“Hello sunshine, goodbye rain”—and hello again to “Happy Days!”
Oklahoma native Ron Howard reunited with his “Happy Days” co-star Henry Winkler onstage Sunday night at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the beloved comedy series.
“This is fantastic,” Howard exclaimed, admiring the set designed to resemble Arnold’s Drive-In from the show.
“It feels like home,” Winkler added, reminiscing about their time together.
The former co-stars humorously noted the absence of the “Happy Days” theme song when they took the stage.
“Candice Bergen from ‘Murphy Brown’ had a theme song,” Howard pointed out.
“Of course she would get one,” Winkler replied with a grin.
“Well, I have a solution,” Howard suggested. “You know, you could do it.”
Despite Winkler’s playful protests about being “out of practice,” he thrilled the star-studded audience by reenacting his character Fonzie’s iconic jukebox-smacking move, prompting cheers as the famous tune began to play.
The celebration also highlighted milestones for “Saturday Night Live” and “The West Wing,” which are reaching their own significant anniversaries.
“Happy Days” aired on ABC from 1974 to 1984, with Winkler portraying “The Fonz” and Howard, already a familiar face from his childhood role as Opie on “The Andy Griffith Show,” starring as Richie Cunningham.
Originally from Duncan, Howard left “Happy Days” after its seventh season, embarking on a successful career as a filmmaker, winning an Oscar for Best Director in 2022 for “A Beautiful Mind.”
During its decade-long run, “Happy Days” garnered nine Emmy nominations, including three for Winkler as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series from 1976 to 1978. Remarkably, Winkler did not win his first Emmy until 2018 for his role in HBO’s “Barry,” alongside Tulsa native Bill Hader.
The Emmys broadcast also paid tribute to the upcoming 50th anniversary of “Saturday Night Live” and the 25th anniversary of “The West Wing,” bringing together stars from those iconic shows.
To kick off their reunion segment, Winkler praised Howard, his “very good friend for 50 years,” for winning his third Primetime Emmy for the Disney+ documentary “Jim Henson Idea Man,” eliciting a smile and numerous “thank yous” from Howard.
Produced by Howard’s Imagine Documentaries, the documentary about the late “Sesame Street” and “The Muppet Show” creator won five awards at the pre-broadcast Creative Arts Emmys, including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special.
Howard was also nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program for “Jim Henson Idea Man,” but that honor went to Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss for their Apple TV+ documentary “Girls State.”
This latest win marked Howard’s third Emmy as a producer, having previously won for “Arrested Development” as Outstanding Comedy Series in 2004 and for “From the Earth to the Moon” as Outstanding Miniseries in 1998. A 2013 Television Hall of Fame inductee, Howard, 70, has received a total of 13 Emmy nominations throughout his extensive television career.
