It was a "happy day" in Milwaukee, as the city unveiled a statue of Arthur Fonzarelli before an invite-only crowd that included most of the Happy Days gang.According to E!, the bronze Fonz commemorates the 10-year run of the sitcom and its iconic character, as well as the city that served as the series' setting. Henry Winkler, the actor under Fonzie's leather jacket, was joined by creator Garry Marshall and costars Anson Williams, Don Most, Marion Ross, Tom Bosley and Erin Moran. Ron Howard was on location and unable to attend.Winkler gave his likeness an enthusiastic two thumbs up that even the Fonz would appreciate. "I hope that this statue really represents in the way that this city deserves," he said.Thankfully, there were no bronze sharks involved. — Adam Bryant
read more
A bevy of balloons and children arrived for the premiere of A Plumm Summer, held Sunday at the Mann Bruin Theatre in Westwood, Calif. In homage to one of the film's icons — a true-life marionette named Froggy Doo who appeared alongside "Happy Herb McAllister" on Montana television for 22 years starting in the '60s —the carpet rolled out for celebs was green. Beyond the real Froggy Doo, other icons hit the carpet, including Henry Winkler, who plays "Happy Herb," and Ron Howard, there to support his Happy Days pal as well as his brother Clint, who has a cameo in the film. Also making an appearance were actors from the movie including Billy Baldwin (Dirty Sexy Money) and Brenda Strong (Desperate Housewives). Delivering news about another ABC fave was Jasmine Jessica Anthony, who will soon be seen on Ugly Betty as Gio's younger sister, Antonella. "I don't like Betty," Anthony says of her character. "I'm kind of rude to her and say in one of my scenes, 'You're a little old to w...
read more
Mitch Hurwitz has enlisted three Arrested Development alums — Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Henry Winkler — to voice roles for his new animated Fox comedy. Based on a live-action Aussie series, Sit Down, Shut Up centers on a staff of high school teachers who place their own needs and agendas ahead of the students'. Also among the voice cast are Cheri Oteri, Will Forte, Regina King and Nick Kroll. — MWM
read more
Henry Winkler, longtime friend and colleague of John Ritter, testified on Wednesday at the late actor's wrongful-death trial. Winkler told the jurors that he had just spoken with Ritter shortly before he was rushed to the hospital. The AP reported Winkler's last encounter with Ritter: "'We were reminiscing,' Winkler said. 'He was sweating [and said], 'I really need to get some water.' I said, 'I really need to memorize my lines.' And he went one way and I went the other. And that was the last time I saw him."It was clear that Winkler's testimony was trying to strike an emotional chord with the jurors, as he explained Ritter's love for his work and his family. When Winkler was asked about what he thought Ritter's kids would miss most about their dad, he said, "His passion for life. His excitement for being on the Earth. Any conversation we had wrapped around his children, the pride and the love."The lawsuit for $67 million is against a radiologist who had given Ritter a body scan ear...
read more
It seems like a more innocent time, when a haircut could rock an entire network. But that's what happened when Felicity star Keri Russell's trademark curly locks were shorn during a summer hiatus in 1999. The early WB fave was never the same after that follicle debacle. Susanne Daniels, who was the creative executive behind many of the network's early successes, and Variety deputy editor Cynthia Littleton have recounted the wild ride of the short-lived six network era in Season Finale: The Unexpected Rise and Fall of the WB and UPN (Harper Books). When reading the story, it's hard to believe two over-the-air broadcast networks were launched only a dozen years before we made a habit out of watching TV on our computers. Both UPN and the WB (which merged to become the CW last year) were born out of their studio-owners' fear that once the government allowed the established networks to produce their own series, they would be shut out of prime time. That never happened. But the youth-orie...
read more
