Richie Goes All The Way

Potsie Weber, Mary Lou Milligan, and Richie Cunningham

"**Richie Goes All The Way**" is the first episode and series premiere of Happy Days. The episode was written by Rob Reiner, Phillip Mishkin, and Garry Marshall, and directed by Mel Ferber. It originally aired on ABC on January 15th, 1974.

## History

When Michael Eisner greenlit "The Happy Days" in October of 1973, a pilot titled "Reluctantly Aggressive" was filmed in November. However, by time it aired on January 15th, it was reshot under the title "Richie Goes All The Way".

## Synopsis

Potsie Weber sets his best friend, Richie Cunningham, up with Mary Lou Milligan, a local girl with a "reputation". Richie only gets a kiss from her, but brags to Potsie, The Gems, and Fonzie that he went "all the way" with her.

## Plot

### Act 1

We are at Arthur's Drive-In, where Richie Cunningham gets out of a car (which was being driven by friends) and asks Fonzie (who is sitting on his motorcycle, in front of the photo booth, surrounded by girls) where Potsie is. Fonzie indicates that Potsie is inside the diner, so Richie goes inside. When Richie enters, he is greeted by Potsie, who tells Richie that they are going to see Ralph Malph, who is going to show them his hickey, which he received from an unknown girl. Richie and Potsie walk over to Ralph, who is standing in front of a jukebox, and hanging out with fellow Gems members, Erick Johnson and Pat Jackson. Ralph shows the gang his hickey, and Potsie and Erick are very impressed, but Richie can't be less impressed.

### Act 2

When Ralph, Erick, and Pat walk away to talk to some girls, Potsie takes Richie back out to the parking lot, and gives him the book, "I, The Jury" by Mickey Spillane (it should be noted that Potsie is a stan for Mickey Spillane). Richie questions the book, and Potsie tells Richie that it is because he fixed him up with Mary Lou Milligan. Richie once again questions Richie's motives, but notes that he knows Mary Lou from his class. Arnold makes the boys move, and Potsie mentions to Richie that there might be things Richie doesn't know about her from English. Richie questions Potsie, and Potsie notes that Mary Lou 'has a reputation' and 'once dates a sailor'. Richie asks Potsie if he ever dated Mary Lou, and Potsie laughs and responds with "Are You Kidding Me"?. Richie doesn't know, so the two boys go back inside.

### Act 3

Richie and Potsie come inside Arthur's, and sit down at a booth with Ralph and Erick. Erick starts talking about his Hot Rod, and Potsie asks Erick if the car has seat belts. Ralph doesn't know what seat belts are, and when Potsie tells him, Ralph and Erick are scandalized. Potsie spots Mary Lou sit down at her booth, and tells Richie, and the two leave and walk over to her booth.

### Act 4

Potsie and Richie approach Mary Lou, and introduce themselves. They sit down, and Potsie asks Mary Lou if she wants Richie to read "I, The Jury". Mary Lou agrees. Richie leads a few lines before Mary Lou's friend, Dorothy, comes to pick her up. Richie asks Mary Lou if she wants to go on a date. Mary Lou has to babysit, but she allows Richie to help her babysit. Richie agrees.

### Act 5

We are in the dining room of the Cunningham home. Marion thinks that Richie looks nice, but Joanie thinks that Richie 'has stinky stuff in his hair'. Howard jokes that he thought the milk was sour, but Chuck thinks that Richie has girl problems, which leads to Joanie asking Chuck 'what makes you think you're so smart?', with Howard replying that it can't be Chuck's grades. Marion says that Chuck's grades will be better next year, and Howard thinks that it's only because Chuck will be taking the same classes. Chuck rolls his eyes, and leaves for basketball practice. Marion and Howard go in the kitchen.

### Act 6

Howard is scared that all three of his children will be taller than him, and Marion notes that is because of 'all the fertilizer they put in food'. Howard then leaves the house, noting that 'he likes Truman better, because he is shorter.

### Act 7

Chuck tells Richie that he'll do alright.

### Act 8

We are at the Arthur's parking lot at night. Potsie is running around the parking lot, looking for Richie. Potsie can't find Richie, so he walks inside. We cut to the bathroom. Potsie tries to show Richie how to unhook a bra, but Richie tells Potsie that he doesn't wanna go that far, so he walks out. Potsie puts the bra on a radiator, but he can't unhook it. While he tries to unhook it, Fonzie walks in, and unhooks it himself. Potsie runs out in fear. Fonzie walks up to the mirror to come his hair, but he walks out as his hair is too perfect.

### Act 9

We cut to Richie and Mary Lou walking into the Kelly's home. Richie notes that Mary Lou has a 'nice home', but Mary Lou corrects him. Mary Lou wants to talk, but Richie doesn't know what to talk about. Mary Lou wants Richie to continue reading his book. Richie agrees, but feels uncomfortable reading the lines. Mary Lou realizes that Richie feels uncomfortable, so she asks him to neck. Richie takes his vest off, and agrees. Richie doesn't want to kiss her, so he keeps his mouth shut. Mary Lou notes that Richie 'kisses funny", and Richie pretends to be shocked, and they kiss again. Richie asks Mary Lou to play Chess, and she agrees.

### Act 10

We cut to the baseball field, where Ralph, Potsie, Erick, and Pat are trying to figure out what Richie did with Mary Lou. Richie doesn't want to tell them, leading to Potsie and Ralph thinking they didn't go all the way. This is until Mary Lou sees Richie, and lets him know she had a good time with him. This shocks everyone, and Fonzie even gives Richie a thumbs up.

