People have tried to guess why “The Fonz” (from the sitcom Happy Days) was so “cool” and so popular.
Granted, it’s hard not to like his “superpowers” (making the juke box run with one whack) and his cool catchphrases (“Sit on it.”) 🙂
However, I think that Fonzie’s superpowers, perfect hair, leather jacket, cool cars, and motorcycle alone, without any moral fiber, would just simply make him another jerk.
In contrast, here are some of Fonzie’s characteristics that I believe not only made the Fonzie character popular but also worthy of emulation:
- Loyalty (to his friends)
- Confidence (when he knows he is right)
- Courage (to stand up for right)
- Strength of character (He adopted a “bad boy” image yet didn’t do “truly” bad things but rather often good things. Some examples are helping those kids who worked on the Cunningham’s bathroom, sticking up for Joanie, forgiving Arnold when Arnold accidentally hit him and made him go blind, and completely shutting down the married woman that was hitting on him as soon as he found out she was married.)
- Leadership skills
- Respect (toward others)
- Uncompromising treatment of bad guys (kicking them out)
Looking beyond the external “bad boy” image and the unbelievable chick-magnet persona, the reality was a heroic character with many laudable qualities.
Black Hills Picture Books Christa Upton PO Box 293 Custer, SD 57730
