There is no such thing as making 'our' dreams come true when you've only got one person to achieve that goal. It's a shame that the show had to cease it's run with Laverne carrying it all by herself.
I lost track of the series at the beginning of the eighties, but I wonder why did they still keep the name "Laverne & Shirley" without Shirley. Back then they could have replaced her with some other actor, i.e., the two Darren Stevens on Bewitched !!!
Man, they really milked this show 'til the death! This opening is just awkward! Cindy Williams is gone. Even though they are showing scenes with the rest of the cast, only David L. Lander's name is mentioned as a series regular after Peny Marshall. No Eddie Mekka, Phil Foster, Michael McKeon, or Leslie Easterbrook. And where the hell is Betty Garrett? Oh, and the show is still called "Laverne & Shirley", and there is no Shirley!
@radrobd betty didnt leave....she said they didn't know what else to do with her character in an interview. You can find it on you tube...she past away now :(
Cindy Williams thought the producers were using her real-life pregnancy to fire her. Ms. Williams sued Paramount and the dispute was eventually settled outside of court. I believe from that assumption, Cindy Williams refused to work on the show and Shirley was written out of the show as a result.
@BrownBrother27 If I remember correctly, Cindy called in sick a lot during her pregnancy. I think she also demanded less work for the same pay. The original plan was to incorporate Cindy's pregnancy into the show and have Shirley's husband go to war leaving a pregnant Shirley with Laverne, but due to the dispute between Cindy and the producers, Shirley was abruptly written out.
Penny Marshall looked so awkward at :35 in this opening. I agree there were still some funny episodes this season, but really the way the show was originally built and created and even was run into season 6 & 7 this was sad to see many many ways. I kind of wish that they might have either hired Lorrianne (sp?) Newman to play the character she played in the Death Row episode or had David Lander play dual roles of his character of Squindolyn (sp?) & given Laverne another friend & changed the
@sneezyize When Cindy Williams left the show, ABC was going to re-title it, "Laverne and Friends", and have the Laverne character interact with a different guest star each week - but the show was already being killed in the ratings by NBC's "The A-Team", so it was only a matter of time before the show was canceled altogether-
@christheone8773 yeah, i remember the A-Team being the rage in 83. I was only 7 and all my friends and i watched it. The physical comedy between Laverne and Shirley is what made the show work. When Cindy left, that magic was gone. I'm sure the same happened when Ron Howard left HAPPY DAYS as well.
some of the episodes from this season were still pretty funny, particularly THE MONASTERY SHOW when laverne checks into a convent and isn't allowed to talk.
@kduideo almost everyone did except lenny and squiggy who kept the 50's hairstyle even in the 60's. It was also hilarious to see some of the guys on this show and Happy Days wearing IZOD.
And just like Happy Days, the producers took very little, if any effort to make a period show look the period. Supposed to be 1967. The clothes and the hair styles look more like 1982.
The producers who fired Cindy Williams must roast in TV hell FOREVER! Without Cindy it became a dying dinosaur so sad to watch. All non-Shirley episodes must be burned.
They should have just renamed the show "Laverne" since Shirley had left. It wasn't the same show without Shirley. It should have ended when they wrote her out.
The show's title stayed "Laverne & Shirley" in the final season - I remember, because I watched it way back when on ABC. However, syndicated reruns in the early 80s were retitled "Laverne & Shirley & Company", to stand out from the first-runs on ABC. When the ABC run ended, the syndicated reruns reverted to the original title (Same thing happened with "Happy Days Again", "Jim Rockford, Private Investigator", etc.)
@MizNelson i never knew that. I remember when L& S was on WGN in the 80's, it was titled LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY AND COMPANY. I could never figure out why the titled was changed. That was the last time i ever saw that title. I've never seen THREES COMPANY TOO before.
@msmithstud Because the show was still airing at night and they couldn't have the same title in syndication so they had to modify the title while it was still airing and in syndication at the same time.
The show wasn't as good anymore in the last season.least they could have done was change the title or maybe have more lenny and squiggy and Laverne getting married to someone (in my opinion,Lenny).At least a reunion movie that kinda would have finished it up
I really have to hand it to Penny Marshall for trying to carry the show on her own - if this show wasnt scheduled opposite NBC's "The A-Team", this show would have had a fighting chance - but I guess ABC didn't want to move it around the schedule, and they just let the show die on its own-
Cindy wasn't fired. She quit. She felt that her on air pregnancy was being used to phase her off the show so she stormed off the set and sued for 20 million dollars. Personally I think it's a testament to the show's popularity that it actually went a whole last season without Shirley.
Cindy Williams appeared in the first two episodes of the season. They married off her charchter to an unseen Mr. Meaney, making her Shirley Finey Meaney. What would have made more sense would have been to have her marry Carmine, but then they probably would have to write Eddie Mekka out of the show as well. It was also revealed in Cindy Williams final episode that Shirley was pregnant (as was Cindy Williams in real life).
During this show's final season, there was talk of changing the name of the show from "Laverne and Shirley" to "Laverne and Friends" and a different guest star would interact with Laverne every week - but unfortunately, this show was getting its butt whooped by NBC's "The A-Team" so it was only a matter of time before this show was cancelled-
Wow. It is just painful to watch those opening credits. Even in these credits it just seemed like Penny was not enjoying doing those awkward by herself moments there that were shot just for the opening here sans Cindy. I remember seeing Season 8 in reruns, it was just unwatchable. I don't get why they didn't just end the show after Cindy was fired/quiet whatever . 7 Seasons is a good run, Penny just looked miserable doing the Lucy routines on her own there. This is just bad TV all around.
This was always so funny to me! I can't believe they continued to do "Laverne and Shirley" WITHOUT Shirley! The least they could have done was re-titie it "Laverne" and change the theme song to a song about a woman making it on her own.
@joycollector You make a valid point, but if the title of the show were to be renamed "Laverne" and then changing the theme song to a woman making it on her own, then everyone would claim that the format would be too similar to "Mary Tyler Moore" or "Alice"-
I'm confused...there is no stopping US...WE are gonna make the dream come true..doing it OUR way...There is nothing WE won't try...who is the we?? I only see one person!
