The Best Happy Days Episodes

Ranker TV

Updated January 15, 2025 74 items

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2.4K votes

383 voters

Voting Rules

Vote for your favorite Happy Days episodes, no matter how popular they are.

List of the best Happy Days episodes, as voted on by other fans of the series. Happy Days is an American sitcom which ran for from 1974-1984. With so many memorable episodes of the show, it's hard to trust just one person's opinion of what the top Happy Days episodes of all time are. Fans of Happy Days are extremely passionate about the show, and there is often debate over which episodes are better than others. That's why this list exists- so you can vote for your favorites and we can find out once and for all what everyone thinks the best episode is.

This list features episodes like "I Drink, Therefore I Am" and "Passages (1)." What is the best Happy Days episode of all time? Look below and find out.

Most divisive: The Best Man

Over 300 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Happy Days Episodes

HOW RANKINGS WORK

1
Guess Who's Coming to Christmas
December 17, 1974
126 votes
Howard wants Christmas Eve to only include the family, but Richie discovers that Fonzie will be all alone.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 2
- Episode Number: 11
- Series: Happy Days
2
Fearless Fonzarelli (1)
September 23, 1975
46 votes
Worried that he's losing his cool, Fonzie attempts to jump 14 garbage cans on his motorcycle. The stunt will be televised on You Wanted to See It.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 3
- Episode Number: 3
- Series: Happy Days
3
Fonzie Moves In
September 09, 1975
62 votes
With Howard's hardware store about to face new competition, the Cunninghams decide they need to rent the room above their garage to generate extra income. Howard is shocked when Richie rents it to Fonzie.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 3
- Episode Number: 1
- Series: Happy Days
4
A.K.A. the Fonz
November 30, 1976
48 votes
Kirk, the new acting sheriff, tries to exert his power by forcing Fonzie to leave town.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 4
- Episode Number: 10
- Series: Happy Days
5
The Physical
February 22, 1977
22 votes
Richie, Fonzie, Potsie, and Ralph receive notices from the army to report for physicals.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 4
- Episode Number: 20
- Series: Happy Days
6
They Shoot Fonzies, Don't They?
November 16, 1976
78 votes
Joanie enlists Fonzie to be her partner for a marathon dance at Arnold's. She desperately wants to outlast cheerleading captain Jill Higgins who had cut Joanie from the squad earlier. Prior to the dance, however, Fonzie's motorcycle breaks down, and he is forced to push it for 12 miles.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 4
- Episode Number: 8
- Series: Happy Days
7
Joanie's Weird Boyfriend
March 01, 1977
21 votes
Thinking her life is dull and that she's always treated like a little kid, Joanie wants to join the Red Devils' gang.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 4
- Episode Number: 21
- Series: Happy Days
8
Graduation (1)
February 08, 1977
21 votes
The guys discover that Fonzie has been going to night school so that he can graduate with them. Marion gave them this information, and she becomes worried that Fonzie will be angry with her for telling.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 4
- Episode Number: 18
- Series: Happy Days
9
Knock Around the Block
April 30, 1974
21 votes
Richie gets on the good side of a local gang, the Dukes, when he protects the leader's sister from being picked on. However, things change when the Dukes steal Potsie's bike, and Richie tries to get it back.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 1
- Episode Number: 15
- Series: Happy Days
10
Jailhouse Rock
October 21, 1975
12 votes
Because the high school was vandalized, Officer Kirk imposes a curfew. Richie suggests that they demonstrate against the curfew, get arrested, and fight it in the courts. While Richie, Potsie, and Ralph are in the restroom at Arnold's discussing their plans, the lights go out, and they discover they are locked inside after Arnold closes up for the night.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 3
- Episode Number: 7
- Series: Happy Days
11
Haunted
October 29, 1974
65 votes
After experiencing a few strange happenings, Richie begins to buy into the legend that the place where their Halloween party is to be held, the old Simpson house, is haunted.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 2
- Episode Number: 6
- Series: Happy Days
12
A Date with the Fonz
November 11, 1975
62 votes
With Richie in a dating slump, Fonzie sets Richie and himself up on a double date with two of his girls, Laverne and Shirley.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 3
- Episode Number: 10
- Series: Happy Days
