May 10th, 1983 - The last episode of "Laverne & Shirley" aired on ABC

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and sad to say, it went out with a wimper rather than a bang. For a show that started so strong, even becoming the #1 show in all of TV. The last episode is pretty forgettable. It's a backdoor pilot for a Carmine spin-off (a character they ought to have left behind in Milwaukee) going to become a star on Broadway. Laverne only appears in the opening scene, and no mention of Shirley.

A show that went from riches to rags.:(

So sad to see such a once terrific show limp out with little fanfare. I really wish that TPTB had been able to give the fans a real finale.

It was really a shame that L&S was killed by the ego battles of its two stars, because supposedly Penny & Cindy had been friends before the show and had done some work together.

In a way, though, I can see Cindy Williams' side of the issue. The show was a Marshall family production and I can see where she'd feel that her side of things might not be taken into consideration.

and sad to say, it went out with a wimper rather than a bang. For a show that started so strong, even becoming the #1 show in all of TV. The last episode is pretty forgettable. It's a backdoor pilot for a Carmine spin-off (a character they ought to have left behind in Milwaukee) going to become a star on Broadway. Laverne only appears in the opening scene, and no mention of Shirley.


Wow never knew that, so the last episode was truly the New End-lol

It was really a shame that L&S was killed by the ego battles of its two stars, because supposedly Penny & Cindy had been friends before the show and had done some work together.

In a way, though, I can see Cindy Williams' side of the issue. The show was a Marshall family production and I can see where she'd feel that her side of things might not be taken into consideration.

I agree, I wish that they had both been more professional. That being said, I can imagine present-day Cindy Williams traveling back in time to talk to her 1983 counterpart and saying, "Suck it up! Penny is going to have an awesome directing career when this is over and you're going to be doing a lot of theater. In the Midwest. And Canada. See where I'm going with this?"
;)

I don't think I ever saw the last show. I missed quite a few that last season. Sad.

I don't think I ever saw the last show. I missed quite a few that last season. Sad.

You really didn't miss much. I adored the show and it was pretty painful to watch the decline. No Cindy Williams or Betty Garrett and very little Penny Marshall and Michael McKean. Far too much Phil Foster, David Lander, Eddie Mekka, and Leslie Easterbrook. And Charles Fleischer (shudder).

and sad to say, it went out with a wimper rather than a bang. For a show that started so strong, even becoming the #1 show in all of TV. The last episode is pretty forgettable. It's a backdoor pilot for a Carmine spin-off (a character they ought to have left behind in Milwaukee) going to become a star on Broadway. Laverne only appears in the opening scene, and no mention of Shirley.


That was the final episode?? I've never seen it. I mean if they were going to end the series maybe they should have just had Laverne do a flashback episode or something.

Laverne only appears in the opening scene, ...

I thought Laverne didn't appear until about the 10-minute mark on that inflatable tube.

Far too much ... Charles Fleischer (shudder).

Charles who?

:confused:

I used to watch this when it was in its broadcast time and have started watching it again now it's on Me-TV (I watched it when it was on Nick At Nite too). I've found myself getting very bored once it went to California and unwatchable when Williams left. I probably never seen the finale because by then I wasn't watching, nor was I when the reruns today start getting into the California episodes.

I saw the last episode on the Hub last week. Wow, painfully bad. I did like Laverne on the raft in her house but man that stunk. Way too much Carmine and Rick.

I get the feeling that Garry Marshall and company didn't have a concrete exit strategy (i.e. a real plan for how the show could end) going into their eighth year. When Cindy Marshall became pregnant and subsequently left the show that naturally threw the production a curve-ball. It soon became extremely apparent that Penny Marshall didn't have what it took to carry the show by herself (it didn't help that the show was still called Laverne & Shirley even though Shirley would be gone after two episodes into Season 8).

Cindy Williams said in one interview that the plan was to rename the show "Laverne and Company". She was no longer watching the show, so she wasn't even aware that that never happened.

