Flipping around the coverage of the Olympics this weekend, I was reminded of that old episode of
Happy Days where Fonzie fences against a rude Frenchman. (Was there ANYTHING that Fonzie couldn't do?!?) I'm not sure exactly what that says about me as a person, but I'm pretty sure it's not good.
In case you've forgotten what happens in the episode, here are some details from
Happy Days On-Line.
140- The Duel (3/13/79) Fonzie fights a duel with a bigoted Frenchman.
Marion is singing a French song 'Fara zaka (?)'. Marion and Joanie talk about the French fencing champion. He is touring the colleges and will be there for only two days. Richie brings Jacques Du Bois who meets Marion, Joanie, and Howard. Marion has prepared meat loaf and unscrews the cap off the wine (Chateau Swenson right there in Milwaukee). Jacques says he will skip dinner. Richie tells Ralph and Potsie how fed up he is with Jacques. Fonzie and Al talk about his girls. Richie introduces Jacques to Fonzie. Richie says they should be cordial to him. Fonzie says he once dated a fencing teacher. Jacques is putting on a demonstration at the UWM gymnasium. Kitty says yes to Ralph. At the gymnasium, Richie introduces Jacques and UWM's current conference champion and three consecutive titles: Georgie 'Thrust and Perry Smith'. The referee is the president of the UWM fencing society, Fred Brill. Jacques defeats Georgie in a few seconds. Jacques laughs in Richie's face. Richie calls him an obnoxious wimp. Jacques challenges Richie to a duel at 2PM. Jacques cancels the duel. Jacques is rude to Joanie, and Richie slaps him with the glove and the duel is on again. Fonzie asks Richie to see him in his office. Richie tells him Jacques insulted America and Joanie. Fonzie has a 'black belt' in fencing. Fonzie and Richie trade clothes. Richie is in the crowd in Fonzie's leather jacket and motorcycle helmet. Fonzie defeats Jacques in a pre-duel. Jacques and Fonzie show off their fencing skills with their swords. If Fonzie wins the duel, he gets Jacques' family emblem. If Jacques wins, he gets Paula Petrolunga. Jacques says 'Uncle Sam' and is defeated. They all leave for Arnold's to celebrate.
Directed by: Jerry Paris
Written by: Fred Fox, Jr.
Guest stars: Patrick Gorman as Jacques Du Bois, Sarina Charne as Kitty Fox, and Cary Schuman as Fred Brill
posted by Michael Hickerson at 8/16/2004 01:56:00 PM |
|