IPTAT: Shark-Jumper

Scene-Stealers - Part Two

I’m putting together a team… multiple teams, in fact.

The eight-team bracket will determine who is the most gifted (and potentially ruthless) squad of them all.

Team 6: Scene-Stealers

Minor characters who evolved into major roles.

Steve Urkel (Family Matters)

The Fonz (Happy Days)

Seven of Nine (Star Trek: Voyager)

Leon Black (Curb Your Enthusiasm)

Before the figurative fracas begins, we will first get to know the next set of competitors, continuing with a greaser guy that became a TV phenomenon.

Scene-Stealers, assemble!

2. The Fonz

First appearance: Happy Days (“All the Way” episode 1, season 1, 1974)

Popular entertainment of 1974:

Blazing Saddles - film starring Cleavon Little

and Gene Wilder

The Rockford Files - television series starring James Garner

Where the Sidewalk Ends - book by Shel Silverstein

Arthur Herbert “The Fonz” Fonzarelli a.k.a. “Fonzie” (played by Henry Winkler) first graced the small screen on the retro sitcom Happy Days, starting as a minor greaser character but quickly became the show’s breakout star. Known for his leather jacket, motorcycle, and signature “Aaaay!” catchphrase, the Fonz was the epitome of cool—-able to fix jukeboxes with a smack, charm everyone around him with his endearing cool guy attitude, and act as a loyal friend to Richie Cunningham and the whole 1950s teenager gang of friends. Over time, he softened from rebellious outsider to trusted mentor and family figure, even becoming a teacher. After eleven seasons of television, The Fonz did it all, and, of course, essentially took over the show that wasn’t even originally supposed to be his. The Fonz’s popularity skyrocketed and is still a recognizable TV icon to this day.

The Smithsonian Institution houses one of Fonzie’s original leather jackets, recognizing him as an enduring icon of American pop culture. His most important contribution to society is being the original character to jump the shark by literally jumping over a shark on water skis in Happy Days (“Hollywood: Part 3”), episode 3, season 5, in 1977.

The Fonz is coolness personified while Steve Urkel is the complete opposite—they’ll need to coexist and get along with their other two teammates if they want to go all the way in the tournament and win it all.

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