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Casting - oh what might have been for the Fonz!

posted 9 years ago by Kotter7579
11 replies | jump to latest

Mike Nesmith and Micky Dolenz both auditioned for the role of the Fonz. Can anyone imagine what that would have been like for the shows entire run? Of only those two guys, Who would you prefer?

I can see Mike being the Fonz more than Micky. They both have character strengths that could have made it work but I think Mike would stand out more with his attitude and confidence.

So: a realistic, down to earth show..which is completely off the wall swarming with magic robots?!

[–] kapnkirk 9 years ago

I don't know if Mike has the acting chops to pull off Fonzie and Mickey would have turned the character into a total goofball. Personally I find Mickey really annoying on The Monkees. Plus nether of them really look Italian or have the persona that Henry Winkler brought to the character. Ayy!!!!

No! That's not true at all, Elvis takes 50% of everything I earn!

Col. Tom Parker

[–] beatlenut8 9 years ago

Mike always looked older than his age, and at 32, no way could he have pulled off a convincing 17 yo. Even Winkler was stretching it, but he did look younger than his 29 years. Micky would have hammed and overplayed it. In reality, Mike was a sort of Fonz character - very cool and laid back with an air of mystery, and that's originally how the character was intended before he took over the show.

There's a scene in HEAD where Mike plays a mob figure watching a boxing match that was fixed. Davy is getting pummeled by Sonny Liston and is supposed to take a dive but won't. He is sort of Fonz-like there, but still pretty wooden and obvious.

But it's all conjecture for we know now, Henry Winkler WAS The Fonz. Still, it's fun to wonder.

[–] crypticanomaly73 9 years ago

Although other actors could have played the Fonz, there is no way Mike and Micky could have pulled it off at all.

On the bright side though if they were cast the Fonz would have been written out damn quick and the show may not have taken turn it did with focusing on Fonzie as much.

Sometimes a movie or tv show plot is so stupid that only the stupid can understand it.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Kotter7579 9 years ago

Micky would have hammed and overplayed it. In reality, Mike was a sort of Fonz character - very cool and laid back with an air of mystery, and that's originally how the character was intended before he took over the show.

Excellent point. It would have taken a lot of influence from Garry Marshall and Co to reel in Micky if in fact he would have hammed it up. I like that point about Mike and how it would have been a match for the Fonz especially with the qualities of how that character was in and around the first season.

So: a realistic, down to earth show..which is completely off the wall swarming with magic robots?!

[–] crypticanomaly73 9 years ago

He was meant to be a side character and so his popularity was pretty much the only reason. It was probably by popular demand or something.

Looking at the ratings https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Days Season 2 wasn't even in the Top 30 and then it started to climb again, so it might have been at threat of axing during Season 2.

Sometimes a movie or tv show plot is so stupid that only the stupid can understand it.

[–] beatlenut8 9 years ago

Yes it was slipping down the ratings pretty quick and would have been on the scrapheap, hence the live audience experiment in the second season episode 'Fonzie's Getting Married'. It rated well and it became clear Winkler would be the star. Once it went live 3rd season, it became a phenomenon with 'nerd' 'sit on it' being a part of pop culture and the merchandising become huge

[–] newyorknyny 8 years ago

Not liking the Fonz is not cool, WHOA!

[–] iamthehorseface 9 years ago

One of the main people I hadn't heard anybody talk about who was in the line to play Fonzie and was real high up on the list was Sylvester Stallone. Hey yo Richie? That would have been great Rocky Balboa as Arthur Fonzarelli.

[–] crypticanomaly73 9 years ago

Stallone might have been ok but would have been way more serious than Winkler. Stallone was in a film call Lords of Flatbush where he played a 50's style hood alongside Winkler http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071772/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_68

Another American Graffiti connection would have been Harrison Ford who could have done well too in the role.

Sometimes a movie or tv show plot is so stupid that only the stupid can understand it.

[–] jefgg 8 years ago

I heard Garry Marshall wanted Mickey Dolenz to play The Fonz after seeing him play a biker in an episode of "Adam 12". Marshall decided against Dolenz because he thought he was too tall.