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The writers and executives producers of “And Just Like That…” Julie Rottenberg and Elisa Zuritsky were not exactly expecting the audience reaction when Lisa Todd Wexley’s (Nicole Ari Parker) father died… for seemingly the second time. After all in the first season, Lisa literally said, “I was exactly the same when my father died last year.” In the current season, years later, her father (Billy Dee Williams) died again, and she attended the funeral. HBO quickly explained this time her real father died and before it was her stepfather, and Rottenberg and Zuritsky told THR that it was a sign of just how lower the viewers are.

“That was surprising to me,” Zuritsky said. “It’s the close viewing, but that comes back to the relationship that people have with the show.”

“You want close viewers,” Rottenberg added. “We know our viewers are smart and paying attention, and you want that.

Gracie Abrams is back on the road in North America for her The Secret of Us Deluxe Tour!

The 25-year-old singer performed to two sold out crowds in Boston this week at Td Garden.

She is set to continue on Saturday (July 226) in Toronto, before heading to New York City for two shows at Madison Square Garden. Gracie will also head to Los Angeles, Denver and Mexico City, with festival performances including Lollapalooza, Osheaga Festival and Outside Lands.

As her concert tour continues, we’ve got the updated set list in full right here!

Keep reading to find out more…

Related: Gracie Abrams & Paul Mescal Are ‘True Lovebirds,’ Insider Says While Giving Update on Their Relationship!

The Secret of Us Deluxe Tour Setlist

1. Risk

2. Blowing Smoke

3. 21

4. I Love You, I’m Sorry

5. Where do we go now?

6. Death Wish

7. Normal Thing

8. Friend

9. Mess It Up

10. Packing It Up

11. Full machine...

5 Seconds of Summer‘s Michael Clifford is going to be a dad again!

The 29-year-old musician shared on Instagram Thursday (July 24) that he and his wife, Crystal Leigh, are expecting their second child together. Michael and Crystal have been married since 2021 and welcomed their first child together in 2023.

Keep reading to find out more…

Michael announced that he and Crystal are expecting a second child together in a carousel of photos that feature their first child with the happy couple. In the photos, Crystal‘s stomach is decorated with stickers and a rainbow of glittery letters that spell out “baby 2.”

Michael‘s announcement came on the same day as the release of his solo album, Sidequest. Michael, who is a founding member of 5 Seconds of Summer, is the last member of the band to release solo music. He announced his plans to release a solo album earlier in 2025 and released his first solo single,...

Universal Pictures is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Apollo 13, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s Academy Award–winning masterpiece and one of the most gripping true stories ever brought to screen. On September 19, the film, produced by Grazer and Howard’s Imagine Entertainment, returns to theaters nationwide, presented exclusively in IMAX from September 19-25 in its full-length theatrical version for the first time.

This special anniversary release offers audiences a chance to revisit the landmark drama about the most heart-stopping rescue mission in the history of America’s space program, presented in the most immersive format yet.

Released on June 30, 1995, Apollo 13 recounts the real-life events of April 1970, when an oxygen tank explosion aboard NASA’s third planned mission to the Moon transformed the flight into a harrowing battle for survival.

With their spacecraft losing power and life support, astronauts Jim Lovell (Academy Award winner Tom Hanks), Jack Swigert...

Fireflystar and Hollywood icon Morena Baccarin says part of her "would be so excited" to revisit Firefly in a follow-up series.

Per Bleeding Cool, Baccarin responded to the question whether a Firefly/Serenity reunion series might come into form some time in the near future, saying, "There's always talk. There's always people asking about it." Baccarin continued, "I'll put it this way. Like, is there going to be a 'Firefly' reboot with all of us in it? Live action? I seriously doubt it."

"You know, that's a lot of different careers and different people that you have to negotiate with and make work and all that, you know? Schedules and whatnot. Could there be like a comic book, a thing or what? Maybe. I don't know," Baccarin explained. "Part of me would be excited to revisit that world, and part of me is also a little bit like,...

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Pairing legendary cinematic tough guy John Wayne with baby-faced former child-star Ron Howard might not seem like the most obvious choice, but the two made a great on-screen duo in 1976's "The Shootist." Don Siegel's Western — based on Glendon Swarthout's 1975 novel of the same name — saw Wayne play former Sheriff turned gunfighter J. B. Books. The aging outlaw is diagnosed with cancer shortly after arriving in a Nevada town at the tail-end of the old west. He then spends his final days taking a young fatherless boy under his wing in the form of Ron Howard's Gillom Rogers, much to the dismay of the youngster's mother who doesn't want her son following in the footsteps of a well-known killer.

The film functioned as a sort of meta commentary on Wayne's own career and his era of Hollywood, which...

