It's been compared to "I Love Lucy" and also famously dubbed "TV junk food" by critics, who resented the show's quick rise to the top of the Nielsen ratings. Say what you will, there was something about these two "girls" that appealed to Americans. Maybe it was the odd-couple combination of Shirley's wide-eyed hopefulness and Laverne's tough cynicism. Maybe it was the fact that these two opposites were linked together because they were "good girls" at a time when there were the ones who "vo-dee-oh-doed" and the ones who didn't. Maybe it was the way in which the show addressed class, with these two blue-collar brewery workers constantly reminded of their lowly station in life but trying, all the same, for something bigger and better. Maybe it was the likeable cast. Or maybe--just maybe--it was that their brand of comedy really did remind folks of TV's beloved Queen of Comedy, Lucille Ball.
"Happy Days" fans will know immediately that Laverne (Penny Marshall) and Shirley (Cindy Williams) made a brief debut on that show as friends of Fonzie. Like "Happy Days," this is the 1950s, but seen from the point of view of two Shotz Brewery workers in Milwaukee. Instead of a coming-of-age nostalgic sitcom, it was a show about two roommates trying to find happiness outside of high school. The girls worked as bottle-cappers at the brewery, where their friends, Lenny (Michael McKean) and Squiggy (David L. Lander) were truck drivers. As quasi-cool greasers, they were the male equivalent of Laverne and Shirley--two people who thought they had more going for them than they really did, and two people who played off each other well in order to generate laughs.
"Happy Days" had the protective parents, and wild-haired, wild-eyed comedian Phil Foster serves that function here as Laverne's dad, Frank, who runs The Pizza Bowl-which doubled as a kind of Arnold's and a place for Laverne to work on the side to pick up extra money.
After finishing third in the Nielsen's its first season, well ahead of "Happy Days," at the end of the second season"Laverne & Shirley" found itself in the number two spot behind the top-rated show in America: "Happy Days." Its third and fourth seasons it would incredibly become the number one show in America.
Despite the show's popularity, the second season is really pretty uneven as far as the comedy goes. Some of the best episodes are, in fact, the ones that go at slapstick head-on, without embarrassment and without hesitation. When Laverne and Shirley wrestle with two dates who got their number off a men's room wall and Laverne has one of them pinned with her foot on the couch and is pushing against the other while Shirley runs for help, it's a classic Lucy moment with a blue-collar twist. Episodes like "Good Time Girls," "Guinea Pigs," and "Guilty Until Proven Not Innocent" are the comedic highlights that make up for some of the so-so episodes.
Here's a rundown on the 23 season installments, which are included on four single-sided discs in a nifty clear keep-case that's the same size as a standard DVD case, but which has a plastic "page" that holds two additional discs:
1) "Drive! She Said"--Shirley cons Laverne into going "halvsies" on a car, but the problem is that Laverne can't drive, except to drive pedestrians hurriedly out of her way.
2) "Angels of Mercy"--Aren't these two a little old to be Candy-Stripers? Laverne catches the volunteer bug from Shirley.
3) "Bachelor Mothers"--Laverne and Shirley baby-sit an infant whose mother is on the road with Fonzie (Henry Winkler).
4) "Excuse Me, May I Cut In?"--Two more "Happy Days" alums put in an appearance, as Richie (Ron Howard) and Potsie (Anson Williams) try to help Laverne and Shirley win a dance contest. One of the more entertaining trips down memory lane.
5) "Bridal Shower"--Laverne faces her nemesis, Rosie, when the girls attend a shower for a dear friend that's held at Rosie's house.
6) "Look Before You Leap"--Laverne thinks she may have more than a hangover when she can't remember what she did the night before at a brewery party. Some touching moments.
7) "Dear Future Model"--This funny episode has the girls enrolling in modeling school to class up their acts and attract a better class of men.
8) "Good Time Girls"--Another show in the mode of the old "I Love Lucy" slapstick shows.
9) "Two of Our Weirdos Are Missing"--Laverne and Shirley try to find their slightly daft friends, Lenny and Squiggy, after the two of them run away to join the circus. And not even the circus wants these freaks.
10) "Oh Hear the Angels Voices"--L&S entertain the troops, sort of, at a hospital Christmas party.
