Carmine! Spinoff?

[biffbronson]

I went back to Penny Marshall's memoir to see what she mentioned about the final episode. She simply wrote that it "focused on Carmine (Eddie Mekka)," and how she was barely in the ep. No comment as to whether or not a pilot was the intention.

Anyway, the writer quoted in this thread has mis-identified Rhonda as "Rhoda" -- lol

[Duster76]

In 2018 I wrote piece on the final episode "Here Today, Hair Tomorrow", after seeing the episode at that late date I began rethinking the idea that it was a pilot for a Carmine series. There may have been a Carmine series pitched to ABC, and there may have been common elements in the treatment done for that proposed series and this script but I don't think this was a pilot. I think ABC turned the proposal down, and Garry Marshall left with what was essentially a ghost ship coming into port decided to work the Carmine story into a final episode. The series fans obviously would have loved to see a reunion of Laverne and Shirley for one last episode, but of course that couldn't happen. Garry wanted to end the series on an uplifting note so out of that comes Carmine's story.

As we head off to New York with Carmine, what unfolds is not a start, but a conclusion of this part of Carmine's story and the beginning of a new chapter in his life. 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 Age of Aquarius". If you think about it that song symbolizes the opening of a new era and the closing of the era that Happy Days/Laverne and Shirley represented (55-67). It works as a finale, maybe the best one that could be done under the circumstances.

[BestTVever]

I think another earlier post had it correct when they said it was a half hearted spin off idea. They may have flirted with the idea but the ratings for Laverne and Shirley were so bad how in the world could they do a spin off at that point.
That last season gets my vote for worst last season of any sitcom. How about the "Do the Carmine" episode where that was a dance sweeping the nation or the haunted apartment episode where a ghost appears and makes them run an obstacle course. The season was not supposed to happen. According to Betty Garrett the show was over and she signed a contract on Broadway or something. Cindy Williams had a dream where her grandmother came to her and told her to do another season. Cindy begged the network for another season and they said ok. But Cindy did not even finish the last season and poor Penny was left with egg on her face. Everyone was gone and she was left trying to support a show. This is why I say its the worst last season of any sitcom. Its so bad.

[king of comedy]

It would have been 1 final good show and a swan song for Gary Marshall.