Some great TV shows become great not because every single moving part fits together seamlessly, but because they're adept at narrowly avoiding utter disaster. A prime example of this is Garry Marshall's "Happy Days," the seminal 1970s sitcom that featured everyone from future "The Karate Kid" great Pat Morita to future master director and "Arrested Development" narrator Ron Howard. The show had to dodge a terrible original title and make changes that saved it from early cancellation before it even had a chance to fully establish itself -- and as we'll soon discuss, these weren't the only issues that could have felled "Happy Days" early on.

While "Happy Days" was technically about a group of 1950s teenagers transitioning into adulthood and their families, Henry Winkler's uber-cool greaser Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli soon all but hijacked the show, becoming a clear breakout character. Similarly, though the series was well-cast throughout,...

It’s an event as significant to Happy Days lore as the hurdling of marine life: the disappearance of Chuck Cunningham. The central family’s eldest son was played by a total of three different actors over the course of production, only to vanish without explanation in the second season. In fact, by the end of the series, Howard Cunningham speaks of “both” of his children, as if a third had never existed. Now, whenever a character is swept under a rug and stomped on, they’re said to be a victim of “Chuck Cunningham Syndrome.”

Of course, there’s a perfectly normal explanation for Chuck’s erasure. Actor Gavan O’Herlihy realized too late that he’d never get the screen time he wanted, not with Grown-Up Opie (who we can’t stop you from calling Gropie) around, so he peaced out, and “it soon became obvious” to creator Garry Marshall...

The "Friends" cast became stars at a very young age thanks to their sitcom becoming nothing short of a cultural phenomenon. But just because the ensemble was young at the time the show took off, that doesn't mean they didn't struggle to make their name. Before "Friends" Matthew Perry starred in a short-lived sitcom that's almost impossible to watch today (alongside multiple other sitcoms that never made it beyond a single season), while David Schwimmer similarly fronted an ill-fated sitcom that co-starred a "Happy Days" veteran. Matt LeBlanc, who played Joey Tribbiani, might have had the toughest time, having appeared in a horror war movie with an unbelievable premise in which he's on-screen for roughly three seconds.

In LeBlanc's case, his acting woes seemed to continue even after he was catapulted to mega-stardom by "Friends." The actor's blockbuster debut, "Lost in Space," turned out to be a major sci-fi flop...

Skip Brittenham, the forthright Hollywood attorney and power broker who represented A-listers from all corners of the industry, from Kevin Feige, Harvey Weinstein and Toby Emmerich to Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks and Eddie Murphy, died Thursday. He was 83.

“Everyone in our industry knew of Skip’s legal prowess,” Ziffren Brittenham Llc., which he founded in December 1978, said in a statement. “But some may not have known of his quiet generosity, his ability to find humor and opportunity in the darkest moments and his unwavering belief that media and the entertainment industry must serve people, not the other way around.” (Read the firm’s full statement here.)

A Hollywood Reporter “Legal Legend,” Brittenham launched the boutique firm Ziffren Brittenham with Ken Ziffren, and his clients over the years also included Richard Pryor, Tony and Ridley Scott, Joe Eszterhas, Glen A. Larson, Warren Littlefield, Ted Danson, Tom Selleck, Tim Allen, Bruce Willis,...

Jay-Z and Beyoncé are the Emmys’ “’25 Bonnie and Clyde.” Let’s just hope the power couple stays Drunk in Love even after this year’s competition, where they’re competitors in the outstanding variety special (live) category.

Jay-Z, under his real name Shawn Carter, is among the executive producers nominated for Fox’s “The Apple Music Super Bowl Lix Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar,” which earned four nods total. Beyoncé is up for Netflix’s “Beyoncé Bowl” as executive producer and performer (billed as Beyoncé Knowles-Carter); that Christmas event also landed four nods.

Perhaps Jesse Collins can keep the peace. Not only is Jesse Collins Entertainment once again producing this year’s Emmy telecast, but the company was part of both the Kendrick Lamar halftime show and the Beyoncé event. On Emmy night in the production truck, Collins is likely to face 99 problems — hopefully this isn’t one.

That’s...

The 2025 Primetime Emmy nominations have been announced, and many fan favorites, returning series, and brand-new efforts have been recognized by the Television Academy. As IndieWire’s Marcus Jones predicted, the 2025 Emmys are one of the tightest races in recent years with a slew of returning winners side by side in competition with new buzzy series.

The Television Academy’s 24,000 members certainly have their work cut out for them as past Emmy winners like “Severance,” “The White Lotus,” “The Last of Us,” “Squid Game,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Hacks,” “The Bear,” “Abbott Elementary,” “Only Murders in the Building,” and “What We Do in the Shadows” are all back in contention for more awards.

And that’s not even mentioning the slew of star-studded series that debuted this year: “The Pitt,” “Paradise,” “The Studio,” “Dying for Sex,” and IndieWire Honors-recognized “Adolescence” all have become critically acclaimed hits.

From Liza Colón-Zayas (“The Bear”) to...