I wonder if L&S could've somewhat salvaged Cindy Williams' departure in Season 8 if they had a stronger supporting cast. You can make the argument that other than Lenny and Squiggy (or Squiggy for most of the last season as Michael McKean was MIA for the most part). Think about it this way, Carmine, Edna, and Frank could have disappeared anytime (instead of decidedly funnier and quirkier characters like Mrs. Havenwurst, Big Rosie, Hector, and other former members of the Angora Debs) throughout the run and I doubt most people would even notice. Also, Carmine always when you got right down to it, felt like some kind of extension of Shirley (instead of really standing out on his own) and was always just there.

It seems I'm in the minority, but I loved the California episodes.

It seems I'm in the minority, but I loved the California episodes.

why

It seems I'm in the minority, but I loved the California episodes.

There were some good California episodes, especially in Season 6. Season 7 was a bit rough, and Season 8 was straight up painful to watch.

Penny said in an interview sometime in the last 10 years or so (sorry, if I had the link I would post it) that she had only agreed to do a 9th season if they relocated the show to New York, which was the original plan for Season 6; but the network canceled the show instead.

Thank heavens for fanfiction!

There were some good California episodes, especially in Season 6. Season 7 was a bit rough, and Season 8 was straight up painful to watch.

Penny said in an interview sometime in the last 10 years or so (sorry, if I had the link I would post it) that she had only agreed to do a 9th season if they relocated the show to New York, which was the original plan for Season 6; but the network canceled the show instead.

Thank heavens for fanfiction!

Shirley's hairstyle stood out during the california era

Shirley's hairstyle stood out during the california era

Not always for the best. I think it was in S6 or S7 that she tried to go lighter, and it reminded me of my own youthful mishaps with Sun-In, LOL.

Cindy Williams is such a lovely brunette; it always saddened me to see her try to go blonder or redder.

Not always for the best. I think it was in S6 or S7 that she tried to go lighter, and it reminded me of my own youthful mishaps with Sun-In, LOL.

Cindy Williams is such a lovely brunette; it always saddened me to see her try to go blonder or redder.

I like that it was longer

I like that it was longer

Longer hair did look cute on her.

You HAVE to see Cindy when she did an episode of Cannon (in 1974). Gorgeous long hair, and it suited her incredibly well.

I was about to finish high school when L & S ended. Sort of like the end of childhood. I had spent some years doing my homework in front of the TV while the Happy Days / L & S hour played out.

Longer hair did look cute on her.

That's why I can watch the california eps more

The show was getting stale but OMG moving to CA made it officially jump the shark. They had some interest in the beginning to see the show with a different back drop but OMG.
This show like Threes Company and other 70s shows that entered the early 80s really struggled. The very fashionable 80s were here and these struggling women were now wearing designer clothes, new hair cuts, paying for a nice apt, and having dead end jobs. I hated the Rhonda character. So fake and over the top. OMG the scripts were so bad in the last season. Wasnt there a show about Carmine's dance being involved with the CIA or something. Laverne robbing a bank unknowingly. The KGB kidnapping Squiggy. It was beyond ridiculous. The show should have ended on top, and went out with a 2 part goodbye at their old apartment.

Also, Cindy had an attitude. Yes it was Penny's family show but Cindy was a serious movie star and when she accepted to play Shirley, it was a step down those days to do a TV show. But she always thought she was the star of the show because of her credentials. She never considered Penny as her equal.

You HAVE to see Cindy when she did an episode of Cannon (in 1974). Gorgeous long hair, and it suited her incredibly well.

I was about to finish high school when L & S ended. Sort of like the end of childhood. I had spent some years doing my homework in front of the TV while the Happy Days / L & S hour played out.

Can you get a picture of her with long hair?

Can you get a picture of her with long hair?

https://static.tvmaze.com/uploads/images/medium_portrait/179/448266.jpg

I used to watch this when it was in its broadcast time and have started watching it again now it's on Me-TV (I watched it when it was on Nick At Nite too). I've found myself getting very bored once it went to California and unwatchable when Williams left. I probably never seen the finale because by then I wasn't watching, nor was I when the reruns today start getting into the California episodes.

