The season 8 opening credits was pitiful - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 02-20-2011, 12:33 PM

Why is Shirley still in the title? Why is those kids in the opening? Damm it was obvious this show was like a car on the road with 4 flat tires at this point

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hkGxU8slBg

shotzette · 02-20-2011, 02:11 PM

I agree. Cindy Williams' ill-timed exit didn't leaven them a lot of option. I wish that they could have all moved past their disagreements and given the fans a decent ending.

Ironically, everyone had sort of agreed that the 7th season would be their last, but Cindy pushed for an 8th--and then flew the coop. Michael McKean had already committed to working more on "Spinal Tap" and Betty Garrett had committed to a Broadway play, so the last season had only two Shirley episodes, no Edna episodes, and sporadic Lenny episodes.

What a pathetic ending to what was once a fantastic program.

TVFactFan · 02-20-2011, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shotzette

I agree. Cindy Williams' ill-timed exit didn't leaven them a lot of option. I wish that they could have all moved past their disagreements and given the fans a decent ending.

Ironically, everyone had sort of agreed that the 7th season would be their last, but Cindy pushed for an 8th--and then flew the coop. Michael McKean had already committed to working more on "Spinal Tap" and Betty Garrett had committed to a Broadway play, so the last season had only two Shirley episodes, no Edna episodes, and sporadic Lenny episodes.

What a pathetic ending to what was once a fantastic program.

Someone told me that the Title on ABC was Laverne and Company or Friends and that in syndication it's shown as Laverne and Shirley

PracTz · 02-20-2011, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Someone told me that the Title on ABC was Laverne and Company or Friends and that in syndication it's shown as Laverne and Shirley

IIRC, after Cindy Williams departure, Penny Marshall herself pleaded with them NOT to change the title- on the grounds that doing so might give viewers the idea that she(Penny) had forced Cindy out to get her own show!
Still, it might have worked better had they changed it to something like ' Laverne& Shirley's Pals' so it wouldn't have seemed entirely lopsided in favor of Laverne even though Shirley was no longer there.Nah, the show had seen better days even before Cindy left (like the early years in Milwaukee). I agree that they should have given the fans a good finale instead of let it gasp til it dropped like that.

02-20-2011, 12:33 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,065	The season 8 opening credits was pitiful Why is Shirley still in the title? Why is those kids in the opening? Damm it was obvious this show was like a car on the road with 4 flat tires at this point http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hkGxU8slBg

02-20-2011, 02:11 PM	#2
shotzette Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 30, 2004 Posts: 1,782	I agree. Cindy Williams' ill-timed exit didn't leaven them a lot of option. I wish that they could have all moved past their disagreements and given the fans a decent ending. Ironically, everyone had sort of agreed that the 7th season would be their last, but Cindy pushed for an 8th--and then flew the coop. Michael McKean had already committed to working more on "Spinal Tap" and Betty Garrett had committed to a Broadway play, so the last season had only two Shirley episodes, no Edna episodes, and sporadic Lenny episodes. What a pathetic ending to what was once a fantastic program.