Henry Winkler explains why he called 'Happy Days' rename a 'slap' in face

Henry Winkler explains why he called 'Happy Days' rename a 'slap' on face Henry Winkler opened up about his hit sitcom Happy Days and recalled the drama team once proposed changing the name of the series. The 80-year-old actor, who shot to fame by playing Arthur 'Fonzie' Fonzarelli throughout the ABC sitcom's 11-season run from 1974 to 1984, was told to rename the drama as "Fonzie's Happy Days." But Henry resisted the title change because he thought it would be a 'slap in the face' to the rest of the cast. During a recent chat on In Depth With Graham Bensinger, Henry recalled how ABC's former president wanted to cash on Fonzie's popularity. He looked back, 'Before Happy Days, ABC was in the basement. It was the last of the three networks.' Referring to the former president of the channel, Henry said, 'He came to my office, my dressing room, and he said, 'First of all, I would like to call the show Fonzie's Happy Days. We're thinking of changing the title.' "And I said, 'Sir, I'm really asking you not to do that. First of all, it's not broken'." Henry then noted, 'Gary Marshall and Marion Ross and Anson and Donny and Erin, bless her soul, I mean, there was an entire cast." '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?' he inquired. After this, Henry was even offered his character's own television series but he rejected it as well. He added, 'I said, 'Look, I live and I am successful in this extraordinary group of people. Henry's character Fonzie was originally a supporting role and it overshadowed, Ron Howard's main role as Richie Cunningham. Recalling his candid conversation with Ron about how he feel about it, Ron told him, '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. So I put all of that together and that's the way it is.'