Fonzie

Arthur "The Fonz" Fonzarelli was a character in the American sitcom Happy Days (1974-1984) played by Henry Winkler. He is a leather-jacketed biker and mechanic. Although he is a high school dropout, he seems to be almost superhuman in his skills, wisdom, sexual attractiveness, and abilities that make him a much admired character in the show's setting of Milwaukee, Wisconsin sometime in the 1950s. During the course of the show, the Fonz finished his high school diploma via night school and became an auto mechanic instructor. Though he never married, he also adopted a son in the final season, completing the transformation from rebel to family man.

Related Topics:
American - Sitcom - Happy Days - 1974 - 1984 - Henry Winkler - Leather-jacketed - Milwaukee, Wisconsin - 1950s

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"Who's cool, and has two thumbs? This guy!" -Fonzie

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In the first season of Happy Days, the Fonz was a minor character, but he soon became a regular due to his instant popularity. His fame and admiration quickly grew among the American public and Fonzie eventually became one of the definitive pop culture icons of the late 1970s. Viewers were (and through reruns, still are) enchanted by his effortlessly stylish personality; the way he speaks, his trademark "Ayyy!" catch phrase, and the way he can seemingly get anything he wants with a snap of his fingers, a pound of his hand on a jukebox, or whatever else he'd do or say. He is said to be number one with the ladies, and is often seen with many different women in the same scene, indicating his polygamous nature. These qualities made the Fonz nearly synonymous with the American concept of "cool". His leather jacket is now in the Smithsonian Institution.

Related Topics:
Pop culture - 1970s - Catch phrase - Jukebox - Cool - Smithsonian Institution

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Originally, according to ABC, Fonzie was supposed to wear sweaters, except when he was around his motorcycle. So, the producers of Happy Days put Fonzie around his motorcycle all the time so that he could wear the leather jacket all the time.

Related Topics:
ABC - Motorcycle

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Fonzie received recognition in Quentin Tarantino's movie Pulp Fiction as an example of "cool" attitude.

Related Topics:
Quentin Tarantino - Pulp Fiction

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On the October 8, 1998, episode of the sitcom Friends (the series' 100th episode), when Phoebe Buffay gives birth to triplets, her obstetrician is obsessed with Fonzie.

Related Topics:
October 8 - 1998 - Sitcom - Friends - Phoebe Buffay - Triplet - Obstetrician

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See also: Jumping the shark, a metaphor originating from a Happy Days scene with Fonzie.

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