@setev0416 They just kept it that way, It's kinda like on 3's Company they kept Suzane Sommers in the opening and closing eventhough she was not in a lot of the episodes.
@setev0416 if uve seen the other 7 seasons there was a character named shirley and she was in the opening credits with her cuz it starred them both but then she left the show this season..and the song at the beginning when the kids are singing is usually sung by the 2 girls
The very least jump the shark tool they could have used should have been to create a cousin for Shirley to come live with Laverne, did it on threes company, dukes of hazard, even on happy days too. It probably would have still sucked, but less akward for Penny Marshall and could have go 2 more season out of the show.
Wow, I never knew that Cindy Williams had left the series; I'd just always thought it was Laverne and Shirley together for their whole run.
I agree; when Cindy was out, they should've either changed the title or canceled the show. Keeping it around when you've lost one of the principle cast members just proves to me that all the executives cared about was the money and didn't care one iota about tarnishing a great show like this.
@NoInfringementIntent THERE was talk of changing the title of the show to "Laverne and Friends" and have the Laverne character interact with a different guest star every week - but by the time THAT idea came about, this show was already being slammed opposite NBC's "The A-Team", so there went THAT idea-
Is it just me or does the set for Laverne's living room kind of resemble the set of Charlie Sheen's living room from the hit comedy, "Two & A Half Men?"
@antonzap ITA! I don't know what the writers and producers were thinking when they were trying to continue the show without one of it's main characters!............Apparently they thought the viewers were too stupid to realize that the title for the show, "Laverne & Shirley", no longer applied!
It really started downhill once they left Milwaukee, IMHO. But the last season was just unwatchable for me. Laverne was in too many ridiculous situations by this time. I wonder why "Squiggy" got star billing in the intro but not "Lenny"? Perhaps David L. Lander had a better agent? Still makes me feel old since I remember watching this series when it was new.
hahahaha, oh my gosh this is SO bizarre. i totally forgot they actually went an entire season without shirley. and having Squiggy without Lenny but showing Lenny. this is insane.
I suspect there's some legalities involved here.Perhaps Penny was required to give the network 1 more season whether Cindy left or not+the producers mightve been required to keep the Laverne and Shirley title even w/only Penny left.
I suspect there's some legalities involved here.Perhaps Penny was required to give the network 1 more season whether Cindy left or not+the producers mightve been required to keep the Laverne and Shirley title even with only 1/2 the comedy team left.
At this point the show was known as "The Incredible Shrinking Ensemble". I know why Cindy left, and Betty Garrett left to do a play or something, but why did Michael McKean leave? That was a few years before "Spinal Tap", I believe.
No, he was indeed shooting "Spinal Tap" during this time, but did manage to squeeze in a few guest appearences (and was billed as a "Special Guest Star" in those episodes).
For me this is very sad to watch. When Shirley left they should of cancelled the show immediately. It was literally butchered in half after she was gone. They should of renamed it THE PENNY MARSHALL SHOW or something like that. What's a show called LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY with one of them gone?
The actress that played her got pregmant and they did not want to build her pregnency into the story. And so they handles it by having her marry a military doctor who had to take an overseas assignment.
@kc86er I had read somewhere (maybe it was just an old Enquirer), that had the series continued, they were going to move Laverne to Brooklyn (where the DeFazio family came from) and retitle the series "Laverne & Company". Mercifully, it never came to that. Also, they didn't exactly fire Cindy Williams just because she was pregnant. When she became pregnant, she had asked for either a reduced work week or to be written out of every few episodes. The producers said no. She walked - they fired.
They coulda had Carmine marry Shirley; Lenny marry Laverne; her dad marry Edna, and maybe even found a love interest for Squiggy. But they deliberately chose not to have a happy ending, since happy endings so rarely happen in real life.
@Oceanpacifica1968 Squiggy could have married Rhonda. And I completely disagree!! They did NOT DELIBERATELY choose not to have a happy ending - the show fell apart gradually as each actor left unexpectedly for different reasons. Laverne and Shirley was a show about MAKING YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE - why would they choose to end it in such a depressing manner? To say to the audience that dreams can never come true, that happy endings don't exist? Listen to the theme song!!!
@DorisDayFanatic Well, it was a dose of reality for those of us who have miserable lives: Happy endings are nonexistent. No Laverne & Lenny; no Shirley & Carmine; no Frank & Edna; no Squiggy & Rhonda. None, zip, nada. Everyone's endings were just rushed or else splintered. Hell, they didn't even explain Lenny's exit! And Edna ran off with someone off camera!! We never even saw Shirley's husband! No explanation what happened to Laverne. So, happy endings simply don't happen - that's reality.
@DorisDayFanatic Doris, Name me ONE sitcom that ended happily. All in the Family? Edith died; Meathead ran out on Gloria. You see my point? L&S was the same - and the producers planned it that way from the start. I am convinced of that. They had advance warning that C. Williams was leaving the show; they chose to write her off in the most awkward manner imaginable nonetheless. And one day, Lenny was gone - POOF. Edna's was mentioned OFF CAMERA!! Don't tell me this was all accidental - it wasn't.
@Oceanpacifica1968 I Love Lucy. I Dream of Jeannie. Bewitched. The Golden Girls. The Nanny. The Dick van Dyke Show. The Brady Bunch. The Partridge Family. Everybody Loves Raymond. The Cosby Show. That Girl (no wedding, but an engagement would do.) There's 11 off the top of my head. Need more? And you know what? I'm getting really sick of arguing about this, and since neither one of us will change our opinion, let's agree to disagree on this issue. Okay?
@DorisDayFanatic ohhh no, you're not getting off that easy. (well, "getting off" in the sense that you won an argument, anyway.) The Brady Bunch, a happy ending?? Jan and her husband split up!! Bobby ended up paralyzed!! Greg and Peter hated each other!! And, Mike eventually died (well in real life he did, anyway). And how about "Dallas"?? They never had closure. Same with Three's Company - they ended on a blah episode intended for Jack to have a spinoff, a'la Carmen. DIDN'T FREAKING WORK!!!!
