American comedic royalty doesn’t get much more feel-good than Garry Marshall. The Bronx-bred entertainment giant behind such girlie blockbusters as Beaches, Pretty Woman and The Princess Diaries made his name with the cheery, innocence-soaked sitcom Happy Days. Nearly 25 years after going off the air, Richie Cunningham and the gang are entering the Jersey Boys–dominated retro fray with Happy Days: A New Musical, which rocks around the city this month.

Happy Days came out during the Vietnam War and Watergate. Viewers found comfort in its traditional 1950s values. Do you think the show will resonate in this new “Yes we can” era? The world is falling apart, and the economy is, too. Audiences today need an escape from reality just as much as they did in the 1970s.

You created Laverne and Shirley for your sister Penny after she appeared on Happy Days. It was a huge hit, and she went on to have a massively successful career. What’s the best present she ever gave you? We’ve been very close over the years—the best present she ever gave me was that she was always there for me. Penny actually started on The Odd Couple, after my mother called and said, “Get your sister a job. She needs it badly.”

Happy Days reached its nadir when the Fonz jumped over a shark on water skis in a widely mocked episode. Still, the famous term “jump the shark” came out of it. Any regrets? No. I think it’s great that we’re now part of the American language. I’m flattered by it. I must admit that it wasn’t our best episode—we were reaching.

Are you a Richie or a Fonz? I totally identify with Richie. He studied journalism, and I graduated from Northwestern with a degree in journalism. Oddly, when he was the head of Disney, Michael Eisner always used to say that he was Potsie.

Happy Days spawned Laverne and Shirley, Mork and Mindy and Joanie Loves Chachi. Are you planning to make musicals of them? Joanie Loves Chachi had a built-in band, but it wasn’t a great success. Laverne won’t work and Mork needs Robin Williams. I’m dying to turn The Princess Diaries into a show, but Happy Days has taken me years. If I do any more, I’ll have to move faster.

Happy Days are here again at the Elgin Theatre Feb. 3 to 15. $25–$95. 189 Yonge St., 416-644-3665, www.dancaptickets.com.

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