Not So Happy Days

(Props to Pat)

Or

Nope, Nope, Nope, Nope

Or, more optimistically

Yep, Yep, Yep, Yep

(Kudos to Monty)

Al Molinaro, best remembered as Chachi’s stepfather, has died at the age of 96. Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin and possessing the eyes of a basset hound and the nose of an elephant seal, Molinaro had everything necessary to become a Hollywood leading man. Only the cruel vicissitudes of fate kept him from his destiny. Molinaro’s big break came as the Long Nose of the Law, Murray Greshler, on The Odd Couple, catching the attention of producer Garry Marshall. Molinaro took over the diner on Happy Days when producers noticed that there weren’t that many Japanese men running eateries in Milwaukee in the 1950s. After taking over the diner, Molinaro enacted his master plan, recommending a little known comic named Robin Williams from his improv class when Marshall was desperate to find someone to play Mork and recreate the magic that The Great Gazoo had once brought to The Flintstones. Sadly, Molinaro did not follow Pat Morita in all his roles, as seeing Al Delvecchio in the crane position might have made The Karate Kid III worth watching. In later years, Molinaro was the ultimate mooch, inviting his family to the home of every sad single who made the mistake of buying an On-Cor frozen dinner, which dovetailed nicely with his other spokesman gig with Mr. Big toilet paper.