Was Moving 'Laverne & Shirley' to L.A. Desperation Or Very Much Needed? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 12-10-2010, 11:46 AM

Was it a sign of desperation to try and save the show or did the Milwaukee setting grow stale and needed some changes? OR should they have just stayed where they were?

catlover79 · 12-10-2010, 11:53 AM

Desperation!!!

dlemond · 12-10-2010, 01:08 PM

I don't know why they moved the location.

Were the ratings suffering?

Completely unnecessary in my opinion.

If they wanted a change they could have just changed apartments or jobs or something else.

Just keep the Pizza Bowl!

Jude The Obscure · 12-10-2010, 02:22 PM

Unnecessary and a big mistake. Happy Days never felt the need to change locales (thank goodness)--why did L&S? To me the show followed the path of The Lucy Show and when that show moved to California--it really went down the tubes.

cocytus · 12-10-2010, 02:23 PM

Very much a desperation move...and frankly, ironic, as it was always filmed in Hollywood anyway.

Marvo301 · 12-10-2010, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude The Obscure

Unnecessary and a big mistake. Happy Days never felt the need to change locales (thank goodness)--why did L&S? To me the show followed the path of The Lucy Show and when that show moved to California--it really went down the tubes.

The difference is that in the case of "The Lucy Show" the change in locales was motivated by the departure of a cast member (Vivian Vance) from the series. L&S had no such motivation for their change of locale.

TVFactFan · 12-12-2010, 02:06 PM

Maybe they felt it was time to seperate the link between Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley after 4 years.

shotzette · 12-12-2010, 07:57 PM

I think that desperation had a role in it, but they had pretty much exhausted all of the Milwaukee-centric story lines by Season 4. The move the California gave them maybe one more seasons of decent episode, but they show was pretty much over creatively by then. I think they should have planned their exit strategy in Season 5 and made Season 6 the last and wrapped up all of the loose ends. The show deserved a far much better ending than it got.

Happy Days should have ended earlier as well. When Ron Howard and Ralph Malph left, it should have been the end.

Mars788 · 12-13-2010, 12:13 PM

Desperation, and foolish too...

rjt100 · 12-13-2010, 05:13 PM

First, you can't compare Laverne And Shirley to The Lucy Show. Lavernie & Shirley was a weak carbon copy of The Lucy Show. When The Lucy Show changed formats it was because Vivian Vance quit, but, the final three seasons of The Lucy Show fared even better that the first three with Vivian Vance. The Lucy Show never fell out of the top ten and since Lucille Ball was the star of the show she was able to go it alone and win two Emmys as Best Actress In A Comedy Series and end her series in 1968 at no. 2 in the Nielsen Ratings. ABC thought Laverne & Shirley was able to go it alone by moving it to a new night (Thursday) but the series failed miserably. Then by mid-season ABC moved Laverne & Shirley to Monday nights and the show did worse. It showed that Laverne & Shirley was a timeslot hit. It depended on Happy Days as a leadin. When Cindy Williams quit the show in its' final season; the show was renamed Laverne with just Penny Marshall. Penny didn't have the star caliber to carry the show and it was cancelled.

treky · 12-14-2010, 02:35 AM

yes, I think it was a "desperation" move.

lucyandethel · 12-19-2010, 03:39 AM

I attended a writer's symposium in Los Angeles about 10 years ago and one of the guest lecturers was a guy who had written several "L&S" episodes. He was asked that question and basically said the move was in an effort to keep the material fresh. The writers felt stifled with the setting in Milwaukee and moved the setting to California in hopes of providing a world of fresh material. He stated the move was a major mistake because it dramatically changed the Laverne & Shirley characters. He gave the example that it was like taking Ralph Kramden (The Honeymooners) from being a NYC bus driver to a struggling actor in California. It just is not the same character the audience came to love.