There’s barely an entry on Tom Hanks’ IMDb page before you get to his 1982 appearance on Happy Days as a guy brave enough to challenge the Fonz to a fight. Little did Hanks know that the episode would foreshadow real-life animosity.

First, Happy Days: The sitcom, now in its 10th season, was getting long in the tooth. What better way to ignite viewer interest than to invite Hanks, a budding star from fellow ABC sitcom Bosom Buddies, to appear as a childhood rival of Arthur Fonzarelli? Hanks played Dwayne Twitchell, shoved off the swing set by Fonzie in the third grade, and sworn to revenge ever since.

Like Bruce Wayne training to become Batman, Twitchell spent years studying martial arts so that one day he could kick the Fonz’s ass.

Despite the Fonz’s artful dodging, the episode, “A Little Case of Revenge,” is notable in that...

Last week, Jon Bauman paused in the middle of a Zoom call with Rolling Stone, put on his glasses and glanced up at a TV screen in his home. “You and I are right now in the middle of the vote on the Big Ugly Bill,” he said as the Senate cast its ballots for or against Donald Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill.” “This is the greatest loss of healthcare in the history of the country. No one’s ever tried to do anything like this before. It’s a horrible idea,...

What was Married… With Children thinking?

Somehow, in the show’s seventh season, producers fell prey to Cousin Oliver Syndrome, that misguided sitcom axiom that says adding a cute kid will boost sagging ratings. The reason the strategy is misguided: Adding an adorable moppet (like The Brady Bunch did near the very end of its run) is always a death knell, a final, wheezing gasp before sitcoms ascend to that ethereal Nick at Nite in the sky.

In the case of Married… With Children, Cousin Oliver arrived in the form of a kid named Seven. In that season’s premiere, Peg’s weirdo cousins, played by Bobcat Goldthwait and Linda Blair, abandon their young kid at the Bundy house. Peg takes a liking to the tyke and decides to keep him. For a while, anyway.

Play

Michael Moye, one of the show’s creators, ironically chalks up the decision to...

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One of America's most beloved actors for over 30 years was Robin Williams, whose inherently humorous talents were elevated from his classical training at Julliard. After virtually being picked up off the street for a memorable role in "Happy Days" leading to the full spin-off series "Morky & Mindy," Williams became an overnight sensation in 1978. The funnyman then parlayed his success as a stand-up comic and sitcom actor into starring in feature films by 1980. Though best known for his comedic projects, Williams showed a stunning range across his career, especially in notably darker and sinister roles later in his filmography.

Whether it was leaning into family-friend humor, both in live-action and animated projects, or channeling his talents into more dramatic fare, Williams always brought his A-game. In doing so, the late actor left a body of work that continues to stand the...

When a television series becomes a full-fledged hit, creatively and/or commercially, a great deal of pressure is immediately placed on its showrunner, writers, and producers to keep their audience engaged. The trick for these creatives is to give viewers more of what they love while also keeping the show from growing stale -- but how to go about this has changed drastically over the years, particularly for sitcoms.

When people tuned into series like "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "The Odd Couple," and "The Bob Newhart Show," they weren't eagerly anticipating the next chapter in an ongoing narrative as they did/do with modern sitcoms like "Arrested Development," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and "Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage." While those older shows did feature characters attempting to achieve certain objectives over the course of several seasons, viewers generally kept coming back just to see superb comedic ensembles generate big laughs. And...

Bryce Dallas Howard has a surprising confession: She’s never watched a single episode of Happy Days, even though it stars her father, Ron Howard, and her godfather, Henry Winkler. The Jurassic World actress came out with the shocking revelation when appearing on Busy Philipps‘ QVC+ talk show, Busy This Week, on Wednesday, July 2. “Ok, I’m gonna admit something, which is that I’ve never watched an episode of Happy Days,” she said. Philipps gasped in shock, shouting, “What?! Wait, I’m sorry. What?!” Bryce continued, saying, “So I am kind of like the prototype here of like the child who takes for granted the fact that… I know,” she interrupted herself as Philipps continued to look on open-mouthed. Philipps said she couldn’t believe it, especially as the classic sitcom not only stars Bryce’s dad but also Winkler, her godfather. “I love [Winkler] so much and I love...

Updated: “Queer as Folk” 25th anniversary reunion, premiere screenings of “The Rainmaker,” “Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order” were added to the Television Academy’s inaugural Televerse festival.

The festival offers Academy members, industry professionals and fans access to today’s top creators, storytellers and stars as well as panels featuring this year’s Emmy-nominated programs and behind-the-scenes intel of popular shows. Televerse will take place at the Jw Marriott at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles from Aug. 14 to Aug. 16.

The latest additions to the Televerse lineup include “The Art of Foley With Sanaa Kelley,” “A Candid Conversation With Cris About the State of the Industry,” “FYC Presentations,” “Scene by Scene With Tommy Schlamme” and “What’s Next: The Future of Music Supervision.”

