CBS Television Distribution

Ron Howard protested when Happy Days was nearly renamed ''Fonzie's Happy Days'' in '75

By: Catchy Comedy Staff Posted: September 4, 2024, 9:46AM

They just don't make cultural phenomenons like they used to...

Nowadays, everything is too fragmented. The internet has provided viewers with niche programming that small audiences become incredibly passionate about. There are so many channels, and they're all kept afloat by tinier viewership than ever before.

There will never be another M*A*S*H finale or even another Friends finale, as no single show has united the country as appointment TV. There's just too many options. They might all be quality series, too. The problem is that there are so many of them.

The character's nostalgic '50s image, repackaged on '70s television, reached the widest audience possible. As more folks tuned in for Henry Winkler in his leather jacket, ABC's ratings soared. The Fonz was so widely popular that the title of his show, Happy Days, nearly changed to reflect his growing stardom.

Ron Howard played the show's true main character, Richie Cunningham. But, as viewership skyrocketed, Richie's problems were de-emphasized, as writers sought to highlight more of The Fonz for his rabid fans. So, while Howard was still top-billed, the stories all focused more and more on Winkler's Fonzie.

While Howard admitted there were some awkward feelings around how Fonz was spotlighted, it never caused problems on the set.

"Maybe if Henry Winkler and I hadn't liked each other there would have been problems," Howard is quoted saying in Barbara Kramer's Ron Howard: Child Star & Hollywood Director.

He could see that Winkler's popularity made the show a success, and that was good for everyone in the cast. However, Howard's grace only extended so far. When producers intended to rename the show to Fonzie's Happy Days, Howard objected.

He said he "didn't sign on to be on somebody else's show." Luckily, series producer Garry Marshall agreed with Howard, and the idea was dropped.