the California Seasons except the last were not that bad - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

douglasjc · 12-09-2013, 10:20 PM

There has been criticism about L&S's move to California in 1980-1981 season. I have to say that it was actually a smart move because if you look at the time of L&S when they moved to California it was 1964-1965. California was one of the happening place in the mid-1960s. There was not much happening in Milwaukee in fact it was probably in decline by this time. This is not to say California seasons were the best because the Milwaukee era still dominates.
You have got figure in the fact that by 1980-1981 L&S was starting to show it's age and ideas were hard to come up. The show really should have ended in 1982 with Shirley getting married to that Soldier Meany. The last season was a plain insult to the show.

shotzette · 12-11-2013, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by douglasjc

The show really should have ended in 1982 with Shirley getting married to that Soldier Meany. The last season was a plain insult to the show.

Agreed. They should have wrapped it up in S7 and given the fans some closure. They had originally planned to end the show at S7 (contracts were up) but Cindy Williams changed her mind and wanted to do a S8. Unfortunately, both Betty Garrett and Michael McKean were contractually obligated to other projects at that time which is why Edna "left" Frank for a jockey

and you only saw Lenny in a few episodes in S8.

Of course, Cindy Williams walked off the show two episodes into S8 due to issues regarding special treatment during her pregnancy and left Penny Marshall and the four remaining regulars, David L. Lander, Phil Foster, Eddie Mekka, and Leslie Easterbrook, to finish up.

McGillicuddy · 12-13-2013, 09:45 PM

Didn't Cindy Williams leave because she was pregnant?

shotzette · 12-15-2013, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McGillicuddy

Didn't Cindy Williams leave because she was pregnant?

It was a big brouhaha at the time. She was pregnant, which is why the writers had Shirley quickly (and horribly) marry Walter Meaney and get knocked up. Shirley's pregnancy was announced on the last episode of L&S that Cindy Williams was on. Shirley was then written out of the show because Cindy and TPTB couldn't agree on what was a reasonable shooting schedule and compensation for her. Cindy left the show in a huff and sued ABC, Paramount, and Garry Marshall. There was some sort of a settlement years later.

JMFabiano524 · 12-19-2013, 02:31 PM

This. I used to actually look forward to the CA episodes in syndication, before I found that it was Internet-cool to hate on them.

Now, by the end of Shirley's run, it was getting very silly. And of course the "Laverne, Where's Shirley?" season was the point of no return.

TVFactFan · 12-22-2013, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMFabiano524

This. I used to actually look forward to the CA episodes in syndication, before I found that it was Internet-cool to hate on them.

Now, by the end of Shirley's run, it was getting very silly. And of course the "Laverne, Where's Shirley?" season was the point of no return.

yeah the 1st season in California was not bad at all and I actually liked it better than the ones in Milwaukee

SitcomsOffline · 01-01-2014, 12:59 AM

I have to agree with the previous poster.

The 1st California season wasn't bad, but then they added RHONNN-DA!!!

Still, none of the California seasons compare to the Milwaukee seasons. The heart and soul of the series was gone.

RetroGuy2000 · 01-27-2014, 04:57 AM

The final season sucked. Laverne without Shirley was like peanut butter without chocolate.

All the other seasons were fine, although Milwaukee was the best setting.

Roxy LaTour · 01-27-2014, 09:57 AM

For me, the California episodes are a different show. Still enjoyable to some degree, but nothing like the earlier seasons, which had a way better look and feel. They left their hearts in Milwaukee. The eighth season is flat out unwatchable. Bums me right out just to see the opening. They never should have continued without Shirley.

From Laverne & Shirley Move In:

Lenny: Bye, Shirl.
Shirley: Bye, boys.
Squiggy: Bye, Laverne.
Laverne: I ain't goin' nowheres.
Squiggy: Yeah I know, but without her, what good are you?

Harsh in the episode, true re: the show.

And FTR, despite being a ShirleyFF, I'd feel the same if it was Shirley without Laverne.

The show shoulda ended with a double wedding: Shirley and Carmine, and Laverne and Lenny.

MacLeaper · 01-27-2014, 10:20 AM

Even so, knowing all about what happened with the storylines and so forth, I still want to see Season 8 on DVD to complete this series. I LOVE "Laverne & Shirley" and I enjoy it all the way through. The move to California was different but it last three seasons and did well. I think it works fine whether in Milwaukee or California- I like all of the seasons. Considering the show started as a spinoff, perhaps that spoke to how much it had taken off as its own thing. Sure, there were a couple of crossovers with "Happy Days" earlier on, but I don't see Fonzie flying out to California to visit at this point.
I'm just glad the show's finally gotten up to Season 7 out on DVD and I hope Season 8 will soon follow as I want to watch the whole series. (Since I didn't really grow up watching it and only have since gotten into watching it as the DVDs have been released.)

TMC · 04-18-2023, 08:05 PM

Were California episodes considered bad because they dumped everything they had already established? Laverne talked a lot about her Italian relatives in New York City, and there were even two early episodes where she goes to visit them. In California, no there was now no mention of her Italian relatives in NYC. Also, instead of being the blue collar working girls that they were in Milwaukee, they tried to make Laverne and Shirley out to be Gidget-like Californians, which may have not worked.

JJouterbanks · 04-25-2023, 09:16 PM

I actually loved the scenery of the California episodes.