11) "Guilty Until Proven Not Innocent"--Laverne faces shoplifting charges after a handkerchief at a ritzy store falls into her purse.
12) "Birthday Show"--A flashback clip show has Laverne and Shirley's friends reminiscing as they wait for the two to arrive at a surprise party.
13) "Playing Hooky"--L&S play hooky from the Shotz Brewery and have the flipside of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."
14) "Guinea Pigs"-Classic Lucy-style episode has the girls volunteering to be guinea pigs for a science experiment.
15) "Call Me a Taxi"--More Lucy as Laverne and Shirley work as "dime-a-dance" girls to help pay the bills.
16) "Steppin' Out"--As Laverne and Shirley get ready for their dream dates, what else could go wrong?
17) "Buddy, Can You Spare a Father?"--Come on, writers, who's going to disappear next? This time it's Laverne's father.
18) "Honeymoon Hotel"--Shirley wins a contest, but when the two girls try to cash in, predictable problems arise.
19) "Hi, Neighbor, Book II"--It's Laverne and Shirley to the rescue when Lenny and Squiggy get stood up."
20) "Frank's Fling"--Laverne's dad has a new love, and she's decided he needs a new life.
21) "Haunted House"--Laverne and Shirley need a new sofa, and one thing leads to another in this domino comedy.
22) "Lonely at the Middle"--When Shirley gets promoted, her co-workers give her the cold shoulder . . . and more.
23) "Citizen Krane"--More singing (yikes) as a rich guy wants to be Laverne & Shirley's sugar daddy.
"Happy Days" fans will know immediately that Laverne (Penny Marshall) and Shirley (Cindy Williams) made a brief debut on that show as friends of Fonzie. Like "Happy Days," this is the 1950s, but seen from the point of view of two Shotz Brewery workers in Milwaukee. Instead of a coming-of-age nostalgic sitcom, it was a show about two roommates trying to find happiness outside of high school. The girls worked as bottle-cappers at the brewery, where their friends, Lenny (Michael McKean) and Squiggy (David L. Lander) were truck drivers. As quasi-cool greasers, they were the male equivalent of Laverne and Shirley--two people who thought they had more going for them than they really did, and two people who played off each other well in order to generate laughs.
"Happy Days" had the protective parents, and wild-haired, wild-eyed comedian Phil Foster serves that function here as Laverne's dad, Frank, who runs The Pizza Bowl-which doubled as a kind of Arnold's and a place for Laverne to work on the side to pick up extra money.
After finishing third in the Nielsen's its first season, well ahead of "Happy Days," at the end of the second season"Laverne & Shirley" found itself in the number two spot behind the top-rated show in America: "Happy Days." Its third and fourth seasons it would incredibly become the number one show in America.
Despite the show's popularity, the second season is really pretty uneven as far as the comedy goes. Some of the best episodes are, in fact, the ones that go at slapstick head-on, without embarrassment and without hesitation. When Laverne and Shirley wrestle with two dates who got their number off a men's room wall and Laverne has one of them pinned with her foot on the couch and is pushing against the other while Shirley runs for help, it's a classic Lucy moment with a blue-collar twist. Episodes like "Good Time Girls," "Guinea Pigs," and "Guilty Until Proven Not Innocent" are the comedic highlights that make up for some of the so-so episodes.
Here's a rundown on the 23 season installments, which are included on four single-sided discs in a nifty clear keep-case that's the same size as a standard DVD case, but which has a plastic "page" that holds two additional discs:
1) "Drive! She Said"--Shirley cons Laverne into going "halvsies" on a car, but the problem is that Laverne can't drive, except to drive pedestrians hurriedly out of her way.
2) "Angels of Mercy"--Aren't these two a little old to be Candy-Stripers? Laverne catches the volunteer bug from Shirley.
3) "Bachelor Mothers"--Laverne and Shirley baby-sit an infant whose mother is on the road with Fonzie (Henry Winkler).
4) "Excuse Me, May I Cut In?"--Two more "Happy Days" alums put in an appearance, as Richie (Ron Howard) and Potsie (Anson Williams) try to help Laverne and Shirley win a dance contest. One of the more entertaining trips down memory lane.
5) "Bridal Shower"--Laverne faces her nemesis, Rosie, when the girls attend a shower for a dear friend that's held at Rosie's house.
