Whatever Happened to SPIKE from TV's "Happy Days"
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 พ.ย. 2024
- Join Pop Culture Historian Dave Sundstrom as talks about the classic TV show "Happy Days" and uncovers the story of Fonzie's pint-sized cousin, Spike! Discover why Spike never became an audience favorite and what happened to the actor, Danny Butch, who portrayed him. Don't forget to hit the subscribe button for more pop culture history!
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Spike was the Scrappy Doo of Happy Days.
Lol😎👍
Geez, I hated Scrappy Doo.lol.😂
Did you ever watch Fonz and the Happy Days Gang? If not you were spared a worse character than Scrappy Doo Mr. Cool consider yourself lucky.
@@stanzelko5243
I'm with you. The character Scrappy Doo was just annoying.
Enter, Scrappy Doo-- exit Fred, Velma, mysteries, Scooby running like a dog, excitement, humor...etc.
I had totally forgotten about Spike, but I definitely remember Leather and Pinky Tuscadero! I thought Leather was so cool, lol.
I loved both of the Tuscadero sisters.
Oh Pinky and Leather, gotta love them lovely ladies! 😍
Real life rocker Suzi Quatro that played Leather Tuscadero had quite a rock n roll life. Influenced, started, produced and played with other female rockers. Last year her Bio-mentary movie was released called “Suzi Q”. For years there was a campaign to put her in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. But the statue of limitations ran out last year. But fans are still trying to get her in.
Was it your jerk material?
I thought Leather was gorgeous!😜
I literally forgot about this character entirely lol I felt a memory being triggered as soon as I saw this. I DO remember the Tuscadero sisters, though. That was kind of a big story arc on that show for a while. Also, I learned years later that Leather was played by Suzi Quatro, who actually had a pretty successful music career.
quatro was already a sucess before happy days. spike was a nerd trying to be cool. leather was cool period.
Boy does this bring back memories. I really like the episode where a kid was giving Fonz a load of bolongy and Fonz brought in Spike to deal with the kid. Fonz explained that he definitely did not mess with kids and that is why Spike was brought by.
Ha! That's right!
Oh yeah I remember that episode! It was called Football Frolics, It was when Richie Potsie and Ralph babysat a whole bunch of kids to raise money for football tickets.🙂
Bonnie Riffle, interesting trivia the little black kid was played by Khristen St. John from a soap opera forgot the name, but sadly he died few years ago at young age of 53 or so 😞
@@tonypastor705 wow! That is sad.
He tells Ralph with a closed fist "you see this?" Unimpressed Ralph says "yeah" then Spike stomps on his foot and Ralph reacts. LoL. Donny Most was funny.
A friend of mine was working at a big hotel in Naples Florida an older woman approximately 90 years old was checking in and needed help with her luggage all the valet parkers were parking and there was no bell staff available a man stepped up and took her luggage to the room and then refused to tip it was Henry Winkler
What a great story! Thanks for sharing Keith E. 🙂
I am assuming the “to” should be “the.” “Refused the tip,” makes the Fonz even cooler.
@@Dingdongwitchisdead yes he did refuse the tip I am blind and I use Siri to write with work right now and sometimes she takes the most critical world and screws it up but no when the woman got to the door she turned to him and offered him a tip and he said that’s OK and he went back downstairs I’m sorry that was 100% clear in the story I’ll work better in the future see you on Wednesday night The live feed if you’re on there
I’m
now that is COOL, never once threw a fist at anyone ever
As a girl at the time, I liked him a lot. I hope the actor is well and happy. Thanks for this one. Lots of fun.
Glad you enjoyed it
Posting 6-11-24. He was in other stuff, but he's alive as of now, and I'd guess he's 62 y/o or thereabouts.
I remember that. It was cute for a few episodes but after that it’s not that interesting to have a mini me Fonzie. Fonzie’s uniqueness was part of his appeal.
The only reason The Fonz stood out was because he was surrounded by Nerds ! They needed more characters that were more like the fonz ! It would have made the show more interesting ! The only other guest star that made an appearance on the show that was cool was Eddie Mecka , the Big Ragu Carmine from Laverne & Shirley ! He came to help out the Fonz in a fight at the school gym against some gang members that were bothering Joannie ! It was the only episode that the Fonz actually hit someone on the show !
