Posted on 04/19/2011 2:02:26 PM PDT by iowamark
They were once so happy they brought joy to millions of households all over the world.
But the cast of Happy Days are currently far from being anything close to happy. In fact they are angry.
For they are claiming that CBS has deprived them of much-needed money the network made from the merchandising bonanza the show spawned.
They are now suing for fraud and breach of contract.
The legacy of the show, which was one of the most popular on television for a decade, lives on even 30 years after it ended.
Happy Days T-shirts, playing cards, mugs, board games, lunch boxes and dolls are still popular items in many countries of the world.
But it was when the Happy Days slot machines were brought into casinos that the cast started to wonder where their share was...
The cast members involved are Anson Williams, who played Potsie Weber, Don Most who played Ralph Malph, Marion Ross who played Marion Cunningham and Erin Moran who played Joanie Cunningham....
Marion Ross told CNN: 'It takes a lot to make me angry because so often my expectations are so low. But the other day someone came up to me and said, "You must be cleaning up on those casinos". And I said, "Well, what are you talking about?" And he said, "If you get five Marions, you get the jackpot".'
She lost her California home to foreclosure recently and said the money would have made a difference....
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
“She lost her California home to foreclosure recently and said the money would have made a difference....”
I’m sorry to hear Marion Ross lost her home to foreclosure. I remember a few months back reading that Erin Moran was also in foreclosure.
This isn’t just poor financial planning. This is also not doing other work to generate revenue. Marion may be too old to find meaningful employment now, but Erin Moran isn’t.
I know she recently did voice-overs as SpongeBob's Grandmother.
Remember “Married with Children”?
I know of an acquaintance who worked years ago for CAA, specifically the agent for Ed O Neill who played Al Bundy. My acquaintance now works for Dell Los Angeles and we see each other once in awhile.
Anyhow, there was a reason why Ed O Neill got a portion of the profits from the show. Just like Ted danson’s deal with Cheers, their agents were able to negotiate a fraction off the profits for the show while the agents for Christina Applegate etc being goody 2 shoe agents, negotiated in good faith with Fox.
Fox blindsided them and gave the money to O Neill as profit sharing while the rest of the cast got nothing. They were promised a percentage but words are nothing unless it’s in black and white.
Where is Fonzi? Why does Richie wear that hat? We know you are bald dude.
Also, a lot of actors are just grateful to get the work, and especially if at the time, they don’t think the show is going to go anywhere, they don’t think about such things.
Just saw this on CNN Entertainment. Ron Howard's publicist game a “No comment.” Nothing from Winkler who I have seen recently on some CBS shows.
Where's Chuck?
Hey, wait a minute ....
They might've had residuals and merchandising profits written into their contracts.
They may have run into crooked or incompetent financial advisers. Lucky for me, Jim Cramer has my back.
If you don't mind offensive, vulgar humor, there's an episode of Star-ving (google it) where David Faustino has to go beg Ed O'Neill for money. Funny stuff --as is the MWC reunion episode where Faustino learns he is replaced by Seth Green in the role of Bud Bundy.
Just kidding. They could be twin brothers.
I think that may be an error. It was Erin Moran (Joanie) who lost her home to foreclosure.
That's pretty good for a 1970's show based on nostalgia for the 1950's.
It was a joke. In the photo of the cast, Most looks a lot like Bill Maher.
Attempted Humor = FAIL.
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