The unseen L&S pilot

[Jude The Obscure]

I wonder if this will ever be included on one of the L&S DVD sets (or will they piss off fans and wait until a complete series set is done)?

I know it has a different opening title and they used Fonzie's apartment set for their apartment.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Jude86

I wonder if this will ever be included on one of the L&S DVD sets (or will they piss off fans and wait until a complete series set is done)?

I know it has a different opening title and they used Fonzie's apartment set for their apartment.

Wonder why they used Fonzie's Apt set. But Fonzie was defintely seen a whole lot in season 1 of L&S. It would have been cool to see him appear in the 80's when they were in sunny california

[Jude The Obscure]

I think it was just a test film to show network execs--that's why we have never seen this--it may not have been a full 30 min episode. So using Fonz's apt was just a cheap way not to spend extra on something that may not have worked. (Remember how Hanging with Mr. Cooper used the Growing Pains house for its pilot?)

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Jude86

I think it was just a test film to show network execs--that's why we have never seen this--it may not have been a full 30 min episode. So using Fonz's apt was just a cheap way not to spend extra on something that may not have worked. (Remember how Hanging with Mr. Cooper used the Growing Pains house for its pilot?)

I sure do-lol At the Time I was like-HUH??

[santaburger]

I didn't even know this existed... cool!!

Ahh, the possibilities for DVD extras are endless....... grrr.

[friendsfan77]

Originally Posted by Jude86

I think it was just a test film to show network execs--that's why we have never seen this--it may not have been a full 30 min episode. So using Fonz's apt was just a cheap way not to spend extra on something that may not have worked. (Remember how Hanging with Mr. Cooper used the Growing Pains house for its pilot?)

Living Single did the same thing for their pilot. They used the Family Matters set.

I agree, this would make a great extra for a DVD release.

[associate]

ABC needed a mid-season replacement and asked Garry Marshall to do a spin-off of Happy Days. They had started to receive fan mail asking for more Laverne & Shirley after the double date episode, so he suggested that. They asked him to do a 10-15 pilot presentation for the execs. Cindy Williams didn't want to be in TV so turned down the return to do the pilot. They filmed it on the set of Fonzie's apt dealing with the aftermath of the double date using another actress, Liberty Williams. According to Michael Eisener, there was no spark between Penny & Liberty. Garry talked Cindy into doing it and the re-filmed it that evening and the spark was there between Penny & Cindy. Everyone behind the scenes were laughing. The execs in New York wanted Eisner to show both pieces. He supposedly locked the Liberty film in a broom closet and told the execs that it was lost at the airport. The execs r only saw the Cindy/Penny one and fell in love with it. The rest is history.

[mets82]

Wow!! I'd like to see it. I wonder if its out there somewhere?

[associate]

According to Michael Eisner he hid the Liberty Williams in a broom closet on the 34th floor and never went back. I don't know about the Cindy one. I know pictures exist.

[LittleRickyII]

Originally Posted by associate

According to Michael Eisner he hid the Liberty Williams in a broom closet on the 34th floor and never went back. I don't know about the Cindy one. I know pictures exist.

Liberty Williams had a lot of bad luck trying to score a regular role on TV. In 1973, she played Rhoda Morgenstern's sister, Debbie, on an episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. A year later when Rhoda debuted, Debbie had vanished from the face of the earth a la Chuck Cunningham, and suddenly there was Brenda (Julie Kavner) instead. In 1976, she got the title role in a pilot for the Tabitha series (spinoff of Bewitched) only to get replaced by Lisa Hartman when the show went on the air. Then just before missing out on scoring Tabitha came this indignity of being dumped as Shirley. Granted, she did wind up with a regular role on a few series later on, but they all flopped. Her career appears to have ended about 25 years ago.

[FearlessFonzie]

http://cache4.asset-cache.net/gc/463...qJzlxkPg%3D%3D

[mets82]

The link doesnt work.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by associate

ABC needed a mid-season replacement and asked Garry Marshall to do a spin-off of Happy Days. They had started to receive fan mail asking for more Laverne & Shirley after the double date episode, so he suggested that. They asked him to do a 10-15 pilot presentation for the execs. Cindy Williams didn't want to be in TV so turned down the return to do the pilot. They filmed it on the set of Fonzie's apt dealing with the aftermath of the double date using another actress, Liberty Williams. According to Michael Eisener, there was no spark between Penny & Liberty. Garry talked Cindy into doing it and the re-filmed it that evening and the spark was there between Penny & Cindy. Everyone behind the scenes were laughing. The execs in New York wanted Eisner to show both pieces. He supposedly locked the Liberty film in a broom closet and told the execs that it was lost at the airport. The execs r only saw the Cindy/Penny one and fell in love with it. The rest is history.

The girls were already established from Happy Days, so why would they need a screen test from Cindy Williams and Penny Marshall? They appeared in five episodes. Perhaps, Michael Eisner meant BEFORE Cindy was cast as Shirley on Happy Days.

[Missygal21880]

Originally Posted by TMC

The girls were already established from Happy Days, so why would they need a screen test from Cindy Williams and Penny Marshall? They appeared in five episodes. Perhaps, Michael Eisner meant BEFORE Cindy was cast as Shirley on Happy Days.

Because Cindy Williams didn't want to do the show at first, so they had to cast around to replace Shirley, leading to the test film. Then she changed her mind, resulting in a second test film, since the network had become indecisive on the topic after she backed out from what I can tell. The show was sold with Carmine, the girls, and Frank as extent characters in it only.