13
Goin' to Chicago
May 06, 1975
15 votes
Richie, Potsie, and Ralph go on a trip to Chicago with the school choir. Not wanting to stay in their hotel room all night, they decide to sneak out and see a show.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 2
- Episode Number: 23
- Series: Happy Days
14
Wish Upon a Star
November 12, 1974
22 votes
Richie wins a date with a movie star, Cindy Shea, to a school dance, and Gloria breaks up with him because of circumstances surrounding it. Cindy, however, will only be able to meet up with Richie after the dance has started.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 2
- Episode Number: 7
- Series: Happy Days
15
A Sight for Sore Eyes
February 24, 1976
25 votes
Fonzie is forced to wear glasses after Ralph's father discovers he has astigmatism.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 3
- Episode Number: 23
- Series: Happy Days
16
Guess Who's Coming to Visit
February 05, 1974
39 votes
Potsie is staying with the Cunninghams, and he and Richie sneak out to watch a drag race in which Fonzie is involved.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 1
- Episode Number: 4
- Series: Happy Days
17
Graduation (2)
February 15, 1977
21 votes
After passing make-up health exams and getting permission for Fonzie to participate, the guys arrange for aspects of the graduation ceremony to be sped up in order to accomodate the inclusion of Fonzie's speech.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 4
- Episode Number: 19
- Series: Happy Days
18
The Lemon
January 22, 1974
51 votes
Tired of driving around in Howard's DeSoto, Richie and Potsie buy a car of their own. The car has several problems including an engine that won't run consistently. This causes problems when they try to impress two girls.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 1
- Episode Number: 2
- Series: Happy Days
19
All the Way
January 15, 1974
42 votes
Potsie sets Richie up with a girl known to have a reputation. Richie doesn't get far with her but leads Fonzie and others to believe he did.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 1
- Episode Number: 1
- Series: Happy Days
20
Richie's Car
September 17, 1974
47 votes
Richie buys a car from Fonzie and finds out that it is stolen.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 2
- Episode Number: 2
- Series: Happy Days
21
Bringing Up Spike
February 17, 1976
13 votes
Spike is an accomplice during a burglary at Arnold's, and it is up to Fonzie to set him straight.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 3
- Episode Number: 22
- Series: Happy Days
22
Fearless Fonzarelli (2)
September 30, 1975
25 votes
Fonzie crashes after a successful attempt to jump 14 garbage cans on his motorcycle and faces surgery to remove torn cartilage in his knee.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 3
- Episode Number: 4
- Series: Happy Days
23
Get a Job
February 25, 1975
25 votes
Looking for work, Richie, Potsie, and Ralph agree to fix the fence of an attractive divorcee. When the woman leaves for awhile, Potsie and Ralph decide to take off, as well, leaving Richie to finish the job by himself.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 2
- Episode Number: 18
- Series: Happy Days
24
A Mind of His Own
October 05, 1976
38 votes
After having been in several fights recently, on the advice of the Cunninghams, Fonzie agrees to see a psychologist.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 4
- Episode Number: 4
- Series: Happy Days
25
Cruisin'
February 11, 1975
43 votes
Richie, Postie, and Ralph are forced to go cruising for girls in Howard's DeSoto after Marion dents Richie's car at the supermarket. They find three girls but, later, find their boyfriends who are members of a gang called the Dragons.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 2
- Episode Number: 16
- Series: Happy Days
26
Fonzie the Superstar
January 27, 1976
24 votes
With Potsie away, the guys try to get Fonzie to take his place as the band's singer for the Senior Dance.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 3
- Episode Number: 19
- Series: Happy Days
27
Fonzie's Blindness
September 26, 1978
37 votes
Al accidentally hits Fonzie in the head with a serving tray, and he becomes blind as a result.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 6
- Episode Number: 4
- Series: Happy Days
28
Richie Fights Back
October 14, 1975
37 votes
After being embarrassed at Arnold's by a couple of hoods, Richie wants to take a jujitsu class to learn how to defend and stand up for himself.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 3
- Episode Number: 6
- Series: Happy Days
29
Dance Contest
January 06, 1976
21 votes
Marion, tired of the monotony of everyday house chores, decides to enter a televised dance contest. When Howard won't participate with her, she secretly enlists the help of Fonzie. Arnold unwittingly tells Howard that Marion has been at Arnold's early in the morning with another man, and Howard becomes suspicious.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 3