@DorisDayFanatic I'll forgive your ignorance on not seeing the post-Brady Bunch made-for-tv movies and the short-lived series, "The Brady's". However, I have to point out your ignorance. Bottom line, everyone's life is crappy. Mine sucks. I'm sure yours does too; otherwise, you wouldn't be on the internet late on a Friday night. So I win the argument on L&S - it was BETTER without Shirley, Lenny, and Edna. You got PWNED; ballgame over; veni vidi vici.
@Oceanpacifica1968 Actually, you're wrong. My life rocks...this might come as a blow to your ego, but it does. I'm moving in to college tomorrow. I have my whole life ahead of me, and I'll make damn sure that I don't screw it up and end up a sad, sorry son of a bitch like you. I will get my happy ending. If it does your ego good to say that you won this argument (I still disagree!), then be my guest. I bet it's the most excitement that you've had in weeks. I'm done talking to you. Goodbye.
@DorisDayFanatic Doris Day, well, let me tell you this. I am a 41-year old virgin. I have NEVER even kissed a girl. So, how's that for life supposedly being good, and grand, and all that crap? So you can take your high-and-mighty crap and go stuff it up your asshole, along with your Kotex or vibrators or whatever else you stick up there to stimulate your prostate pleasure. As for me, I hate the world; the whole world, and I'm glad the characters on L&S all ended up like me - alone and miserable.
I can see Laverne thinking "Where is Shirley" in that opening. During this show Marshall was a modern day Lucille Ball with her knack for physical comedy, but it wasn't the same without Williams (Shirley).
Does anyone notice that through all 8 seasons penny weres this black ring on her middle finger ITS ALWAYS ON HER FINGER even to this day i havent seen a shot without it on? anyone know why she has it on and where it came from
@filmwannabe2009 yes the other lady Cindy Williams aka Shirley did get pregnant she refused to work full time pregnant and ended up sueing the company they used Shirley getting married as a way to get her off the show
@starwberrycrazy1- it's acutall not the producers fault why Cindy aka shirley left the show- she got pregnant during the end of season 7 so they used her getting married and living over seas as a reason to get her off hope that helped :)
ALSO, what's ironic about the entire last season in general, they seemed to have Laverne doing screwball things that Lucille Ball did on all her shows-
What's so ironic about the very last episode, it didnt even FEATURE Laverne - it was about Carmine going to New York to audition for a production of "Hair" and he met up with a buddy who was auditioning for the same show - in the end, they both got parts -
During this show's final season, there was talk of changing the name of the show from "Laverne and Shirley" to "Laverne and Friends" and a different guest star would interact with Laverne every week - but unfortunately, this show was getting its butt whooped by NBC's "The A-Team" so it was only a matter of time before this show was cancelled-
Cindy Williams' absence, was explained when her character, got married and lived oversees. Cindy Williams, was pregnant so she wanted her hours adjusted but, it didn't happen. When Cindy left, Penny had gotten Cindy's salary and, Penny continued on until it was canceled in 1983.
@kduideo That was the one thing I didnt like about this show and "Happy Days" - even though the setting of both shows were supposed to be in the 50s and early 60s, the hairstyles never reflected that era - the boys' hairstyles were in that "feathered" look, and the girls had that "Farrah" hairstyle-
@kduideo NO, I am afraid I didn't catch that - but that's another good example, Loretta Swit always wore her hair in a 70s style, even though the setting of the show was in the Korean War (1950-1953)
when Carmine goes to NYC look for the EXTERIOR shot of the lady running. That is Marlos Thomas (THAT GIRL) also PAROMOUNT. They used that 5 second shot on L&S last show.
@kduideo THAT'S just the new ratings guide for all shows currently on the air - TV-G would mean that THAT particular show is ACCEPTABLE for all ages and audiences, whereas a show with a TV-MA rating would mean that THAT show is only acceptable for MATURE audiences-
The "TV G" was the rating indicating that the show is for all audiences to see. Shows with this rating contain no violence, graphic language, or anything else that would make the program unsuitable for people to watch.
@Matto2t & @kduideo "G" Means GENERAL audience.. Also In General as in OK for ALL (including Children) How Is something Unsuitable for PEOPLE to watch? The show Is made For PEOPLE.. LOL..
I noticed when Cindy Williams, aka Shirly, left the show, it didn't feel the same anymore. It's like having a Hambuger without the beef Pattie. Laverne try to hold it up as much as she could even with out her it just wasn't Laverne and Shirly anymore.
This depresses me for starters they should have Ended the show with Shirley marring Carmine :) Laverne and Shirley without Shirley is the stupidest thing in the world! I love Shirley she is so sweet and cute but no they had to ruin the show by sending them to California and to top it off continue without Shirley. Also Lenny to cause Lenny and squiggy are da
For starters,the series should've ended with Shirley's wedding. The show was just too empty,dull,and depressing with Laverne,more or less,all by herself. What's more,by insisting on going on,they could've at least shortened the title to "Laverne" and replaced or revamped the theme song. Left as they were,the title and theme song weren't in tune to the storyline of the show,still suggesting that there were two of them instead of now just one. Plus,the opening sequence there is kind of creepy!
I never watched this show before, it looks funny but even I think its sort of empty..... Where's the other lady? Pregnant? They could of had a series about taking caring of the baby?
Even more strange...the episode where Shirley reveals she's engaged has the final season open (with just Laverne in the credits, plus the kids) but the song from the open is that from the previous 2 seasons
cindy left the show because she was pregnant at the time. i remember watching the final season of that show. I think they did called it laverne on the final few episodes
It was the oddest thing - a show called Laverne & Shirley but there was no Shirley. Why didn't they just rename the show? But my personal opinion is it jumped the shark when they moved it to Hollywood and then it just slid further downhill the final season without Laverne.
I get it, Cindy Williams had a life and had things to take care of things but WHY is still called Laverne and Shirley??
Gleek16121 3 weeks ago
@Gleek16121 in syndication I believe they left the original title... while I heard during season 8 it was simply titled "Laverne".
