What if Henry Winkler had left Happy Days instead of Ron Howard? Could the show have survived as long as it did? How would they have filled the Fonz's void?

By returning to shows that featured good writing rather than Whooooaaaa , Ayyyyyyy :rolleyes:

Now Iv'e never thought of it that way. But remember on Step by Step when Cody left the show? The show litterlly fell apart after that. I think Happy Days would have been similar. Although no other charachter could ever replace Fonzie, they probably would have brought in another cool charachter who was similar to The Fonz, who ended up moving into his old apartment up above The Cunningham's Garage. They would have made references to Fonzie every now and then like they did with Richie too keep the charachter's spirit alive to long time viewers. For example Richie could mention he got a postcard from Fonzie or Fonzie could call on the phone every once in a while. Also much like the 2 parter during the last season. They could do something similar with Fonzie. He could home and Richie and the Cunningham's would be happy that he was home, and plan on him staying home for good, when he happily/yet happily announces he has just became the owner of a very popular motorcycle company wherever he moved to (probably Florida) and also in the very last episode he would appear one last time at Joanie and Chachi's wedding. I think it could have worked. But the show sure wouldn't have been as good.

^^^Obviously you liked the Fonz, for me., the show would have been better if hed stayed a minor character

i don't think the show would have lasted as long as it did the fonzie character
was just a strong character that kept the show going.by the time ron howard left the richie character had pretty much peaked they would have had to bring another character similar to fonzie to interact with richie ,ralph and potsie.again who knows what direction the show would have taken chances are it probably would have been canceled after another season.i can't see the show going back to the way it was at the begining when fonzie was a minor character after everthing that happened in season 3-7 but that didn't happen richie and ralph left so happy days was what it was and we can all make up these "what if" things from now untill we get all 11 seasons on dvd
at the rate paramount is going all of us writing on these forums will be dead.

If the Fonz left, the series would have been canceled, right?

people are going to debate this but fonzie was and still is a classic sitcom character and HAPPY DAYS was his show after richie left so i don't think the show could have made it without him.

What if Henry Winkler had left Happy Days instead of Ron Howard? Could the show have survived as long as it did? How would they have filled the Fonz's void?


Yes and it would have been higher in the ratings. Not the top 5 but atleast the top 20

Happy Days Without Fonzie would never happen i dont see it lasting another few episodes without main charactor to carry the show.unless they bring in Vinnie Barbroino from welcome back kootor.lol that be funny see him live in Mr and Miss cs Garage lol