- Episode Number: 16
- Series: Happy Days
30
Fonzie Joins the Band
March 04, 1975
18 votes
Howard secures a gig for Richie, Potsie, Ralph, and Bag to play at the Leopard Lodge dance. Fonzie is able to get the guys tuxedos, but, in return, he joins them as a member of the band. When Fonzie plays a loud bongo solo during a slow dance, Richie is chosen to give him the news that he's out of the band.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 2
- Episode Number: 19
- Series: Happy Days
31
Fonzie the Flatfoot
November 04, 1975
18 votes
Fonzie poses as a police officer in order to stop a rumble between two rival gangs.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 3
- Episode Number: 9
- Series: Happy Days
32
Fonzie the Father
October 19, 1976
18 votes
Fonzie's friend's pregnant wife stays with Richie at the Cunningham house while the rest of the family is away on vacation.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 4
- Episode Number: 5
- Series: Happy Days
33
The Cunningham Caper
January 21, 1975
39 votes
An ill Richie is home alone after the rest of the family go to see Cinerama. When he goes to see what is causing noises downstairs, he finds a burglar.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 2
- Episode Number: 14
- Series: Happy Days
34
A Shot in the Dark
January 25, 1977
39 votes
Richie makes a lucky shot to win a basketball game and suddenly becomes a big hero.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 4
- Episode Number: 15
- Series: Happy Days
35
Happy Days: Hollywood Part 3: Richie must choose either a 5-year Hollywood contract or college in Milwaukee while the Fonz accepts the California Kid's challenge to perform a dangerous water ski jump...over a shark!
26 votes
36
The Howdy Doody Show
February 18, 1975
15 votes
Facing a deadline for the school paper, Richie tries to get a photo of Clarabell the clown, from The Howdy Doody Show, without makeup. To get on the set, Richie plans to get Ralph to enter a Howdy Doody look-alike contest the show is conducting.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 2
- Episode Number: 17
- Series: Happy Days
37
Football Frolics
January 20, 1976
23 votes
Needing money to get tickets to a big football game, Richie, Potsie, and Ralph decide to babysit 15 children on the night of Mardi Gras.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 3
- Episode Number: 18
- Series: Happy Days
38
Fonzie Loves Pinky (Parts 1-3)
September 21, 1976
55 votes
Fonzie assesses the damage to Pinky's car, and Richie asks Howard to delay the start of the demolition derby.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 4
- Episode Number: 2
- Series: Happy Days
39
Three on a Porch
November 18, 1975
20 votes
With nothing to do for the Easter holiday, Richie, Potsie, and Ralph decide to rent a cabin at Lake Whitefish. They pretend to be adult businessmen in order to secure the cabin and get girls.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 3
- Episode Number: 12
- Series: Happy Days
40
A Place of His Own
November 09, 1976
20 votes
To allow Richie to have a night alone with his girl, Fonzie allows him to use his apartment and claim it as his own. Fonzie needs some rest, so he sleeps in Richie's bed without Howard, Marion, and Joanie knowing.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 4
- Episode Number: 7
- Series: Happy Days
41
Be the First on Your Block
May 07, 1974
37 votes
Howard wants to buy a bomb shelter to protect his family. Problems quickly arise when several of Richie's friends ask if they can use it.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 1
- Episode Number: 16
- Series: Happy Days
42
The Muckrakers
November 23, 1976
14 votes
Richie, wanting to become a tough reporter, sets out to investigate the food at Jefferson High. During his investigation, he discovers that Fonzie is afraid of liver.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 4
- Episode Number: 9
- Series: Happy Days
43
Beauty Contest
February 10, 1976
14 votes
Richie, Potsie, and Ralph stage a beauty contest at Arnold's in order to meet girls. They plan to enter a plant into the contest who won't accept the prizes when chosen as the winner. Richie is uneasy about this but reconsiders when a cheerleader he's interested in enters.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 3
- Episode Number: 21
- Series: Happy Days
44
Hardware Jungle
February 12, 1974
34 votes
Richie buys tickets to a rock and roll show from Fonzie but has to work at the hardware store when Howard needs to have his tonsils removed. Because he'll be working until 9:00 PM, he won't be able to go to the show, so he asks Fonzie for a refund. Later, Howard tells Richie that he can close the store at 5:00 PM leaving him free to go to the show. He, now, has to ask Fonzie for the tickets back.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 1
