David Cassidy on the Web
Unhappy Days as Stars of Classic TV Shows Sue Over Merchandise Cut
June 15, 2012
By Mark J. Miller
www.brandchannel.com
David Cassidy has probably sung "C'mon Get Happy" about seven zillion times since he joined the cast of The Partridge Family in 1970 and became a teen idol at the age of 20. That doesn't mean that the now 62-year-old is pleased with the show or its producers. In fact, he's furious.
After all the T-shirts, lunch boxes, posters, games, dolls, trading cards and other collectibles with his picture on them, not to mention the years of dodging screaming fans, Cassidy says he only made $15,000 in merchandising fees. He's been on a long legal battle to get some of that dough, which could equal around $10 million, according to a press release.
An L.A. Superior Court judge is currently considering if he will hear the case against Sony in front of a jury. Cassidy isn't the only disgruntled '70s TV star, either. Some of the cast members from Happy Days are also suing CBS over their cut (or lack thereof) in merchandising sales related to the show.
Actors Marion Ross, Anson Williams, Don Most, and Erin Moran as well as the widow of Tom Bosley (who died in 2010) have been after $10 million alleging breach of contract in a collective lawsuit against CBS since last year.
In a potentially promising move for Cassidy's case, a judge ruled last week that the Happy Days cast members' complaint could go to trial, and set a start date of July 17th, CNN reports.
Too bad the Fonz isn't part of the suit. He'd just have to hit the wall to get this worked out.
Actually, Henry Winkler, who played Arthur Fonzarelli on the show, signed a different (more lucrative) deal than the other actors. (Ron Howard also isn't party to the suit.)
Hey, leave it to the Fonz to have it all figured out.
