Ron Howard's Happy Days departure was sudden and unexpected
How do you feel about the old "two weeks notice" employees should give their employers? On one hand, it's a courteous and respectful way of parting. You might experience a lingering desire to do right by the people who signed all your paychecks. After all, they kept you afloat. But then, on the other hand, they profit from exploiting your labor! The fat cats at the top of the food chain get paid so much more than you do, and what did they ever contribute? Why do you need to consider their feelings when deciding to move on? It's your life!
For Ron Howard, the choice was clear: Get out while you can. At least that's how he—allegedly— lept out of the Golden Era depicted on ABC's Happy Days. To hear the powers that be discuss the matter, Howard was there one moment and gone the next.
"It was like those legends you hear when an eagle swoops down and snatches a baby from the cradle and flies off," one ABC spokesperson told the Mansfield, Ohio News Journal in 1980.
The swooping referred to here was probably a reference to Fred Silverman, the NBC president who won Howard over with a lucrative contract to develop his own projects.
See Also
So where did that leave the Happy Days staff? Did they have a plan at the ready?
"That's hard to say at the moment," said the unnamed ABC official. "However, the show will go on uninterrupted with all the regulars, Henry Winkler, Tom Bosley, Marion Ross, Anson Williams, and Scott Baio."
Another spokesperson, this one from Happy Days producers Paramount Studios, echoed the sentiment. "The writers are working on how to deal with Richie's absence. You can be sure it will be handled in a way that will not disturb the show's continuity or appeal."
Yeah, right...
Howard, despite his aspirations, knew that leaving Happy Days did "leave them in somewhat of a lurch."
"They can go in any number of directions," he added. "I'm certain they will do just great."
While the move was definitely what was best for his career, there were definitely a lot of emotions involved in the decision-making process. It was no easy switch, because of the positive time he'd spent with the cast and crew.
"I feel a lot like I'm graduating from high school and leaving a lot of close friends." Those friends, his co-workers on Happy Days, were "very supportive— they see this as a tremendous opportunity for me. It made me feel good to know they were sorry to see me go, though."
While he had positive things to say about his co-stars, Howard wasn't nearly as fond of the network he was parting ways with. It turns out a major motivating factor was "ABC's unwillingness to really let me get into the production area as deeply as I wanted to— they see me pretty much as Richie. They didn't take me very seriously."
Watch Happy Days on Catchy Comedy
Weekdays at 2:30p ET | 11:30a PT