Previously: “Bones” stars Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, T.J. Thyne and Tamara Taylor, along with creator/showrunner Hart Hanson, will celebrate the Fox drama’s...

The Television Academy has announced plans for its inaugural Televerse, an immersive festival celebrating all things television, set to take place August 14–16 at the Jw Marriott at L.A. Live. The three-day event will include acting workshops, TV reunions, and Emmy-nominated panels.

Among the headline events is "Acting Class With Henry Winkler," where the Emmy-winning actor and Television Academy Hall of Fame inductee will share techniques on building character and connecting with audiences. Winkler, known for his iconic roles in Happy Days and Barry, will lead a live workshop aimed at performers and fans alike.

In addition, there will be a Bones 20th anniversary panel, reuniting creator Hart Hanson and cast members Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, T.J. Thyne, and Tamara Taylor. The panel will reflect on the procedural's 12 seasons and explore its real-life forensic inspirations.

Emmy-nominated writer Beau Willimon will conduct a live story-breaking session during "Breaking Story With Beau Willimon,...

It might seem as though the cast of "Friends" got lucky landing their roles in that beloved '90s sitcom. And while luck is a big part of it, it's not as if the actors simply moved to Hollywood, got cast in the show, and became mega-stars. Every member of the ensemble spent years grinding it out in failed TV projects and small movies before they landed the roles that would change their lives.

Before "Friends," David Schwimmer starred in a short-lived sitcom with a "Happy Days" veteran, while Matthew Perry became the king of sitcoms that lasted just one season. Courteney Cox starred in a goofy fantasy flop and Matt LeBlanc starred in two failed spin-offs of a beloved sitcom before he landed the role of Joey Tribbiani on "Friends." But LeBlanc also had a couple of big-screen duds.

In 1994, the same year that "Friends" debuted, LeBlanc co-starred in "Lookin' Italian,...

“Let me ask you something,” composer Lalo Schifrin told me a few years ago during a long conversation that, sadly, would be our last. “When you write your articles, do you require a piano? I imagine you don’t, because you already have all the words that you need in your mind, which you then elaborate with your knowledge of grammar and syntax, right? It’s exactly the same for me. I don’t need a musical instrument in order to compose a piece. The notes are in my head.”

I had the privilege of interviewing Schifrin, who died Thursday at 93, multiple times during the past three decades. The most memorable meeting with the Emmy-nominated (Mission: Impossible theme) and Oscar-nominated composer (Sting II, The Amityville Horror) was a leisurely lunch at one of his favorite Beverly Hills restaurants when I was still in my early 20s and just getting started in journalism.

In 2022, Matt Reeves introduced us to "The Batman," another take on the titular hero that saw Robert Pattinson in the lead role. Battinson operated within a noirish, "Seven"-adjacent industrial decay-ridden Gotham, representing a much younger version of the character in a movie that successfully reinvented the Dark Knight for modern movie goers following Christopher Nolan's seminal Dark Knight trilogy. Reeves was given significant creative freedom to bring his vision to life, something he'll apparently retain with the long delayed "The Batman: Part 2," if it ever sees the light of day.

"The Batman" was big for Reeves. He'd broken through with 2008's "Cloverfield," capturing the spirit of a bygone world in chaos, before proving he was more than capable of handling the sci-fi action genre with 2014's "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" and 2017's "War for the Planet of the Apes." But "The Batman" seemed to firmly...

A pick of our favourite reader responses to a question raised by Jaws’ 50th anniversary: which films did you watch at too young an age…?

Last week, in the wake of Jaws’ 50th anniversary, we asked: what films did you see at too young an age? For this writer it was – surprise, surprise – the TV premiere of the aforementioned 1975 shark thriller, which made such an impression on my four year-old mind that I refused to paddle in the sea for months afterwards.

“It was Jaws for me too,” says Film Stories reader Big Dunc. “I was seven when it was on TV for the first time, and I made it as far as the head popping out of the boat. I then took myself to bed but couldn’t sleep because I was too freaked out. I’m pretty sure I slept with the light on for a few weeks after that.

There are some aspects of the Fonz from Happy Daysthat you can easily recognize. Leather jacket, perfect hair, and that motorcycle that he loved driving. Remember when he quite literally jumped the shark with it? But according to star Henry Winkler, there is something he wasn't necessarily the best at while playing the iconic character: riding his motorcycle. Winkler was speaking with People about his new History Channel series, Hazardous History With Henry Winkler, when he began talking about his iconic Happy Days character.

Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli was the "bad boy" of the show and his motorcycle ended up becoming something of another limb for the character. So it is funny that Winkler was not really into the whole motorcycle part of the character. According to the actor, he struggled to figure out exactly how to ride the motorcycle and shared stories about how his dyslexia made it harder to...

