If only there were a book of successful formulas that a network executive could use when making the all-important decisions on what should air and what shouldn’t. But, as has been proven time and time again, there are no sure things in the entertainment industry. Even the best-laid plans can fizzle in the blink of an eye. Take the popular series, Happy Days, for example – plenty of longevity, beloved by millions of television viewers, and boasting a track record of two reasonably successful spin-off series (Laverne and Shirley and Mork and Mindy). Three times is a charm, right? Well, in the case of Joanie Loves Chachi, not necessarily.

Two of the stars of the successful 70s sitcom ventured out on their own, away from their hometown of Milwaukee, young thug with a good heart Chachi Arcola (Scott Baio) and everyone’s favorite shortcake, Joanie Cunningham (Erin Moran.) Hopelessly in love, the duo set out for Chicago with big city dreams of fame and fortune as they attempted to launch a successful career in rock and roll. Thankfully, the two lovebirds weren’t alone in the Windy City. Chachi’s mom lived there with her new husband, Al Delvecchio, the kind-hearted restaurateur and former owner of Al’s Diner back in Milwaukee. Together they ran an Italian restaurant, which, coincidentally, just happened to provide the perfect venue for an aspiring rock band to perform at. Joanie and Chachi moved in with the newlyweds and began their life anew as up-and-coming music stars. They talked Chachi’s two cousins and a crazy drummer named Bingo to join the band and road to success was, well…paved with good intentions at least.

Offered originally as a mid-season replacement in 1982, Joanie Loves Chachi showed promise when it finished in the top five. When the new season rolled around, things looked promising at first - until the teen duo watched their Nielsen Ratings plummet like the Stock Market in 1929 – down to a dismal 68th place – and proving yet again that in the wacky business of television, there is no such thing as a formula for success. Joanie may have loved Chachi, but America just wasn't quite as enamored.

Luckily for their fans, the show’s cancellation didn’t mean the end for all of the disenfranchised Happy Days alumni. They were all welcomed back to Milwaukee with nary a mention of the ugliness that occurred over in Chicago. And back in Hollywood, some programming executive probably wished he was in a town as forgiving as Milwaukee.