Jantv81 3 weeks ago
@Jantv81 it was in some cities
kduideo 1 day ago
WORSE. SEASON. EVER
m1shima93 3 weeks ago
Shirley was raped and murdered by Lenny and Squiggy.
TheTomsterman 1 month ago
There is no such thing as making 'our' dreams come true when you've only got one person to achieve that goal. It's a shame that the show had to cease it's run with Laverne carrying it all by herself.
msteber88 1 month ago
Comment removed
kduideo 1 month ago
@msteber88 what about 2 and half men......You want me to go down the list of themes??
kduideo 3 weeks ago
After Cindy Williams left the series, it died!!
TheWetguy1973 1 month ago
wheres shirley! oh no! soo sad
gilmoregirls775753 1 month ago
More like just....Laverne
dan8889 1 month ago
I lost track of the series at the beginning of the eighties, but I wonder why did they still keep the name "Laverne & Shirley" without Shirley. Back then they could have replaced her with some other actor, i.e., the two Darren Stevens on Bewitched !!!
faulknerksa 1 month ago
eddie mekka and my neighbor dated for 2 years. :) He was short in height yet real nice!!!!
kduideo 1 month ago
I forgot Shirley left, and almost just cried...
Gleek16121 1 month ago
The should haved renamed the show
thehunterx1973 2 months ago
Man, they really milked this show 'til the death! This opening is just awkward! Cindy Williams is gone. Even though they are showing scenes with the rest of the cast, only David L. Lander's name is mentioned as a series regular after Peny Marshall. No Eddie Mekka, Phil Foster, Michael McKeon, or Leslie Easterbrook. And where the hell is Betty Garrett? Oh, and the show is still called "Laverne & Shirley", and there is no Shirley!
Aeolis7 2 months ago
@Aeolis7 Betty Garrett left the show in '81, a year before Cindy Williams did. On the show, Edna left Frank.
radrobd 2 months ago
@radrobd betty didnt leave....she said they didn't know what else to do with her character in an interview. You can find it on you tube...she past away now :(
kduideo 1 month ago
OMG THEY KICKED SHIRLEY OUT AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! o well thats reallllllly sad........ Then why did the keep the title???
arinori99 2 months ago
@arinori99
Cindy Williams thought the producers were using her real-life pregnancy to fire her. Ms. Williams sued Paramount and the dispute was eventually settled outside of court. I believe from that assumption, Cindy Williams refused to work on the show and Shirley was written out of the show as a result.
BrownBrother27 2 months ago
@BrownBrother27 haha i know that now i did some research on it after i found out cause i was bored but thank you anyways
arinori99 2 months ago
@BrownBrother27 If I remember correctly, Cindy called in sick a lot during her pregnancy. I think she also demanded less work for the same pay. The original plan was to incorporate Cindy's pregnancy into the show and have Shirley's husband go to war leaving a pregnant Shirley with Laverne, but due to the dispute between Cindy and the producers, Shirley was abruptly written out.
radrobd 2 months ago 2
i love da beginning wit da kids
kilolo1223 3 months ago
Penny looks great at 0:35
htruman 3 months ago
@htruman you should see her now..eghhhhh
tomyazvids 2 months ago
When Shirley left, I knew it was all over
DesotellRacing62 4 months ago
Penny Marshall looked so awkward at :35 in this opening. I agree there were still some funny episodes this season, but really the way the show was originally built and created and even was run into season 6 & 7 this was sad to see many many ways. I kind of wish that they might have either hired Lorrianne (sp?) Newman to play the character she played in the Death Row episode or had David Lander play dual roles of his character of Squindolyn (sp?) & given Laverne another friend & changed the
sneezyize 6 months ago
@sneezyize name of the show accordingly -- so at least part of the season 8 didn't look nearly as awkward.
sneezyize 6 months ago
@sneezyize When Cindy Williams left the show, ABC was going to re-title it, "Laverne and Friends", and have the Laverne character interact with a different guest star each week - but the show was already being killed in the ratings by NBC's "The A-Team", so it was only a matter of time before the show was canceled altogether-
christheone8773 6 months ago
@christheone8773 yeah, i remember the A-Team being the rage in 83. I was only 7 and all my friends and i watched it. The physical comedy between Laverne and Shirley is what made the show work. When Cindy left, that magic was gone. I'm sure the same happened when Ron Howard left HAPPY DAYS as well.
msmithstud 5 months ago
why can it just be titled "Laverne" .
trinakatbrewster 6 months ago
@trinakatbrewster I agree. I liked Laverne of the two anyway.
LBF522 6 months ago
@trinakatbrewster Good Point.
DR729er 5 months ago
some of the episodes from this season were still pretty funny, particularly THE MONASTERY SHOW when laverne checks into a convent and isn't allowed to talk.
msmithstud 6 months ago
This show definitely jumped the shark that season
vitoduval 6 months ago
@vitoduval
ha ha, know what u mean! ;-)
22ophelia 6 months ago
Those kids dressed too "1980's" looking instead of the 1960's
kduideo 7 months ago 2
@kduideo almost everyone did except lenny and squiggy who kept the 50's hairstyle even in the 60's. It was also hilarious to see some of the guys on this show and Happy Days wearing IZOD.
msmithstud 6 months ago
And just like Happy Days, the producers took very little, if any effort to make a period show look the period. Supposed to be 1967. The clothes and the hair styles look more like 1982.
mx94racer 7 months ago
@mx94racer I AGREE!!!!!!!!!!
kduideo 6 months ago
@mx94racer I noticed that they started doing that in their later seasons; the earlier seasons looked "authentic" lol
fivebearrugs 5 months ago
@fivebearrugs Yeah I was talking about the later seasons. You are right, the beginning of L&S and HD was more authentic.
mx94racer 4 months ago
@mx94racer HA in Dappy Days some of them had 70's hairdoos but they were supposed to be in the 50's
tomyazvids 2 months ago
@tomyazvids i always said that...Even MASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't forget the clothes and some of the glasses they wore.
kduideo 2 months ago
@mx94racer LOL!!!!!!!!!!!! I ALWAYS said that! Like MASH too!
kduideo 4 months ago
this season starts next week on the HUB channel.
msmithstud 7 months ago
I think they should have cancelled the show at the end of the season prior to this one.