- Episode Number: 5
- Series: Happy Days
45
Two Angry Men
February 03, 1976
19 votes
Fonzie takes Howard to court after Fonzie's pigeon cage falls through the roof of his apartment during a blizzard. Fonzie claims the weight of the snow caused the roof to collapse while Howard claims it was the pigeon cage.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 3
- Episode Number: 20
- Series: Happy Days
46
Big Money
November 26, 1974
36 votes
As a game-show contestant, Richie wins $3200 before time runs out for that week's show. After the show, he is given an envelope by the show's host that contains the answer to the $5000 question.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 2
- Episode Number: 9
- Series: Happy Days
47
They Call It Potsie Love
December 02, 1975
42 votes
Joanie develops a crush on Potsie after he sings to her at Arnold's.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 3
- Episode Number: 14
- Series: Happy Days
48
Fonzie's Getting Married
January 14, 1975
18 votes
Fonzie announces that he's getting married and brings his bride-to-be to the Cunningham house for dinner. There, Howard recognizes her as stripper he saw at a hardware convention in Chicago.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 2
- Episode Number: 13
- Series: Happy Days
49
Fonzie Drops In
February 26, 1974
28 votes
After taking a look at a B+ Potsie got on an exam, Fonzie decides to drop back into school. He asks Richie to do his homework and cheat for him.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 1
- Episode Number: 7
- Series: Happy Days
50
Howard's 45th Fiasco
October 28, 1975
16 votes
At his 45th birthday, Howard realizes that his life has been very dull up to this point, and he attempts to run away to Tahiti.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 3
- Episode Number: 8
- Series: Happy Days
51
Kiss Me Sickly
April 29, 1975
8 votes
Fonzie asks Richie to watch after his girl, Denise, while he's out of town at a demolition derby. Denise, upon hearing what Fonzie's asked Richie to do, decides to test Richie's trustworthiness. Richie succumbs to temptation and makes out with Denise at Inspiriation Point, but he later finds out that she has mononucleosis.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 2
- Episode Number: 22
- Series: Happy Days
52
Fish and the Fins
March 11, 1975
11 votes
To hide from overzealous fans, a popular rock group (one of the members was Richie's childhood friend) is staying at the Cunningham house, but Richie can't tell anyone that they're there. This poses a problem for Richie because nobody believes he actually knows them.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 2
- Episode Number: 20
- Series: Happy Days
53
Open House
January 07, 1975
10 votes
Richie and Potsie plan to host a poker night at the Cunningham house as Howard and Marion will be out of town. However, their plans change when three young women stop by after their car breaks down, and Potsie invites them to stay the night.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 2
- Episode Number: 12
- Series: Happy Days
54
Fonz-How, Inc.
March 08, 1977
12 votes
Howard comes up with the idea for a trash compactor, and Fonzie becomes his partner to help him build it. They become very excited about the success they could achieve and present ""The Gulper"" to a corporation for consideration.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 4
- Episode Number: 22
- Series: Happy Days
55
Not with My Sister, You Don't
November 19, 1974
9 votes
Spike, Fonzie's little cousin, takes Joanie out on her first date. Richie and his date act as Joanie and Spike's chaperones and discover them missing at the movie theater.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 2
- Episode Number: 8
- Series: Happy Days
56
Give the Band a Hand
March 26, 1974
9 votes
To make some money, Richie, Potsie, Ralph, and Bag form a band. They secure a gig, but Richie and Potsie lose the money (including that of Ralph and Bag) playing poker.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 1
- Episode Number: 10
- Series: Happy Days
57
The Third Anniversary Show
February 04, 1977
9 votes
The gang organizes a surprise party for Howard and Marion's 20th anniversary as clips from previous episodes are shown.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 4
- Episode Number: 17
- Series: Happy Days
58
The Best Man
April 23, 1974
27 votes
Howard's old army buddy, a black man, asks Howard to be the best man at his wedding. Howard and Marion consider holding the wedding at their home when the man can't find anyone else willing to do it.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 1
- Episode Number: 14
- Series: Happy Days
59
Fonzie the Salesman
November 13, 1975
11 votes
