HAPPY DAYS: SOUTHERN CROSSING (TV)
Summary
One in this series of comedies about life in the 1950s. In this episode, Howard is beside himself when the Cunninghams’ broken television set is taken away for repair by Mel. Meanwhile, after some prodding, Al reveals to Fonz that he’s heading to the South to take part in a civil rights freedom march. Fonz tells Howard that he doesn’t think Al is cut out for such an activity and opts to help out by joining him. Soon, Fonz and Al are taking a bus down South and staying with a black couple, Henry and Annie Douglas. However, the couple has a truculent son, Charles, who is put off by their Northern guests being white. Fonz and Al make rally signs with the family, but Charles thinks their “arts and crafts exercise” is futile. Charles offends Al, who diplomatically heads off to bed. Fonz tries to explain Al’s motivations to Charles. Fonz wonders what Charles wants from him and the black youth says he simply wants Fonz to have lunch with him to get a better feel for what he experiences. The next day, Charles takes Fonz and Al to a “whites only” restaurant where owner Ned quickly tries to eject them. Ned calls Sheriff Jack, after which burly customer Lamar accuses Fonz of being “a black lover.” Jack arrives and tries to eject Charles, but he refuses to go, along with Fonz and Al. Soon, Jack is about to arrest the three men but waitress Mae is inspired by their pleas and actually pours coffee for the trio. Mae’s action helps Charles to warm up to Fonz and Al. Finally, Fonz and Al return home to recount their success in the South, just as Howard’s beloved TV is returned. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: January 12, 1982 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:25:50
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:51605
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1974-1984
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Thomas L. Miller … Executive Producer
- Edward K. Milkis … Executive Producer
- Garry K. Marshall … Executive Producer, Created by
- Lowell Ganz … Supervising Producer
- Jerry Paris … Producer, Director
- Ronny Hallin … Producer
- James P. Dunne … Associate Producer
- Richard Gurman … Writer
- Brian Levant … Writer
- Charles Fox … Music by, Theme Music by
- Norman Gimbel … Theme Music by
- Henry Winkler … Cast, Arthur "Fonz" Fonzarelli
- Marion Ross … Cast, Marion Cunningham
- Anson Williams … Cast, Potsie Weber
- Erin Moran … Cast, Joanie Cunningham
- Al Molinaro … Cast, Al Delvecchio
- Scott Baio … Cast, Chachi Arcola
- Lynda Goodfriend … Cast, Lori Beth Cunningham
- Tom Bosley … Cast, Howard Cunningham
- David Hubbard … Cast, Charles Douglas
- Ketty Lester … Cast, Annie Douglas
- Al Fann … Cast, Henry Douglas
- Gary Grubbs … Cast, Sheriff Jack
- Gene B. Collens … Cast, Ned
- Brenda Hillhouse … Cast, Mae
- Tom Rayhall … Cast, Lamar
- James O'Connell … Cast, Mel