OMG Dave! I just watched an episode of Happy Days yesterday on METV with what may have been Spike's first outing on that show. He took Joanie on a date and Richie was mad worried. LOL! What a coincidence that character is your subject for today. Good TV!
Yep. The episode was titled "Not with my Sister, you Don't" and originally aired 11-19-74 (Season 2, Episode 8).
I was a HUGE fan of Fonzie. My Dad even got me a Fonzie leather jacket. I thought I was so cool. I was actually jealous of Spike. I had the whole get up. Jacket, Jeans, White T Shirt, and Boots. I even had the Fonzie doll where you could make his thumbs go up and down. Memories never die.
I had a Fonzie jacket, too. I was 13 then, am 61 now (turned last June 10).
The real Fonzie jacket is in the Smithsonian.
@@albundy6008 As is Archie Bunker's chair. In fact, there was an AITF episode dealing with it. The chair was gone. I don't recall what happened to it; it may have been destroyed. But it is in the Smithsonian.
I dressed like the Fonz on 50s day when I was in 6th grade. I entered a costume contest but I can't remember if I won.
@@TheBrooklynbodine in that episode, mike broke the leg on the chair and sent it out to be repaired, but nobody had the guts to tell Archie.
Once again you trigger memories of growing up in SoCal Dave. My much older brother had a close friend and neighbor at the time (they’re still close) Who was an off and on character on “Happy days“. He eventually became one of the regular characters on the short-lived “Joanie loves Chachi“. He played the drummer in the band if I remember correctly. He had been popping up on various tv shows over those years with small speaking parts. The first time I remember seeing him was on an episode of Adam 12. Anyway, as a little kid it was always fun to listen to him give the inside scoop of happy days, the spin off as well as other shows. Thanks again and keep your videos coming!
That is so cool!
Your brother was the drummer? The curly haired guy, right? Very cool!
@@jdsundstrom No, his friend was. Derrel Maury is his name. Like I said, he was also our neighbor and he and my brother are still good friends. He always has good stories about working on television in those days.
@@Rickinvegas Wait a minute.
You are talking about Derrel Maury, the star of the cult film Massacre At Central High with Andrew Stevens, Kimberly Beck and Robert Carradine. WOW. I liked him as Mario in Joanie Loves Chachi.
@@jdsundstrom
Rickinvegas inspired a possible future video. You should do a video about the cult film Massacre At Central High starring Derrel Maury, Kimberly Beck and Andrew Stevens.
Dave, I love your voice and your "feel good" story telling. I'm 54 and remember the show I grew up with gives me warm fuzzies. Thank you
That's a huge part of his appeal. Tho far be it his only: genuinely loves his fans, super kind, but not prudish or mousy. ( Nothing wrong with that tho)
He keeps in correspondence with his chats.
Is highly enthusiastic in his videos, and he leaves you feeling..... " Good "
After so much dark in life, I come here to reset.
I personally liked Spike. He was funny and cute. I guess because I was a fan of the Fonz when I was 9, I could relate to him! Thanks for producing this video, Dave!
You're most welcome William!
@@jdsundstrom I liked Spike thought he was a good character of course I tended to like characters most fans hate. for Example I liked the Wonder Twins on Superfriends and Scrapy-Doo on Scooby- Doo's shows. as for Joanie loves Chachi that was a good show.....at least Scott Baio and Erin Moran were allowed to return to Happy Days after their show was over.............sadly the same thing could not be said for the character's of the Ropers..The actors were not allowed to return except for one guest appearence and work beside Don Knotts as MR. Furley.
@@jdsundstrom As for the Tuscadero sisters. from what I Heared the actress who played Pinky supposably didn't get along with the cast of Happy Days.. Her TV sister Leather after several episodes of Happy Days the last one being Leather dateing Ralph Malph for some Collage event....The actress was a Singer and she wanted to continue her singing career even though Garry Marshell offered her a TV series of her own that she turned down.
I liked tge character Spike wherever he is I hope he's happy and doing well
He was a fun character for sure. Thanks for the comment Lisa!
good day lisa. see you tomorrow night.
@@kennethwilkinson8244 see you soon
I just watched Spike on MeTV! Unfortunately, the part where Fonzi and Spike tip their sunglasses towards Wendy was omitted.
Dave, you are about the same age as my kid brother I think and he was also a Fonzie fan. He went around with his own “ayeee.”