MichaelBrookham 7 months ago
@MichaelBrookham i don't understand how they thought Laverne could make it on her own.
msmithstud 7 months ago
this last season was the most ridiculous one. glad I don't remember it.
aznsketcher 7 months ago
The producers who fired Cindy Williams must roast in TV hell FOREVER! Without Cindy it became a dying dinosaur so sad to watch. All non-Shirley episodes must be burned.
ajb1776 7 months ago 2
Cindy Williams left the show!!!......so she left Laverne!
DobabyR 7 months ago
@DobabyR :-(
22ophelia 6 months ago
Whoa... never saw this opening before.
JackFlanders 7 months ago
What's the episode called with her in the big blue dress?
NicolesChicMakeup 8 months ago
i can see why Shirley got pregnant
she was the cutest one
DoomCity202 8 months ago
I`m glad they didnt move the cunninghams (happy days) to ca. that would had been a disaster
TheMashwatcher585 8 months ago
it's would be the laverne show
luxioification 8 months ago
They should have just renamed the show "Laverne" since Shirley had left. It wasn't the same show without Shirley. It should have ended when they wrote her out.
arashcy 9 months ago
@arashcy i cant recall but I think they did rename Laverne the final few episodes
TheMashwatcher585 8 months ago
i think i just saw Dolly Parton!!! at 0:59!!
SpongeNickPants 9 months ago
@SpongeNickPants That is not Dolly!!
vikkisvintage 9 months ago
@vikkisvintage it's Callahan from Police Academy movies
msmithstud 9 months ago
where is SHIRLEY!!??? it just says Penny Marshall but i don't see Shirley!
SpongeNickPants 9 months ago
i read on Penny Marshall's IMDB page that producers wanted pregnant Cindy to work the week she was to deliver.
msmithstud 10 months ago
penny looked so fucking HOT
TheMashwatcher585 10 months ago
The show's title stayed "Laverne & Shirley" in the final season - I remember, because I watched it way back when on ABC. However, syndicated reruns in the early 80s were retitled "Laverne & Shirley & Company", to stand out from the first-runs on ABC. When the ABC run ended, the syndicated reruns reverted to the original title (Same thing happened with "Happy Days Again", "Jim Rockford, Private Investigator", etc.)
kbirdusa 10 months ago
@kbirdusa Same with "Three's Company" during its first run as well. It was called "Three's Company Too" in syndication.
MizNelson 10 months ago
@MizNelson i never knew that. I remember when L& S was on WGN in the 80's, it was titled LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY AND COMPANY. I could never figure out why the titled was changed. That was the last time i ever saw that title. I've never seen THREES COMPANY TOO before.
msmithstud 10 months ago
@msmithstud Because the show was still airing at night and they couldn't have the same title in syndication so they had to modify the title while it was still airing and in syndication at the same time.
larbear36 8 months ago
@kbirdusa And reruns of Hawaii Five-0 were simply titled "McGarrett" in some cases.
timhomer2009 9 months ago
@kbirdusa Strange... as I was watching this on YouTube, Henry Winkler was on TV in a OneReverse Mortgage commercial.
rchookie 9 months ago
This is not the same, Laverne without Shirley, like the Fonz without Richie from season 8-11.
TheCentennial 11 months ago 2
Thank you!
setev0416 11 months ago
The show wasn't as good anymore in the last season.least they could have done was change the title or maybe have more lenny and squiggy and Laverne getting married to someone (in my opinion,Lenny).At least a reunion movie that kinda would have finished it up
twin2ahwoo 1 year ago
Carmine-Shirley???? :( no!!
4everjesusily 1 year ago
I really have to hand it to Penny Marshall for trying to carry the show on her own - if this show wasnt scheduled opposite NBC's "The A-Team", this show would have had a fighting chance - but I guess ABC didn't want to move it around the schedule, and they just let the show die on its own-
christheone8773 1 year ago
Cindy wasn't fired. She quit. She felt that her on air pregnancy was being used to phase her off the show so she stormed off the set and sued for 20 million dollars. Personally I think it's a testament to the show's popularity that it actually went a whole last season without Shirley.
brnleague99 1 year ago
@brnleague99
Cindy Williams appeared in the first two episodes of the season. They married off her charchter to an unseen Mr. Meaney, making her Shirley Finey Meaney. What would have made more sense would have been to have her marry Carmine, but then they probably would have to write Eddie Mekka out of the show as well. It was also revealed in Cindy Williams final episode that Shirley was pregnant (as was Cindy Williams in real life).
Superbatfan 1 year ago
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During this show's final season, there was talk of changing the name of the show from "Laverne and Shirley" to "Laverne and Friends" and a different guest star would interact with Laverne every week - but unfortunately, this show was getting its butt whooped by NBC's "The A-Team" so it was only a matter of time before this show was cancelled-
christheone8773 1 year ago
Wow. It is just painful to watch those opening credits. Even in these credits it just seemed like Penny was not enjoying doing those awkward by herself moments there that were shot just for the opening here sans Cindy. I remember seeing Season 8 in reruns, it was just unwatchable. I don't get why they didn't just end the show after Cindy was fired/quiet whatever . 7 Seasons is a good run, Penny just looked miserable doing the Lucy routines on her own there. This is just bad TV all around.