The last episode was essentially a backdoor pilot for a Carmine centered spin-off:
G_h6QEWHLPs

These are the final minutes from "Here Today, Hair Tomorrow" (https://happydays.fandom.com/wiki/Here_Today,_Hair_Tomorrow), the 22nd and (https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=laverne&p=4&item=B:63693) final episode (https://www.facebook.com/gettv/posts/the-final-episode-of-laverne-shirley-aired-37-years-ago-tonight-may-10-1983she-w/1628359583983232/)(178th overall) from the eighth-and final-season of ABC's monster 1976-83 "Happy Days" spinoff "Laverne & Shirley". The episode originally aired (http://tvtango.com/listings/1983/05/10/laverne_and_shirley) on Tuesday, May 10, 1983.

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZmI4NGRjMDAtYWU3NS00OWYzLTlkM2YtOTc5YTJkY2Y0MzlkXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzc2NjM4OTE@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg

This was supposed to serve as a backdoor pilot (https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/laverne-shirley-finale-was-a-backdoor-pilot.html/) for a spin-off featuring longtime cast member Eddie Mekka (https://books.google.com/books?id=UpucCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA226&lpg=PA226&dq=laverne+and+shirley+cancelled+1983+abc&source=bl&ots=m_5KYYWeiW&sig=ACfU3U1lY9AxkoIWEG6zcy5p2tdB-inWPA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjUl7DQo4j9AhV6kmoFHbcUDag4ChDoAXoECAIQAw)'s character, Carmine Ragusa, and his new life as an actor in 1960s New York City.

IMO, this was a terrible way for a show of this caliber to end (https://twitter.com/killer_kitsch/status/994708965526208512?lang=en), as Laverne was only seen in bookend scenes on this episode, and Shirley, by this time, had gotten married and moved away (Cindy Williams departed the show early in the 8th season (https://jacksonupperco.com/2021/11/23/the-six-best-laverne-shirley-episodes-of-season-eight/) when this aired). This was no longer (https://www.metv.com/stories/the-a-teams-popularity-caused-happy-days-and-laverne-shirleys-ratings-to-drop) the show that had captured the hearts of working class America when it debuted in 1976.

After this episode aired, combined with the departures of Williams and longtime co-star Michael McKean (Lenny Kosnowski), as well as Penny Marshall's reluctance to continue by herself and low ratings, ABC put it out of its misery and cancelled (https://www.nytimes.com/1983/05/05/arts/bette-davis-joins-abc-s-fall-lineup.html) "Laverne & Shirley".

I wrote a piece on this 5 years ago, I'm not so sure the final episode was a back door pilot, it may have crossed Garry Marshall's mind but I don't ABC would have greenlighted the idea. Garry may have decided to go with it anyhow as an interesting way to wind up the series.

The episode of course is somewhat anticlimactic to begin with, Penny Marshall could almost be listed as special guest appearance by, in spite of being the star. The show is devoid of Shirley, Lenny, Squiggy, Edna, basically a ghost ship pulling into port. What we are left with is Carmine.

As we head off to New York with Carmine, what we see as the rest of the episode unfolds is not a start, but the conclusion of Carmine's story. He is in fact an instant success making friends, getting a part in a landmark Broadway play, finding an apartment (not exactly the Ritz but it's a start) and the episode closes with a big musical number. The only new character introduced is played by Ben Powers (with all due respect a career supporting actor). I always thought of Carmine as a low rent Fonzie, the character wasn't interesting enough, and actor playing him (Eddie Mekka) lacked the charisma to take the character to the next level. It's hard to imagine anyone would have seriously considered this character or the actor playing him as having the potential for a spin off series.
The musical number performed at the end of the show was Aquarius, it was almost symbolic in a way, a farewell to the era that the series covered by welcoming in a new era.

I haven't seen that episode in some years.

Is it possible that Marshall earlier had produced a Carmine pilot that didn't sell, and decided to toss it in -- or partial footage from it -- for the finale of L & S, since the series was ending anyway?