When his garage gets a new owner, Fonzie decides to quit. He is unable to find another job as a head mechanic, but, with Howard as his inspiration, vows to find his true calling.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 3
- Episode Number: 11
- Series: Happy Days
60
Tell It to the Marines
December 16, 1975
11 votes
Convinced that no girl could be attracted to him and that he's useless, Ralph threatens to enlist with the Marines.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 3
- Episode Number: 15
- Series: Happy Days
61
The Deadly Dares
February 19, 1974
13 votes
Richie and Potsie, in their never-ending effort to get girls, decide that they want to join a gang called the Demons. However, in order to be accepted, they have to perform several dares.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 1
- Episode Number: 6
- Series: Happy Days
62
The Not Making of the President
January 28, 1975
10 votes
Richie goes against Howard and, to get a girl, campaigns for Adlai Stevenson in the 1956 Presidential race.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 2
- Episode Number: 15
- Series: Happy Days
63
Richie's Flip Side
March 18, 1975
10 votes
Richie is forced into being a disc jockey at a local radio station when one there suddenly quits. His boss informs him that he has the potential to become the next Wolfman Jack, and Richie begins to develop an inflated ego and neglect his friends.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 2
- Episode Number: 21
- Series: Happy Days
64
The Skin Game
March 05, 1974
12 votes
Richie and Potsie obtain fake identification cards in order to attend a burlesque show where Ralph says Bubbles McCall takes it all off.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 1
- Episode Number: 8
- Series: Happy Days
65
The Other Richie Cunningham
October 07, 1975
12 votes
Needing to make a good impression for a prospective business deal, Howard asks Richie to take the ""Prince of Porcelain's"" daughter out on a date. Richie, however, already has big plans and asks Potsie to take his place and pretend to be him.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 3
- Episode Number: 5
- Series: Happy Days
66
Breaking Up Is Hard to Do
March 12, 1974
12 votes
Richie and his girlfriend, Arlene, break up after two weeks of dating. Neither of them have dates for the prom, so they end up going together as friends.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 1
- Episode Number: 9
- Series: Happy Days
67
In the Name of Love
April 09, 1974
12 votes
Cindy, a new girl in school, asks Richie to tutor her. Richie is interested in more than just studying and makes several attempts to win her over.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 1
- Episode Number: 12
- Series: Happy Days
68
Because She's There
April 02, 1974
13 votes
Richie is put in an awkward situation when he is set up with a girl much taller than he is. Meanwhile, Howard is frustrated by Marion's ineptness at playing bridge.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 1
- Episode Number: 11
- Series: Happy Days
69
A Star Is Bored
December 03, 1974
13 votes
Richie, Potsie, and Ralph need new uniforms for their baseball team and want to get a big celebrity to play the title role in their upcomming fundraiser production of Hamlet. When they can't get a big name to play the part, Fonzie agrees to do it.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 2
- Episode Number: 10
- Series: Happy Days
70
Great Expectations
18 votes
The Cunninghams get an unexpected glimpse inside Bohemian counter-culture when Richie befriends a beatnik and brings her home for an evening with the family.
71
Richie Moves Out
September 10, 1974
9 votes
Richie feels that he doesn't have enough privacy, so he decides to move in with Chuck. He quickly discovers, though, that bachelor life isn't quite what he expected it to be.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 2
- Episode Number: 1
- Series: Happy Days
72
Richie's Cup Runneth Over
January 29, 1974
14 votes
Richie and Potsie are invited to Potsie's cousin's stag party. In an attempt to lessen the effects of the alcohol they will consume, they each drink several cartons of milk and a sip of olive oil.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 1
- Episode Number: 3
- Series: Happy Days
73
Hi Yo Fonzie, Away
February 09, 1982
21 votes
The gang tries to get the Lone Ranger, Fonzie's idol, to appear at his birthday party. Meanwhile, Fonzie thinks about becomming a one-woman man.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 9
- Episode Number: 17
- Series: Happy Days
74
Affairs of the Heart
March 22, 1983
14 votes
Jenny dumps a nice guy to be with a former Olympic swimmer, but K. C. learns that the swimmer doesn't feel the same way about Jenny as she feels about him. Meanwhile, Fonzie wants to have a swimming pool put in the Cunninghams' backyard.
- Season: Happy Days - Season 10
- Episode Number: 22
- Series: Happy Days