At a Glance
- Henry Winkler, 80, danced through The Jennifer Hudson Show’s Spirit Tunnel on Jan. 12, 2025, delighting fans
- The Happy Days star spun, side-stepped and blew kisses as staff sang a rewritten “Uptown Girl”
- Viewers flooded social media praising “The Fonz” for keeping his moves decades after the sitcom
- Why it matters: The viral moment shows how a simple backstage ritual can reignite nostalgia and connect generations
Henry Winkler turned a pre-show hallway into a dance floor. The 80-year-old actor arrived for his Jan. 12, 2025 taping of The Jennifer Hudson Show and turned the program’s signature Spirit Tunnel into a viral celebration of moves and memories.
Winkler entered the corridor lined with staffers, grinned, kicked a leg high and launched into spins, side-steps and a quick handshake. He capped the routine by blowing a kiss and waving goodbye. Crew members belted out Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl,” swapping lyrics to honor the guest.
The show posted the clip on Instagram and X with the caption: “We’re so happy @hwinkler4real is back! 🥹”
Fan Reaction
- “The Fonz still got it! Heeeyyyyyyy,” one Instagram user wrote
- Another posted: “The Fonz is still making us smile”
- Writer Will Sloan noted on X: “I admire how this guy has stuck around all these years. He’s always in something, and everyone’s always happy to see him”
Sloan added that many viewers may not even recognize the Fonzie reference anymore; they simply respond to Winkler’s enduring appeal.
Happy Days Roots
Winkler joined Happy Days for its 1974 debut. He first recurred during season 1 before the character Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli became a full cast member in season 2. Winkler continued through most of the run, briefly leaving in season 7 to pursue films and returning as a guest for the 11th and final season.
During the Hudson interview he recalled how the sitcom “changed my life,” describing his first autograph session in Little Rock, Ark. After wrapping on set he took a late-night flight, landed around 4 a.m. and found 3,000 fans in 1950s attire waiting to greet him. A flight attendant informed him the crowd was his welcome party, not an unrelated celebration.
Spirit Tunnel Phenomenon
Jennifer Hudson previously told a 2025 Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival panel that guests look forward to the hallway ritual. Staffers line the passage and sing or chant as celebrities including Aaron Pierre and Brenda Song head toward the set.
“It has completely blown us away,” Hudson said, noting that “people want redos.” She admitted she watches a monitor from her chair and often waits as guests request camera adjustments, turning the brief walk into an extended performance.
Winkler’s latest turn through the tunnel added another chapter to the tradition and reminded viewers that, at 80, he still channels the exuberance that made Fonzie an icon.