If so, it's a different case from a back-door pilot produced in hopes it would be picked up for a new series -- it would be just mopping up with a rejected film already in the can.

The last episode was essentially a backdoor pilot for a Carmine centered spin-off:
G_h6QEWHLPs

Before the cancellation, Penny Marshall was offered one more season by the network. I think she realized the show was creatively dead and there was a skeleton crew of a cast left (Betty Garrett, Cindy Williams, & Michael McKean having all departed by this point).

I imagine all the backstage drama had probably burned Penny out as well.

The series went out with a whimper, not a grand finale, so it's just as well the show ended.

Yes, Penny Marshall mentioned it in an interview. She said that she would only do a 9th season if the show would have moved to New York. Since they didn't want to invest in that, the show was canceled. Penny Marshall was happy with that decision though because she really didn't even want to do an 8th season, which she was bullied into doing.

Before the cancellation, Penny Marshall was offered one more season by the network. I think she realized the show was creatively dead and there was a skeleton crew of a cast left (Betty Garrett, Cindy Williams, & Michael McKean having all departed by this point).

I imagine all the backstage drama had probably burned Penny out as well.

The series went out with a whimper, not a grand finale, so it's just as well the show ended.

So in other words, Laverne & Shirley was deadlocked out of a proper sendoff by ABC.

So in other words, Laverne & Shirley was deadlocked out of a proper sendoff by ABC.

I wonder if there was ever any consideration to bring any one of the Laverne & Shirley cast members over to Happy Days as a means of providing that show some proper closure? Granted, I don't know how that would've worked considering that Laverne & Shirley was by the end of its run (https://www.facebook.com/gettv/photos/a.275300759289128/1628359583983232/?type=3), located in California while Happy Days was still set in Wisconsin. But still, Happy Days did last one more year after Laverne & Shirley (https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/laverne-shirley-finale-was-a-backdoor-pilot.html/) mercifully ended (https://twitter.com/RetroNewsNow/status/1656493462122897409).

qOT2oMm0mMg

It all comes down to this. When Frank and Rhonda realize that Carmine has broken up with his girlfriend, turned off his utilities, and quit his job they fear the worst. But Carmine confesses to them that he's decided to leave California for busier pastures; the isle of Manhattan and the chance to be on Broadway. With the support of his friends and all of Laverne's waterbed money, he heads for New York. There, he auditions for a new musical called "Hair" and meets Rick West, a wise, quick-talking, but still struggling and unemployed fellow actor who becomes a fast friend. The two make it to the callbacks, but will they overcome the jitters and get a chance to join the Age of Aquarius?!

On pod, we talk the strangely unLaverne & Shirley (https://www.google.com/search?q=Laverne+%26+Shirley&sca_esv=23430e1df8f38b82&sca_upv=1&sxsrf=ADLYWIIxlxND5PjnaNh5AWjNTdMVcn9Xdg%3A1720341612128&source=lnt&tbs=bkt%3As%2Ccdr%3A1%2Ccd_min%3A1%2F1%2F1983%2Ccd_max%3A12%2F31%2F1983&tbm=bks) finale to Laverne & Shirley, the folks behind and in front of the camera, and reflect on the time spent over 3 and a half years reviewing all 178 episodes of the show.

What an odd ending. Was this to be a spin off? The show should have ended with Shirley announcing that she's pregnant and moves away.

The ranking for that Finale below

May 10th, 1983 - The last episode of "Laverne & Shirley" aired on ABCYes it was very sad.......... This was a good show!!! (Still IS in my opinion)

Yes it was very sad.......... This was a good show!!! (Still IS in my opinion)

I agree it was a good show for the first 5 seasons. Moving to California really didn't work well.

Ya I suppose thats why it ended.....

Earlier today, over at this thread (https://sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=426809), I posted a breakdown (https://sitcomsonline.com/boards/showpost.php?p=6456835&postcount=7) of the ratings for the final original airings of Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley for the 1982-83 broadcast season in comparison to those of The A-Team. According to TVTango, L&S's penultimate episode, "Councilman DeFazio", had an 11.3 household rating and 18 share, and a previous post by TVFactFan, the final-ever episode, "Here Today, Hair Tomorrow", had an 11.4 rating and 19 share. This had me remarking that Laverne & Shirley died on a series low.

