How did they write Potsie out? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Rob1 · 03-26-2003, 02:14 PM

Was his absence ever explained?

¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ · 03-26-2003, 02:53 PM

I dont think so. I just think he disappeared..

Stormtracker TF · 03-26-2003, 03:13 PM

They never did explain why he was never on. He should've been in more Last Season eps, especially the Last one

Tuscadero · 03-26-2003, 03:49 PM

I think it's an outrage!

I mean, Potsie was such an integral character up until around the time that Richie and Ralph left...I just don't get why they didn't do anything with him; the writers had possiblities! Personally, I wish they would have spent more time developing Potsie than some of the "new gang" that was to come along.

HDfanLiz · 03-26-2003, 03:53 PM

Yeah, I hated that. Potsie was a big character, and should have had an even larger part after Ralph & Richie left. Although I do think that part of the problem was that without the two of them, it was harder to write in scenes he would with the other characters since he was never that close to Fonzie and he's not a Cunnigham. They could have given him a love interest, though.

animalcrackers · 03-26-2003, 05:31 PM

I've always wonder how Anson felt. I've always felt so sorry for Potsie. Even though he's in a scene, he's treated like he's invisible. Talk about a inferior complex.

YoliUSA · 03-26-2003, 05:47 PM

I agree with everybody else. He just disappeared and was never heard of again.

FonzForever · 03-26-2003, 08:45 PM

The answer is he never was written out. He was largely put into the background but never really left. He was in at least 3 season 11 eps that I know about, 236, 237, & 238. Those are just the ones I'm sure of. Anson Willians was also in the credit's up until the very last ep. Being written out usually means sending a character somewhere, and he was never sent anywhere.
I'm guessing wiht the series winding down, they were trying finish the storylines for the characters who were being featured and didn't really have enough time left in the eps to write him in anymore.

TV Guy · 03-27-2003, 12:12 AM

There were also budgetary issues during that last season. The show was getting creamed in the ratings by "The A-Team", and ABC was not willing to pay as large a license fee for the show as before. Combine that with the cost of bringing back Erin Moran and Scott Baio, and that's why a lot of characters disappeared or were used infrequently -- it saved money.

I remember Anson Williams being interviewed around that time, and he seemed pretty cool with the fact that his character was no longer integral to the show without Ron Howard and Donny Most, and he was happy to do a few episodes that season for old times' sake. He was already moving behind the camera -- he produced some TV-movies and co-wrote the TV-movie "Skyward", which Ron Howard directed. And shortly after Ron and Donny left the show, he did a variety show pilot with his wife at the time, Lorrie Mahaffey (he would have left "Happy Days" if that pilot had been picked up). So even then he realized that his time as a main character on "Happy Days" had passed.

animalcrackers · 03-27-2003, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TV Guy
There were also budgetary issues during that last season. The show was getting creamed in the ratings by "The A-Team", and ABC was not willing to pay as large a license fee for the show as before. Combine that with the cost of bringing back Erin Moran and Scott Baio, and that's why a lot of characters disappeared or were used infrequently -- it saved money.

I remember Anson Williams being interviewed around that time, and he seemed pretty cool with the fact that his character was no longer integral to the show without Ron Howard and Donny Most, and he was happy to do a few episodes that season for old times' sake. He was already moving behind the camera -- he produced some TV-movies and co-wrote the TV-movie "Skyward", which Ron Howard directed. And shortly after Ron and Donny left the show, he did a variety show pilot with his wife at the time, Lorrie Mahaffey (he would have left "Happy Days" if that pilot had been picked up). So even then he realized that his time as a main character on "Happy Days" had passed.

Thanks for the info! But I still don't like the way his character was treated.

iluvfonzie · 03-28-2003, 11:33 AM

One thing I disliked in the later seasons was that Fonzie seemed to get kinda mean to Potsie. He treated him like a stranger rather than one of the Awesome Foursome (my name for Richie, Fonzie, Ralphie and Potsie when they were together). It seemed like Fonzie was always closer to Richie and even Ralph, but he never actually treated Potsie like a close friend.

Chad22 · 03-28-2003, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FonzForever
The answer is he never was written out. He was largely put into the background but never really left. He was in at least 3 season 11 eps that I know about, 236, 237, & 238. Those are just the ones I'm sure of. Anson Willians was also in the credit's up until the very last ep. Being written out usually means sending a character somewhere, and he was never sent anywhere.
I'm guessing wiht the series winding down, they were trying finish the storylines for the characters who were being featured and didn't really have enough time left in the eps to write him in anymore.

