 Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarellis character was originally to be named  Arthur Maschiarelli (creator Marshall, Garry (qv)s real last  name) and nicknamed "Mash." When ABC first picked up the show, they  had Marshall change the characters name because they felt that  "Mash" might remind people of _"M*A*S*H" (1972)_ (qv), a popular  show on a rival network.