There was a special on TVLand called "Happy Days Secrets." It was from an old Entertainment Tonight documentary of the show. Many interesting facts.

The original idea for Fonzie was an tall, muscular, blonde Italian-American.

Ron Howard did not want to do another tv series. But he had a low draft number id, and thought that if he were part of a big show they might be able to keep him from the draft if it ever came to that.

Richie character was originally created with Robby Benson in mind. He turned down the role.

The director and actors threatened to quit if they renamed the show to "Fonzie's Happy Days," including Winkler.

Scott Baio was so nervous his first appearance, he hoped he would bomb onstage and be let go.

Winkler got the idea of "thumbs up" himself from his high school history class, the Roman gladiators or something.

Henry Winkler never learned to ride a motorcycle. Scenes of him riding were done by pulling him on a wooden platform on wheels.

I'm glad things turned out the way they did.

Originally posted by animalcrackers
I'm glad things turned out the way they did. ditto - it was a fun little mini-documentary, but they better do more than that for the 30th reunion :D

Erin Moran wasn't the original choice for Joannie. I forget who the other one was. Also, the original Howard was played by someone else, not Tom Bosley.

I'm trying to think of who else could have played the Fonz. Mickey Rourke? I have to admit the Rourke would have been really cool. But I can't see him doing a silly comedy like Happy Days. And he might have been too young when the show first aired.

His character Motorcycle Boy in the film "Rumble Fish" was really cool. Like, even cooler than the Fonz. Check it out if you haven't seen it.

Originally posted by wayne
Also, the original Howard was played by someone else, not Tom Bosley. in the pilot it was Harold Gould who played Howard

according to http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0332390/ :
"Love, American Style" (1969) playing "Howard Cunningham" in episode: "Love and Happy Days" (episode # 3.22a) 25 February 1972

I saw this too. I loved this episode of ET.

I have that special taped. Its pretty cool.:)