Winkler: 'Bauer is the new Fonz'

Henry Winkler has claimed that 24 character Jack Bauer is a modern replacement for the Fonz.

Talking about his famous character from Happy Days, Winkler said: "People wanted to be like him - people wanted to be cool. People loved the fact that he took care of his friends, that he was loyal, that he was really non-violent.

"He only intimidated, he never actually killed anybody. It seemed like he was his own person, which is something that, for Americans, is really important and really hard to do," he told Entertainment Weekly.

The actor added: "Most of us, we just kind of follow the crowd - you don't feel like you have control.

"And I think that people wanted that desperately. 24's Jack Bauer is that now for me."