Fraud claim thrown out in 'Happy Days' lawsuit

[Hector]

I feel kinda sad about this...

Fraud claim thrown out in 'Happy Days' lawsuit - CNN.com


Thoughts?

[Mikey]

I thought Happy Days was owned by ABC ?

[Hector]

I thought Happy Days was owned by ABC ?

Paramount/CBS apparently gained the rights to the series when it went into syndication....after its first run on ABC....and the actors were focusing on that time period.

[Cmonster]

This is a really tough one for me-- Whether they're right or wrong, or whether Paramount/CBS does actually owe them money for merch, really isn't the point here.

Let me explain how this works for you; When you're an actor and have a role on a show like "Happy Days" that had a run like it did, you have millions and millions of dollars from the RESIDUALS ALONE. This show has been in syndication FOREVER. That means that those residual checks KEEP COMING. Mind you, this does NOT include what their salary was on the show, which compared to the residuals over a 30+ year period, doesn't seem like much, but show me any American who wouldn't want to get paid 10-25 grand a week to play Happy Days--

The point I'm making here, is that if Potsie, Ralph, Mrs.C and Joanie had even the slightest modicum of knowledge of how to invest their money or at least, not spend it like rockstars, they wouldn't be suing someone over merch revenue. Yeah, you could say it's the principle of the thing, but c'mon-- You're a star on a huge show for over a decade, make millions of dollars, probably have a life none of us "regular folk" can dream of, and now you're whining about not getting paid for dolls???

Cry me a river, Ralph Malph--

SC

[Hector]

Good point...

[Mikey]

I think Howard and Fonzie was with them they're case would seem more legit

[Hector]

I think Howard and Fonzie was with them they're case would seem more legit

They didn't need to...they are filthy rich...plus their contracts were much different...not even in the same universe.

[Sideshow Spock]

Let me explain how this works for you; When you're an actor and have a role on a show like "Happy Days" that had a run like it did, you have millions and millions of dollars from the RESIDUALS ALONE. This show has been in syndication FOREVER. That means that those residual checks KEEP COMING. Mind you, this does NOT include what their salary was on the show, which compared to the residuals over a 30+ year period, doesn't seem like much, but show me any American who wouldn't want to get paid 10-25 grand a week to play Happy Days--

I think you may be seriously overestimating the residual amount that these actors from 1970s TV shows receive. I remember reading an interview with Alison Arngrim (who played Nellie Olsen on Little House on the Prairie for many years, same contract era as Happy Days, also syndicated forever), and she said that while she appreciated the residuals, it was only enough to "pay the cable bill" every month.

[Brown Bear]

I feel sorry for them. That's the best show ever made.

[kingdom warrior]

This is a really tough one for me-- Whether they're right or wrong, or whether Paramount/CBS does actually owe them money for merch, really isn't the point here.

Let me explain how this works for you; When you're an actor and have a role on a show like "Happy Days" that had a run like it did, you have millions and millions of dollars from the RESIDUALS ALONE. This show has been in syndication FOREVER. That means that those residual checks KEEP COMING. Mind you, this does NOT include what their salary was on the show, which compared to the residuals over a 30+ year period, doesn't seem like much, but show me any American who wouldn't want to get paid 10-25 grand a week to play Happy Days--

The point I'm making here, is that if Potsie, Ralph, Mrs.C and Joanie had even the slightest modicum of knowledge of how to invest their money or at least, not spend it like rockstars, they wouldn't be suing someone over merch revenue. Yeah, you could say it's the principle of the thing, but c'mon-- You're a star on a huge show for over a decade, make millions of dollars, probably have a life none of us "regular folk" can dream of, and now you're whining about not getting paid for dolls???

Cry me a river, Ralph Malph--

SC

Good point, I don't feel sorry for them. these guys were replaceables actors Winkler and Howard were the show. All of them knew they hit gold and could have easily put away their money or made wise investments.

I'm sure none of them would have been this bold back then knowing full well that none of them were big stars.......they would have made those demand back then the next season of Happy Days would have been the adventures of Fonzie and Ritchie......

[toys2cool]

sucks for them

[starsky]

a few months ago, i thought they each won like 6k from the lawsuit. but i guess the decision's been reversed.

it's hard to tell from their situation as the general public is not sure what their contract stated regarding merchandise licensing. i mean it is kind of weird to see your image on a slot machine and not get compensated for it but then again if it was somewhere in your contract stating that all merchandizing with your likeness would be studio property then that's a different story.

[jwyblejr]

I wonder why Scott Baio wasn't involved?

[mego73]

I thought Happy Days was owned by ABC ?

Paramount owned the show from the beginning. Now CBS has merged with Paramount so that's why they are suing CBS/Paramount.

I don't know the specifics of the case, I do know that the merchandising aspects of performers contracts were not thought out back then. And syndication revenue was also not quite thought out.

The Star Trek thing is a great example. All the actors got residules for only the first 2 syndication cycles of the show (which occured in 71-72) and Paramount could use their faces on all our Mego figures and other toys.

During the time, Star Trek toys with Shatner's face were selling like hotcakes in the 70's he was taking any acting job he could get to stay afloat.

Nimoy get fed up enough to sue about this ad:

Nerd Squared: Spock Heineken Poster


The movies gave all the actors a chance to get some back money from all that merchandising.

But I'll never forgot on one of the morning shows where they had Shatner and Nimoy promoting Star Trek 3. They also had a thing on about Dick York, who was living in poverty, with his wife, suffering from emphasima. That day, Bewitched shows with him were running on my local station, and 2 times on WTBS. He was getting 0 money from all that.

It's the way the contracts were done, back then.

[Brad]

The Star Trek thing is a great example. All the actors got residules for only the first 2 syndication cycles of the show (which occured in 71-72) and Paramount could use their faces on all our Mego figures and other toys.

I think the cast of Giligans Island had the same thing happen to them. After 2 cycles that was it for them too.

But I'll never forgot on one of the morning shows where they had Shatner and Nimoy promoting Star Trek 3. They also had a thing on about Dick York, who was living in poverty, with his wife, suffering from emphasima. That day, Bewitched shows with him were running on my local station, and 2 times on WTBS. He was getting 0 money from all that.

It's the way the contracts were done, back then.

I always like Dick York in that role. It was a shame how things ended up for him. He had a very bad back injury that caused him so much pain that he ended up having to leave the show because of it.