Television lost one of its gems with the passing of Rick Hurst. Best known for his role as the good-natured but clumsy Deputy Cletus Hogg in The Dukes of Hazzard, Hurst passed away on June 26, 2025, at 79. And the actor has left a legacy filled with many hits, with The Dukes of Hazzard remaining his most iconic show.

However, his legacy is by no means limited to the ’70s comedy series, as he has showcased his remarkable ability as a performer in many memorable appearances throughout his decades-long career. And here’s a look at five must-see shows from Hurst that remain part of his legacy beyond the good old boys of Patrol Car and The Dukes of Hazzard.

1. M*A*S*H (1972-1983) Rick Hurst in M*A*S*H | Credit: CBS

Very few shows in the history of television balance humor and human emotion as beautifully as the comedy-drama M*A*S*H,...

On Saturday June 28 2025, Disney broadcasts Phineas and Ferb!

The Candace Suit; Agent T (for Teen) Season 5 Episode 7 Episode Summary

In the upcoming episode of “Phineas and Ferb” titled “The Candace Suit; Agent T (for Teen),” fans can expect a mix of humor and adventure. This episode promises to showcase Candace as she takes matters into her own hands. She comes up with a clever plan to dress her mom in a Candace costume, hoping that this will finally allow her to see the incredible inventions her brothers create. This twist adds a fun layer to the classic sibling rivalry, as Candace’s determination to catch Phineas and Ferb in the act leads to some hilarious moments.

Meanwhile, the episode also features Stacy, who steps into a new role as an agent for the Organization Without a Cool Acronym (Owca). Her mission is to rescue Perry the Platypus from the clutches of some evil scientists.

Exclusive: Peyton Manning and LL Cool J have teamed on Hip Hop Was Born Here, a docuseries that explores the history of hip hop in New York City. Hosted by LL Cool J, the five-episode first season is set to premiere July 22 on Paramount+.

Co-created by LL Cool J and Manning, the series will chart the creation, evolution and ongoing legacy of hip hop, not just as a genre but as a culture. Viewers will be taken on a journey through hip hop history – meeting genre pioneers and future icons, visiting the neighborhoods, studios and places that fostered early styles as well as watching beloved artists analyze their favorite tracks, according to the description.

Manning executive produces via his Omaha Productions and LL Cool J via his Rock the Bells prodco. The docuseries marks Omaha’s first project with CBS/Paramount, touting it as one of its most ambitious projects...

Rick Hurst, the classic television actor best known for his role as Deputy Cletus Hogg in the hit series The Dukes of Hazzard, has passed away. Hurst's death was announced by Dukes of Hazzard co-star Ben Jones in a post shared on Facebook by the Cooter's Place museum. He was 79 years old, per CNN.

"It doesn't seem right that Rick Hurst passed away this afternoon," Jones' statement, posted on the evening of June 26, reads. "When something so unexpected happens, it is 'harder to process,' as the current expression goes. I have known Rick for over 45 years and there wasn't a minute of that time that he didn't leave me smiling or laughing. Sure he was a professional comedian, but mostly he just had a heart as big as Texas. He was a fine actor, a splendid comic, and a wonderfully supportive colleague."

Jones continued, "I had seen him in...

Actor Richard Hurst passed at the age of 79 on June 26, Thursday, in Los Angeles. He was famous for his role as Deputy Cletus Hogg in the classic TV series, The Dukes of Hazzard. It was reported that the death was unexpected, and the cause of death has yet to be determined. He has also appeared in various other films and TV shows, including M*A*S*H and The Bob Newhart Show.

Fans are also familiar with the works of his son, Ryan Hurst, who appeared as Opie Winston in Sons of Anarchy and Gerry Bertier in Remember the Titans. His other son, Collin Hurst, has also acted in films. His wife, Candace Kaniecki, confirmed the news of his death to TMZ.

The Dukes of Hazzard star Richard Hurst passes away: What other roles do we know him from? Richard Hurst as Deputy Cletus Hogg in The Dukes of Hazzard...

Rick Hurst, the actor known for playing Deputy Cletus Hogg on The Dukes of Hazzard, has died. He was 79.

According to the actor’s wife Candace Kaniecki, he died unexpectedly on Thursday in Los Angeles, TMZ reported. His cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

Hurst’s co-star Ben Jones, who played Cooter Davenport on the 1979-’85 CBS sitcom, announced his death on Facebook after Hurst was scheduled to appear at Cooter’s Place in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee next month.

“It doesn’t seem right that Rick Hurst passed away this afternoon. When something so unexpected happens, it is ‘harder to process,’ as the current expression goes,” he said in a statement. “I have known Rick for over 45 years and there wasn’t a minute of that time that he didn’t leave me smiling or laughing. Sure he was a professional comedian, but mostly he just had a heart as big as Texas.

Rick Hurst, who portrayed the good-hearted Deputy Cletus Hogg on the long-running CBS action comedy The Dukes of Hazzard, died Thursday. He was 79.