RogersRoyal 1 year ago
This was always so funny to me! I can't believe they continued to do "Laverne and Shirley" WITHOUT Shirley! The least they could have done was re-titie it "Laverne" and change the theme song to a song about a woman making it on her own.
joycollector 1 year ago
@joycollector You make a valid point, but if the title of the show were to be renamed "Laverne" and then changing the theme song to a woman making it on her own, then everyone would claim that the format would be too similar to "Mary Tyler Moore" or "Alice"-
christheone8773 1 year ago
I'm confused...there is no stopping US...WE are gonna make the dream come true..doing it OUR way...There is nothing WE won't try...who is the we?? I only see one person!
setev0416 1 year ago 13
@setev0416 They just kept it that way, It's kinda like on 3's Company they kept Suzane Sommers in the opening and closing eventhough she was not in a lot of the episodes.
littlebit19801 11 months ago
@setev0416 if uve seen the other 7 seasons there was a character named shirley and she was in the opening credits with her cuz it starred them both but then she left the show this season..and the song at the beginning when the kids are singing is usually sung by the 2 girls
dannykinz2897 7 months ago
@setev0416 since this is the final season we mean laverne and scuigy
robloxiscoool302 6 months ago
There is no stopping US...WE are gonna that dream come true...we will do it OUR way...but there is only ONE of them left?!
setev0416 1 year ago
The very least jump the shark tool they could have used should have been to create a cousin for Shirley to come live with Laverne, did it on threes company, dukes of hazard, even on happy days too. It probably would have still sucked, but less akward for Penny Marshall and could have go 2 more season out of the show.
jred1975 1 year ago
Wow, I never knew that Cindy Williams had left the series; I'd just always thought it was Laverne and Shirley together for their whole run.
I agree; when Cindy was out, they should've either changed the title or canceled the show. Keeping it around when you've lost one of the principle cast members just proves to me that all the executives cared about was the money and didn't care one iota about tarnishing a great show like this.
NoInfringementIntent 1 year ago
@NoInfringementIntent THERE was talk of changing the title of the show to "Laverne and Friends" and have the Laverne character interact with a different guest star every week - but by the time THAT idea came about, this show was already being slammed opposite NBC's "The A-Team", so there went THAT idea-
christheone8773 1 year ago
Is it just me or does the set for Laverne's living room kind of resemble the set of Charlie Sheen's living room from the hit comedy, "Two & A Half Men?"
wlt777 1 year ago
I thought the same thing. It looks like Two And A Half Men's set.
Jagger1966 11 months ago
@Jagger1966 thank you. my husband loves two and a half men. every time i watch it, i think the same thing. that is laverne and shirley's door.
tranurse 11 months ago
@tranurse I did too!! "Men" show is canceled for the season! Sheen made comments about the producer and CBS/Warner pulled it!
kduideo 11 months ago
The California seasons were bad enough. But Laverne without Shirley was just terrible.
antonzap 1 year ago
@antonzap ITA! I don't know what the writers and producers were thinking when they were trying to continue the show without one of it's main characters!............Apparently they thought the viewers were too stupid to realize that the title for the show, "Laverne & Shirley", no longer applied!
wlt777 1 year ago
It really started downhill once they left Milwaukee, IMHO. But the last season was just unwatchable for me. Laverne was in too many ridiculous situations by this time. I wonder why "Squiggy" got star billing in the intro but not "Lenny"? Perhaps David L. Lander had a better agent? Still makes me feel old since I remember watching this series when it was new.
storrs19 1 year ago
i thought they just called the show "Laverne" in the final season?
Disneydanny 1 year ago
where the HELL is SHIRELY?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Danie201 1 year ago 2
@Danie201 she left cos she had a baby
svhwdwnut 1 year ago
It should have been called, "Laverne and ......"
at90percent 1 year ago 2
David Hofstede mentioned the final season of L&S in his book "What Were They Thinking: The 100 Dumbest Events in Television History".
rjflesher 1 year ago
hahahaha, oh my gosh this is SO bizarre. i totally forgot they actually went an entire season without shirley. and having Squiggy without Lenny but showing Lenny. this is insane.
rawoctopus 1 year ago
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I suspect there's some legalities involved here.Perhaps Penny was required to give the network 1 more season whether Cindy left or not+the producers mightve been required to keep the Laverne and Shirley title even w/only Penny left.
66buff 1 year ago
I suspect there's some legalities involved here.Perhaps Penny was required to give the network 1 more season whether Cindy left or not+the producers mightve been required to keep the Laverne and Shirley title even with only 1/2 the comedy team left.
66buff 1 year ago
At this point the show was known as "The Incredible Shrinking Ensemble". I know why Cindy left, and Betty Garrett left to do a play or something, but why did Michael McKean leave? That was a few years before "Spinal Tap", I believe.
KnowWhatIThink 1 year ago
@KnowWhatIThink
No, he was indeed shooting "Spinal Tap" during this time, but did manage to squeeze in a few guest appearences (and was billed as a "Special Guest Star" in those episodes).
vjmlhds 1 year ago
at tbbathat 43 she left the show because she was pregnant
carmesundae 1 year ago
@carmesundae I agree
CommercialTVBuff 11 months ago
For me this is very sad to watch. When Shirley left they should of cancelled the show immediately. It was literally butchered in half after she was gone. They should of renamed it THE PENNY MARSHALL SHOW or something like that. What's a show called LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY with one of them gone?
briansky10 1 year ago
where is shirley? why did she leave??
daniel83baez 1 year ago
@daniel83baez
The actress that played her got pregmant and they did not want to build her pregnency into the story. And so they handles it by having her marry a military doctor who had to take an overseas assignment.
Smartboy8877 1 year ago
@daniel83baez Cindy Williams, left the show because, she got married and got pregnant.
CommercialTVBuff 11 months ago
Why couldn't they just change the name of the show to "Laverne"
kc86er 1 year ago
@kc86er I had read somewhere (maybe it was just an old Enquirer), that had the series continued, they were going to move Laverne to Brooklyn (where the DeFazio family came from) and retitle the series "Laverne & Company". Mercifully, it never came to that. Also, they didn't exactly fire Cindy Williams just because she was pregnant. When she became pregnant, she had asked for either a reduced work week or to be written out of every few episodes. The producers said no. She walked - they fired.
KnowWhatIThink 1 year ago
They coulda had Carmine marry Shirley; Lenny marry Laverne; her dad marry Edna, and maybe even found a love interest for Squiggy. But they deliberately chose not to have a happy ending, since happy endings so rarely happen in real life.