6) "Look Before You Leap"--Laverne thinks she may have more than a hangover when she can't remember what she did the night before at a brewery party. Some touching moments.
7) "Dear Future Model"--This funny episode has the girls enrolling in modeling school to class up their acts and attract a better class of men.
8) "Good Time Girls"--Another show in the mode of the old "I Love Lucy" slapstick shows.
9) "Two of Our Weirdos Are Missing"--Laverne and Shirley try to find their slightly daft friends, Lenny and Squiggy, after the two of them run away to join the circus. And not even the circus wants these freaks.
10) "Oh Hear the Angels Voices"--L&S entertain the troops, sort of, at a hospital Christmas party.
11) "Guilty Until Proven Not Innocent"--Laverne faces shoplifting charges after a handkerchief at a ritzy store falls into her purse.
12) "Birthday Show"--A flashback clip show has Laverne and Shirley's friends reminiscing as they wait for the two to arrive at a surprise party.
13) "Playing Hooky"--L&S play hooky from the Shotz Brewery and have the flipside of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."
14) "Guinea Pigs"-Classic Lucy-style episode has the girls volunteering to be guinea pigs for a science experiment.
15) "Call Me a Taxi"--More Lucy as Laverne and Shirley work as "dime-a-dance" girls to help pay the bills.
16) "Steppin' Out"--As Laverne and Shirley get ready for their dream dates, what else could go wrong?
17) "Buddy, Can You Spare a Father?"--Come on, writers, who's going to disappear next? This time it's Laverne's father.
18) "Honeymoon Hotel"--Shirley wins a contest, but when the two girls try to cash in, predictable problems arise.
19) "Hi, Neighbor, Book II"--It's Laverne and Shirley to the rescue when Lenny and Squiggy get stood up."
20) "Frank's Fling"--Laverne's dad has a new love, and she's decided he needs a new life.
21) "Haunted House"--Laverne and Shirley need a new sofa, and one thing leads to another in this domino comedy.
22) "Lonely at the Middle"--When Shirley gets promoted, her co-workers give her the cold shoulder . . . and more.
23) "Citizen Krane"--More singing (yikes) as a rich guy wants to be Laverne & Shirley's sugar daddy.
It's been compared to "I Love Lucy" and also famously dubbed "TV junk food" by critics, who resented the show's quick rise to the top of the Nielsen ratings. Say what you will, there was something about these two "girls" that appealed to Americans. Maybe it was the odd-couple combination of Shirley's wide-eyed hopefulness and Laverne's tough cynicism. Maybe it was the fact that these two opposites were linked together because they were "good girls" at a time when there were the ones who "vo-dee-oh-doed" and the ones who didn't. Maybe it was the way in which the show addressed class, with these two blue-collar brewery workers constantly reminded of their lowly station in life but trying, all the same, for something bigger and better. Maybe it was the likeable cast. Or maybe--just maybe--it was that their brand of comedy really did remind folks of TV's beloved Queen of Comedy, Lucille Ball.
"Happy Days" fans will know immediately that Laverne (Penny Marshall) and Shirley (Cindy Williams) made a brief debut on that show as friends of Fonzie. Like "Happy Days," this is the 1950s, but seen from the point of view of two Shotz Brewery workers in Milwaukee. Instead of a coming-of-age nostalgic sitcom, it was a show about two roommates trying to find happiness outside of high school. The girls worked as bottle-cappers at the brewery, where their friends, Lenny (Michael McKean) and Squiggy (David L. Lander) were truck drivers. As quasi-cool greasers, they were the male equivalent of Laverne and Shirley--two people who thought they had more going for them than they really did, and two people who played off each other well in order to generate laughs.
"Happy Days" had the protective parents, and wild-haired, wild-eyed comedian Phil Foster serves that function here as Laverne's dad, Frank, who runs The Pizza Bowl-which doubled as a kind of Arnold's and a place for Laverne to work on the side to pick up extra money.
After finishing third in the Nielsen's its first season, well ahead of "Happy Days," at the end of the second season"Laverne & Shirley" found itself in the number two spot behind the top-rated show in America: "Happy Days." Its third and fourth seasons it would incredibly become the number one show in America.
