If Fonzie Wasnt So Popular - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ · 03-20-2003, 01:36 AM

Ok, everyone knows Fonzie blew up to be bigger than man-kind. But, what if he never grew to be insanely popular? How do you think the show wouldve been? Any changes? For the better? Maybe the worse?

I think, if Fonzie wasnt as popular, I think they would have kept Chuck (Yayy!!), maybe not in every episode.. but a reaccuring role. I also think Potsie would never have been dopey. Notice the first 2 seasons where Fonzie was kinda quiet yet cool (the way I liked him best), Potsie was wordly... I think he would have remained this way. I also think the show would have focused more on the 50's like it had intended to.

Opinions?

Chad22 · 03-20-2003, 01:44 AM

Honestly, As good a show as Happy Days was, I Dont think it would have lasted as long as it did had "Fonziemania" Not tooken over.

Cactus Jack · 03-20-2003, 01:47 AM

Ditto!

Stormtracker TF · 03-20-2003, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chad Doody
Honestly, As good a show as Happy Days was, I Dont think it would have lasted as long as it did had "Fonziemania" Not tooken over.

I agree. It probably would've only lasted about 4 seasons rather than 10.

¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ · 03-20-2003, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheFonz

I agree. It probably would've only lasted about 4 seasons rather than 10.

But what do you think those 4 seasons would have been like?

Chad22 · 03-20-2003, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by •Shotz|NYC•

But what do you think those 4 seasons would have been like?

Probably like the first 2. Very Well written...But lacking excitement for the most part.

animalcrackers · 03-20-2003, 08:24 AM

I'm thinking it would have ended up similar to "The Wonder Years" but in the 50's and done with film and no studio audience. And would if another actor played the Fonz? I can't imagine Mickey Dolenz playing him.

BlueEyes · 03-20-2003, 09:37 AM

Ohhh, dont go there

I can only see Henry as Fonz

Rob1 · 03-20-2003, 12:14 PM

Four seasons? I think that there would have most likely been only three, or possibly even two. Remember, when Fonzie was just a small supporting character on the show, the ratings weren't the best. Viewership started to climb after Henry Winkler's role of Fonzie was expanded.

dickswift · 03-20-2003, 03:51 PM

Very good point! It could've been runner up to beat the Waltons on CBS in 73 or 75, but I can't remember the time slot. Don't forget those years American producers still needed to have pop icons to help sell shows into longevity. In what was known as hi concept television having an extreme oddball charater like Vinny, JJ, Ted, Klinger, Schnider and many others helped ratings and gave a bigger laughs. Not necessarily great quality television but do not forget it was the 70s. The blow up of Fonzie really took off with the motorcycle stunt and in studio sitcom was and still is cheaper. It is really hard to say ...Richie and Potsie would've had to make some radical changes to keep those ratings up.

BLT · 03-20-2003, 04:18 PM

Interstingly, Happy Days was in the same timeslot (Tuesdays & 8) until fall 1983 when it moved to Tuesdays @ 8:30 after the short-lived "Just Our Luck" about a black jeanie or something.

Waltons aired Thursdays @ 8 for its entire run on CBS.

Chad22 · 03-20-2003, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BLT
Interstingly, Happy Days was in the same timeslot (Tuesdays & 8) until fall 1983 when it moved to Tuesdays @ 8:30 after the short-lived "Just Our Luck" about a black jeanie or something.

Waltons aired Thursdays @ 8 for its entire run on CBS.

Really?

BLT · 03-20-2003, 06:57 PM

Yes, I have a sick fascination with TV reference books". The best one is the thick blue one called, it has a long title, something like "the complete directory to network & cable television: 1947-present". Don't get "Total Television" it's not as detailed with every time slot and the exact dates that a series ran in that slot, or as detailed cast lists or as thorough of an appendix section.