Oceanpacifica1968 1 year ago
@Oceanpacifica1968 Squiggy could have married Rhonda. And I completely disagree!! They did NOT DELIBERATELY choose not to have a happy ending - the show fell apart gradually as each actor left unexpectedly for different reasons. Laverne and Shirley was a show about MAKING YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE - why would they choose to end it in such a depressing manner? To say to the audience that dreams can never come true, that happy endings don't exist? Listen to the theme song!!!
DorisDayFanatic 1 year ago
@DorisDayFanatic Well, it was a dose of reality for those of us who have miserable lives: Happy endings are nonexistent. No Laverne & Lenny; no Shirley & Carmine; no Frank & Edna; no Squiggy & Rhonda. None, zip, nada. Everyone's endings were just rushed or else splintered. Hell, they didn't even explain Lenny's exit! And Edna ran off with someone off camera!! We never even saw Shirley's husband! No explanation what happened to Laverne. So, happy endings simply don't happen - that's reality.
Oceanpacifica1968 1 year ago
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DorisDayFanatic 1 year ago
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DorisDayFanatic 1 year ago
@DorisDayFanatic Doris, Name me ONE sitcom that ended happily. All in the Family? Edith died; Meathead ran out on Gloria. You see my point? L&S was the same - and the producers planned it that way from the start. I am convinced of that. They had advance warning that C. Williams was leaving the show; they chose to write her off in the most awkward manner imaginable nonetheless. And one day, Lenny was gone - POOF. Edna's was mentioned OFF CAMERA!! Don't tell me this was all accidental - it wasn't.
Oceanpacifica1968 1 year ago
@Oceanpacifica1968 I Love Lucy. I Dream of Jeannie. Bewitched. The Golden Girls. The Nanny. The Dick van Dyke Show. The Brady Bunch. The Partridge Family. Everybody Loves Raymond. The Cosby Show. That Girl (no wedding, but an engagement would do.) There's 11 off the top of my head. Need more? And you know what? I'm getting really sick of arguing about this, and since neither one of us will change our opinion, let's agree to disagree on this issue. Okay?
DorisDayFanatic 1 year ago
@DorisDayFanatic ohhh no, you're not getting off that easy. (well, "getting off" in the sense that you won an argument, anyway.) The Brady Bunch, a happy ending?? Jan and her husband split up!! Bobby ended up paralyzed!! Greg and Peter hated each other!! And, Mike eventually died (well in real life he did, anyway). And how about "Dallas"?? They never had closure. Same with Three's Company - they ended on a blah episode intended for Jack to have a spinoff, a'la Carmen. DIDN'T FREAKING WORK!!!!
Oceanpacifica1968 1 year ago
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DorisDayFanatic 1 year ago
@DorisDayFanatic I'll forgive your ignorance on not seeing the post-Brady Bunch made-for-tv movies and the short-lived series, "The Brady's". However, I have to point out your ignorance. Bottom line, everyone's life is crappy. Mine sucks. I'm sure yours does too; otherwise, you wouldn't be on the internet late on a Friday night. So I win the argument on L&S - it was BETTER without Shirley, Lenny, and Edna. You got PWNED; ballgame over; veni vidi vici.
Oceanpacifica1968 1 year ago
@Oceanpacifica1968 Actually, you're wrong. My life rocks...this might come as a blow to your ego, but it does. I'm moving in to college tomorrow. I have my whole life ahead of me, and I'll make damn sure that I don't screw it up and end up a sad, sorry son of a bitch like you. I will get my happy ending. If it does your ego good to say that you won this argument (I still disagree!), then be my guest. I bet it's the most excitement that you've had in weeks. I'm done talking to you. Goodbye.
DorisDayFanatic 1 year ago
@DorisDayFanatic Doris Day, well, let me tell you this. I am a 41-year old virgin. I have NEVER even kissed a girl. So, how's that for life supposedly being good, and grand, and all that crap? So you can take your high-and-mighty crap and go stuff it up your asshole, along with your Kotex or vibrators or whatever else you stick up there to stimulate your prostate pleasure. As for me, I hate the world; the whole world, and I'm glad the characters on L&S all ended up like me - alone and miserable.
Oceanpacifica1968 1 year ago
@Oceanpacifica1968 Wow, man...TMI.
DorisDayFanatic 1 year ago
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Oceanpacifica1968 1 year ago
@DorisDayFanatic The best season. I have no idea why the ratings tanked during this year. Fair-weather fans.
Oceanpacifica1968 1 year ago
i cant believe it made it this fair its not the same without the two of them there a team!:.(
milacrzy 1 year ago
Laverne's hair started to look more stylish here!
snoopy64116 1 year ago
That backround was also used on happy days in later yrs.
kduideo 1 year ago
I can see Laverne thinking "Where is Shirley" in that opening. During this show Marshall was a modern day Lucille Ball with her knack for physical comedy, but it wasn't the same without Williams (Shirley).
fjccommish 1 year ago
Does anyone notice that through all 8 seasons penny weres this black ring on her middle finger ITS ALWAYS ON HER FINGER even to this day i havent seen a shot without it on? anyone know why she has it on and where it came from
tahitisweetie61496 1 year ago
@filmwannabe2009 yes the other lady Cindy Williams aka Shirley did get pregnant she refused to work full time pregnant and ended up sueing the company they used Shirley getting married as a way to get her off the show
tahitisweetie61496 1 year ago
@starwberrycrazy1- it's acutall not the producers fault why Cindy aka shirley left the show- she got pregnant during the end of season 7 so they used her getting married and living over seas as a reason to get her off hope that helped :)
tahitisweetie61496 1 year ago
The producer was Penny Marshall's (Laverne's) brother in real life, so he was obviously siding with her.