Despite the show's popularity, the second season is really pretty uneven as far as the comedy goes. Some of the best episodes are, in fact, the ones that go at slapstick head-on, without embarrassment and without hesitation. When Laverne and Shirley wrestle with two dates who got their number off a men's room wall and Laverne has one of them pinned with her foot on the couch and is pushing against the other while Shirley runs for help, it's a classic Lucy moment with a blue-collar twist. Episodes like "Good Time Girls," "Guinea Pigs," and "Guilty Until Proven Not Innocent" are the comedic highlights that make up for some of the so-so episodes.
Here's a rundown on the 23 season installments, which are included on four single-sided discs in a nifty clear keep-case that's the same size as a standard DVD case, but which has a plastic "page" that holds two additional discs:
1) "Drive! She Said"--Shirley cons Laverne into going "halvsies" on a car, but the problem is that Laverne can't drive, except to drive pedestrians hurriedly out of her way.
2) "Angels of Mercy"--Aren't these two a little old to be Candy-Stripers? Laverne catches the volunteer bug from Shirley.
3) "Bachelor Mothers"--Laverne and Shirley baby-sit an infant whose mother is on the road with Fonzie (Henry Winkler).
4) "Excuse Me, May I Cut In?"--Two more "Happy Days" alums put in an appearance, as Richie (Ron Howard) and Potsie (Anson Williams) try to help Laverne and Shirley win a dance contest. One of the more entertaining trips down memory lane.
5) "Bridal Shower"--Laverne faces her nemesis, Rosie, when the girls attend a shower for a dear friend that's held at Rosie's house.
6) "Look Before You Leap"--Laverne thinks she may have more than a hangover when she can't remember what she did the night before at a brewery party. Some touching moments.
7) "Dear Future Model"--This funny episode has the girls enrolling in modeling school to class up their acts and attract a better class of men.
8) "Good Time Girls"--Another show in the mode of the old "I Love Lucy" slapstick shows.
9) "Two of Our Weirdos Are Missing"--Laverne and Shirley try to find their slightly daft friends, Lenny and Squiggy, after the two of them run away to join the circus. And not even the circus wants these freaks.
10) "Oh Hear the Angels Voices"--L&S entertain the troops, sort of, at a hospital Christmas party.
11) "Guilty Until Proven Not Innocent"--Laverne faces shoplifting charges after a handkerchief at a ritzy store falls into her purse.
12) "Birthday Show"--A flashback clip show has Laverne and Shirley's friends reminiscing as they wait for the two to arrive at a surprise party.
13) "Playing Hooky"--L&S play hooky from the Shotz Brewery and have the flipside of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."
14) "Guinea Pigs"-Classic Lucy-style episode has the girls volunteering to be guinea pigs for a science experiment.
15) "Call Me a Taxi"--More Lucy as Laverne and Shirley work as "dime-a-dance" girls to help pay the bills.
16) "Steppin' Out"--As Laverne and Shirley get ready for their dream dates, what else could go wrong?
17) "Buddy, Can You Spare a Father?"--Come on, writers, who's going to disappear next? This time it's Laverne's father.
18) "Honeymoon Hotel"--Shirley wins a contest, but when the two girls try to cash in, predictable problems arise.
19) "Hi, Neighbor, Book II"--It's Laverne and Shirley to the rescue when Lenny and Squiggy get stood up."
20) "Frank's Fling"--Laverne's dad has a new love, and she's decided he needs a new life.
21) "Haunted House"--Laverne and Shirley need a new sofa, and one thing leads to another in this domino comedy.
22) "Lonely at the Middle"--When Shirley gets promoted, her co-workers give her the cold shoulder . . . and more.
23) "Citizen Krane"--More singing (yikes) as a rich guy wants to be Laverne & Shirley's sugar daddy.
"Happy Days" fans will know immediately that Laverne (Penny Marshall) and Shirley (Cindy Williams) made a brief debut on that show as friends of Fonzie. Like "Happy Days," this is the 1950s, but seen from the point of view of two Shotz Brewery workers in Milwaukee. Instead of a coming-of-age nostalgic sitcom, it was a show about two roommates trying to find happiness outside of high school. The girls worked as bottle-cappers at the brewery, where their friends, Lenny (Michael McKean) and Squiggy (David L. Lander) were truck drivers. As quasi-cool greasers, they were the male equivalent of Laverne and Shirley--two people who thought they had more going for them than they really did, and two people who played off each other well in order to generate laughs.
