
that it is delicious.
2.11 [--] Joanie Loves Chachi: CHRISTMAS SHOW
16 December 1982 ABC Thur
Teleplay by Lesa Kite and Cindy Begel; Story by Cherl Alu and Nancy Churnin.
Directed by John Tracy
Synopsis 1:
Al's plans for a picture-perfect Christmas celebration get stalled in a snow
bank Chachi's stepfather, Al, sets his heart
on a picture-perfect holiday for the whole family - including Joanie on her
first Christmas Eve away from home - but
gets everyone stranded in the snow in the crowded van he is driving.
Synopsis 2:
Al is upset when Uncle Rico not only takes over and begins distributing gifts
prematurely, but also announces that he has
lined up a Christmas Eve radio gig for the band. Al insists on driving the van
so that everyone will get home safely in
time for the family holiday. The van winds up in a snow bank and the family
learns Uncle Rico's true feelings about holiday
gifting and the real meaning of Christmas.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC Tuesdays 8:30-9:00pm Eastern (May 1983-Sep 1983) (2
New episodes + Summer reruns)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.12 [--] Joanie Loves Chachi: FIRST LOVE, LAST LOVE
17 May 1983 ABC Tue
Written by Terry Hart
Directed by John Tracy
Guest Starring:
Ken Wright ....... Bobby Arnold.
Synopsis 1:
Chachi torments himself by thinking that Joanie still cares for her first love
Chachi torments himself by thinking
Joanie still cares for her first love, Chachi's former rival Bobby Arnold, when
Bobby shows up at Delvecchio's restaurant.
Synopsis 2:
Chachi is so unnerved when he first sees Bobby, now a medical student, that he
tries to hide. However, Al, reassures him
that Joanie has probably forgotten her old flame. To the contrary, Chachi learns
that both his mom, Louisa, and Joanie
have vivid memories of their first loves. Finally,
Chachi tells Joanie that Bobby is having dinner with them that night. At the
last minute he backs out, and Joanie leaves
with Bobby. While Chachi waits, he relives some memories of his own, including
his first date with Joanie.
2.13 [--] Joanie Loves Chachi: THE ELOPEMENT
(final new episode)
24 May 1983 ABC Tue
Written by James P. Dunne and Milee Taggart.
Directed by John Tracy
Guest Starring:
Argentina Brunetti ..... Aunt Gina
Ralph Manza ............ Uncle Guido.
Synopsis 1:
Al and Louisa panic after a 50th-wedding anniversary celebration prompts Joanie
and Chachi to elope Chachi's parents
panic upon learning that Joanie and Chachi have eloped.
Synopsis 2:
Delvecchio's restaurant is the scene of a 50th wedding anniversary celebration
for Uncle Guido and Aunt Gina. Joanie
and Chachi learn that the couple eloped, and think it is so romantic that Chachi
is moved to propose to Joanie on bended
knee. Joanie needs a little time to consider it. That night she slips into
Chachi's room and they prepare to elope.
Annette wanders in, and the news causes her to scream. The girls hide when Al
comes to investigate, and after he leaves,
Annette is instructed to wait an hour before announcing the elopement.
Meanwhile, Joanie and Chachi sneak back to get
Chachi's forgotten birth certficate fom the scary cellar, where they discover
they are not alone.
############# Joanie Loves Chachi ############
################### the end ##################
##############################################
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