Happy Days For Henry Winkler

'The Fonz' Promises 'Out Of Practice' Will Make You Laugh

(CBS)  Thirty years ago, Henry Winkler created one of the most memorable characters in TV history, the smooth-talking, leather-wearing Fonzie of "Happy Days."

Now he's back in a new sitcom, "Out of Practice," in which he plays the patriarch of a family of doctors who have little else in common. One of Winkler's sons is an earnest young couples' counselor whose family doesn't consider him to be a "real" doctor because he doesn't have "M.D." after his name. The other son is a good-looking, self-centered plastic surgeon who enjoys dating the prettiest women in town, some of whom he helped make that way. His daughter, Regina, is an E.R. doctor who's hooked on the non-stop action there.

Winkler, a gastroenterologist, is divorcing his wife, Stockard Channing, a cardiologist whose career eclipsed her ex's years ago.

Winkler visited The Early Show and spoke with co-anchor Rene Syler about the show." He's so sure it will make people laugh, he's betting a home cooked meal on it.

"I am having so much fun doing this show. And this is our pledge," he said. "If you give us half an hour, we will make you laugh out loud or I will come to your house and make dinner."

The show also reunites Winkler with Marion Ross, who played Marion Cunningham on "Happy Days."

"She is a spirit. She just fills the sound stage," Winkler said about Ross, who makes a guest appearance in tonight's episode as Winkler's retired assistant. "She's limitless. She can do anything."

Syler asked him whether the show's humor could be called risqué, but Winkler described it differently. "It's very human," he said. "We are all single and we're trying to figure out how to date again."

"Out of Practice" airs on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.