Who the hell is Fancy?

[Nabetse Green]

Ok, I was watching 503 "The One Hundredth" the other day. And the doctor who assisted Phoebe while giving birth was a trekkie over here! You know, we get the episodes in Spanish. And then I saw it in English and he loved Fancy... Who's Fancy? Someone from The Happy Gang or something like that I heard! But what's that? Can somebody explain it to me?

[Breezy]

Translations are a funny thing.  Now, I'm going to have to see if my Best Of Friends DVDs have a spanish translation so I can hear if it says that.  

Anyway, back to the topic.  The English version is that the doctor is a fan(atic) over the character:  "Fonzie" from "Happy Days".  

[Nabetse Green]

Yeah, but what's the Happy Days??

[Breezy]

Okay...

This is going to be one loooong message back... So, I'll break it into pieces:

If there were a Sitcom Hall of Fame, "Happy Days" would surely have a cherished spot there. The show recovered from mediocre ratings after its debut on January 15, 1974 and became one of the most popular programs of the late 1970s. And it survived until mid-1984--an astonishing ten and a half years. In 1980, the Smithsonian Museum of American History honored the series' role in America's popular-culture history by putting one of the Fonz's leather jackets on display.

"Happy Days" was set in the 1950s in Milwaukee, the heart of middle-class America, and told the story of the Cunningham family. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham, their son, Richie (his pals Ralph Malph and Potsie), (who were) trying to be as cool as the coolest greaser in town, the Fonz, and Richie's sister, Joanie

One of ABC's changes led to the creation of a classic TV character. The network wanted to "toughen up" the show by having a gang of thugs beat up Richie. Marshall took their suggestion, but gave it a twist. He added a local hoodlum to the cast, Arthur Fonzarelli, but made him a benevolent companion to Richie and his pals. The Fonz soon became the sitcom's central character and one of the most beloved TV personalities of all time.

"Sit on it!" became a national catchphrase. The character of Arthur Fonzarelli was so popular, there was talk of changing the title to "Fonzie's Happy Days."

The young stars of "Happy Days" grew up during the show's ten and a half year run and so did their characters. Richie and his pals graduated from high school, then attended the University of Wisconsin. The adult Potsie never realized his teenage dream of becoming a singing star and ended up working at Mr. Cunningham's hardware store. When actors Ron Howard and Donny Most left the series in 1980, Richie and Ralph Malph joined the army and were shipped off to Greenland. Even the Fonz gradually lost his rebellious image. In the show's final years, he became co-owner of Arnold's, manager of Bronco's Auto Repairs, and a shop teacher at Jefferson High.

To add new life to the aging sitcom, the writers added new people to the Cunninghams' world.  By 1984, it was obvious the new characters had failed to hold on to the show's once-loyal viewers.  So the series was ended on July 12, 1984. Joanie and Chachi were married in the very last episode.

(Edited by Breezy.  Complete article appears at this website:

www.tvland.com/shows/happydays/



Next will be a photo of "Fonzie" or the "Fonz"

[Breezy]

Picture of "Fonzie" aka the "Fonz":
(You might recognize this actor from another movie that had Courtney Cox Arquette and David Arquette in it?)



Picture from and more information about "Fonzie" at this site:

www.tvland.com/shows/happydays/character2.jhtml

Anywayyyy...hope that helps?

[Nabetse Green]

From which movie? Scream? Really? Who does he play??

And yep, now I know what Happy Days is about, thanks.

But why is it such an astonishing thing to say I love Fonzie? Cause I understand it with trekkies... I mean, they're very special people, one friend of mine is trekkie and... ;D

[Breezy]

Henry Winkler (the actor, who played "Fonzie"), had an "uncredited" role in "Scream".  He played the principal, Mr. Himbry.  Sorry, I don't have a picture.  It's a funny thing, I searched everywhere and it appears that all the "Scream" websites are fragmented.  (Kinda like some of, or a lot of, the "Friends" sites).  

I really wish that the website that said there were 6 different versions of "Scream" was still around.  I have no idea which version, I have seen.  Maybe the principal isn't even in some of the versions?

And, I have no idea the thing about "Happy Days".  I haven't watched that show.  Do you think we should watch it?  Am I missing out on something?  But, it must have made some impression, though, because friends does a couple of references to "Happy Days".  In the pilot episode, Rachel is sooo sad because..."Joanie has Chachi"...who, I guess, were characters on "Happy Days".  And also this one that you mentioned, talks about "Fonzie".