I saw Susie Quatro (Leather Tuscadero) open for Alice Cooper when I was in high school.
I would have loved to have seen Susie live! And even though I've seen Alice a few times now...I suspect those concerts in the 70s would have been so freakin' awesome!
@@jdsundstrom I saw many of the cool bands in the 70s. Too many to name here but I did miss Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, dangit😆
@@jdsundstrom you should talk about rowan and martin laugh in 🙃
I watched it too, last night. Loved Happy Days. I was in the Marine Corps when it debuted January 1974, at Camp LeJeune. We never missed an episode
@@jdsundstrom th-cam.com/video/K1vMaYlptNg/w-d-xo.html
I was expecting when Fonzi became a teacher in the high school that Spike would have made a comeback. It would have been cool to see a teen version of Spike.
That would have been kinda neat!
I always wonder why a 32 year old man hung out with 18 year old kids..
Great vid Dave! We just had a Con here in TN. Got to meet Fonzie(Henry), Ralph(Don), and Potsie(Anson) for a 50th Reunion. I work They were WONDERFUL! Such friendly people. Don put us in contact with his music publisher too. Hope you get to meet them someday.
I hope so too. That would be way cool!
I think the problem with Spike is it was an adult's idea of what a kid wanted as wish fulfillment. I was happy with aspiring to be Fonzi, I didn't need a mini-version of Fonzie to identify with because, like most children, I had an imagination.
I never had much use for Robin either, but at least TV Robin made TV Batman look good. Spike didn't really add anything and I think in a way, diminished Fonzie. And when Spike wanted to open a flower shop, that was just confusing. I think before "jump the shark" "I want to be a florist" was the kiss of death for a character.
Growing up, I never knew anyone who wanted to be a florist.
I wonder if it is possible that it was a situation like last season of Curb Your Enthusiasm, where Larry had to cast a horrible actress because he was being blackmailed? Because there was no writing there to make the character of Spike work. And I never felt any chemistry between Fonzi and his diminutive clone.
That being said, I did wonder what happened to him and if there was some connection between Spike and Chachi.
Thanks for the great insights maplebob23!
Interesting 😊
I commented on the 'liking flowers' aspect of Spike above on this thread. There are flower shops out there, I actually grew up with one on my block. It is still there today, many years later. I dont know if you recall this, but Rhoda Morgenstern (of Mary Tyler Moore Show fame) actually opened up a flower shop, at one point during the show's arc. I dont think it was problematic, at least in terms of ratings or the show's popularity.
Officer Hightower (Bubba Smith) was a florist.
Spike riding his bike with the baseball cards clothes pinned near the wheel spokes was classic. I can only imagine how many Brett and Yount rookie cards got ruined as a result. Such a great show especially in the early seasons.
Thanks for sharing Michael!
@@jdsundstrom I liked Spike on Happy Days was nice to see a Mini Fonz. Fans of TV shows , Movies and Cartoons can be so picky at times.....it's amazing how they can hate a character........about the only thing to explain with Spike and later Chachi was in early episodes I think in season 1 or 2.. Fonz mentions he is a only child and Spike called Fonz..... Uncle Fonz............and it's never mentioned if his parents had brothers or sisters. then along comes Chachi and his mother and later Fonz's long lost Brother.
I love your channel and I love the intro that you put out there to tell us about YOU! You are a really good historian in your own right and a joy to listen to. Thank you! ~Sharon
Thanks for the kind words!
Loved the sign in one of the stills at Arnold's: "Fonzie's tough, but our chicken isn't" 🤣
I always like the bicycle with the mirrors on it when Spike pulled up beside the Fonz.
Joe Sinkovits, it was explained once in an episode that Fonz said he only says he’s his cousin so Spike could feel like he’s closer to his age- unless I remember it wrong, either way I always thought the Spike character makes the show seem unbalanced,since we already had Fonzie!
Spike was just another “hey let’s add a new young character to spice thing up” trope of the times… like Cousin Oliver on the Brady Bunch.. Scrappy Doo on the Scooby Doo show, etc
A few lesser remembered ones from 80s shows, Chrissy from Growing Pains, Andy from
Family Ties.
I do remember seeing Danny Butch on a segment of the 2005 “Happy Days Reunion” on ABC, it was the where they played baseball, Arnold’s Drive In against Cunningham Hardware teams.