Who else wishes the "Councilman DeFazio" and "Here Today, Hair Tomorrow" episodes had been swapped out in favor of a one-hour farewell episode on May 10, 1983, however cliched it would have been? I'm not sure if the timing of Cindy Williams's pregnancy and childbirth would prevent her from returning for any such hypothetical series finale. According to the Laverne & Shirley Production Guide (https://sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=358601), the eighth season of L&S wrapped production on December 13, 1982, with "How's Your Sister?" (which aired March 1, 1983). Given that L&S's average rating for 1982-83 was a 17.8, would any real/proper series finale for L&S have beaten The A-Team's first season finale (which had an 18.8 rating and 32 share)?

At a minimum, Laverne should have gotten a happy ending by the last episode... the whole theme song is "Making our dreams come true" and Shirley got hers by getting married earlier that season. Laverne deserved something too.

Earlier today, over at this thread (https://sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=426809), I posted a breakdown (https://sitcomsonline.com/boards/showpost.php?p=6456835&postcount=7) of the ratings for the final original airings of Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley for the 1982-83 broadcast season in comparison to those of The A-Team. According to TVTango, L&S's penultimate episode, "Councilman DeFazio", had an 11.3 household rating and 18 share, and a previous post by TVFactFan, the final-ever episode, "Here Today, Hair Tomorrow", had an 11.4 rating and 19 share. This had me remarking that Laverne & Shirley died on a series low.

Who else wishes the "Councilman DeFazio" and "Here Today, Hair Tomorrow" episodes had been swapped out in favor of a one-hour farewell episode on May 10, 1983, however cliched it would have been? I'm not sure if the timing of Cindy Williams's pregnancy and childbirth would prevent her from returning for any such hypothetical series finale. According to the Laverne & Shirley Production Guide (https://sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=358601), the eighth season of L&S wrapped production on December 13, 1982, with "How's Your Sister?" (which aired March 1, 1983). Given that L&S's average rating for 1982-83 was a 17.8, would any real/proper series finale for L&S have beaten The A-Team's first season finale (which had an 18.8 rating and 32 share)?

Even if Cindy Williams' pregnancy situation allowed for it, it's doubtful she would have returned, much less been asked to. The very public war between Cindy and the studio would likely have had the studio standing firm and not having her back. They probably would have wanted to make an example of her for publicly airing her side of the feud.

Of course, this is all speculation on my part, but given the way studios treated women who spoke out and stood up for themselves (remember the Suzanne Somers thing from a couple of years prior to this?), I don't think it's an implausible scenario.

Even if Cindy Williams' pregnancy situation allowed for it, it's doubtful she would have returned, much less been asked to. The very public war between Cindy and the studio would likely have had the studio standing firm and not having her back. They probably would have wanted to make an example of her for publicly airing her side of the feud.

Of course, this is all speculation on my part, but given the way studios treated women who spoke out and stood up for themselves (remember the Suzanne Somers thing from a couple of years prior to this?), I don't think it's an implausible scenario.

Just another reason why I see Laverne & Shirley being cancelled with no real finale like Happy Days did the following year as "deadlock" (the first reason being ABC turning down Penny Marshall's request to move production of L&S to New York for a season 9).

If I had been an agent for Cindy Williams during that time, I would have just strong-armed Paramount Television into letting her return for any hypothetical series finale for L&S after she gave birth no matter what, not seeing any point in caring about the producers' behavior towards Ms. Williams.

Plus, when did American television start getting past this type of poor treatment of female main-cast members?

Just another reason why I see Laverne & Shirley being cancelled with no real finale like Happy Days did the following year as "deadlock" (the first reason being ABC turning down Penny Marshall's request to move production of L&S to New York for a season 9).

If I had been an agent for Cindy Williams during that time, I would have just strong-armed Paramount Television into letting her return for any hypothetical series finale for L&S after she gave birth no matter what, not seeing any point in caring about the producers' behavior towards Ms. Williams.