CollegeGirl · 03-20-2003, 07:12 PM

*sniffs* Fonzie, not popular? I'm not sure I could go on living in a world where Fonzie wasn't popular....Just the thought of it makes me

GREAT question, actually. I love these topics that make me think. I go back and forth on the whole "Chuck" controversy. While I think he could have been made to be a good character, the way he was presented on the episodes he appeared sucked. I think I'd go crazy with him being a main character, unless he was given more dimension. RALPH would have made an AWESOME main character, and he and Potsie could have pulled Richie into all sorts of trouble. Then Richie would learn his lesson and Fonzie would give him some sort of sage advice. Only, this would become a pattern quickly, and the audiences would get tired of seeing it. They needed a twist-- something new that no other sitcom had done before. The hard core biker, turned family, nice guy provided just the edge to send their ratings soaring. So, basically, if you took away Fonzie, you'd have to find some other unique character or characters to grab the audience's attention. And if you can come up with that character, you might as well write it up and send it to Hollywood because then you are a sitcom genius and should be writing your own television shows.

FonzForever · 03-20-2003, 10:30 PM

The show definitly wouldn't have lasted as long. I feel too that the seasons after 1 & 2 would probably have been similar and people would have grown tired of it. With the exception of of a couple of epsiodes the first two seaosns were all about Richie and his freinds social life. Not bad, but not enough to build along term show around. Fonzie becoming more popular also led to increased usage of gangs and other greasers. Theit presence made for some of the series best episodes such "Richie Fights Back". As far as Chuck while is doesn't seem much in compared to the 11 seasons the show ran, he was aorund the first two seasons. Two years. I don't see how the writers would suddenly be able to flesh out his character after having two years to try.
Even though Fonzie became hugely popular the building blocks were during the first two seasons and he evolved.
Take the first season. For the most part he was understated and quiet. He was more of an acquaintence to Richie and Potsie (as was Ralph initially) then friend, By the end of season 1, he made his first save for Richie & Co. against The Dukes.

03-20-2003, 01:36 AM	#1
¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ MISS APRIL Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 19, 2001 Location: Parsonsfield ME Shaws - Screwing my way up the employment ladder! Posts: 68,780	If Fonzie Wasnt So Popular Ok, everyone knows Fonzie blew up to be bigger than man-kind. But, what if he never grew to be insanely popular? How do you think the show wouldve been? Any changes? For the better? Maybe the worse? I think, if Fonzie wasnt as popular, I think they would have kept Chuck (Yayy!!), maybe not in every episode.. but a reaccuring role. I also think Potsie would never have been dopey. Notice the first 2 seasons where Fonzie was kinda quiet yet cool (the way I liked him best), Potsie was wordly... I think he would have remained this way. I also think the show would have focused more on the 50's like it had intended to. Opinions?
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03-20-2003, 01:47 AM	#3
Cactus Jack RonFingSwanson Forum Idol Join Date: Dec 09, 2001 Location: Santa Rosa Beach,FL Posts: 103,099	Ditto!
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03-20-2003, 12:14 PM	#9
Rob1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 19, 2003 Location: NY Posts: 180	Four seasons? I think that there would have most likely been only three, or possibly even two. Remember, when Fonzie was just a small supporting character on the show, the ratings weren't the best. Viewership started to climb after Henry Winkler's role of Fonzie was expanded.
	__________________ Rob1

03-20-2003, 03:51 PM	#10
dickswift Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 27, 2002 Location: Toronto Posts: 63	Food for thought! Very good point! It could've been runner up to beat the Waltons on CBS in 73 or 75, but I can't remember the time slot. Don't forget those years American producers still needed to have pop icons to help sell shows into longevity. In what was known as hi concept television having an extreme oddball charater like Vinny, JJ, Ted, Klinger, Schnider and many others helped ratings and gave a bigger laughs. Not necessarily great quality television but do not forget it was the 70s. The blow up of Fonzie really took off with the motorcycle stunt and in studio sitcom was and still is cheaper. It is really hard to say ...Richie and Potsie would've had to make some radical changes to keep those ratings up.