He's not on screen for long...but you're right, he's there.
SPIKE? Fonzies younger Cousin? Hmmm why don't I remember him?🤔As always a great video Dave! 😊😎✌👍
Hey Dave I still watch happy days every evening on me tv and love my Henry Winkler aka the Fonz I love all of my old school tv shows and movies I also love my cowboy westerns you have a great show Dave you are super sweet and awsome thank you for keeping us informed about all of our old actors and actresses
I'm glad you enjoyed the video Bessie. Thanks for the kind words!
Just yesterday Jan.23th,2022 I was watching Happy Days and this young actor was had a appearance as Fonzie's cousin Spike.
I liked the "Spike" character mainly because at the time of his appearances, the creative writing in those Happy Days episodes was still high-quality humor. The character relationships were interesting and supported the subtle yet even at times sophisticated humor.
Contrast this to "Chachi" Arcola appearance. I would say as Arcola became teenaged in years, by those episodes of the sitcom, the writing had really deteriorated to very simplistic and cliche humor. With serious degradation and/or absence of the main characters.
Great upload! I think Spike's character was kind of a cute idea, but I think as little as they featured him was more than enough. I don't think his character made enough of a long-lasting impression to be a regular on the show.
Gosh, I remember Chuck, but I had totally forgot Spike. I guess back when I was a kid and watching reruns, I just assumed that Chachi was a name-changed Spike, even though their characters were not much alike.
The probable reason Chachi probably worked better than Spike was partially timing. Chachi was becoming a regular as the main cast was starting to grow out of the show and wane. So, with Joanie moving into the high school era, he fit a role in the show that led to bigger things. At the time Spike was around, the show was young and throwing in a kid sidekick just wasn't necessary. Kind of messed with the tone of the show a little. At least it wasn't one of those "throw a kid in at the last minute to save the show" things. That came later with Fonzie's teacher phase.
Good points The Johno95. Thanks for sharing!
Being somewhat older, I remember the pilot, "Love and the Happy Days" and how "Summit of '42" quaint it was. I enjoyed the first two seasons as the stories were poignant and character real. The show truly jumped the shark, in an artistic sense, years before they actually did with the addition of the live audience. It became a mug-fest and lost a lot of its original charm. But season three was also when ratings took off, so that shows what I know. Spike, a pre-Mini-Me, was a character that added nothing to the show and I barely remembered, much like the highly touted and dubiously talented Pinky Tuscadero. I would recommend watching the pilot, found right here a YT. It gives a glimpse into a more innocent time, when buying a tv was truly a neighborhood event.
I remember seeing "Love and the Happy Days" on a daytime rerun of "Love, American Style". Very interesting!
@@jdsundstrom
The original version starring Ron Howard, Marion Ross and Anson Williams but featuring Harold Gould as Mr. Cunningham. I saw and loved it as well.
LOVE AMERICAN STYLE was the mother of Happy Days and AMERICAN GRAFFITI was the father of Happy Days.
The "Spike" character was atrocious and ridiculous....and was very disrespectful towards others for a 1950s setting....!!!
You are right, it seemed to me like the show lost something when they went before a live audience
I guess the guy who hosts the show was wrong I read besides me that everybody likes Spike So I’m very happy about this
It was funny how Ralph Mauf acted like he was scared of Spike 😂
Please don't think of me as a nerd, but I liked Spike. Danny Butch appeared on the 30th reunion show, as well as the 2 Chucks.
Spike was cool ! The show needed more characters like the Fonz ! It would’ve made the show more interesting !
I loved Spike. He was so cool!
First mini-me. In school after he came out everyone loved Spike.
Dave you do a great job profiling TV shows, really enjoy your channel.
Thanks for the kind words Jax West!
Spike and Chuck were sucked through a rip in the space-time continuum caused by Fonzie hitting the jukebox too hard one day and deposited in an alternate universe where there is no Richie or Fonz. Chuck got all the love and support from Howard and Marion that he needed and finally entered the NBA, taking Kareem Abdul Jabbar's spot on the Bucks, and later the Lakers, retiring at 93. Spike, on the other hand, became the leader of that dimension's T-Birds where he ruled Milwaukee's streets with an iron fist before finally being killed in a knife fight with an alternate version of Carmine Ragusa, who worked for the D'Fozzio Crime Syndicate. Or so, an unnamed government source tells me. Thanks for the upload, Dave!
