https://www.metv.com/stories/gilda-radner-was-briefly-considered-for-the-role-of-shirley-feeney-in-laverne-shirley

The SNL actor was nearly the star of the hit sitcom.

Penny Marshall enjoyed drinking milk and Pepsi as a child, long before she starred on Laverne & Shirley (https://www.metv.com/stories/penny-marshall-enjoyed-drinking-milk-and-pepsi-as-a-child-long-before-she-starred-on-laverne-shirley)

Laverne and Penny shared a drink of choice.

I remember hearing about this even in the 1970s. People cant imagine but TV people did not cross over into movies then. Hollywood movie actors looked down upon TV actors. There was never any cross over. Its hard to believe these days.
Back then if a movie actor appeared on TV it was assumed their movie career was over.

https://www.metv.com/stories/gilda-radner-was-briefly-considered-for-the-role-of-shirley-feeney-in-laverne-shirley

The SNL actor was nearly the star of the hit sitcom.

Penny Marshall enjoyed drinking milk and Pepsi as a child, long before she starred on Laverne & Shirley (https://www.metv.com/stories/penny-marshall-enjoyed-drinking-milk-and-pepsi-as-a-child-long-before-she-starred-on-laverne-shirley)

Laverne and Penny shared a drink of choice.

I didn't know about Gilda Radner almost playing Shirley. To tell you the truth, I couldn't see anybodyelse but Cindy Williams playing that part.

I did not know that and I was a HUGE Gilda fan!!!

It could never have happened; Gilda was under contract to Saturday Night Live by that point, which was in pre-production as it geared towards its' first episode in October, 1975.