What if Fonzie left? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

showfan · 07-24-2005, 04:17 PM

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?

Mikado · 07-24-2005, 05:49 PM

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

chipsandsoda · 07-24-2005, 06:00 PM

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.

Mikado · 07-25-2005, 11:21 PM

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

dave insinga · 07-26-2005, 01:56 PM

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.

Race's Girl · 07-27-2005, 10:42 AM

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

dave insinga · 07-27-2005, 11:58 AM

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.

TVFactFan · 07-27-2005, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by showfan

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

MikeLutton · 07-27-2005, 03:50 PM

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

07-24-2005, 04:17 PM	#1
showfan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 24, 2005 Posts: 163	What if Fonzie left? 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?

07-26-2005, 01:56 PM	#5
dave insinga Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 19, 2005 Posts: 590	as much as i liked richie(ron howard) 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.

07-27-2005, 10:42 AM	#6
Race's Girl Miss Tremendous Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jan 26, 2005 Location: On Fonzie's bike in front of Arnold's Posts: 23,445	If the Fonz left, the series would have been canceled, right?
	__________________ Girls rock so there, boys.

07-27-2005, 11:58 AM	#7
dave insinga Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 19, 2005 Posts: 590	i think so 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.

07-27-2005, 03:50 PM	#9
MikeLutton Mike Lutton DVD Legend! Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 05, 2005 Location: usa pennsyvania Posts: 6,887	Reply 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

07-24-2005, 05:49 PM	#2
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,886	By returning to shows that featured good writing rather than Whooooaaaa , Ayyyyyyy

07-24-2005, 06:00 PM	#3
chipsandsoda Banned Banned!! Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 28, 2005 Posts: 91	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.

07-25-2005, 11:21 PM	#4
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,886	^^^Obviously you liked the Fonz, for me., the show would have been better if hed stayed a minor character