On This Date in 1983: 'Laverne & Shirley' Mercifully Ended Its TV Run - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 05-10-2011, 09:18 AM

May 10th, 1983 - The last episode of "Laverne & Shirley" aired on ABC

tmac81s · 05-10-2011, 10:50 PM

and sad to say, it went out with a wimper rather than a bang. For a show that started so strong, even becoming the #1 show in all of TV. The last episode is pretty forgettable. It's a backdoor pilot for a Carmine spin-off (a character they ought to have left behind in Milwaukee) going to become a star on Broadway. Laverne only appears in the opening scene, and no mention of Shirley.

Dr. Thong · 05-11-2011, 11:54 AM

A show that went from riches to rags.

shotzette · 05-11-2011, 11:25 PM

So sad to see such a once terrific show limp out with little fanfare. I really wish that TPTB had been able to give the fans a real finale.

Dr. Thong · 05-12-2011, 12:30 PM

It was really a shame that L&S was killed by the ego battles of its two stars, because supposedly Penny & Cindy had been friends before the show and had done some work together.

In a way, though, I can see Cindy Williams' side of the issue. The show was a Marshall family production and I can see where she'd feel that her side of things might not be taken into consideration.

TVFactFan · 05-12-2011, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmac81s

and sad to say, it went out with a wimper rather than a bang. For a show that started so strong, even becoming the #1 show in all of TV. The last episode is pretty forgettable. It's a backdoor pilot for a Carmine spin-off (a character they ought to have left behind in Milwaukee) going to become a star on Broadway. Laverne only appears in the opening scene, and no mention of Shirley.

Wow never knew that, so the last episode was truly the New End-lol

shotzette · 05-12-2011, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

It was really a shame that L&S was killed by the ego battles of its two stars, because supposedly Penny & Cindy had been friends before the show and had done some work together.

In a way, though, I can see Cindy Williams' side of the issue. The show was a Marshall family production and I can see where she'd feel that her side of things might not be taken into consideration.

I agree, I wish that they had both been more professional. That being said, I can imagine present-day Cindy Williams traveling back in time to talk to her 1983 counterpart and saying, "Suck it up! Penny is going to have an awesome directing career when this is over and you're going to be doing a lot of theater. In the Midwest. And Canada. See where I'm going with this?"

Mr. Television · 05-12-2011, 06:41 PM

I don't think I ever saw the last show. I missed quite a few that last season. Sad.

shotzette · 05-12-2011, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

I don't think I ever saw the last show. I missed quite a few that last season. Sad.

You really didn't miss much. I adored the show and it was pretty painful to watch the decline. No Cindy Williams or Betty Garrett and very little Penny Marshall and Michael McKean. Far too much Phil Foster, David Lander, Eddie Mekka, and Leslie Easterbrook. And Charles Fleischer (shudder).

mets82 · 06-22-2011, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmac81s

and sad to say, it went out with a wimper rather than a bang. For a show that started so strong, even becoming the #1 show in all of TV. The last episode is pretty forgettable. It's a backdoor pilot for a Carmine spin-off (a character they ought to have left behind in Milwaukee) going to become a star on Broadway. Laverne only appears in the opening scene, and no mention of Shirley.

That was the final episode?? I've never seen it. I mean if they were going to end the series maybe they should have just had Laverne do a flashback episode or something.

James · 08-14-2011, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmac81s

Laverne only appears in the opening scene, ...

I thought Laverne didn't appear until about the 10-minute mark on that inflatable tube.

James · 08-14-2011, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shotzette

Far too much ... Charles Fleischer (shudder).

Charles who?

IllinoisTVFan · 08-14-2011, 04:00 PM

I used to watch this when it was in its broadcast time and have started watching it again now it's on Me-TV (I watched it when it was on Nick At Nite too). I've found myself getting very bored once it went to California and unwatchable when Williams left. I probably never seen the finale because by then I wasn't watching, nor was I when the reruns today start getting into the California episodes.

mets82 · 08-14-2011, 10:32 PM

I saw the last episode on the Hub last week. Wow, painfully bad. I did like Laverne on the raft in her house but man that stunk. Way too much Carmine and Rick.

TMC · 06-11-2018, 03:59 AM

I get the feeling that Garry Marshall and company didn't have a concrete exit strategy (i.e. a real plan for how the show could end) going into their eighth year. When Cindy Marshall became pregnant and subsequently left the show that naturally threw the production a curve-ball. It soon became extremely apparent that Penny Marshall didn't have what it took to carry the show by herself (it didn't help that the show was still called Laverne & Shirley even though Shirley would be gone after two episodes into Season 8).

05-10-2011, 09:18 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	On This Date in 1983: 'Laverne & Shirley' Mercifully Ended Its TV Run May 10th, 1983 - The last episode of "Laverne & Shirley" aired on ABC
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05-10-2011, 10:50 PM	#2
tmac81s Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 06, 2011 Location: Kalispell, MT, USA Posts: 203	and sad to say, it went out with a wimper rather than a bang. For a show that started so strong, even becoming the #1 show in all of TV. The last episode is pretty forgettable. It's a backdoor pilot for a Carmine spin-off (a character they ought to have left behind in Milwaukee) going to become a star on Broadway. Laverne only appears in the opening scene, and no mention of Shirley.
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05-11-2011, 11:54 AM	#3
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,545	A show that went from riches to rags.
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05-12-2011, 06:41 PM	#8
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	I don't think I ever saw the last show. I missed quite a few that last season. Sad.
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05-11-2011, 11:25 PM	#4
shotzette Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 30, 2004 Posts: 1,782	So sad to see such a once terrific show limp out with little fanfare. I really wish that TPTB had been able to give the fans a real finale.

05-12-2011, 12:30 PM	#5
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,545	It was really a shame that L&S was killed by the ego battles of its two stars, because supposedly Penny & Cindy had been friends before the show and had done some work together. In a way, though, I can see Cindy Williams' side of the issue. The show was a Marshall family production and I can see where she'd feel that her side of things might not be taken into consideration.

08-14-2011, 04:00 PM	#13
IllinoisTVFan Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 22, 2011 Location: South of Chicago Posts: 4,072	I used to watch this when it was in its broadcast time and have started watching it again now it's on Me-TV (I watched it when it was on Nick At Nite too). I've found myself getting very bored once it went to California and unwatchable when Williams left. I probably never seen the finale because by then I wasn't watching, nor was I when the reruns today start getting into the California episodes.

08-14-2011, 10:32 PM	#14
mets82 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 14, 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,058	I saw the last episode on the Hub last week. Wow, painfully bad. I did like Laverne on the raft in her house but man that stunk. Way too much Carmine and Rick.

06-11-2018, 03:59 AM	#15
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,407	I get the feeling that Garry Marshall and company didn't have a concrete exit strategy (i.e. a real plan for how the show could end) going into their eighth year. When Cindy Marshall became pregnant and subsequently left the show that naturally threw the production a curve-ball. It soon became extremely apparent that Penny Marshall didn't have what it took to carry the show by herself (it didn't help that the show was still called Laverne & Shirley even though Shirley would be gone after two episodes into Season 8).