On This Date in 1983: 'Laverne & Shirley' Mercifully Ended Its TV Run - Page 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

RetroGuy2000 · 06-11-2018, 11:44 AM

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.

TMC · 07-15-2018, 02:11 AM

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.

Fallon97 · 02-08-2021, 03:59 PM

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

TVFactFan · 02-08-2021, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fallon97

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

why

shotzette · 02-08-2021, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fallon97

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!

TVFactFan · 02-08-2021, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shotzette

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

shotzette · 02-09-2021, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

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.

TVFactFan · 02-09-2021, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shotzette

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

shotzette · 02-10-2021, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

I like that it was longer

Longer hair did look cute on her.

biffbronson · 02-10-2021, 04:23 PM

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.

TVFactFan · 02-10-2021, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shotzette

Longer hair did look cute on her.

That's why I can watch the california eps more

BestTVever · 04-15-2021, 06:54 AM

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.

king of comedy · 04-15-2021, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biffbronson

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?

TMC · 02-09-2023, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by king of comedy

Can you get a picture of her with long hair?

TMC · 02-09-2023, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IllinoisTVFan

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:

Quote:

These are the final minutes from "Here Today, Hair Tomorrow", the 22nd and final episode (178th overall) from the eighth-and final-season of ABC's monster 1976-83 "Happy Days" spinoff "Laverne & Shirley". The episode originally aired on Tuesday, May 10, 1983.

This was supposed to serve as a backdoor pilot for a spin-off featuring longtime cast member Eddie Mekka'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, 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 when this aired). This was no longer 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 "Laverne & Shirley".

06-11-2018, 11:44 AM	#16
RetroGuy2000 Julie,Julie Anne,&Felice 4Ever Forum Star Join Date: Dec 27, 2013 Posts: 16,914	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.
	__________________ The Facts of Life's "Lost Girls" Tribute to Julie Piekarski, Eastland Girl Join "The Group", Sitcoms Online's Facts of Life group!

07-15-2018, 02:11 AM	#17
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,545	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.

02-08-2021, 03:59 PM	#18
Fallon97 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2007 Location: America Posts: 1,268	It seems I'm in the minority, but I loved the California episodes.

02-10-2021, 04:23 PM	#25
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,283	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.

04-15-2021, 06:54 AM	#27
BestTVever Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2021 Location: Miami Posts: 1,877	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.