My Cousin the Cheat

Plot

A truant officer comes into Arnold's, telling Fonzie that his cousin Chachi has been skipping school and selling ties to various people. Fonzie tells Chachi that he should stay in school because "stay in school is cool," though Chachi says school is boring. Richie tells Chachi he needs someone to tutor and Fonzie tells Chachi that he can have a job at his mechanic shop. Later, Chachi is paired with Joanie, who is tutoring him as suggested by Richie. However, as soon as Joanie's parents leave the room, Chachi starts to hit on Joanie and she threatens to tell her father and call Fonzie, so Chachi starts to work and tells Joanie that he has some sample questions that he needs to work on. Marion calls Joanie upstairs so she can help her with her dress. Chachi then gets on the phone with his friend Tony, telling him he got all the answers for the test. Chachi gets 100 on his test and Fonzie gives him a job and his first yellow mechanic hat, given to him by a person named Boris, who is never seen in the series, when Fonzie was able to fix his first car at only 7 1/2 years old. Chachi leaves Fonzie to do his work. Richie and Joanie come inside to tell Fonzie that Chachi got suspended from school for two weeks and cheated the answers out of her, which also got her suspended later. Chachi comes in, is confronted by Fonzie, and angrily storms out of the shop. Back at the Cunningham house, Howard & Marion tell Fonzie that he should talk to Chachi, but Fonzie says that it is against the Fonzarelli Code. Richie talks to Chachi at Arnold's, trying the buddy, anger, and truth routines. Richie tells Chachi that he should sell himself out to the principal and tells Fonzie he should give Chachi his job back. Chachi has a second interview and he apologizes to Fonzie and is given another shot.^[1]

Main cast

• Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham
• Henry Winkler as Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli
• Marion Ross as Marion Cunningham
• Anson Williams as Warren "Postie" Weber
• Don Most as Ralph Malph
• Erin Moran as Joanie Cunningham
• Al Molinaro as Al Delvecchio
• Scott Baio as Chachi Arcola
• Tom Bosley as Howard Cunningham

Supporting cast/Guest cast

• Charles Hallahan as Truant Officer

Trivia

• It is mentioned in this Episode that Chachi's Biological Father is deceased
• In this episode Fonzie mentions of the Fonzarelli Code which is the first time it is mentioned in the series.^[2]
• it is revealed by Richie that Chachi's full named is Charles "Chachi" Arcola
• Ralph and Potsie appear briefly at the end of the episode

Mentioned characters that did not appear in this episode

• Lori Beth Allen
• Jenny Piccalo
• Cindy Turtlebeck

References