### Act 11

Richie is in the shower, and Howard enters the bathroom. Howard knows something is bothering Richie, and asks him what's wrong. Richie doesn't wanna talk about it, as it's sexual. Howard locks the door, and tells Richie it's fine. Richie tells Howard that he had a date with a girl, but lied to all his friends, including Fonzie. Howard asks "what's a Fonzie?" (as Howard only knew of Potsie, and vaguely knew of Ralph, Erick, and Pat). Richie tells Howard, "Arthur Fonzarelli - He's A High School Drop Out". Howard tells Richie he should apologize to everyone, especially Fonzie (still not fully understanding who Fonzie is).

### Act 12

Richie and Mary Lou are standing behind Jefferson High, after school. Richie apologizes to Mary Lou, who accepts. Mary Lou then mentions that their coach tried to grab her sweater. They laugh, there is no further comment on this. Fonzie then pulls up on his motorcycle, and Mary Lou leaves to go wash her face. Richie admits to Fonzie that he and Mary Lou played Chess, but Fonzie thinks that mistakes that as 'I played with her chest', but Richie corrects him. Fonzie is upset that Mary Lou isn't that kind of a girl, and tells Richie not to lie, as that was his job. Mary Lou returns, to drive off with Fonzie.

### Act 13

Richie walks over to Potsie, and asks him if it's okay to fall in love with girls with reputations. Potsie responds with the fact that they are only two (or three) types of girls. A car pulls off, and Potsie's books spill into the road. Potsie retrieves his books, and he and Richie walk away, and the episode ends.

## Cast

### Starring

* Ronny Howard as Richie Cunningham
* Anson Williams as "Potsie" Weber
* Kathy O'Dare as Mary Lou Milligan

### Also Starring

* Donny Most as Ralph Malph
* Tom Bosley as Howard Cunningham
* Jack McCulloch as Erick Johnson
* Danny Jacobson as Pat Jackson

### Featuring

* Henry Winkler as Fonzie
* Erin Moran as Joanie Cunningham
* Marion Ross as Marion Cunningham
* Ric Carrott as Chuck Cunningham
* Sheila Perkins as Dorothy
* Richard D. Hurst as Arnold Jackson
* Kathleen Quinlan as dancing girl in Letterman
* Mickey Wheatley as himself

## Locations

* Arnold's Drive-In
* The Cunningham House
* The Kelly's House
* Milwaukee Park
* Jefferson High School

## Soundtrack

* "(We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley and his Comets (1954)
* "Splish Splash" by Bobby Darin (1958)
* "Let's Have A Party" by Wanda Jackson (1958)
* "Hound Dog" by Elvis Presley (1956)
* "Bye, Bye, Love" by The Everly Brothers (1957)
* "How High The Moon?" by Les Paul and Mary Ford (1951)
* "All Shook Up" by Elvis Presley (1957)
* "Sh-Boom" by The Crew Cuts (1954)
* "Pretend" by Nat King Cole (1953)
* "My Prayer" by The Platters (1956)
* "Happy Days" by Jim Haas (1974)

## Production Staff

* Garry Marshall (writer)
* Rob Reiner (writer)
* Phillip Mishkin (writer)
* Mel Ferber (director)
* William Bickley (producer)
* Bob Birnbaum (associate producer)
* Garry Marshall (executive producer)
* Edward K. Milkis (executive producer)
* Thomas L. Miller (executive producer)
* Richard Kelley (director of photography)
* Jerry Dronsky (editor)
* Rod Stevens (editor)
* Pat Harris (casting director)
* Jack De Shields (art director)
* Ira Bates (set decoration)
* Bob Birnbaum (unit production manager)
* James Blakeley (post-production supervisor)
* Jack Sonntag (production executive)
* Bob Scrivner (assistant director)
* Gary LaPoten (trainee assistant director)
* Eugene S. Kelley (construction coordinator)
* Frank Meadows (boom operator)
* Roy Meadows (sound mixer)
* Thomas Powell (pilot)
* Richard Debolt (camera & mechanical design)
* Sam Rosen (camera operator)
* Bill Swearingen (camera operator)
* Mildred Gusse (casting supervisor)
* Gary Chandler (post production coordinator)
* Robert Bain (musician)
* Chris Haynes (driver)
* Patti Bereyso (assistant to producers)
* Bruce Lansbury (vice president of creative affairs)

## Notes

* This episode is a remake of "Reluctantly Aggressive", which never aired.
* This is the first episode to credit Ronnie Howard as "Ronny Howard".
* This episode is the first time "Let's Have A Party" (1958) by Wanda Jackson is played.
* This episode is the first time "Hound Dog" (1956) by Elvis Presley is played.
* This episode features the first appearance of Mary Lou Milligan.
* Richie mentions that he won the reading comprehension medal when he graduated from grammar school.
* This episode features the only appearance of Dorothy.
* Joanie reverts back to her previous brown hair.
* This episode is the first time "How High The Moon" (1951) by Les Paul and Mary Ford is played.
* This episode is the first time "All Shook Uo" (1957) by Elvis Presley is played.
* In the Arthur's bathroom scene, Potsie references Carry Grant, a British-American actor who was popular in the 1950s.
* This episode is the first episode to mention the address of the Cunningham family, that being on Ridge Street.
* Howard's hardware store is mentioned to be located on the corner of Alcott.
* In the baseball scene, Fonzie gives his first thumbs up in the series.
* This episode was written by Rob Reiner, star of All In The Family.

## Gallery

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