He ended by saying that "L&S" is a perfect example of when something isn't broke, don't try and fix it. Don't try to dramatically alter the lead character in a popular series, or "take them out of their element". Nothing will kill a show faster. I agree.

treky · 12-20-2010, 12:58 AM

true-just ask the producers of "JOEY"

jehobden · 12-20-2010, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude The Obscure

Unnecessary and a big mistake. Happy Days never felt the need to change locales (thank goodness)--why did L&S? To me the show followed the path of The Lucy Show and when that show moved to California--it really went down the tubes.

I also see a comparison between L&S and TLS in changing locales. I know it was for different reasons, but the move to CA gave an excuse to bring in celebrities, at least those who were big back in the time. Once Troy Donahue appeared, and as L&S asked, he took a picture of them, but they neglected to tell him they wanted him in the picture with them.

The funniest L&S CA-based ep that I remember had Lenny & Squiggy as contestants on The Dating Game, with Jim Lange making a cameo appearance as host, and the female contestant, played by future Mr. Belvedere mom Ilene Graff, yelled out "If you make me go out with him [Squiggy], I'll sue!".

It seemed that when the show moved to CA, it also jumped forward in time a few years. Happy Days, and I assume L&S, had an approx. 18-year difference between the current year when they were set and the year when the shows were made, meaning that in the HD/L&S world, it was about 1962 when L&S moved to CA in 1980. Instead, L&S jumped forward to 1965 and redid the opening "Happy New Year" banner to 1966 & 1967 for the show's last 2 seasons. This was done maybe to take advantage of the emerging hippie scene or Beatlemania (L&S had a lifesize cardboard cutout of The Beatles in their CA apt.).

tmac81s · 02-16-2011, 02:04 AM

It all started when ABC made the foolish decision to move Laverne & Shirley from it's established Tuesday night slot, to Thursdays. They were hoping L&S would help it's Thursday night ratings, while giving the new show "Angie" L&S's old Tuesday slot would be good for that show too. This plan failed miserably, as L&S went from being TV's #1 show to ending the season at #39. (I'm not sure what its competition was.) ABC cancelled "Angie" and moved L&S back to Tuesdays; it was during this time that they decided the show should change locations (to help give "fresh" ideas.)

Personally, I thought they could have stayed in Milwaukee and maybe just changed where they lived? Maybe get promotions at work or new jobs? It does seem odd to have the whole cast move out to L.A.

Overall, the California episodes were OK, the series was always at its best when they had the girls doing the comedy they did best. I never liked the "musical" shows (and they had those in Milwaukee too), and although there were a few episodes without Shirley that were pretty funny (the episode where Sgt. Plout has her baby being one of them), it wasn't the same. Even Laverne was rarely seen by the end of the series (and it was still bringing in top 30 ratings).

12-10-2010, 11:46 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Was Moving 'Laverne & Shirley' to L.A. Desperation Or Very Much Needed? Was it a sign of desperation to try and save the show or did the Milwaukee setting grow stale and needed some changes? OR should they have just stayed where they were?
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12-10-2010, 11:53 AM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Desperation!!!
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12-13-2010, 05:13 PM	#10
rjt100 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 13, 2006 Location: Elmsford, New York Posts: 87	Moving Laverne & Shirley to California was A Desperation Move First, you can't compare Laverne And Shirley to The Lucy Show. Lavernie & Shirley was a weak carbon copy of The Lucy Show. When The Lucy Show changed formats it was because Vivian Vance quit, but, the final three seasons of The Lucy Show fared even better that the first three with Vivian Vance. The Lucy Show never fell out of the top ten and since Lucille Ball was the star of the show she was able to go it alone and win two Emmys as Best Actress In A Comedy Series and end her series in 1968 at no. 2 in the Nielsen Ratings. ABC thought Laverne & Shirley was able to go it alone by moving it to a new night (Thursday) but the series failed miserably. Then by mid-season ABC moved Laverne & Shirley to Monday nights and the show did worse. It showed that Laverne & Shirley was a timeslot hit. It depended on Happy Days as a leadin. When Cindy Williams quit the show in its' final season; the show was renamed Laverne with just Penny Marshall. Penny didn't have the star caliber to carry the show and it was cancelled.
	Last edited by rjt100; 12-13-2010 at 07:24 PM.