I had completely forgotten about this character.
It was a fun show to watch for about the first four seasons. Then the stories became cheesy. Sometimes they went from funny to more serious topics. I liked it much better with the light hearted episodes.
my favorite episode was "Johnny Fish and the Fins"--long before it became the "Fonzi Show"
I always tried to figure out how Spike could be Fonzie’s nephew since I thought Fonzie was an only child. Great video, Dave!
Fonzie tells Howard Cunningham that Spike wasn't his nephew in the Cunningham kitchen
Thanks!
He had brother
@@jasper6032 no Arthur Hubert Fonzerelli was an only child
@@jasper6032 no. Only child.
I have a slightly different theory on Chachi. He was popular because, by then, there could be romance between Joanie and whomever. That simply wasn't the case in the early years. Plus, Chachi gave Joanie someone to talk to and a reason for being there. Otherwise, she'd have to remain the wise-cracking little sister for long after that would have been appropriate. If they hadn't developed Chachi, a more mature little sister would be all alone. Who knows, they might have even "Chucked" her, too!
Solid theory!
Remember when Chachi was shorter than Joanie and him saying Wah wah wah?😄
@@Doris1888 Yep I remember that!😂
Those really were Happy Days. And yes, I remember Spike. I was in middle school at the time, and life was super great then. I miss the '70s. Wherever you are, Spike, I hope you're still cool.
Figured Spike would've been riding a Vespa (with all the snow in Milwaukee,how could the Fonz keep riding a motorcycle?). Also, i saw the Bad News Bears 1977 sequel and thought Jimmy Baio was Spike. Heyyyyy!!!
Lol I wasn't alone 🍻
Have you done an episode on the Malachi Brothers? "Give him the Malachi Crunch!"
Wow, I watched a lot of Happy Days back as a kid, but I have no memory of him (which seems like it was for the best).
We didn't then nor do I now, like a child that acts way to much like an adult. TY for the video and the memories.
I grew up with Danny Butch. I have known him all my life.
Give us an update on him please
His Fans want to know how he is
Liar
@@RS-cd9cf please elaborate, how do you know this man is lieing ?
@@johnharris3362 please elaborate, how do you know he’s telling the truth?
@@RS-cd9cf I wouldn't call anybody a lier unless I knew it for a fact .
to be honest...I feel about having a kid like Fonz, just seem creepy and unwanted. Of course, this is coming from the kid me watching reruns during the 80s, plus watching Happy dayz during my time in active service Army.
Thanks for sharing Harper!
I love Happy Days and watched it every week as a kid. I totally forgot about Spike, so that shows how memorable he was. I’m Facebook friends with both Donnie Most and Anson Williams, who are both great guys! Henry Winkler is also one of the nicest guys in show biz. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing Kevin!
I didn’t miss Spike, and I agree that the reason he wasn’t popular because he was too much like Fonzie. For one episode, it was cute. Beyond that, it was just dumb. As for his character disappearing, I presume he was supposed to have outgrown the whole copycat fad and grew up to be himself - not trailing behind Fonzie like a puppy. What I really wanted to know was how, exactly, he, and Chachi too, were related to Fonzie, who was supposed to have had nobody but a grandmother who raised him. I enjoyed your vid and would love to see more on all those great 70s shows.
Not sure if anyone mentioned it, but I remembered he liked flowers and that what kept him in school.
I believe that Scot Baio was added to happy days because he was in the recently failed, and Gary Marshal produced Blansky’s Beauties. I think producers liked him and wanted to keep him working. So they added him to Happy Days. He might even have been under contract when the other show got canceled.
Also Jenny Picolo played by Cathy Silvers, once gone she was barely mentioned again, she was my favorite character on Happy Days later years.
She took after her dad in the humor department. She was underrated.
I think she could have had her own show.
Been watching Happy Days on ME TV and had just been discussing Spike with a friend and then this popped up ! Thanks Dave !
You're welcome SB!
I do remember that character. Reminded me of an "embryonic" version of Chachi. I also remember he appeared somewhat in character in a TV spot of a line of toy cars...
