Why Henry Winkler Rejected ABC's Plan To Rename Happy Days After Fonzie

The classic sitcom "Happy Days" nearly joined the ranks of TV shows that changed their titles, but Arthur "The Fonz" Fonzarelli put a stop to it. Henry Winkler, who played the breakout character on the ABC series, has revealed that he asked the network not to follow through on a plan to give Fonzie title billing. During an appearance on "In Depth With Graham Bensinger," Winkler said that ABC founder and president Leonard Goldenson dropped by his dressing room one day with a proposition: He wanted to rename the show "Fonzie's Happy Days."

"Sir, I'm really asking you not to do that," Winkler remembered replying, adding, "We were really soaring in the ratings. It wasn't broken. This would be a slap in the face. Why change the title if it is working so magnificently?" Winkler also rebuffed Goldenson's idea for a Fonzie-focused spin-off, insisting that he was fine being a part of the larger "Happy Days" cast. He told Goldenson: "I have no idea if I'd have a chemistry with new people. I don't think I can do my own show. I think I'm very happy right where I am with this extraordinary family."

Ron Howard's Richie Cunningham was the original lead of "Happy Days," while Henry Winkler's Fonzie was a supporting character, but The Fonz popped with audiences so much that before too long he was the ostensible main character of the show. Winkler's growing popularity hurt Howard's feelings at the time, and he wasn't happy about the idea of the show being renamed after Fonzie. "I understood that the show was going to shift. That they were going to move Henry more to the center of the show. I could accept that," Howard told the Television Academy. "I just didn't want it to suddenly be called 'Fonzie's Happy Days.'"

Howard has said that, had the network gone through with the name change, he would've quit the show in a heartbeat. Luckily, Winkler was attuned to his co-star's emotions. During his "In Depth" appearance, Winkler recalled a conversation where Howard opened up to him. "He said, 'Look, it hurt my feelings. You're not doing anything to hurt my feelings. You're really good and you're good for the show. It's helping the show.'" The pair didn't talk about it again, but Winkler knew what changing the name to "Fonzie's Happy Days" would do to their relationship — and to the show. "We can't do it if we are resentful or angry of each other," Winkler said.