Now that the Monkee’s drummer was out of the picture, and Henry Winkler was the actor pushed for the role of “The Fonz,” things were expected to go on smoothly, but- Winkler could not even read six lines in his dialogue because he is dyslexic, and every written word kept jumbling in his mind.
Henry Winkler remained calm and resorted to using his own words to fill in instead. That way, he was able to convince the casting directors that he was giving them a real feel for the character. This impressed them, and they were coaxed into giving him a pivotal role that would last for 11 seasons.
“Cool” Or "Happy Days"?
The management of the show had warmed up to the idea of setting it in the 1950s, with Gary Marshall at the helm. The idea was to revisit a time when idealized visions of life could be effectively presented to a modern audience. They first thought about naming the show “Cool.”
However, the word “cool” seemed to have a different effect on the test audience. Instead of inspiring pleasant traits and qualities, they said, in their minds, it bore resemblance to smoking cigarettes, or skipping school, free-spirited traits, etc. Producer, Carl Kleinschmidt, was struck with inspiration and suggested, “how about calling it Happy Days?” And that’s how it all started.
The Fonz Should Have Been a Monkee
Looking back to the Happy Days series, one realizes how vital it was to make changes after the first two seasons. If Richie had not been replaced by “The Fonz” as the focal point of the show, it might not have lasted as long as it did.
Now, what’s worse about it, is that the role was initially thought to be filled by Monkees drummer, Micky Dolenz. The latter actually read for the role and came close to snagging it, but he was eventually turned down. Luckily, Henry Winkler’s shorter stature made him more of a physical fit for the role of Arthur Fonzarelli because we certainly can’t imagine anyone else filling The Fonz’s shoes now!
Ron Howard Dodged The Draft
This may not be a side to Ron Howard that some would take positively. At a time when American soldiers and young men were drafted to the armed forces and sent out to join the war in Vietnam, Ron Howard found ways to dodge the draft.
He really wanted to become a director, so he went to USC to study film school. He was concerned about his low draft number and the likelihood of being called out to battle, so he applied for a job at Paramount. His position in such a big company lowered his chances of going to a war he didn’t believe in. He then took part in the pilot of Love, American Style, which would soon become Happy Days.
The Cast Members Are Still Close 'Til This Day
Perhaps one of the best legacies Happy Days left us with throughout the years are the relationships it fostered among its cast. The show wasn’t just about the good old days of the 50s, and its didactic effect on its viewers regarding life’s values. They walked the talk, so to speak.
By and large, the Happy Days cast themselves showed us what it means to be loyal to each other. They became very good friends outside the set, and beyond its airing. One example of this is Henry Winkler and Marion Ross. They have become such good friends that even up to this day Winkler sends Marion bunches of flowers for no reason other than to make her smile.