15 Surprising Facts About ‘Happy Days’

13. Fonzie’s Leather Jacket Came Later

Initially, the ABC executives thought the leather jacket made Fonzie look like a hoodlum so they put him in a blue windbreaker. He was allowed to wear the leather when his motorcycle was around, so they started writing in the motorcycle more and eventually it stuck. The iconic leather jacket is now proudly displayed in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington D.C.

14. Happy Days Had a Few Spin-Offs

There are some different versions of what is considered a spin off show, but depending on how you define them Happy Days had between two and eight. The most widely accepted spin offs were Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, and Joanie Loves Chachi. Then there was Blansky’s Beauties and Out of the Blue, followed by Chachi Sells His Soul and the animated shows The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang and Laverne & Shirley in the Army (which was later renamed Laverne & Shirley With Special Guest Star the Fonz.) Let’s just say, they certainly tried to milk the show for all it was worth.

15. The Phrase “Jumping the Shark” Originated On the Show

Remember, in season five, when Fonzie goes water skiing and literally jumps over a shark? People felt it was a turning point in over-the-top antics as a desperate ratings ploy, and the show never went back to full steam. The phrase “jumping the shark” is now used to indicate a show that has gone past the point of no return.