Somebody wise once said that when it comes to movies and television (theater, too), casting is essential. If you get it right, you're half-way home. Recently, that proved true on CBS's 'NCIS' with the casting of Robert Wagner as Tony DiNozzo's dad. Perfect casting.

Here's another instance where the producers seem to have nailed it. 'Royal Pains' has cast Henry Winkler to play Hank and Evan's father, Eddie Lawson. Yes, Henry Winkler. The Fonz from 'Happy Days,' but if you know you're Henry Winkler IMDB listing, you know he's done so much more than just Arthur Fonzarelli.

In fact, in a case where the casting was off, on the CBS sitcom 'Out of Practice,' he was Stockard Channing's ex and the father of Christopher Gorham, Paula Marshall and Ty Burrell. It never quite worked.

However, on 'Royal Pains,' as the father of the Lawson boys -- played by Mark Feuerstein and Paulo Costanzo -- Henry should be right at home. There's even a family resemblance. Plus since it's set in the Hamptons -- that's Long Island -- Henry can use his completely authentic New York accent.

This new season on 'Royal Pains' will pick up where we left off. Eddie, Hank and Evan's con artist dad, who abandoned them as kids, shows up in the Hamptons because he knows about the success of HankMed. He knows, all right. Last summer, Evan was foolish enough to trust Eddie with the HankMed financials. In the finale, Evan had to tell Hank what a mistake he had made by trusting Dad again. Their money was gone.

So Eddie turns up, presumably to explain what he did, but if he wants to make up for lost time, as the USA Network flak suggested, Hank and Evan would be crazy to give him another chance.

However, we still need to hear Eddie's side of the story. Can't wait for the summer run to start for 'Royal Pains.'