TV Flashback: Laverne and Shirley

Another classic show from my youth!

Laverne and Shirley was a classic American Sitcom that aired on ABC from 1976-1983.

The show starred:

Penny Marshall – Laverne De Fazio
Cindy Williams – Shirley Feeney
Michael McKean – Lenny Kosnowski
David Lander – Squiggy Squigman
Phil Foster – Frank De Fazio
Eddie Mekka – Carmine Ragusa
Betty Garrett – Edna Babish De Fazio
Leslie Easterbrook – Rhonda Lee
Ed Marinaro – Sonny St. Jaques

The show was a Spin-Off of the hit show “Happy Days“. Laverne and Shirley appeared on that show as acquaintances of the Fonzie character.

The show was set in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the first five seasons, having the girls working at the Schotz Brewery. For the sixth and final season, the girls moved to Burbank, California after losing their jobs at the brewery, and in true Hollywood fashion, the supporting characters all followed them to California.

Cindy Williams ended up in a contract dispute in the final season and left the show immediately after she and her character became pregnant. Penny Marshall finished out the season with a number of guest-stars, but no Shirley.

Micheal McKean and David Lander created the characters of Lenny and Squiggy while both men were students at Carnegie Mellon University. After college, they continued performing the characters in comedy routines until they were hired to be in the cast of Laverne and Shirley.

In seasons 3 and 4, Laverne and Shirley was the top-rated show on Television.

The series was co-created and produced by Penny Marshall’s older brother, Garry Marshall. Marshall had also produced “The Odd Couple“, a series in which Penny Marshall appeared in a supporting role.

The apartment set used in “The Odd Couple” was redesigned and used as the set of the girl’s apartment in “Laverne and Shirley“.

Cindy Williams had worked with Director George Lucas on the film “American Graffiti“. She would later audition for the role of Princess Leia in “Star Wars” at the same time she was starring on Laverne and Shirley.

This classic sitcom, featuring great comedic timing and great physical comedy from it’s talented leading ladies, never received an Emmy Award.

After Laverne and Shirley, the two cast members that would go on to the greatest success were Penny Marshall and Micheal McKean.

Penny Marshall continued acting, along with Producing and Directing, and would go on to direct films such as “Big“, “A League of their Own“, “Awakenings“, and “The Preacher’s Wife“. She is the first female Director in Hollywood history to direct a film that made over $100 Million at the box office. (“Big”)

Michael McKean has become a prolific character actor on Television and in films. He appeared as English Rocker David St. Hubbins in “This is Spinal Tap“, and has gone on to appear in over 200 Television and Film productions in his career.