 "Photo: Chris Large |2008 Crown Media")
Henry Winkler is adding another project to his list of accomplishments by starring in the upcoming Hallmark Channel Original Movie, "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year."
A Parthenon reporter spoke with Winkler about the upcoming project.
According to a Hallmark Channel issued release, "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," is about a "snowbound stranger, a crafty uncle and a precocious boy who may just have what it takes to remind one crazed woman what the holiday season is all about."
Two-time Golden Globe winner and five-time Emmy Award nominee Henry Winkler ("Happy Days"), Brooke Burns ("Miss Guided") and Warren Christie ("October Road") star in the family film, which reminds viewers that you're never too old to act like a kid again."
Winkler said he never had the chance to celebrate Christmas as a child but likes experiencing the emotions of the holidays.
"My parents escaped Nazi Germany, so there was probably not a shot that I was going to (celebrate Christmas) in my home in New York City," Winkler said.
"Here in L.A, we don't have a Christmas tree because we light candles on the Menorah, but we do have a pine garland that goes down the staircase that fills the house with the smell of Christmas.
"It doesn't matter what we do or where we come from or what our religious beliefs are," Winkler said. "At the core of our emotions you can identify and empathize with those glorious and uplifting emotions that people have about the holidays."
Not having to tackle many obstacles for the film, Winkler revealed the biggest challenge of the project.
"Usually you make a television movie in 25 days," Winkler said. "This one, we made in 15 days. The biggest challenge is the concentration of doing so many pages in one day in order to get it done.
"We had a terrific leader in Michael Scott, who was our director," Winkler said. "None of the actors had an attitude, the crew worked at lightning speed, and we were able to do it and I am proud of the finished product."
Winkler recently appeared in an Internet video along with Ron Howard, urging the importance of this year's election.
The video was centered on Howard poking fun at the shows "Andy Griffith" and "Happy Days."
"Ron Howard called me up and said, 'Look I've got this whacked idea. Here it is, just tell me, are you in or not?'" Winkler said. "I said, 'Ron, I am in your canoe. If we are ever going to play these characters again, this is the moment.'"
"We got dressed up in the trailer, and it was so emotional because when I turned around and he was Richie and we started talking to each other when we were shooting it. It was if we had done the show yesterday," Winkler said.
"There was not a beat missing. He walked up and I said, 'Hey Cunningham, you finish your homework?' It was phenomenal."
Even though Winkler has worked on many projects in his lifetime, there are people like Doug Wiley who never want to see him as anything but "The Fonz."
"I liked him as 'The Fonz' and how he could pound on stuff and get it fixed," Wiley said. "He was smooth, he was a ladies man and he was a pretty cool guy."
Stephanie Bartram can be contacted at bartram29@marshall.edu.
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