The Ballad of Joanie and Chachi

Season 11, Episode 2, Aired
EDIT

Episode Summary

New events in Joanie's life cause Chachi to fear losing her for good and to try to cling more tightly to her. Each has their own solution: Joanie wants to break up, and Chachi wants to get married.
4.0
out of 10
EPISODE RATING: Poor
33 votes
  • Your Rating: 10
    "Perfect"
  • Your Rating: 9.5
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 9
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 8.5
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 8
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 7.5
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 7
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 6.5
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 6
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 5.5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 4.5
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 4
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 3.5
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 3
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 2.5
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 2
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 1.5
    "Abysmal"
  • Your Rating: 1
    "Abysmal"
Rate It

Cast & Crew

See All EDIT

Fan Episode Reviews (2)

See All

  • Joanie struggles with the fact her relationship with Chachi has lost its magic, and the two are moving in different directions.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By ToddDeMartinis, Apr 26, 2011 Report Abuse
    After having been through the mill with each other (not to mention a full season of "Joanie Loves Chachi"), Joanie struggles with the fact the magic is gone with Chachi. She is now taking her education as a teacher seriously, while Chachi is concerned with his softball games and her attendance therein. Joanie confides to her father that she gets an awful feeling in the pit of her stomach when she sees Chachi, as she knows they're only going to fight. She comes to the conclusion it's over for good. Chachi, on the other hand, rallies to win back her affections in the most grandiose manner possible - leading to an unexpected, emotional, and definitely unusual denouement for any Happy Days episode in its 11-season history.

    If I had to choose, The Ballad of Joanie and Chachi is the best, and most realistic episode dealing with romantic troubles of the "new" Happy Days (1980-1984). The writing is surprisingly deft, and there's no sugar-coated tying up of affairs in the final minutes. This is especially rare in an episode that doesn't end with the caption, "To Be Continued."

    There must be a reason this episode stays in my mind 25 years later, and I believe it's due to the heartfelt approach taken. Anyone who has been through the gut-wrenching end of a relationship where the magic has seemingly disappeared into the ether will relate strongly to this Happy Days outing.

    Where many of the episodes throughout the entire run of the series were somewhat superficial when attempting to deal with deeper issues (don't get me wrong; HD is my favorite show), this one is anything but. One scene were Howard is driving Joanie (while lamenting why he can never beat a particular traffic light before it turns red) at night, and she then bears her soul and weeps, knowing her relationship with Chachi is over is spot-on. It's so well-played one feels he or she's in the backseat observing a personal moment, and certainly not a sitcom. Otherwise haunting is the empty and dimly lit Arnold's diner when Chachi needs consoling from Fonzie. I never forget the perfect advice offered by a compassionate Winkler: "Right now, the pain is bigger than you are. But, every day, the pain will get a little bit smaller, until you are bigger than the pain."

    Please take a second look at this episode (if possible, as we are still far away from the DVD release of Season 11). Of all the 200 plus episodes he directed, I think there's a reason the great Jerry Paris picked this one in which to appear. If you've ever had your heart broken, and you're a Happy Days fan, you'll find a special place for this one. A real gem.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    1 5

  • Very upsetting!

    7.0
    "Good"
    By Cutekatelyn, Jun 12, 2010 Report Abuse
    This is episode is where I draw the line with Happy Days! How could Joanie and Chachi ever break up! It was very upsetting and it has deeply affected me! Even though they do get back together by the end of the series, they should have never broken up in the first place! I am ashamed that the writers would have an episode as painful and heartbreaking as this one.

    DO YOU AGREE?

    1 3
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

See All

  • Trivia

    • Help by adding trivia to this episode. Add trivia

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • Jerry Paris plays Joanie's professor but is not credited. Edit
    • Anson Williams and Ted McGinley do not appear in (at least) the syndicated version of this episode. Edit
    • Kevin Rodney Sullivan is credited as "Kevin Sullivan." Edit

  • Quotes

    • Help by adding quotes to this episode. Add quotes

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • The title of this episode was taken from the popular Beatles song "The Ballad of John and Yoko." Edit

Show Forums

See All
Last Activity
Replies

Watch Happy Days Full Episodes

See All

Related Shows

Season 11 Episodes

See All
Ep 24
Happy Days 30th Anniversar...
Ep 23
Happy Days: The Reunion
Ep 22
Fonzie's Spots
Ep 21
Good News, Bad News
Ep 20
School Dazed
Ep 19
Low Notes
Ep 18
So How Was Your Weekend?
Ep 17
Passages (2)
Ep 16
Passages (1)
Ep 15
Fonzie Moves Out
Ep 14
The Spirit Is Willing
Ep 13
Social Studies
Ep 12
Like Mother, Like Daughter
Ep 11
The People vs. the Fonz
Ep 10
Kiss Me, Teach
Ep 9
You Get What You Pay For
Ep 8
Arthur, Arthur
Ep 7
Vocational Education
Ep 6
Glove Story
Ep 5
Welcome Home (2)
Ep 4
Welcome Home (1)
Ep 3
Where the Guys Are
Ep 2
The Ballad of Joanie and C...
Ep 1
Because It's There

Contributors

Become a contributor
More
Less

TV Listings

Full Listings
BROWSE | Shows | Videos | News | Listings | Forums | People | Photos | TV.com Blog

CBS Entertainment | About TV.com | About CBS Interactive | Jobs | Advertise

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Ad Choice | Terms of Use