Hurst’s death was announced by the Cooter’s Place museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. He had just canceled a scheduled July 3-7 appearance there.

“To fans, he was more than a character — he was family,” reads a Dukes of Hazzard post on Instagram. “His gentle smile, impeccable comedic timing and kind-hearted spirit made every scene brighter.

“Offscreen, Rick was known for his generosity, humility and love for connecting with fans at events across the country. Whether it was a reunion special or a meet-and-greet at Cooter’s, he never stopped sharing his joy with the people who adored him.”

Before his most famous role, Hurst played a prisoner named Cleaver alongside Tom Poston and Hal Williams on the 1975-76 ABC sitcom On the Rocks, which revolved...

Even though the Fonz was such a skilled cyclist that he could jump his bike over 14 garbage cans, Happy Days actor Henry Winkler could barely ride. In fact, he listed “ride a motorcycle” as the most dangerous thing he’s ever had to do as an actor.

“I am so dyslexic. I couldn’t figure out what was the gas, what was the gear, what was the brake,” Winkler told People. “And I nearly killed the head of cinematography on Happy Days.”

How did he almost commit vehicular manslaughter? Winkler told Jennifer Hudson in 2023 that he only drove Fonzie’s bike once. “I rode it really for 17 seconds, in the beginning, going up the hill. That was it,” Winkler said. You can see a few seconds’ worth of Winkler’s ride in the show’s opening credits.

“And there was a moment when they had me on soundstage five at Paramount.

For much of the 20th century, if an up-and-coming actor was eying a movie career, taking a prominent role in a television series could be perilous. While it may be hard to believe now, there was a time when film was considered a far more prestigious line of work than getting beamed into the living rooms of viewers all over the world. Obviously, breaking through in television wasn't an automatic death knell, but familiarity could breed a fixed set of expectations. Ted Danson could've been a huge movie star, but after a few seasons of brilliant work in "Cheers" all people could see was Sam Malone. Tom Selleck, the man who almost was Indiana Jones, faced similar struggles as he tried to break free of his "Magnum P.I." persona.

So, when Tom Hanks, after making his bones as a performer in the Great Lakes Theater Festival in Cleveland, Ohio,...

Race was a complicated issue on TV in the ‘70s. Not that it’s been simple, oh, any other time in the history of the medium, but it was an in-between time when they were trying to have it both ways. Individual series were still largely segregated, but they had to have the occasional very special episode before there were very special episodes to make sure the audience knew the white people on TV were the “good” white people.

That leads us to the 1974 Happy Days episode “The Best Man,” in which Howard Cunningham is visited by an “old army buddy” named Fred who happens to be Black and ends up hosting his friend’s wedding when the couple can’t find a venue willing to serve them. It’s full of opportunities to laugh at nervous but well-meaning white people for comments they absolutely would have made in the...

I’m not saying Paramount is cheap. But when producer Garry Marshall hired Robin Williams to guest on Happy Days in anticipation of a potential spin-off series, the studio said, “Well, let’s see what we have hanging in the closet.”

Mork’s red jumpsuit was appropriately space-age, at least when seen through the lens of 1970s science fiction. But producers didn’t hire designers to cook up a Mork outfit — instead, they raided the wardrobe from the studio’s Star Trek series, which ended just a few years earlier.

Paramount Television

Phillip Pine guest-starred in the episode “The Savage Curtain” as Colonel Green, a badass in the exact same crimson onesie minus the silver triangle that the Costume Department ironed onto Mork’s version. Williams, who was a lifelong Star Trek fan, was no doubt thrilled.

The original Mork costume worked out so well that Paramount recycled more retread...

Bosch: Legacy has ended, leaving fans to revisit Harry's stories in the books. Creator Michael Connelly also confirmed Bosch's next chapter in an upcoming novel.

Here's something Bosch fans can look forward to: series creator Michael Connelly teased a release window for his next Bosch novel. "Bosch will live on. I've definitely not finished with Bosch," he said (per Collider). "I think we'll probably see him again next year in a book." There are now more than 25 books in the series, including the Renée Ballard and Mickey Haller crossovers. Those still reeling from Bosch: Legacy's ending already envision Titus Welliver in the next Bosch chapter, considering how the actor embodied the character.

Welliver will reprise Harry Bosch in at least three episodes of Ballard, with Maggie Q as the titular character (Renée Ballard debuted in the Bosch: Legacy finale). Hopefully, Welliver will take after the novels by reprising Bosch in more Ballard episodes.

When it comes to sitcoms and their theme songs, there are a few different categories. First are those that debut with the perfect theme song and never change it — shows like Cheers, The Jeffersons and Welcome Back, Kotter. Then there are those that keep things fresh by using the same song, but with different arrangements, like how The Cosby Show or Frasier changed its opening theme a bit each year or how Growing Pains kept the same theme, but occasionally altered who performed it. Of course, there are also the shows that completely switch themes. Happy Days, for example, began with “Rock Around the Clock” but transitioned to the more remembered “Happy Days” theme in Season Three.

