Sayonara, Funnyman.

Pat Morita died the other day. As a kid, I really enjoyed him on "Happy Days." I remember cracking up when, describing Fonzie's crash into the chicken stand, he threw the drumstick in the air and went "frrt!" Classic. He also had a memorable guest spot on "The Odd Couple" as the Japanese soldier driven to fits when forced to deal with Felix Unger. Here is my small tribute to the man, and the ABC sitcom that was tailor-made for him in 1976, "Mr. T and Tina." It didn't last very long, but these vidcaps from the commercial touting its premiere demonstrate the thespic subtlety that would later earn him an Academy Award nomination.