Spike was the "Cousin Oliver" of Happy Days. Another couple of episodes of spike and the show would of "Jumped the Shark" before Da Fonz actually Jumped the Shark
When Happy Days first came on tv in 1974 it was up against top rated Maude but did overtake her in ratings. Also Dave can you do a segment on one of the Happy Days directors Jerry Paris. He also directed episodes of The Munsters, Mary Tyler Moore and The Dick Van Dyke Show where of course he was also featured as Rob Petries neighbor Jerry Helper
We thought he was potsies father
Ahhhh, Spike! I liked his character. But I think you are right Dave...we didn't need or want a little version of Fonzie.
But hey....Danny Butch got to play a character on one of the most iconic shows of TV History. Not many people can say that!
As for what happen to SPike...wellll.
Let's see...Spike disappears, Chachi shows up...he immediately has eyes for Joanie...we never see Spike again...and Joanie ends up loving and marrying Chachi.
"Mr Arcola -where were you on the night Spike disappeared?"
Hmmmm....sounds fishy to me! lol!!
Great video my friend!
Oh my goodness....you are right, Mike! And, I always thought Chachi was a little "shifty". 🙂
@@jdsundstrom 🤣🤣👍👍
Yes he became Spike Spikerson.
Hay, I resemble that remark. :)
good day pat, buddy.
@@kennethwilkinson8244 Howdy Ken!
First time watching your channel and this was great. Newly subscribed and now binge watching your videos. Great job well done 👍
Thanks for subscribing Portia!
@@jdsundstrom 👍😊 thank you so much for your response. I'm enjoying your videos.
Honestly, I really only watch, and LOVE, the first 2 season of HD'd (the non-live audience ones). The rest are pretty much a wash for me...but can still be fun. Really not a fan of Spike tho. Or some of the other minor HD's characters. But I love the first 2 seasons dearly.
That's a lovely shot of Erin in the middle.
Ditto !!!!!!!!!
Thank you for this wonderful video.
Here's an interesting bit of trivia on this subject matter. When the series Happy Days ended, The Fonz adopted a young orphan boy named Danny. Probably named after Danny Butch, the young actor who portrayed Spike Fonzarelli.
You're welcome and thanks for the comment!
The Cousin Oliver of Happy Days. I had forgotten about him, so thanks for bringing back the pain.
Anytime Tom!
@@jdsundstromI did a Google search about this, and it said that Spike was supposed to be Fonzie's nephew (not his cousin); whereas Chaci was a cousin.
Or like Poochie on the Simpsons
I liked Spike back then it kinda crossed my mind he wanted to be Fonz or that was just the style he followed of the time. Was a little disappointed they got rid of him. Butch did appear in a Happy Days reunion several yrs ago where they did Cunningham Hardware Vs. Al's baseball game. Cool he showed up for that.
I too loved Happy Days in the 70's. It seems like everyone my age was obsessed with the 1950's. I was born in the early 1960's and was jealous of friends who were born in the 50's. I had totally forgotten about Spike so no I did not miss him when he left. Too me Spike was a cousin Oliver when there was no need for a cousin Oliver since Spike was there when Happy Days was in their prime. It is too bad that he played an unnecessary character because Danny Butch was a great actor and could have had a big impact with a well-developed character.
Thanks for sharing Mac!
Barely remember him but glad he's doing well...
"Spike" was good for an episode or two, like when Arnold played a miniature version of Mr. T on Differnt Strokes. It's funny to see a little replica of a popular character. Still, it has ZERO staying power, ad the character isn't allowed to be his own thing. It's kind of like having a model of a Hot Rod. Sure it's nice to look at, but deep down, you just want the REAL thing.
Thanks for this interesting video. A curious thought had occurred to me. During season 10, Happy Days introduced Billy Warlock as Roger's younger brother Flip and Crystal Bernard as Howard's niece KC to fill the empty void left by Scott Baio and Erin Moran when they had to leave the parent show for their spinoff Joanie Loves Chachi. What the series producers should have done was bring back Suzy Quatro as Leather Tuscadero and Danny Butch as Spike Fonzarelli. SPIKE LOVES LEATHER !! A pity they did not return. Such a wasted opportunity.
Fonz was always my favorite character. I barely remember Spike. I think Cha Chi was a better character, but got tired of him saying wah wah wah wah. Thanks for the Happy Days memories. The coolest.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video Bryan!