But there is one more category: The shows that never seem to make up their mind about what their theme song is. Every few seasons, a brand new song introduces the show, only...

TV shows can hook us with brilliance but sometimes veer into absurd territory, losing their spark in a moment fans call “jumping the shark,” inspired by a wild Happy Days stunt. These missteps, from bizarre plots to jarring character changes, mark when a series falters and struggles to bounce back.

We’ve ranked 10 shows that hit that infamous low point, from noticeable stumbles to massive crashes, based on how their quality plummeted. Here’s why these moments left us stunned.

10. How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014) 20th Century Fox Television

Ted’s quest for love charmed with witty banter, but the Season 9 (2014) finale rushed the mother’s reveal and undid years of buildup with a divisive twist. The sudden shift to tragedy clashed with its comedic heart.

The ending felt like a betrayal of fan investment. We missed the gang’s warm hangouts.

9. Weeds (2005-2012) Tilted Productions

Nancy Botwin’s suburban drug-dealing saga started sharp,...

When the "Friends" cast landed their roles on that beloved NBC sitcom, they instantly secured their futures as some of the biggest, most well-paid stars in the world. By the end of the series in 2004, each member of the ensemble was making $1 million an episode. That means that for seasons 9 and 10 they made $42 million, and to this day, the "Friends" cast still makes quite a bit from reruns. Of course, they sacrificed much of their personal privacy in the process, and David Schwimmer has been one of the most outspoken about the negative side of mega-stardom.

In a Guardian interview, the actor recalled how prior to the show's debut, director and sitcom legend James Burrows took the cast to Las Vegas and tried to warn them of the coming onslaught. "We were walking through the casino at one point," Schwimmer recalled, "and [Burrows] said to us, 'Remember this moment, it's...

Glen Powell'scareer has been heating up, and now Powell himself will be heating up, quite literally, for his next role. Powell is set to star in a film for Amazon MGM Studios about a firefighter, according to Deadline, with the project to be directed by Ron Howard. Howard is no stranger to this type of production, having directed the iconic firefighter film Backdraft in 1991, so this seems like a perfect fit.

Plot details about the film remain slim. However, it reportedly comes from an original idea by Christina Hodson, and will follow Powell as a Texas firefighter who must face wildfires sweeping across his state. At the same time, he tackles personal battles with his childhood friend, who is now also a firefighter. It's unsurprising that Powell would be in line for this role, as he was previously reported to be in the running for a remake of Backdraft, which...

Ron Howard has been enjoying success as a Hollywood director for almost 50 years, though the project most people associate him with is still "Happy Days." The ABC sitcom, which lasted for 11 seasons from 1974 to 1984, was where Howard made his name playing Richie Cunningham. Given the importance of the series to launching Howard's career, it's no surprise it helped him get his start in directing, even if Howard never directed an episode of "Happy Days" itself. The series saw him share the screen with Henry Winkler, who played the Fonz, and whom Howard credits for helping him land his big break as a director.

It was while making "Happy Days" that Howard started directing short films, before eventually getting to direct the low-budget comedy "Grand Theft Auto" for producer Roger Corman. Howard went on to direct a spate of TV movies, before landing his first major studio directing job on 1982's "Night Shift.

Marlee Matlin is crediting Henry Winkler with saving her.

The 59-year-old actress and activist has a documentary called Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore coming out on June 20, in which she revisits her tumultuous relationship with late actor William Hurt, whom she claims had a “habit of abuse.” The actor died at 71 in 2022.

In the documentary, she credits the 79-year-old Happy Days star with helping her during her recovery after the relationship.

Keep reading to find out more…

Marlee met William on the set of their 1986 film Children of a Lesser God when she was just 19 and he was 35.

While she says William encouraged her to enter rehab, she revealed that post-rehab, she knew she couldn’t return.

“I walked out of that house and never went back,” Marlee says in the documentary, via Decider.

And so, she turned to Henry.

“He didn’t make it hard for me to reach out to him,...

“The best note was when I threw my hat,” recalled Ron Howard, actor-turned-filmmaker-newly-turned-actor again for a hilarious guest stint on The Studio, in which Seth Rogen’s studio head Matt Remick is terrified to give the oft-baseball-capped Howard a harsh note on his film, fearing a fire-breathing response from the publicly genial director.

On set, in fact, the real Howard was open to every note he could get from series creators Rogen and Evan Goldberg. “They said, ‘Keep it in!’ because that was just an improv thing I tried in rehearsal, and so I appreciated that,” Howard told Gold Derby at a recent FYC event for the hit Apple TV+ series, in which he joined several members of the show’s starry assembly of guest players in Emmy contention.

“I had told them ahead of time, really pay attention to me: ‘I don't want to get too broad. I want to keep this real.