12-14-2010, 02:35 AM	#11
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	yes, I think it was a "desperation" move.
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02-16-2011, 02:04 AM	#15
tmac81s Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 06, 2011 Location: Kalispell, MT, USA Posts: 203	It all started when ABC made the foolish decision to move Laverne & Shirley from it's established Tuesday night slot, to Thursdays. They were hoping L&S would help it's Thursday night ratings, while giving the new show "Angie" L&S's old Tuesday slot would be good for that show too. This plan failed miserably, as L&S went from being TV's #1 show to ending the season at #39. (I'm not sure what its competition was.) ABC cancelled "Angie" and moved L&S back to Tuesdays; it was during this time that they decided the show should change locations (to help give "fresh" ideas.) Personally, I thought they could have stayed in Milwaukee and maybe just changed where they lived? Maybe get promotions at work or new jobs? It does seem odd to have the whole cast move out to L.A. Overall, the California episodes were OK, the series was always at its best when they had the girls doing the comedy they did best. I never liked the "musical" shows (and they had those in Milwaukee too), and although there were a few episodes without Shirley that were pretty funny (the episode where Sgt. Plout has her baby being one of them), it wasn't the same. Even Laverne was rarely seen by the end of the series (and it was still bringing in top 30 ratings).
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12-10-2010, 01:08 PM	#3
dlemond Hey, I know you. Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 03, 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 6,751	I don't know why they moved the location. Were the ratings suffering? Completely unnecessary in my opinion. If they wanted a change they could have just changed apartments or jobs or something else. Just keep the Pizza Bowl!

12-10-2010, 02:22 PM	#4
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	Unnecessary and a big mistake. Happy Days never felt the need to change locales (thank goodness)--why did L&S? To me the show followed the path of The Lucy Show and when that show moved to California--it really went down the tubes.

12-10-2010, 02:23 PM	#5
cocytus Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 15, 2010 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 781	Very much a desperation move...and frankly, ironic, as it was always filmed in Hollywood anyway.

12-12-2010, 02:06 PM	#7
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,062	Maybe they felt it was time to seperate the link between Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley after 4 years.

12-12-2010, 07:57 PM	#8
shotzette Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 30, 2004 Posts: 1,782	I think that desperation had a role in it, but they had pretty much exhausted all of the Milwaukee-centric story lines by Season 4. The move the California gave them maybe one more seasons of decent episode, but they show was pretty much over creatively by then. I think they should have planned their exit strategy in Season 5 and made Season 6 the last and wrapped up all of the loose ends. The show deserved a far much better ending than it got. Happy Days should have ended earlier as well. When Ron Howard and Ralph Malph left, it should have been the end.

12-13-2010, 12:13 PM	#9
Mars788 Member Forum Hawk Join Date: Dec 12, 2010 Posts: 3	Desperation, and foolish too...

12-19-2010, 03:39 AM	#12
lucyandethel Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 18, 2009 Location: Los Angeles CA Posts: 435	I attended a writer's symposium in Los Angeles about 10 years ago and one of the guest lecturers was a guy who had written several "L&S" episodes. He was asked that question and basically said the move was in an effort to keep the material fresh. The writers felt stifled with the setting in Milwaukee and moved the setting to California in hopes of providing a world of fresh material. He stated the move was a major mistake because it dramatically changed the Laverne & Shirley characters. He gave the example that it was like taking Ralph Kramden (The Honeymooners) from being a NYC bus driver to a struggling actor in California. It just is not the same character the audience came to love. He ended by saying that "L&S" is a perfect example of when something isn't broke, don't try and fix it. Don't try to dramatically alter the lead character in a popular series, or "take them out of their element". Nothing will kill a show faster. I agree.

12-20-2010, 12:58 AM	#13
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	true-just ask the producers of "JOEY"