He stopped saying that after a while as he got older.
Ty for sharing beautiful happy days with us fans lots of great actors here rip ein Moran😔🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
Thanks for watching!
I watched Happy Days because it was set in the 50s-60s. I remember Spike and can understand why the writers tried to design a kid who wanted to be like the Fonz. When I was a teenager, I had a couple of neighbor kids who wanted to be like me; or, at least draw like me.
@Dave Sundstrom I recently learned that the character ''Charles "Chuck" Cunningham'' was actually played by three different actors. In "Love and the Happy Days", the 1972 pilot, episode of ''Love American Style'' he was played by (Ric Carrott). In the first two seasons of ''Happy Days'' he was played by (Gavin O'Herlihy), who was replaced by (Randolph Roberts) for two episodes in the second season.
The lady that played Pinky wasn't a good person. The cast didn't like her, they did not get along. That's why she never returned. I never liked Spike, I thought he was cringy
woooonderful as always.....🎉🎉🎉
My memory is that is was an exact minature Fronzie. In every detail. Maybe if they gave him one of two different qualities than the Fonz, maybe people would have liked him more. As for me, I considered him more annoying than funny.
Your memory is exactly why Chachi came to be. He wasn't an exact miniature duplicate of the Fonz.
Basically he was junior high fonz that could be why people didn’t take to him as well as Chachi Arcola spike wasn’t ment to be his own character like Chachi was allowed to be so people were able to connect with him better
@@jdsundstrom I found it hard to watch an adolescent boy looking at grown girls the way Fonzie did.
I was a kid when these episodes first aired. Was a huge fan, never missed them. A shout out to "Welcome Back Kotter" too, lol.
The "Cousin Oliver" of Happy Days
thank you for this video.. not for Spike himself, but for the info about danny butch.. the "big john, little john" show is something that up until now i had thought i had imagined because i had forgotten the name of the show and could only remember bits and pieces of it and no one ever knew what i was talking about.
Cousin Spike came from the same creative impulses that thought the Cousin Oliver from the Brady Bunch would be a success. I feel sad for both of these actors because they were doomed from the start as the long-term chemistry was not there. Some child actors have 'it' and others don't. th-cam.com/video/DkknB5bJSts/w-d-xo.html
Actually Robbie Rist (Cousin Oliver) has done alright. Check out my video on him here: th-cam.com/video/b_YbXAyMYlE/w-d-xo.html
Nice job on this one! Definitely do one on the Tuscadero sisters! I know that the actress who played Pinky was on Judge Judy a long while back.
The Scrappy Doo or Bat Mite of prime time. Totally unnecessary.
What a great comparison! I wish that I'd used that in the video.
@@jdsundstrom Even when we were kids we could see when we were being pandered to by adults who did not understand us very well. More Fonzie, fewer gimmicks is all we wanted (but everyone in my class loved Pinkie and Mork!). I guess that is one reason why us older Xers are considered to be so jaded; grownups we're always ruining our shows (e.g., Dukes of Hazzard post Bo and Luke, Archie's Place, killing off James Evans from Good Times, cancelling Starsky and Hutch for the Love Boat, and my personal heartbreak, the 1977+ Wonder Woman with a litany of forgettable plots and villains, as if the writers had never read the 25-cent comic books contemporary to the time). Sigh. Love, love, love your videos!
I'm glad you enjoy my videos Chris. Thanks for the kind words...and great comments!
I've watched this show since I was 7. I'm 40 now and this show was a major part of my childhood, watching it on various channels. I loved it so much i even have Richie and Fonzi's dolls. Good show.
Thanks for sharing!
Didn't like Spike. He didn't act the part as well as Chachi did. Looked to me that he was an add-on to boost Fonzie's character, but, didn't really work out. Wah Wah Wah was more comical than any of Spike's lines.
I loved Happy Days when I was a kid. But I didn't realize that the show was about a world that never really existed. It was the polished up and filtered version of the 50's. Still a fun show pre-shark-jumping.
I STILL think that a _Happy Days_ spinoff _Chuck & Spike_ would have been an interesting sitcom. It could have been like _Odd Couple..._ 🤔
Now that's a show I would have watched!
