“Sunday, Monday Happy Days!” Well, maybe not so much for much anymore for the cast of the ‘70s hit show “Happy Days.”
Four former cast members – Erin Moran (who played Joanie), Don Most (who played Ralph Malph), Marion Ross (who played Mrs. Cunningham), and Anson Williams (who played Potsie) – are suing CBS for merchandising revenues for which they believe they have not been paid.
The actors had a deal with CBS that if their individual likeness was used on anything, they would receive 5 percent of the net proceeds. If they appeared as part of the group, they would receive 2 1 /2 percent.
Now, if you were alive in the ‘70s, you probably remember the “Happy Days” cast being on everything from t-shirts to lunch boxes, but that is not what prompted the lawsuit. Although Moran contacted CBS about the merchandising revenues as far back as 2002, but was told she wasn’t owed anything, what made the cast take action were the “Happy Days” slot machines that came out in 2008.
The $10 million lawsuit asks jurors to “punish defendants for their despicable conduct.” CBS has said this is all without merit. However, before the lawsuit was filed, CBS admitted it “owed royalties from the merchandising of ‘Happy Days’ and have, in fact, been working with their representatives for some time to see that they are paid what they are due.”
Since the lawsuit was filed, CBS has sent checks to the actors totaling $43,403. Monies owed to deceased cast member Tom Bosley were sent to his widow, Patricia. The lawyer for the actors, Jon Pfeiffer, has said he is holding on to the checks so CBS can’t argue that there is no case because checks were cashed.
Now, you may be asking what about two more prominent members of the cast – Ron Howard and Henry Winkler. While the Howard and Winkler are not a part of the lawsuit, they do lend support to the other actors. Those suing CBS point out that Winkler was paid for his image appearing on the slot machines.