Oceanpacifica1968 1 year ago
ALSO, what's ironic about the entire last season in general, they seemed to have Laverne doing screwball things that Lucille Ball did on all her shows-
christheone8773 1 year ago
What's so ironic about the very last episode, it didnt even FEATURE Laverne - it was about Carmine going to New York to audition for a production of "Hair" and he met up with a buddy who was auditioning for the same show - in the end, they both got parts -
christheone8773 1 year ago
During this show's final season, there was talk of changing the name of the show from "Laverne and Shirley" to "Laverne and Friends" and a different guest star would interact with Laverne every week - but unfortunately, this show was getting its butt whooped by NBC's "The A-Team" so it was only a matter of time before this show was cancelled-
christheone8773 1 year ago
They should have just called the show "Laverne" after cindy left
rats9001 1 year ago
Cindy Williams' absence, was explained when her character, got married and lived oversees. Cindy Williams, was pregnant so she wanted her hours adjusted but, it didn't happen. When Cindy left, Penny had gotten Cindy's salary and, Penny continued on until it was canceled in 1983.
FilmNMusicBuff77 1 year ago
The title of this show became rather pointless when Cindy Williams left the series.....
Yet another example of tv executives not knowing when a show has been on the air too long.......
woohooboy 1 year ago
what an incredibly stupid shot.
spoilermdc 1 year ago
It was okay but looked too 80's,like Happy Days.....Penny still tried.
kduideo 1 year ago
@kduideo That was the one thing I didnt like about this show and "Happy Days" - even though the setting of both shows were supposed to be in the 50s and early 60s, the hairstyles never reflected that era - the boys' hairstyles were in that "feathered" look, and the girls had that "Farrah" hairstyle-
christheone8773 1 year ago
Oh I agree just like on MASH with HOT LIPS. BTW did you see the big blopper in the last scene in the final episode????
kduideo 1 year ago
@kduideo NO, I am afraid I didn't catch that - but that's another good example, Loretta Swit always wore her hair in a 70s style, even though the setting of the show was in the Korean War (1950-1953)
christheone8773 1 year ago
when Carmine goes to NYC look for the EXTERIOR shot of the lady running. That is Marlos Thomas (THAT GIRL) also PAROMOUNT. They used that 5 second shot on L&S last show.
kduideo 1 year ago
this is so depressing just to watch the opening now
otherjoe1234 1 year ago
I read that they had Edna leave Frank! I've never seen that storyline! I can't imagine him not falling into a deep depression after such a thing!
snoopy64116 1 year ago
This is unsettling in so many more ways than I care to count..lol
schisma19537 1 year ago
exactly, why was still called Laverne and Shirley if Shirley left?
tedtug 1 year ago
no comment
kduideo 1 year ago
Those little kids wouldn't sing that yiddish thing.
Mprator 1 year ago
Yes they would....for money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
kduideo 1 year ago
IN THE OPENING CORNER....WHAT DID THAT TV G MEAN??? Sorry was in school getting educated....not watch tv.....
kduideo 1 year ago
@kduideo THAT'S just the new ratings guide for all shows currently on the air - TV-G would mean that THAT particular show is ACCEPTABLE for all ages and audiences, whereas a show with a TV-MA rating would mean that THAT show is only acceptable for MATURE audiences-
christheone8773 1 year ago
@kduideo
The "TV G" was the rating indicating that the show is for all audiences to see. Shows with this rating contain no violence, graphic language, or anything else that would make the program unsuitable for people to watch.
Matto2t 1 year ago
@Matto2t & @kduideo "G" Means GENERAL audience.. Also In General as in OK for ALL (including Children) How Is something Unsuitable for PEOPLE to watch? The show Is made For PEOPLE.. LOL..
ynnhojhairam 1 year ago
Fail.
Russkafin 1 year ago
I noticed when Cindy Williams, aka Shirly, left the show, it didn't feel the same anymore. It's like having a Hambuger without the beef Pattie. Laverne try to hold it up as much as she could even with out her it just wasn't Laverne and Shirly anymore.
Theshark15z 1 year ago
This depresses me for starters they should have Ended the show with Shirley marring Carmine :) Laverne and Shirley without Shirley is the stupidest thing in the world! I love Shirley she is so sweet and cute but no they had to ruin the show by sending them to California and to top it off continue without Shirley. Also Lenny to cause Lenny and squiggy are da
Bomb!
strawberrycrazy1 1 year ago
They should have ended it instead of going on into the 60's on the show.
ArtistWriterEditor 1 year ago
@ArtistWriterEditor I think that when the show ended in 1983, the setting of the show stopped at 1967-
christheone8773 1 year ago
For starters,the series should've ended with Shirley's wedding. The show was just too empty,dull,and depressing with Laverne,more or less,all by herself. What's more,by insisting on going on,they could've at least shortened the title to "Laverne" and replaced or revamped the theme song. Left as they were,the title and theme song weren't in tune to the storyline of the show,still suggesting that there were two of them instead of now just one. Plus,the opening sequence there is kind of creepy!
05steelersrule08 1 year ago 6
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05steelersrule08 1 year ago
Laverne dressed as a Valkyrie? What season and episode was that?
solmonhut 1 year ago
I never watched this show before, it looks funny but even I think its sort of empty..... Where's the other lady? Pregnant? They could of had a series about taking caring of the baby?
filmwannabe2009 1 year ago
@filmwannabe2009 Cindy (Shirley) refused to work full time while she was pregnant and that's what they wanted. She walked off set and sued the show.
ArtistWriterEditor 1 year ago
Even more strange...the episode where Shirley reveals she's engaged has the final season open (with just Laverne in the credits, plus the kids) but the song from the open is that from the previous 2 seasons
catnap1972 1 year ago
cindy left the show because she was pregnant at the time. i remember watching the final season of that show. I think they did called it laverne on the final few episodes
TheMashwatcher585 1 year ago
Its like Shirley's dead in these final credits,if they were gonna do a series without Shirley,should have called it Laverne.
dramaticguy 1 year ago
It was the oddest thing - a show called Laverne & Shirley but there was no Shirley. Why didn't they just rename the show? But my personal opinion is it jumped the shark when they moved it to Hollywood and then it just slid further downhill the final season without Laverne.
IndyJDguy 1 year ago 2
cos many of the cast is from new york! fab show!! no milk & pepsi 4 me! milk yes but not together!
svhwdwnut 1 year ago
I'm a new fan of Laverne and Shirley, It's set in Milwaukee right? Why most of the cast got New York accents?
Tabitha43 1 year ago