Customer Reviews

Happy Days - The Third Season

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This, in my opinion, is the best season of Happy Days. The writing was outstanding and Henry Winkler was at his peak. THIS is the season that should have ranked as the #1 show on television (it finished at #11, season four is the one that reached the top). There is one problem with the DVD though. Certain episodes (very few...I think) are edited. One of my all-time favorite scenes is missing. It is the end tag of the episode titled "Fonzie's New Friend". This is where Fonzie does the limbo. But it's gone....why? I also noticed a couple of edits here and there on one or two other episodes. The sad thing is that this is probably the only form these episodes will ever be released in. Yet, we won't ever be able to see certain parts of some episodes. Sad.
On a lighter note, I recently had the opportunity to see the Happy Days house when I was in Hollywood. Of course this was just used for the exterior shots, but it hasn't changed much. If you're ever out there and you're interested in seeing it, it's easy to find. I can't give you the house address here (especially since people actually live there) but it's easy to research on the internet.

I was suprised to see that the music was all there, even though the back of the box says that the music has been changed. Not as good as the first 2 seasons because they filmed before a live audience, but it's still early Happy Days!

After going through favorite episodes on all four discs, I can tell you the original music is there. It's a great season to begin with and having the original music makes this a fantastic release. There's music on this set that isn't even on the sydicated version of the show. A must own for any Happy Days fan.

I never write reviews or participate in leaving comments but i was compelled to considering i waited so long to buy the happy days 3 seasons available because of the negatives everyone mentions , and yes the seasons 2 & 3 are packaged differently from season 1 and apparantly
the fans that know the episodes well notice a scene edited here or there and certain music couldnt be used because of the expense to paramount but now that currently 45 bucks buys all 3 new with free shipping i would recommend these. I know dvd sets can be made much nicer with better packaging and extras like bloopers , commentery & interviews and its good to know ahead to expect all your gonna get are the episodes but they are clean, great quality , and have nice menus, also just the fact that you get the full picture without all the logos and junk you get if you record the shows off tv. I would hope they get season 4 released soon and I want to add now in recent years nick at nite has self destructed & tv land has ventured into reality tv giving replacement to the great classics like happy days and well on its way to becoming another channal to flip past making the great tv series dvds more important now than ever before. I recommend these dvd's even with the negatives that are true but holding out for better dvds aint an option. life is short paramount...get em released !

Once again Paramount has dropped the ball on the Happy Days series! After ruining season 2, Paramount has put together another low quailty DVD set and to make matters worse, some episodes are edited and missing their classic tag scenes! This is an insult to fans and to this show. Whats next?... editing out Howard Cunningham offering Richie a 'Lifesaver'? or Leather Tuscadero's (Suzie Quatro) songs?! Although this show went way down hill in the later years, at this time is was still fairly entertaining even if not nearly as good as the first two seasons. There are a few bright spots in this season, but the series was never the same after they went to a live audience and "The Fonz" became the focus of the show. Like season 2, I will skip buying this garbage because of lack of care. Too bad for fans :-(.........

My favorite television show sold it's creative rock & roll soul for the sake of ratings. Fonzie becomes bigger in the U.S.A. in 1976-77 than Spiderman is now. For the record the show hits #1 at a price. The previous two seasons had a presentation like a movie on the small screen. Beginning in season #3 Happy Days starts to portray itself like a high level stand-up comedy act with perfect timing. The decision to primarily film in front of a live studio audience was a bad one. Most of the funny outdoor scenes like the midnight drag race and Marsha knocking off the female mannequin are history. Paramount also should have held back the release of the spin-off Laverne & Shirley on DVD. We get their introduction. The problem is Happy Days came out in 1974 and Laverne & Shirley in 1976. The order is messed up on DVD. Besides the debut of Pat Morita, my favorite episodes in seasons #3 are "Fonzie Moving In" and "Fearless Fonzarelli". See how much different Happy Days is when they branch outside for a change. Sadly it took a motorcycle jump over 14 garbage cans to mix things up. I still loved the show. It was better in season #2. More Fonzie, yes! Televison audience, no.

We never saw Happy Days like this! When it was first aired, we were still watching through a "blizzard" and fuzzy pictures with not-too-good sound. The Happy Days DVD sets bring us one of our long-time favorite shows with a recording quality and vivid color which makes it seem brand-new. I could do without the "live audience" laugh tracks, but otherwise we love the show.

I appreciate those who hold the first two seasons with such high reverence at the expense of the live audience seasons, but I'm not sure it's terribly deserved. Objectivity is difficult, but I (and some other viewers who have posted, as well) found Season 2 to be relatively not-so-well-written, and, worse, boring and dry at many turns. Sure, it was shot film style ... and, yes, "every episode is like a little movie," etc. ...

But, Season 3 leaps off the page. The energy is so palpable you become a part of it. And, I think Season 3 is the raciest and sexiest of all the seasons (sometimes downright - and very UN-Happy Days-esque, naughty). It is truly the peak of Fonzie mania, and it captures the Winkler/Howard/Williams/Most fab four at their rawest. Tom Bosley's character has an edge (and layers) in this season that the writers never really gave him again. After watching Season 2, pop in Season 3 and I defy you to miss it: it's live, it's raw, it's exciting ... and funny as all hell. Probably the most laugh-out-loud season of all eleven. Purists may be purists, but I truly believe if Happy Days had stuck to the first formula (one-camera with canned laughter), it wouldn't have seen a fourth season. Happy Days was quite Darwinian. It morphed into a variety of shapes to survive 11 seasons. Like some, I love them all, and all for different reasons. Garry Marshall said, "I just wanted to create a group of people that you'd want to welcome into your home every week." He sure did. These kinds of heartwarming shows just don't exist anymore. At least we have these DVD sets!

I have watched Happy Days since I was a little girl. When I found out that the DVD's were being released I was estatic! I have season's one, two and three. They are ALL great, my favorite is season three. The Fonz officially moves into the Cunningham's home. All of the shows are full of laughter. I have watched them over and over. I believe Happy Days was on for ten years, so please keep those season's coming. Thanks, Kristy Guilbault

AS of 2008, I still have the first three Seasons of Happy Days, and I think it is still one of the greatest shows in the 70s. I wish CBS/Paramount still has plans to release the eight remaining Seasons. Happy Days The Fourth Season should be released this Holidays before 2008 ends. Please CBS/Paramount, do not stall on Happy Days again! I have been waiting patiently for the release of Season 4, but I am waiting too long. Please reconsider and release more Happy Days.