Last Season

[James]

During all but the first two episodes of the last season of L&S (1982-83) in the opening sequence the first scene shifted from L&S walking out of their condo to Laverne carrying a bag of groceries amongst a bunch of kids (who counted to eight and said "Schlemeil! Schlemeizel! Hassenpheffer Incorporated" or whatever). This was after Shirley/Cindy Williams left the show.

Who were these kids?

[callmetootie]

I'm willing to bet that they were iether a bunch of kids that they took off of the streets, or that they were the children of the directors and producers of the show. I thought that the fact that Laverne was singing with a bunch of kids instead of Shirley was really stupid, although the last season was one of the best seasons.

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Andrew Carden

[wayman]

Lifetime Real Women is currently showing 'Laverne and Shirley' 4 times a day. Right now they are showing the final season episodes. I've noticed they have dubbed Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams doing the "Schlemeil! Schlemeizel!" over the kids' voices in the opening credits. I thought that was strange they would do that.

[TVFactFan]

Lifetime Real Women is currently showing 'Laverne and Shirley' 4 times a day. Right now they are showing the final season episodes. I've noticed they have dubbed Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams doing the "Schlemeil! Schlemeizel!" over the kids' voices in the opening credits. I thought that was strange they would do that.



But if Cindy Williams left the show while would that still be in the opening credits? She was no longer apart of the show so it makes since that she was removed from the opening credits

[wayman]

But if Cindy Williams left the show while would that still be in the opening credits? She was no longer apart of the show so it makes since that she was removed from the opening credits

Cindy Williams is removed from the opening credits, but when these episodes originally aired, it was the kids' voices doing the "Schlemeil! Schlemeizel!" Now you can tell it is Penny Marshall's and Cindy Williams's voices dubbed over the kids' voices.

[TVFactFan]

Cindy Williams is removed from the opening credits, but when these episodes originally aired, it was the kids' voices doing the "Schlemeil! Schlemeizel!" Now you can tell it is Penny Marshall's and Cindy Williams's voices dubbed over the kids' voices.



What Kids?

[wayman]

What Kids?

After Cindy Williams left the show and she was removed from the opening credits, they showed kids marching past Laverne doing the "Schlemeil! Schlemeizel!" at the beginning of the theme song. Laverne is carrying a grocery bag.

[tiff7]

When is it on?

[wayman]

When is it on?

It airs every afternoon on Lifetime Real Women at 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, and 3:30 Central Time. That would be 3:00, 3:30, 4:00, and 4:30 Eastern. Airing 4 times a day, they get through each season in about a week.

[tiff7]

Thanks! 4 times a day, wow! Too bad I'm online then! I need 2 watch L&S again!

[treky]

so THAT'S what they did with the opening in that HORRIBLE last season. I've always wondered what they did, since Cindy Williams had left the show then; and they unfortunately tried to keep it going with just Penny Marrshal.

[Edster2973]

so THAT'S what they did with the opening in that HORRIBLE last season. I've always wondered what they did, since Cindy Williams had left the show then; and they unfortunately tried to keep it going with just Penny Marrshal.

In all fairness, the last season wasn't terrible. It wasn't as good as with Cindy Williams of course, and I'm not about to claim that it was, but I don't dismiss the last season as garbage either. Penny Marshall held her own and some of the episodes were actually quite funny.

The show's ratings were already in decline (as were the ratings for other ABC hits, such as Happy Days and Three's Company). The audiences were getting into cartoon violent shows at the time (like The A Team, Simon & Simon, and Magnum P.I.) and comedies were just being fazed out. It had nothing to do with the quality of the shows.

Granted, me personally, I prefer Laverne & Shirley with both actresses, but there were other contributing factors besides Cindy's departure that caused the show to sink. Betty Garrett, who had assumed that the previous season would be the last, had committed herself to appear in a play and had to leave the show as well. Her absence didn't help matters. The same with Michael McKeon's Lenny, who also left. The reasons for their absences were weak and definitely not satisfying. Edna's leaving Frank tainted my image of her, for one (Michael Stivick anyone?).

But when viewing the last season episodes by themselves, Penny Marshall, and Laverne as a character, were strong enough to carry most of it. The last season deserves a lot more credit than it has been given.


Ed

[AB]

Did they ever say what happened to Lenny that last season? I did hear Frank say that Edna had left him but I can't remember if anything was ever said about Lenny. Just wondering!

[Edster2973]

Did they ever say what happened to Lenny that last season? I did hear Frank say that Edna had left him but I can't remember if anything was ever said about Lenny. Just wondering!

Not to my knowledge. I think they didn't bother explaining his absence because he wasn't really off the show. He did make several guest appearances during the last season (if I recall correctly); he just wasn't a regular anymore. So there was no reason to come up with a way to explain his leaving.

Ed