Remembering “Chachi”

Scott Baio as Chachi Arcala, with his girlfriend Joanie Cunningham, played by Erin Moran, in "Happy Days"

Source: https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/erin-moran-dead-scott-baio-tribute-to-happy-days-costar-and-ex-w478338/

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His real name was Charles Arcola. Yet, from the time he was introduced as the Fonz’s cousin; to his move to Chicago with his girlfriend Joanie Cunningham; and his move back to Milwaukee where he ultimately married Joanie; he was always just “Chachi”.

When I was in Nanaimo last month, we were in a mall and walked past a place called “Chachi’s”, and it reminded me of that great role played on two different series by Scott Baio.

These happy days
When I was in elementary school right into junior high, I always looked forward to Tuesday nights for one simple reason – “Happy Days” was on. It was a sitcom set in Milwaukee in the 1950s then 1960s, featuring the Cunninghm family and their friends and associates. Howard, played by Tom Bosley is the father who owns a hardware store; Marion, played by Marion Ross is the mother who stays at home; Richie, the son, is played by Ron Howard, and his sister Joanie, is played by Erin Moran.

Richie’s friends are Ralph Malph and Warren “Potsie” Webber, played by Donny Most and Anson Willliams respectively. Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli, is a mechanic who wears a leather jacket, drives a motorcycle and is the epitome of cool. He rents an apartment above the Cunninghams’ garage.

It was must-see TV and all the talk the next morning on the school bus. There were all sorts of interesting story lines such as the Fonz jumping over 13 garbage cans in the parking lot of Arnold’s Drive-in; the Fonz and his girlfriend Pinky Tuscadero in a demolition derby against the Malachi Brothers; everyone on a dude ranch where the Fonz rides a bull; and of course the infamous episode where he jumps the shark.

The series originally revolved around Richie, but starting in the second season the creators spotlighted the Fonz, who became the focus and star of the show.

Then, in 1977, at the start of the fifth season, the show changed forever.

From Fonzie’s cousin to Joanie’s boyfriend
That was the year Fonzie’s cousin Charles “Chachi” Arcola, made his first appearance in “Happy Days”. He starts out as just a boy who does boy things like skipping school, acting rebellious, and experimenting. He has a crush on Joanie, trying to hit on her and calling her “Blue Eyes”. He also had this patented saying, “Waa, waa, waa” when referencing women. Joanie, in turn, blows off Chachi as just a boy, and calls him “shrimp” among other things.

Things changed in the seventh season. At this point, Joanie and Chachi are in high school. It is the outset of the season and the episode is called “Hot Stuff”. Chachi once more asks Joanie to go out and is surprised by the response.

“Maybe,” she said. That’s a first.

Chachi was working at Arnold’s, the local hangout, by that point. He was excited by Joanie’s response, and absent-mindedly throws off his apron at the end of his shift where it lands on a burner. Arnold’s ends up burning down as a result, and Chachi feels terrible, taking full responsibility.

As an aside, ultimately Fonzie takes his life savings and pools them with Al Delvecchio, owner of Arnold’s, to rebuild.

It is not until an episode entitled “Fools Rush In” where they finally go on their first date. The episode still sticks out for me. Chachi gets ready and Joanie tells him she has to babysit. He says he will meet her there. When he does, one of the kids is sick and can’t breathe, sending everyone into a panic. Chachi jumps in to help. Joanie suggests he run a hot tub and maybe the water vapour will help the boy to breathe.

It works, and Joanie and Chachi are on their way.

Take me to Chicago
The romance of Joanie and Chachi blossoms, and the couple become popular on the show. Consequently, they get their own show.

In the last episode of the ninth season, Chachi’s mom, played by Ellen Travolta, marries Al Delvecchio and they move to Chicago.

Joanie and Chachi move with them to pursue their career as musicians. The result is a new spin-off series called “Joanie Loves Chachi”. It debuted on March 23, 1982 to high ratings. Wikipedia reveals that was a result from immediately following “Happy Days” and airing against reruns of other shows.

The first season consisted of four episodes. When it returned in the Fall, the show moved to Thursday nights where it competed against ratings juggernaut “Magnum P.I.” and was cancelled after just 17 episodes. Its final episode aired on May 24, 1983.

What I will always remember about “Joanie Loves Chachi” was the opening credits where Erin Moran and Scott Baio actually sing this amazing song called “You Look at Me.”

Beyond that, I liked the show. The challenge on peasant vision was trying to find it. It aired on Channel 9 CBC, the same channel that aired “Happy Days”, and I think “Joanie Loves Chachi” followed it in Canada as it did in the States. However, in the Fall it was hard to find and either may not have aired on our channels, or I just lost track of it. That would seem hard to do in the three-channel universe, but often shows would air that were not listed in “TV Guide” and vice versa.

Back home
Joanie and Chachi rejoined “Happy Days”, making guest appearances in its 10th season, and became full cast members again for the show’s 11th and final season, which ran from 1983 to 1984. Joanie and Chachi break up, but in the end are meant for each other.

Chachi proposes to Joanie, she accepts and they are married in the series finale.

By then, “Happy Days” was no longer being aired on Channel 9, and it was just gone. (Ironically, two years later, CBC aired reruns of “Happy Days” after school, that played on a little black and white TV while I worked at a local greenhouse.)

Then, one Sunday afternoon, Channel 7 aired a whole afternoon of episodes of the final season. I think that was after the series finale which I did see.

Joanie and Chachi's marriage was a great way to end the series By that point Joanie and Chachi had become the focus of the show.

The last scene is touching as well. Howard Cunningham gives a toast to the newlyweds, then looks into the camera and toasts the viewing audience.

It was pretty cool.

Parting thoughts
I watched Chachi Arcola grow up before my eyes, going from an immature boy to a responsible young man. The transformation was most telling in his relationship with Joanie Cunningham. Initially he was nothing more than a nuisance to her but, eventually, she came to realize who he really was and they developed a deep relationship.

It took them to Chicago to pursue their dreams, back to Milwaukee to essentially start over, some time apart, and ultimately ended in their marriage.

By the time they got married, I too was growing up and was getting into romance stories.

Seeing Chachi marry Joanie was the perfect way to send off a character I had essentially grown up with.