There’s no way to describe the TV show Happy Days other than iconic.
During its 10-year run, the series won an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a People Choice Award.
Not to mention, Happy Days made everyone believe a jukebox could be brought back to life with a punch and a, ‘Ayyyy.’
But the wildly popular and successful series was almost cancelled after its first season.
Henry Winkler, who played the extremely cool Arthur ‘Fozie’ Fonzarelli, shared this tidbit in January 2025 during the Happy Days 50th Anniversary Panel at Gallatin Comic Con.
“We were almost cancelled. Out of the 100 shows that were on at that time – instead of the 5000 that are on now – we were 48th and ABC was not happy,” Henry said.
“Gary Marshall [the series creator] said, ‘Let me just try in front of a live audience,’ and we zoomed to number one.”
Here are 7 other fun facts about the TV show Happy Days:
The show was a spin-off
Happy Days was inspired by a 1972 episode of the anthology series Love, American Style. The episode, titled Love and the Happy Days, featured Richie Cunningham and his family and served as a backdoor pilot for the show.
Fonzie wasn’t meant to be the star
Initially, Fonzie was a minor character. However, his popularity skyrocketed, and he became the show’s standout character, eventually taking a more central role in the second season.
The leather jacket had rules
ABC executives didn’t want Fonzie wearing a leather jacket, thinking it looked too rebellious. A compromise was made: he could only wear it in scenes with his motorcycle. Ultimately, the rule was dropped though, and the jacket became a staple.
It coined the term ‘jumping the shark’
The phrase ‘jumping the shark’ originated from a 1977 episode in which Fonzie, clad in his leather jacket, water-skied over a shark. The term is now used to describe a moment when a TV show takes a turn that’s seen as desperate or absurd.
It gave Robin Williams his big break
The late Robin Williams made his TV debut on Happy Days as Mork, an alien from the planet Ork. His performance was so popular that it led to the spin-off series Mork & Mindy.
The Cunninghams had a vanishing son
The show’s first season featured Richie’s older brother, Chuck Cunningham. He disappeared without explanation though, leading to the term “Chuck Cunningham Syndrome” for TV characters who vanish without acknowledgment.
Fonzie was almost played by a different actor
Henry Winkler wasn’t the first choice to play Fonzie. Actor Micky Dolenz of The Monkees was initially considered for the role, but his height (Micky was over six feet tall) made producers think he’d tower over Ron Howard.
Stream Happy Days on Prime Video from $6.58/mth, with a 30-day free trial. SUBSCRIBE HERE.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
