It’s been so long since the Happy Days series started and it has long since stopped producing new episodes. There have been other wildly successful shows to come after it, but somehow, it remains relevant to our lives up to this day. It is, in fact, one of the most syndicated shows of all-time.
Isn’t it incredible how Happy Days episodes are still broadcast after more than 30 years? Not only is it being syndicated in the United States, but also in 126 countries where its following continues to grow. For a show that hasn’t produced new episodes for more than three decades, It doesn’t seem to be slowing down at all.
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.
Henry Winkler Was Business Smart
Henry Winkler has proven himself to be a very good actor. How he turned around the fate of the Happy Days series was truly remarkable, to say the least. But he also showed how astute he can be when it comes to making financial decisions.
At the peak of the TV sitcom, with Winkler playing the lead role as the Fonz, he found himself in the perfect position to demand a much higher salary. However, he opted to go for a moderate pay in exchange for a percentage of the proceeds of the show’s syndication profits. From there, he was able to build his net worth which is now estimated to be around $35 million.
A Joke at Chuck's Expense
If you paid attention to what American actor, Jim Carrey, said in the movie Cable Guy, you would have noticed he poked fun at a character in the Happy Days sitcom. There’s no reason to be offended about the reference though. In fact, it just provides an example of how it pays to be attentive when watching a movie to appreciate the humor!
Jim Carrey said he was the long-lost Chuck Cunningham, and you may remember how Richie’s brother disappeared from the series with no explanation at all. If you had were one of those viewers who wondered whatever happened to him, well, that’s the whole essence of Jim’s clever reference.
Why Wisconsin?
Some fans wonder why Milwaukee, Wisconsin was chosen as the show’s perceived location, and if it could have been any other place. The show’s storyline was focused on the lifestyle during the '50s in Midwestern United States, and the location happened to have that appeal. Producers felt that this would resonate with its viewers, too.
Director, Garry Marshall, also wanted the show to be as credible as possible, and knowing that Tom Miller, one of its producers, lived in Milwaukee and knew its ins and outs, they would have a kind of hometown advantage, so to speak.