“The Graduation Part One” original air date February 8, 1977
“God doesn’t want me to go to the prom!” bemoans Ralph Malph.
Poor Ralphie has left his vehicle in Fonzie’s locked garage, and inside the glove box is the address to the location of the bar mitzvah at which the boys’ band is performing. No bar mitzvah gig, no money; no money, no senior prom.
Fonzie, it turns out, is harder to reach than usual these days. Mrs. C lets it slip that he has been taking night school classes. Before long that boy-crazy (and as yet unseen) Jenny Piccolo is spreading the word and Fonzie is none too pleased to have his secret out in the open.
Soon enough, it’s Prom Night with Big Al and his band (Garry Marshall on drums ladies and gentlemen!) providing the music. Potsie, of course, gets a song spot. Mr. C reminds The Fonz of the many kindnesses paid him by Marion, which leads to a reconciliation between Fonz and Mrs. C. And Fonzie announces that not only has he been taking night school classes…he will be a graduating senior right along with Richie, Potsie, Ralph and their friends! Aw, see, this is why the show is called “Happy Days.”
And then Dick Van Patten, winner of 1977’s “Least Likeable Sitcom Authority Figure” trophy, guest star division, rolls in and sours the whole affair.
The Vice-Principal announces that the entire senior class failed their health and hygiene class, and the only opportunity for a make-up exam is bright and early the next morning. So much for post-prom romance!
“The Graduation Part Two”, original air date February 15, 1977
The gang returns triumphant from passing their health and hygiene makeup final. But Fonz arrives shortly thereafter with grim news: As a night school student he will not be allowed to participate in the actual graduation ceremony. Or as the Vice-Principal says, “Night school students must receive their diplomerrs in the mail!” The principal is all in favor of Fonzie joining the ceremony–but the Vice-Principal insists, “Fonzarelli can join the ceremony but no diplomerr! It’s in the mail!”
The guys inform Fonzie that he’s invited to the ceremony, but fail to communicate to him that he’ll be unable to pick up a diploma or make a speech (Fonzie was the valedictorian–and sole member–of the night school class.)
It’s Graduation Day! And Arnold (Pat Morita) has come back to Milwaukee for the occasion. And in the first of a few such encounters, Arnold and Big Al exchange pleasantries and sympethize over how low the profit margins are for a hamburger stand.
The VIce-Principal introduces Potsie (“the star of our school musical ‘Hell Is A’Poppin'”) to sing the school song–which, like the entrance music, awards and Richie’s valedictory speech, is rushed through to create an opening for Fonzie’s speech.
Fonzie opens his remarks by referencing the fact that he dropped out of high school. “I’m here to tell you that quitting things is definitely not cool-a-mundo. Stayin’ in school…is cool!”
Richie also has a chance to finish his speech. It is a memorable finish to the ceremony and the episode.
Random Notes (for both episodes):
-By the time they finally find The Fonz at night school, Ralph remembers the venue with a girl’s name where the bar mitzvah is located: “Beth Isreal!”
-Ralph’s date for the prom is played by Lynda Goodfriend, who soon would be known as Richie’s steady girl Lori Beth. She played “Kim” in this episode and one other before becoming the future Mrs. Cunningham.
-Catchphrase Watch: Richie gets a chorus of “I found my thrill” in each of the two parts; and Joanie says “Sit on it, Spike” to Fonzie’s nephew, an early attempt at the sort of character that eventually became Chachi.
-Ralph’s post-mortem on the health and hygiene makeup final: “I could’ve gotten an A but I thought a larynx was an animal that attacked sheep.”
-In the end, the principal overrides that mean old Dick Van Patten and announces Fonzie’s name on the roll call of graduates. Then, through some arrangement of Richie’s, a mailman comes in and delivers Fonz his night school diplomerr–uh, diploma.
Next: “He pretends to be Jack Benny.”