03-20-2003, 01:44 AM	#2
Chad22 Captain Juke N Jive Moderator Forum Addict Join Date: Nov 23, 2002 Location: Caribou, Maine Posts: 71,661	Honestly, As good a show as Happy Days was, I Dont think it would have lasted as long as it did had "Fonziemania" Not tooken over.

03-20-2003, 08:24 AM	#7
animalcrackers Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 24, 2002 Location: The Backseat Of Fonzie's Bike Posts: 1,603	I'm thinking it would have ended up similar to "The Wonder Years" but in the 50's and done with film and no studio audience. And would if another actor played the Fonz? I can't imagine Mickey Dolenz playing him.

03-20-2003, 09:37 AM	#8
BlueEyes G'day Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 05, 2003 Location: The State of Confusion Posts: 5,471	Ohhh, dont go there I can only see Henry as Fonz

03-20-2003, 04:18 PM	#11
BLT Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 06, 2003 Posts: 496	Interstingly, Happy Days was in the same timeslot (Tuesdays & 8) until fall 1983 when it moved to Tuesdays @ 8:30 after the short-lived "Just Our Luck" about a black jeanie or something. Waltons aired Thursdays @ 8 for its entire run on CBS.

03-20-2003, 06:57 PM	#13
BLT Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 06, 2003 Posts: 496	Yes, I have a sick fascination with TV reference books". The best one is the thick blue one called, it has a long title, something like "the complete directory to network & cable television: 1947-present". Don't get "Total Television" it's not as detailed with every time slot and the exact dates that a series ran in that slot, or as detailed cast lists or as thorough of an appendix section.

03-20-2003, 07:12 PM	#14
CollegeGirl Spike Loves Buffy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 07, 2002 Location: Sunnydale: The Land of The Vamps, Monsters, And Things That Go Bump Posts: 1,517	sniffs Fonzie, not popular? I'm not sure I could go on living in a world where Fonzie wasn't popular....Just the thought of it makes me GREAT question, actually. I love these topics that make me think. I go back and forth on the whole "Chuck" controversy. While I think he could have been made to be a good character, the way he was presented on the episodes he appeared sucked. I think I'd go crazy with him being a main character, unless he was given more dimension. RALPH would have made an AWESOME main character, and he and Potsie could have pulled Richie into all sorts of trouble. Then Richie would learn his lesson and Fonzie would give him some sort of sage advice. Only, this would become a pattern quickly, and the audiences would get tired of seeing it. They needed a twist-- something new that no other sitcom had done before. The hard core biker, turned family, nice guy provided just the edge to send their ratings soaring. So, basically, if you took away Fonzie, you'd have to find some other unique character or characters to grab the audience's attention. And if you can come up with that character, you might as well write it up and send it to Hollywood because then you are a sitcom genius and should be writing your own television shows.

03-20-2003, 10:30 PM	#15
FonzForever A classic Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 16, 2002 Location: Discussing "the rules" with Cynthia ;) Posts: 582	The show definitly wouldn't have lasted as long. I feel too that the seasons after 1 & 2 would probably have been similar and people would have grown tired of it. With the exception of of a couple of epsiodes the first two seaosns were all about Richie and his freinds social life. Not bad, but not enough to build along term show around. Fonzie becoming more popular also led to increased usage of gangs and other greasers. Theit presence made for some of the series best episodes such "Richie Fights Back". As far as Chuck while is doesn't seem much in compared to the 11 seasons the show ran, he was aorund the first two seasons. Two years. I don't see how the writers would suddenly be able to flesh out his character after having two years to try. Even though Fonzie became hugely popular the building blocks were during the first two seasons and he evolved. Take the first season. For the most part he was understated and quiet. He was more of an acquaintence to Richie and Potsie (as was Ralph initially) then friend, By the end of season 1, he made his first save for Richie & Co. against The Dukes.