Surprising Stories from the Set of Happy Days

As Happy Days rolled on, Fonzie’s popularity skyrocketed. What began as an ensemble built around Richie Cunningham gradually shifted, with the Fonz becoming the undeniable focal point. Eventually, Ron Howard decided to leave the series as a regular, stepping away as Richie’s role diminished.

Not long after, many fans and critics felt the show’s quality declined. In fact, one over-the-top Fonzie stunt gave birth to the now-famous phrase “jumped the shark.” Even members of the cast later acknowledged the downturn. For a series about simpler times, the later seasons proved not every happy day lasts forever.