It doesn't seem possible but this series became the number 1 show in the late 1970's but it started modestly without the Fonz as a pilot episode on Love American Style in 1972. It took Gary Marshall 2 years after that to get it on ABC. Once ABC got it on, this became part of the late 1970's ABC rise in the overall ratings.
Richie, Potsie, Ralph Mouth, & the Fonz rode the top of the sitcom landscape for several years. Howard Cunnigham's Hardware Store was the most talked about and never seen business in the history of TV. This show literally gave a lot or performers a place to start then. Amzaingly, most of the main cast members are still around even though it's been over 30 years since this show started.
Henry Winkler became so type cast as the Fonz, that try as he did, he really never got another role folks remember him more for than this one. Ronny Howard went on to become a great director of films. One of the few folks no longer around, Pat Morita (original Arnold of Arnolds Drive-In Restaurant) went on to a lot of roles, most famous of which was Mr. Miyagi, the Karate Kids Teacher.
This show spun off Laverne & Shirley which had great success and produced another good movie director in Penny Marshall. It also spun out Joanie Loves Chachi whose success was limited to a very short run.
What was most successful about this show was it played on 1950's Nostalgia after the Vietnam War. As people wanted to forget that era, this show was the answer. Going back to the 1950's was really in and Gary Marshall really hit the right formula with this show inspired by George Lucas famous 1973 classic film American Graffatti. Of course Marshall had already aired everything but the Fonz on Love American Style.
The original theme (Rock Around The Clock) for this by Bill Haley & the Comets was a great theme. Later on, Richie & the Cast did a second theme song which was pretty good too. The Fonz became a cultural icon.
Then there was always Arnold, who installed the dime thing on his bathroom stall doors, and then uttered the now nostalgic line to someone needing to get in the stall, "Why don't you do like the other kids do & crawl under?"
Richie, Potsie, Ralph Mouth, & the Fonz rode the top of the sitcom landscape for several years. Howard Cunnigham's Hardware Store was the most talked about and never seen business in the history of TV. This show literally gave a lot or performers a place to start then. Amzaingly, most of the main cast members are still around even though it's been over 30 years since this show started.
Henry Winkler became so type cast as the Fonz, that try as he did, he really never got another role folks remember him more for than this one. Ronny Howard went on to become a great director of films. One of the few folks no longer around, Pat Morita (original Arnold of Arnolds Drive-In Restaurant) went on to a lot of roles, most famous of which was Mr. Miyagi, the Karate Kids Teacher.
This show spun off Laverne & Shirley which had great success and produced another good movie director in Penny Marshall. It also spun out Joanie Loves Chachi whose success was limited to a very short run.
What was most successful about this show was it played on 1950's Nostalgia after the Vietnam War. As people wanted to forget that era, this show was the answer. Going back to the 1950's was really in and Gary Marshall really hit the right formula with this show inspired by George Lucas famous 1973 classic film American Graffatti. Of course Marshall had already aired everything but the Fonz on Love American Style.
The original theme (Rock Around The Clock) for this by Bill Haley & the Comets was a great theme. Later on, Richie & the Cast did a second theme song which was pretty good too. The Fonz became a cultural icon.
Then there was always Arnold, who installed the dime thing on his bathroom stall doors, and then uttered the now nostalgic line to someone needing to get in the stall, "Why don't you do like the other kids do & crawl under?"