BestTVever · 05-20-2023, 09:46 AM

I think the first half of the first season in CA was ok. But then it just got so dumb. Gone were the lower class working girls struggling to get by in a basement apartment. They were now high fashion CA girls with a swanky apartment.
Some of the worst TV ever was on these seasons. The episode where Lenny and Squiggy fall into a tar pit and when a ghost haunts the apartment. Just plain dumb and an insult to the show.

TVFactFan · 05-20-2023, 02:41 PM

And how was two poor girls able to move and start a life across country anyway?

stevea · 05-20-2023, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

And how was two poor girls able to move and start a life across country anyway?

And why did all their friends decide to move with them?

12-09-2013, 10:20 PM	#1
douglasjc Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 318	the California Seasons except the last were not that bad There has been criticism about L&S's move to California in 1980-1981 season. I have to say that it was actually a smart move because if you look at the time of L&S when they moved to California it was 1964-1965. California was one of the happening place in the mid-1960s. There was not much happening in Milwaukee in fact it was probably in decline by this time. This is not to say California seasons were the best because the Milwaukee era still dominates. You have got figure in the fact that by 1980-1981 L&S was starting to show it's age and ideas were hard to come up. The show really should have ended in 1982 with Shirley getting married to that Soldier Meany. The last season was a plain insult to the show.

01-27-2014, 04:57 AM	#8
RetroGuy2000 Julie,Julie Anne,&Felice 4Ever Forum Star Join Date: Dec 27, 2013 Posts: 16,914	The final season sucked. Laverne without Shirley was like peanut butter without chocolate. All the other seasons were fine, although Milwaukee was the best setting.
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01-27-2014, 10:20 AM	#10
MacLeaper Child of the 80s Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 20, 2001 Posts: 3,355	Even so, knowing all about what happened with the storylines and so forth, I still want to see Season 8 on DVD to complete this series. I LOVE "Laverne & Shirley" and I enjoy it all the way through. The move to California was different but it last three seasons and did well. I think it works fine whether in Milwaukee or California- I like all of the seasons. Considering the show started as a spinoff, perhaps that spoke to how much it had taken off as its own thing. Sure, there were a couple of crossovers with "Happy Days" earlier on, but I don't see Fonzie flying out to California to visit at this point. I'm just glad the show's finally gotten up to Season 7 out on DVD and I hope Season 8 will soon follow as I want to watch the whole series. (Since I didn't really grow up watching it and only have since gotten into watching it as the DVDs have been released.)
	__________________ "Oh boy!" - Dr. Sam Beckett "You can do anything you wanna do if you put your mind to it." - MacGyver "Have mercy!" - Uncle Jesse "Ha, I kill me!" - ALF "I am The Way, The Truth and The Life. No man comes to The Father but by Me."- Jesus Christ (John 14:6)

12-13-2013, 09:45 PM	#3
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	Didn't Cindy Williams leave because she was pregnant?

12-19-2013, 02:31 PM	#5
JMFabiano524 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 04, 2002 Posts: 525	This. I used to actually look forward to the CA episodes in syndication, before I found that it was Internet-cool to hate on them. Now, by the end of Shirley's run, it was getting very silly. And of course the "Laverne, Where's Shirley?" season was the point of no return.

01-01-2014, 12:59 AM	#7
SitcomsOffline Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 03, 2013 Posts: 492	I have to agree with the previous poster. The 1st California season wasn't bad, but then they added RHONNN-DA!!! Still, none of the California seasons compare to the Milwaukee seasons. The heart and soul of the series was gone.

01-27-2014, 09:57 AM	#9
Roxy LaTour Pal to French Foreign Legion Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 25, 2014 Location: The Bass Club Smoker Posts: 41	For me, the California episodes are a different show. Still enjoyable to some degree, but nothing like the earlier seasons, which had a way better look and feel. They left their hearts in Milwaukee. The eighth season is flat out unwatchable. Bums me right out just to see the opening. They never should have continued without Shirley. From Laverne & Shirley Move In: Lenny: Bye, Shirl. Shirley: Bye, boys. Squiggy: Bye, Laverne. Laverne: I ain't goin' nowheres. Squiggy: Yeah I know, but without her, what good are you? Harsh in the episode, true re: the show. And FTR, despite being a ShirleyFF, I'd feel the same if it was Shirley without Laverne. The show shoulda ended with a double wedding: Shirley and Carmine, and Laverne and Lenny.

04-18-2023, 08:05 PM	#11
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,453	Were California episodes considered bad because they dumped everything they had already established? Laverne talked a lot about her Italian relatives in New York City, and there were even two early episodes where she goes to visit them. In California, no there was now no mention of her Italian relatives in NYC. Also, instead of being the blue collar working girls that they were in Milwaukee, they tried to make Laverne and Shirley out to be Gidget-like Californians, which may have not worked.

04-25-2023, 09:16 PM	#12
JJouterbanks Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 15, 2023 Posts: 20	I actually loved the scenery of the California episodes.

05-20-2023, 09:46 AM	#13
BestTVever Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2021 Location: Miami Posts: 1,874	I think the first half of the first season in CA was ok. But then it just got so dumb. Gone were the lower class working girls struggling to get by in a basement apartment. They were now high fashion CA girls with a swanky apartment. Some of the worst TV ever was on these seasons. The episode where Lenny and Squiggy fall into a tar pit and when a ghost haunts the apartment. Just plain dumb and an insult to the show.

05-20-2023, 02:41 PM	#14
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,950	And how was two poor girls able to move and start a life across country anyway?