Pinkie could be the landlady
I think I remember catching a rerun with Spike in it; I'd forgotten about him and wondered why they got rid of him, and then brought Chachi in later, who seemed to start out acting very much the same (or at least it seemed that way to me). You're right, though, Chachi gradually grew to be less perfectly cool like Fonz, and became a more well-rounded, human, and fallible character. And that may be why he lasted longer than Spike, because people could relate to him more. And the fact he was older probably helped him become a teen idol and brought in more younger, female fans. Joanie Loves Chachi was also a guilty pleasure for me, but I didn't remember it lasted into a second season! I think what drew me in was the singing, even though Baio wasn't the best singer; maybe that's why I liked it, it made singing seem more possible for those of us who can't! You may also be right that the actor who played Spike might be happier not being famous anymore; he'd have more privacy and wouldn't be approached by fans everywhere (I imagine that can be frustrating if he just wants to enjoy time with friends and family). Compared to Scott Baio, he doesn't seem all that happy to me now; he often seems angry about something. He didn't seem to have much compassion for Erin when she died; he even seemed to be standing apart from his former Happy Days co-stars in a photo taken after her funeral.
Thanks for sharing!
i think there was not much they could due with his character chachi having his own identity ( other than mini me ) opened more doors for storylines
I never had any idea as to where Spike fit into Happy Days when it was in it's heyday. Maybe after Howard & Most had left, he could have been somewhat of a guest star, but, replacing Him with Chachi, who was a better actor was a very wise decision, as Chachi pretty much kept the show going in it's final years....
I was seven years old when season 2 came out. I liked the Spike character.
Thanks for sharing Sergio!
I remember the Tuscadero sisters! I don’t remember Spike! How interesting...nice little dive, Dave 😊
I'm glad you enjoyed it.
The old Cousin Oliver curse..I always thought it was creepy how Spike would adapt Fonzie's womanizing...He was 10 years...Nothing innocent about that..😅
It was a little weird now that you mention it.
Womanizing?? It was the 70's and Fonzi wasn't gay . It was normal for a man to like women. What a Bourgeois term .
Well, Spike was clearly trying to emulate his older cousin. Spike seemed interested in Joanie, who was maybe a year or two older than him. No real ethical problem there. What was more odd was Spike repeatedly announcing that he 'liked flowers'. Um, no little boy who 'likes flowers' wears leather jackets and comports himself like a young hoodlum! I think we were supposed to be impressed by his 'depth' (or something like that).
Thanks Dave for another great episode. Love how you tied in Chuck and the Tuscadero sisters.
Pinky Tuscadero deserves her own episode. Me and all my friends were in love with her! I'd love to give her the ol' Malacci Crunch if you know what I mean.
Back in the 90ś before the internet took off and you could check things easily, there was a rumor/ fable that Spike was played by a young Tom Cruise.
I had the honor of meeting & have my picture with Henry Winkler!
It would've been funny if Spike had showed up in the episode when Joanie was marrying Chachi 😃👍
I would have been cool if Spike as well as the 2 Chuck Cunninghams’s had nonspeaking cameos sitting as guests at Joanie and Chachi’s wedding. But really, Potsie and Ralph Malph absolutely should have been there.
Love your channel, honestly I don't remember a kid named Spike on there
I'm glad you are enjoying the channel You too!
I was disappointed they let Spike go and brought in Chachi.
We couldn't we have both? Or, at least give Spike a proper send-off!
Alfred J. Butch was born on April 26, 1930 in Volant, Pennsylvania and passed away on October 3, 2018 in Costa Mesa, California and is under the care of Pacific View Mortuary & Memorial Park.
Memorial Service will be held on October 20, 2018 at 10:00 am at Pacific View Memorial Chapel , 3500 Pacific View Drive, Corona del Mar, California.
They are survived by Ted Butch (Son), Danny Butch (Son), Darlene Butch (Daughter).
Have you done an episode on Cathy Silvers, the infamous Jenny Piccolo? She played a big role in the later years.
Great suggestion!
Yeah Tony great suggestion
I liked Cathy Silvers on the show. I thought she was funny. Her dad was funny.
I think she could've had her own show after Happy Days went off the air.
I like that Spike, at least made the transition to season 3 and 4 in front of a live audience before he disappeared completely. Other characters that also appeared after the show went in front of a live audience, then disappeared were Marcia, the Arnolds waitress and Bag, the gangs frenemy who played drums in their band.