Lou Anders: The Power of Cool: Arthur Fonzarelli as Archetypal Shaman. A very interesting discussion of both the shaman archetype and the history of the Fonzie the character:
Can you imagine a Fonz whose cool isn’t strong enough to stake him out a space in a band of nerds? Surely, this can’t be the Fonz we remember? Something big must happen to transform him into the personification of cool that looms so large in our consciousness.
Well, yes, something does happen, and it fits perfectly with our guidelines for shamantic initiation. In the episode “Fearless Fonzarelli, Parts 1 and 2”, a Fonzie afraid of “losing his cool” decides to jump fourteen garbage cans on his motorcycle for the TV show “You Wanted to See It.”
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But a shamantic journey is not complete without a battle with a spirit from the Upper Realm. And so here it is – and for any of you that don’t believe me, this then is my final proof – Mork from Orc made his debut on Happy Days. In Episode 110, “My Favorite Orkan,” the space alien (i.e. Higher Spirit) Mork comes to earth with plans to abduct Richie and take him back to his planet for experiments (the Orkans want to study someone “hum-drum”).
(actually, I found that linked to in passing by someone linking to this analysis of Mary Poppins as horror).
4 replies on “The Fonz as Shaman”
Funnily enough, this has quite a ring of truth in it.
Kind of reminds me of that one-shot campaign amber-vams character I had, only much more subtle, as only 70s TV can (here comes a LoL bit).
Well, yes, it is a very cool idea, and has a ring of truth, but writer is raping the facts a bit to fit them into his theory. I remember all too well that little bongos incident, and the Fonz was way cool already. A bit too loud for Mr. C’s Moose Fraternity friends, but still, way cool, and certainly a guy you would love to hang out with and have on your side (and are afraid to throw out of your band), even if he did mess up the only gig you could land. The Fonz also had a very cool solution for this problem – he stuffed his bongos with something and muted them, so he could have the cool shamanistic drumming bit without freaking out Mr. C’s monotheistic buddies.
And check this out: Wikipedia actually mentions, under “Production details”, that:
“Winkler maintained in interviews that he was merely an actor and Fonzie simply a character he was playing”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fonzie#Production_details
Right. Let’s not freak Mr. C’s monotheistic buddies.
I.
Oh, and Bo, you up early!
I.
And more weirdness. I emule Happy days. Many many episodes, many many sources. All Italian.
Fucking Benandanti.
I.