Actually hes in The one where they get locked in the steam room, Welcom Home part 1 and 2, The one where Chachi gets a job as a dance instructor, And the One where Fonzie, Roger and Chachi all try to join the Leopard Lodge. So theirs 5 i can think of.

trekkie · 03-28-2003, 08:35 PM

The episodes without Ron Howard were awful

I actually refuse to watch them on TV Land they're so bad.

iluvfonzie · 03-28-2003, 08:37 PM

They're not bad, they're just different.

trekkie · 03-28-2003, 08:39 PM

They're just not funny

03-26-2003, 02:14 PM	#1
Rob1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 19, 2003 Location: NY Posts: 180	How did they write Potsie out? Was his absence ever explained?
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03-26-2003, 02:53 PM	#2
¤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	I dont think so. I just think he disappeared..
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03-26-2003, 03:13 PM	#3
Stormtracker TF Happy Easter! Moderator Forum Idol Join Date: Jul 19, 2002 Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 102,598	They never did explain why he was never on. He should've been in more Last Season eps, especially the Last one
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03-26-2003, 03:49 PM	#4
Tuscadero Ralph's the Man Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 03, 2003 Location: Heading up to Madison, WI with Ralph...to become an optometrist's assistant! Posts: 878	I think it's an outrage! I mean, Potsie was such an integral character up until around the time that Richie and Ralph left...I just don't get why they didn't do anything with him; the writers had possiblities! Personally, I wish they would have spent more time developing Potsie than some of the "new gang" that was to come along.
	__________________ Ralph: We're not homely...we're cute! Potsie: I know I'm cute!

03-26-2003, 05:47 PM	#7
YoliUSA Fan of the Classics Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 13, 2002 Location: In a galaxy far, far away... Posts: 5,290	I agree with everybody else. He just disappeared and was never heard of again.
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03-26-2003, 03:53 PM	#5
HDfanLiz Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 18, 2003 Location: Arnold's Posts: 447	Yeah, I hated that. Potsie was a big character, and should have had an even larger part after Ralph & Richie left. Although I do think that part of the problem was that without the two of them, it was harder to write in scenes he would with the other characters since he was never that close to Fonzie and he's not a Cunnigham. They could have given him a love interest, though.

03-26-2003, 05:31 PM	#6
animalcrackers Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 24, 2002 Location: The Backseat Of Fonzie's Bike Posts: 1,603	I've always wonder how Anson felt. I've always felt so sorry for Potsie. Even though he's in a scene, he's treated like he's invisible. Talk about a inferior complex.

03-26-2003, 08:45 PM	#8
FonzForever A classic Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 16, 2002 Location: Discussing "the rules" with Cynthia ;) Posts: 582	The answer is he never was written out. He was largely put into the background but never really left. He was in at least 3 season 11 eps that I know about, 236, 237, & 238. Those are just the ones I'm sure of. Anson Willians was also in the credit's up until the very last ep. Being written out usually means sending a character somewhere, and he was never sent anywhere. I'm guessing wiht the series winding down, they were trying finish the storylines for the characters who were being featured and didn't really have enough time left in the eps to write him in anymore.

03-27-2003, 12:12 AM	#9
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	There were also budgetary issues during that last season. The show was getting creamed in the ratings by "The A-Team", and ABC was not willing to pay as large a license fee for the show as before. Combine that with the cost of bringing back Erin Moran and Scott Baio, and that's why a lot of characters disappeared or were used infrequently -- it saved money. I remember Anson Williams being interviewed around that time, and he seemed pretty cool with the fact that his character was no longer integral to the show without Ron Howard and Donny Most, and he was happy to do a few episodes that season for old times' sake. He was already moving behind the camera -- he produced some TV-movies and co-wrote the TV-movie "Skyward", which Ron Howard directed. And shortly after Ron and Donny left the show, he did a variety show pilot with his wife at the time, Lorrie Mahaffey (he would have left "Happy Days" if that pilot had been picked up). So even then he realized that his time as a main character on "Happy Days" had passed.

03-28-2003, 11:33 AM	#11
iluvfonzie Intense brown eyes Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 08, 2002 Location: At Arnold's, hanging out with Richie, Ralph, Potsie and the Fonz. Posts: 274	One thing I disliked in the later seasons was that Fonzie seemed to get kinda mean to Potsie. He treated him like a stranger rather than one of the Awesome Foursome (my name for Richie, Fonzie, Ralphie and Potsie when they were together). It seemed like Fonzie was always closer to Richie and even Ralph, but he never actually treated Potsie like a close friend.
	__________________ OH YEAH THANKS FOR TAKIN AWAY HTML SIGS!!! Last edited by iluvfonzie; 03-28-2003 at 08:37 PM.

03-28-2003, 08:35 PM	#13
trekkie Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 22, 2003 Posts: 224	The episodes without Ron Howard were awful I actually refuse to watch them on TV Land they're so bad.
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03-28-2003, 08:37 PM	#14
iluvfonzie Intense brown eyes Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 08, 2002 Location: At Arnold's, hanging out with Richie, Ralph, Potsie and the Fonz. Posts: 274	They're not bad, they're just different.

03-28-2003, 08:39 PM	#15
trekkie Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 22, 2003 Posts: 224	They're just not funny