Did the show already start declining before the move to LA? - Page 4 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Dr. Thong · 04-20-2023, 06:20 PM

I remember reading an item circa 1982-83 -- probably in the National Enquirer or one of those gossip rags -- that the show's title was going to be changed to Laverne & Friends, which would have made more sense, if you think about it.

Is it possibly that maybe, just maybe, they thought Cindy might return when she walked out and kept the show's title L&S?

In retrospect, once they knew Cindy had left for good, they should have changed the title to simply Laverne. Or, The Laverne Show.

If Penny had agreed to do a ninth season, they would had to have changed the name, because keeping the L&S name for another full season would have made no bleeping sense.

BestTVever · 04-22-2023, 03:59 PM

To answer the original question: Yes the show was declining in the year before moving to CA. However the year prior it was #1 so saying it declined from #1 still made it a decent show. There were some great episodes in that year before the move. However it was hit or miss. The CA years the show officially jumped the shark. There was curiosity which made the first half of the first season in CA tolerable. They did all the CA things like try out for movie parts, live in a building with a stunt man and wanna be actress, etc. But it just got plain bad. Some of the worst episodes ever in a sitcom were made during these years. I hated the "Do the Carmine" TV plot where they thought Carmine's dance was Unamerican. How about when a ghost haunts the apartment. Lenny and Squiggy fall in a tar pit. It was horrific.
I read several comments about how Edna was treated and written out. It was not her fault and not really the fault of the show. The show ended. The actress who played Edna got a Broadway job. At the last minute Cindy Williams had a dream and her mother or grandmother came to her and told her to do another season. Cindy came back to the show begging everyone to do one more season. Edna could not get out of her contract. Cindy did not even finish the season. It all was a disaster because of Cindy's dream. You can watch the actress who played Edna's interview about this on youtube.

Missygal21880 · 04-25-2023, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMC

In interviews, both Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams say they argued against the plan to relocate the show’s setting to California but Garry Marshall insisted on it. He thought after five seasons, a change of location would breathe new life into the show.

He also thought it'd be a great excuse for glamorous guest stars. Penny and Cindy wanted the girls to move to NYC and stay blue collar.

Dr. Thong · 04-27-2023, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Missygal21880

He also thought it'd be a great excuse for glamorous guest stars. Penny and Cindy wanted the girls to move to NYC and stay blue collar.

Garry Marshall was a great writer / producer, but he sometimes should have left well enough alone. NYC would have been better, but they should have just stayed in Milwaukee.

rusty spike · 04-28-2023, 10:56 AM

Isn't it easier to write plots about living near Hollywood, CA?

Guest stars dropping by, thrill of being in a movie, not worrying about palm trees in the background and spending the day at the beach-

04-20-2023, 06:20 PM	#46
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	I remember reading an item circa 1982-83 -- probably in the National Enquirer or one of those gossip rags -- that the show's title was going to be changed to Laverne & Friends, which would have made more sense, if you think about it. Is it possibly that maybe, just maybe, they thought Cindy might return when she walked out and kept the show's title L&S? In retrospect, once they knew Cindy had left for good, they should have changed the title to simply Laverne. Or, The Laverne Show. If Penny had agreed to do a ninth season, they would had to have changed the name, because keeping the L&S name for another full season would have made no bleeping sense.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

04-22-2023, 03:59 PM	#47
BestTVever Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2021 Location: Miami Posts: 1,951	To answer the original question: Yes the show was declining in the year before moving to CA. However the year prior it was #1 so saying it declined from #1 still made it a decent show. There were some great episodes in that year before the move. However it was hit or miss. The CA years the show officially jumped the shark. There was curiosity which made the first half of the first season in CA tolerable. They did all the CA things like try out for movie parts, live in a building with a stunt man and wanna be actress, etc. But it just got plain bad. Some of the worst episodes ever in a sitcom were made during these years. I hated the "Do the Carmine" TV plot where they thought Carmine's dance was Unamerican. How about when a ghost haunts the apartment. Lenny and Squiggy fall in a tar pit. It was horrific. I read several comments about how Edna was treated and written out. It was not her fault and not really the fault of the show. The show ended. The actress who played Edna got a Broadway job. At the last minute Cindy Williams had a dream and her mother or grandmother came to her and told her to do another season. Cindy came back to the show begging everyone to do one more season. Edna could not get out of her contract. Cindy did not even finish the season. It all was a disaster because of Cindy's dream. You can watch the actress who played Edna's interview about this on youtube.

04-28-2023, 10:56 AM	#50
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	Isn't it easier to write plots about living near Hollywood, CA? Guest stars dropping by, thrill of being in a movie, not worrying about palm trees in the background and spending the day at the beach-