The one where Fonzie jumps his motorcycle over all the trash cans? The one that introduced hot-to-trot Milwaukee gals Laverne and Shirley? The one where Richie Cunningham almost dies?

Nope, nope and nope — Bryce Dallas Howard, daughter of sitcom legend Ron Howard, hasn’t seen a single classic episode of her dad’s long-running television comedy, Happy Days.

On Watch What Happens Live this week, Andy Cohen couldn’t believe Bryce “still hadn’t gotten around” to catching her dad’s beloved sitcom. “I know,” she admitted. “It’s so rude.” But hey, she rationalized, her kids don’t really watch her stuff either.

It’s not the first (or second) time Howard has been called out on her negligence. When she made her first appearance on The View in 2004, per People, she conceded that she’d never seen Happy Days, despite Henry “The Fonz” Winkler being her godfather. On...

Though the original series had its cult following, the franchise only became a global hit with Star Trek: The Next Generation. Starring Sir Patrick Stewart, along with an ensemble cast of the bridge crew, the show gained traction by its third season and became a worldwide phenomenon, reviving the franchise.

Many celebrities have been fans of the sci-fi show, with some of them even being a part of Tng, like Whoopi Goldberg and LeVar Burton. Similarly, Robin Williams was also a fan and was reportedly enthusiastic about joining the franchise as a guest star. The writers had also written a part for him, but he ultimately could not join.

Robin Williams almost joined Star Trek: The Next Generation Robin Williams in Mork and Mindy | Credits: ABC

Though Star Trek: The Original Series was canceled after three seasons, William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy became pop culture icons, and even now, their characters,...

When the war drama "Heroes" was released in 1977, "Happy Days" was the number one show on television. Henry Winkler starred as the too-cool-for-school greaser Fonzie, who "Ayyy'd" his way into viewers' hearts. It can be hard for sitcom actors to branch out from their most popular role, especially into ones that are dramatic and have more emotional dimension than lighthearted sitcom fluff. For actors like Henry Winkler, whose character became a cultural phenomenon, playing Fonzie was often a curse. During the 1970s, there was a rigid dichotomy between television and movie actors, where television actors were viewed as lesser than — a sentiment you can find in much of the negative critical response to "Heroes."

In an interview on "The Merv Griffin Show," Henry Winkler explained that there's "not a piece of" the Fonz in "Heroes." "Happy Days" was pure nostalgia for the Golden Age era, about a family in the Milwaukee suburbs,...

The inductees for the Television Academy's 27th Hall of Fame have officially been announced. In the past 40 years, the Hall of Fame has recognized over 150 honorees, from actors, directors, and producers to hosts, comedians, journalists, musicians, tradesmen, and more, for their extraordinary work in the TV industry. This year's chosen few will be inducted into the hallowed Hall of Fame during the Televerse Festival on August 16.

The six new honorees are Viola Davis, Conan O'Brien, Ryan Murphy, Henry Winkler, Mike Post, and Don Mischer. The latter is being honored posthumously for his work as a live-event producer, having sadly passed away at age 85 in April. Mike Post is a legendary TV composer, credited with scoring well over 1000 episodes in the Law & Order franchise. Murphy has created and written some of the biggest TV dramas of the 20th century, while Davis, O'Brien, and Winkler are legends in front of the camera.

On Wednesday June 11 2025, ABC broadcasts Live with Kelly and Mark!

Season 3 Episode 202 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Live with Kelly and Mark” promises to be an exciting one. Airing soon on ABC, the show will feature special guests Taron Egerton and Henry Winkler. Both actors are known for their impressive careers, and their appearances are sure to bring energy and fun to the show.

Taron Egerton, famous for his roles in films like “Kingsman” and “Rocketman,” will share insights about his latest projects and experiences in Hollywood. His charisma and talent make him a favorite among fans, and viewers can expect an engaging conversation with the hosts.

Henry Winkler, a beloved television icon known for his role as the Fonz in “Happy Days,” will also join the show. His warmth and humor are sure to create memorable moments. Winkler’s stories from his long career in entertainment will likely resonate with many.

Garry Marshall's 1974 sitcom "Happy Days" was a phenomenon. It started slow, but gained popularity over its first few seasons, and eventually lasted a massive 255 episodes over 11 seasons. It would spawn four spin-off shows in the form of "Laverne & Shirley," "Blansky's Beauties," "Mork & Mindy," and "Joanie Loves Chachi." One could even debate that the obscure angelic sitcom "Out of the Blue" counts, as it had a crossover with "Mork & Mindy." The series spawned piles upon piles of merch, attracting a wide audience of kids who weren't old enough to remember the time of the show's setting. 

Set in the suburbs of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the mid-1950s, "Happy Days" tapped into Boomer nostalgia like nothing before, presenting the past (at least as far as white suburbanites were concerned) as a simpler, sillier, more idealized time. It was about relationship issues, friendships, family, and the act of just hanging out.