Plus, when did American television start getting past this type of poor treatment of female main-cast members?

Happy Days did have a finale

Happy Days did have a finale

You are misunderstanding what he said. He said "with no real finale like Happy Days did". He knows Happy Days had a real finale. He didn't mean to imply Happy Days meeting the same fate as Laverne & Shirley.

Just another reason why I see Laverne & Shirley being cancelled with no real finale like Happy Days did the following year as "deadlock" (the first reason being ABC turning down Penny Marshall's request to move production of L&S to New York for a season 9).

The series' final episode wasn't even a series finale. It was a back door pilot for a Carmine Ragusa spinoff that obviously didn't happen.

I heard that ABC wanted Penny Marshall to do a 9th season, but that she demanded the series change locale or that she flat out refused, citing burnout from the 8th season.

Whatever the case, Laverne & Shirley went out with a whimper, not a bang. I think once the show relocated to California, it was the beginning of the end.

The series' final episode wasn't even a series finale. It was a back door pilot for a Carmine Ragusa spinoff that obviously didn't happen.

I heard that ABC wanted Penny Marshall to do a 9th season, but that she demanded the series change locale or that she flat out refused, citing burnout from the 8th season.

Whatever the case, Laverne & Shirley went out with a whimper, not a bang. I think once the show relocated to California, it was the beginning of the end.

In looking at the Carmine episode it could be considered a final episode as opposed to a backdoor pilot. There may have been a treatment, maybe even a specs script but I doubt the network would have ever greenlighted a pilot. This is the early 80's, Carmine had been around since the show's inception he was not a breakout character in any sense of the word, I always considered him a Fonzie wannabe. The episode itself doesn't play like a pilot, Carmine went to New York, and immediately made his dreams come true. He found an apartment, made friends, and got a job in a landmark Broadway production. Also, at the end Carmine and the some of the other dancers he made friends with perform "Age of Aquarius", which might be interpreted as a farewell to the era the series had represented, the late 50's and 60's, what's the line from the song, "this is the dawning of the age of Aquarius".

With respect to the 9th season, I can't believe ABC wanted to do a 9th season. I don't know how many times over the years I've read claims that the network was interested in renewing an obviously fading series. Dick Van Dyke claimed CBS wanted to renew The New Dick Van Dyke Show, Carol Burnett claimed she was the one who decided to end her series, CBS wanted another year, Elizabeth Montgomery claimed ABC wanted another season of Bewitched. The series was a ghost ship coming into port, no Shirley, no Edna, almost no Lenny, no Milwaukee, the heart and soul of the series had been ripped out of it, what sense would it make. Penny Marshall was approaching 40, the series was in desperate need of a major redesign with new characters and a reimagined premise, I can't imagine the network having any interest in doing another year.

In looking at the Carmine episode it could be considered a final episode as opposed to a backdoor pilot. There may have been a treatment, maybe even a specs script but I doubt the network would have ever greenlighted a pilot. This is the early 80's, Carmine had been around since the show's inception he was not a breakout character in any sense of the word, I always considered him a Fonzie wannabe. The episode itself doesn't play like a pilot, Carmine went to New York, and immediately made his dreams come true. He found an apartment, made friends, and got a job in a landmark Broadway production. Also, at the end Carmine and the some of the other dancers he made friends with perform "Age of Aquarius", which might be interpreted as a farewell to the era the series had represented, the late 50's and 60's, what's the line from the song, "this is the dawning of the age of Aquarius".

With respect to the 9th season, I can't believe ABC wanted to do a 9th season. I don't know how many times over the years I've read claims that the network was interested in renewing an obviously fading series. Dick Van Dyke claimed CBS wanted to renew The New Dick Van Dyke Show, Carol Burnett claimed she was the one who decided to end her series, CBS wanted another year, Elizabeth Montgomery claimed ABC wanted another season of Bewitched. The series was a ghost ship coming into port, no Shirley, no Edna, almost no Lenny, no Milwaukee, the heart and soul of the series had been ripped out of it, what sense would it make. Penny Marshall was approaching 40, the series was in desperate need of a major redesign with new characters and a reimagined premise, I can't imagine the network having any interest in doing another year.

