Erin Moran: So long Joanie Cunningham

If you are a man of a certain age, chances are you had a crush on Joanie Cunningham. Although she started out as an annoying little sister in pig tales with a whiney voice, she matured into a beautiful, sexy woman, before our eyes on television, gracing the pages of teen magazines and, for a brief while, getting a show of her own.

When Erin Moran passed away awhile back and far too young, it brought back all those memories of Joanie Cunningham, her boyfriend Chachi Arcola, “Happy Days” and “Joanie Loves Chachi”.

In the beginning

Erin Moran was just 13 when she first appeared as Joanie Cunningham on “Happy Days”. Initially, the show chronicled the trials and tribulations of teenage boy Richie Cunningham, played by a young Ron Howard. Back then he was still best known as a child actor from the Andy Griffith Show and The Courtship of Eddie’s Father. Richie's little sister Joanie was mostly just that stereotypical annoying younger sister at first.

She seemed to be a one-joke pony too. At least once every episode, Joanie would say or do something that caused her parents to exclaim, “Joanie, go to your room!” Over time they would even poke fun at the joke with Joanie saying, “I know, I know, go to your room”, or just generally being prepared to go to her room.

That would all change.

Growing up

The character of Joanie Cunningham would develop over time. She developed a brief crush on Potsie Webber after he sang to her. She would leave him these love notes, addressing him as “Dren”. Once it was revealed she was the author, and Potsie could not have feelings for someone so young, she explained “Dren” was “Nerd” backwards and she chose it because, although everyone else seemed to call him a nerd, she thought the opposite. Hence “Dren”.

She would also befriend a boy-crazy girl named Jenny Piccalo who she talked about often, but the audience never saw. Eventually, Jenny would be seen and become a regular, played by Cathy Silvers, the daughter of comedic actor Phil Silvers, who even guest starred as Jenny Piccalo’s dad.

The Fonz would also take Joanie under his wing, calling her the playful nickname “Shortcake”. There was one episode where she had been pushed around by a classmate who beat her out in cheerleading tryouts. That girl was played by a young Charlene Tilton, who would go on to a long run playing Lucy Ewing on “Dallas”. She looked to do the same to Joanie in an upcoming dance marathon, until the Fonz stepped in to be her partner. She was so excited. Then tragedy struck. The Fonz’s motorcycle broke down and he had to push it miles home. He was exhausted when he got to Arnold’s for the dance marathon. Yet, he gutted it out. At the end, there were just a few teams left. Somehow, the Fonz found a new reserve of energy and let loose this amazing dance that won the marathon. It was almost like a Ukrainian dance.

Soon, Joanie’s life would be changed forever when Fonzie’s younger cousin, Chachi Arcola, comes to town.

Joanie is irritated by Chachi

Initially, Chachi tries to ask Joanie out and hit on her. He calls her “Blue Eyes” and uses the phrase, “Wah, wah, wah.” It becomes a patented phrase, but does not impress Joanie at all. In fact, she usually rebuffs him and makes some joke about his height while doing it.

Joanie likes Chachi

One day, as it seems Chachi is going to give up, he asks her out, and she says yes. He gets so excited, it seems things are finally going right for him.

Then he inadvertently sets fire to Arnold’s, which is just gutted, but will eventually come back as a modernized set.

Joanie Loves Chachi

There is obvious chemistry between Joanie and Chachi, and Erin Moran and Scott Baio. Their relationship blossoms and becomes quite serious.

Eventually they start a band. Al Delvecchio, part owner of Arnold’s, also starts dating Chachi’s mom, played by Ellen Travolta, sister of John Travolta.

This all leads into a spin-off, called “Joanie Loves Chachi”.

Al marries Chachi’s mom, and they all move to Chicago, where Al takes over a restaurant where Joanie and Chachi will play much of their music at.

The show aired on CBC, much like its parent show “Happy Days” did. However, it was tough to find because it was on during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Yet, I loved every episode, and especially the music.

It is unfortunate that not too many other people did.

“Joanie Loves Chachi” lasted parts of two seasons, from March of 1982 to May of 1983, airing a total of 17 episodes, then was cancelled.

These happy days

Joanie and Chachi returned to “Happy Days” for its final season. They would go through some ups and downs, including a break up but, as the series moved towards its finale, Chachi finally proposed to Joanie. I remember the episode well, because as he starts to propose, Joanie realizes what he is doing and starts to laugh and cry at the same time. Her reaction seemed so real too, as if Erin Moran herself was overcome by emotion.

“Happy Days”, which had been cancelled after 11 seasons, was in its final episodes, and the show wrapped up with Joanie marrying Chachi.

It was a poignant way to end an iconic show.

Guest star

Erin Moran also guest starred in a wide array of weekly shows in the 1980s including “The Love Boat”, “Murder, She Wrote”, and “Hotel”.

I recently saw her appearance on “Hotel”. She played Karen Donnolly, an aspiring singer who, in the climax of the episode, is given a chance to sing on stage by Mel Tormé. She sings, “Delta Dawn” and it is sultry and sexy, and awesome. It was obviously her real voice, because it sounded just like her voice on “Happy Days” and “Joanie Loves Chachi”.

She continued acting until 2012.

Erin Moran died on April 22, 2017. She was 56.

Parting thoughts

It was pretty amazing to watch the transformation of Erin Moran.

She started off as an annoying, freckled girl with a bit part in an up-and-coming sitcom.

However, as “Happy Days” gained in popularity, Erin Moran matured as well, blossoming into an attractive young woman, who became a regular in teen magazines and would be a teen idol.

Part of that was due to the unmistakable chemistry she had with Scott Baio. It is unfortunate that “Joanie Loves Chachi” did not last longer, but maybe it was meant to be that they wrap up their romance on “Happy Days” where it all began.

And that was such a part of growing up for me. I grew up right along with Joanie and Chachi, cheered when she said yes to go on their first date, cried when Arnold’s burned down to mar that first date, cheered when they started singing then moved to Chicago, cried when they broke up back in Milwaukee, and was elated when they got married.

I shed a tear when Joanie’s father Howard Cunningham looked straight into the camera in that final episode and toasted, “Here’s to all your happy days.”

It was a fitting end to an era, that was so much a part of growing up in the 1980s. “Happy Days” represented a simpler time.

The passing of Erin Moran, at far too young an age, was a reminder of that.

So long Joanie Cunningham.