"Happy Days" had the protective parents, and wild-haired, wild-eyed comedian Phil Foster serves that function here as Laverne's dad, Frank, who runs The Pizza Bowl-which doubled as a kind of Arnold's and a place for Laverne to work on the side to pick up extra money.
After finishing third in the Nielsen's its first season, well ahead of "Happy Days," at the end of the second season"Laverne & Shirley" found itself in the number two spot behind the top-rated show in America: "Happy Days." Its third and fourth seasons it would incredibly become the number one show in America.
Despite the show's popularity, the second season is really pretty uneven as far as the comedy goes. Some of the best episodes are, in fact, the ones that go at slapstick head-on, without embarrassment and without hesitation. When Laverne and Shirley wrestle with two dates who got their number off a men's room wall and Laverne has one of them pinned with her foot on the couch and is pushing against the other while Shirley runs for help, it's a classic Lucy moment with a blue-collar twist. Episodes like "Good Time Girls," "Guinea Pigs," and "Guilty Until Proven Not Innocent" are the comedic highlights that make up for some of the so-so episodes.
Here's a rundown on the 23 season installments, which are included on four single-sided discs in a nifty clear keep-case that's the same size as a standard DVD case, but which has a plastic "page" that holds two additional discs:
1) "Drive! She Said"--Shirley cons Laverne into going "halvsies" on a car, but the problem is that Laverne can't drive, except to drive pedestrians hurriedly out of her way.
2) "Angels of Mercy"--Aren't these two a little old to be Candy-Stripers? Laverne catches the volunteer bug from Shirley.
3) "Bachelor Mothers"--Laverne and Shirley baby-sit an infant whose mother is on the road with Fonzie (Henry Winkler).
4) "Excuse Me, May I Cut In?"--Two more "Happy Days" alums put in an appearance, as Richie (Ron Howard) and Potsie (Anson Williams) try to help Laverne and Shirley win a dance contest. One of the more entertaining trips down memory lane.
5) "Bridal Shower"--Laverne faces her nemesis, Rosie, when the girls attend a shower for a dear friend that's held at Rosie's house.
6) "Look Before You Leap"--Laverne thinks she may have more than a hangover when she can't remember what she did the night before at a brewery party. Some touching moments.
7) "Dear Future Model"--This funny episode has the girls enrolling in modeling school to class up their acts and attract a better class of men.
8) "Good Time Girls"--Another show in the mode of the old "I Love Lucy" slapstick shows.
9) "Two of Our Weirdos Are Missing"--Laverne and Shirley try to find their slightly daft friends, Lenny and Squiggy, after the two of them run away to join the circus. And not even the circus wants these freaks.
10) "Oh Hear the Angels Voices"--L&S entertain the troops, sort of, at a hospital Christmas party.
11) "Guilty Until Proven Not Innocent"--Laverne faces shoplifting charges after a handkerchief at a ritzy store falls into her purse.
12) "Birthday Show"--A flashback clip show has Laverne and Shirley's friends reminiscing as they wait for the two to arrive at a surprise party.
13) "Playing Hooky"--L&S play hooky from the Shotz Brewery and have the flipside of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."
14) "Guinea Pigs"-Classic Lucy-style episode has the girls volunteering to be guinea pigs for a science experiment.
15) "Call Me a Taxi"--More Lucy as Laverne and Shirley work as "dime-a-dance" girls to help pay the bills.
16) "Steppin' Out"--As Laverne and Shirley get ready for their dream dates, what else could go wrong?
17) "Buddy, Can You Spare a Father?"--Come on, writers, who's going to disappear next? This time it's Laverne's father.
18) "Honeymoon Hotel"--Shirley wins a contest, but when the two girls try to cash in, predictable problems arise.
19) "Hi, Neighbor, Book II"--It's Laverne and Shirley to the rescue when Lenny and Squiggy get stood up."
20) "Frank's Fling"--Laverne's dad has a new love, and she's decided he needs a new life.
21) "Haunted House"--Laverne and Shirley need a new sofa, and one thing leads to another in this domino comedy.
22) "Lonely at the Middle"--When Shirley gets promoted, her co-workers give her the cold shoulder . . . and more.
23) "Citizen Krane"--More singing (yikes) as a rich guy wants to be Laverne & Shirley's sugar daddy.
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