You're probably right. Penny Marshall might have said what she said out of ego. Season 8 was painful enough, one more probably wouldn't have made it past 13 episodes before cancellation.

With respect to the 9th season, I can't believe ABC wanted to do a 9th season. I don't know how many times over the years I've read claims that the network was interested in renewing an obviously fading series. Dick Van Dyke claimed CBS wanted to renew The New Dick Van Dyke Show, Carol Burnett claimed she was the one who decided to end her series, CBS wanted another year, Elizabeth Montgomery claimed ABC wanted another season of Bewitched. The series was a ghost ship coming into port, no Shirley, no Edna, almost no Lenny, no Milwaukee, the heart and soul of the series had been ripped out of it, what sense would it make. Penny Marshall was approaching 40, the series was in desperate need of a major redesign with new characters and a reimagined premise, I can't imagine the network having any interest in doing another year.

What there should also be disbelief over is Laverne & Shirley and Happy Days still ranking in the Year-End Nielsen Top 30 for the 1982-83 broadcast season at all (L&S ranked at #25 with a 17.8 rating, and HD ranked at #28 with a 17.4 rating), despite Laverne & Shirley hitting an even worse series low than Happy Days after The A-Team premiered (if we're only counting original airings).

Plus, as someone who is terrible at fan fiction, what would be your idea of a real/proper series finale episode for Laverne & Shirley? (it can be with or without Shirley.)

What there should also be disbelief over is Laverne & Shirley and Happy Days still ranking in the Year-End Nielsen Top 30 for the 1982-83 broadcast season at all (L&S ranked at #25 with a 17.8 rating, and HD ranked at #28 with a 17.4 rating), despite Laverne & Shirley hitting an even worse series low than Happy Days after The A-Team premiered (if we're only counting original airings).

Plus, as someone who is terrible at fan fiction, what would be your idea of a real/proper series finale episode for Laverne & Shirley? (it can be with or without Shirley.)

Let me think about the second part of your comments, and deal with the first part. While it is true the series finished in the top 30, the devil as they say is in the detail. The annual numbers can be a bit misleading, the week to week numbers are much more important. This is particularly true when evaluating a new series or an older series. Remember, renewing a show means investing in the future performance of the show.

Laverne and Shirley got off to a good start with several of the episodes finishing in the top 10. However things started to change as the season carried on. The 8th episode of the season finished in 12th place, this was the week of 12/5, at this point 14 episodes remained and The A Team was still a month off. Only one episode would rank as high as 12 for the remainder of the season. In fact out of the 14 remaining episodes 6 would finish below the top 40! That includes 5 out of the last 8. So the show was not only trending downward but it needed a new title and a major infusion of characters and a reimagined premise. There were too many issues to deal with and the likelihood of getting the series moving in the right direction was pretty slim. The network decision makes sense, keeping the show would have made no sense.

Let me think about the second part of your comments, and deal with the first part. While it is true the series finished in the top 30, the devil as they say is in the detail. The annual numbers can be a bit misleading, the week to week numbers are much more important. This is particularly true when evaluating a new series or an older series. Remember, renewing a show means investing in the future performance of the show.

Laverne and Shirley got off to a good start with several of the episodes finishing in the top 10. However things started to change as the season carried on. The 8th episode of the season finished in 12th place, this was the week of 12/5, at this point 14 episodes remained and The A Team was still a month off. Only one episode would rank as high as 12 for the remainder of the season. In fact out of the 14 remaining episodes 6 would finish below the top 40! That includes 5 out of the last 8. So the show was not only trending downward but it needed a new title and a major infusion of characters and a reimagined premise. There were too many issues to deal with and the likelihood of getting the series moving in the right direction was pretty slim. The network decision makes sense, keeping the show would have made no sense.

Good analysis.

L&S was long past its expiration date -- it was time for it to end.

Man, this show tanked.