Former celebrity Scott Baio voiced his anger and bitterness that his former castmates from the classic 1970s show “Happy Days” did not invite him to participate in a table read to benefit the Biden-Harris campaign.
Judging from his tone, he wasn’t invited because of his politics, but more likely because he’s a bitter, pompous arse.
Original stars of the show Henry Winkler (“Fonzie”), Ron Howard (“Richie Cunningham”), Anson Williams (“Potsie Weber”) and Marion Ross (“Marion Cunningham”) will all participate, while it’s rumored that “Full House” star John Stamos may fill-in as Chachi, the role Baio had.
Baio is not happy. “I think Stamos always wanted to be Chachi instead of paying second fiddle to a three-year-old,” Baio sniped, calling Stamos is an “elite Marxist.”
“Here’s what I don’t get,” Baio added. “To take a show like Happy Days that represented traditional American values, good morals, a slice of Americana and to use that show and those ideals to promote two people in Joe Biden and Kamala Harris that condone, encourage and foment rioting and looting is a little bizarre to me.”
It’s true: in a lot of ways, Happy Days did represent traditional American values at the time it was set and at the time it aired. Blacks were relegated to occasional roles; the only person of color to have a regular cast on the show, Pat Morita, was a Japanese American who affected an over-the-top accent (and who reportly left the show because of racial stereotypes).
Scott Baio’s brother Steven had more guest appearances (three) than any Black actor over the show’s eleven season run.
So, yes, the show did reflect “classic American values” like racism, tokenism and nepotism. That’s not always a good thing.