The eighth and final season of Laverne & Shirley, an American television sitcom series, began airing on September 28, 1982 on ABC. The season concluded on May 10, 1983 after 22 episodes.
| Laverne & Shirley | |
|---|---|
| Season 8 | |
 DVD cover | |
| Starring | |
| No. of episodes | 22 |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | September 28, 1982 – May 10, 1983 |
| Season chronology | |
The season aired Tuesdays at 8:30-9:00 pm (EST).[1][2] It ranked 25th among television programs and garnered a 17.8 rating.[3] The entire season was released on DVD in North America on May 6, 2014.
Overview
editThe series had revolved around the longtime friends Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney, although there was to be a massive change early in this season with several cast members departing the series. Shirley (Cindy Williams) permanently leaves the show after episode 2. The character of Shirley marries and moves away, leaving Laverne on her own. Despite this, the show is still titled Laverne & Shirley. Lenny (Michael McKean) was also demoted from the main cast as McKean took time off to film This Is Spinal Tap; he would remain a recurring character, appearing in five episodes.
The changes left Laverne as the main lead, and the only character to appear in every episode of season 8. The other supporting characters (Squiggy, Carmine, Frank, Rhonda) all had episodes which focused on them (alongside Laverne), but they were also each individually absent for a few episodes through the season. The season is set in 1967, remaining (as the show had been since season 6) set in Burbank, California.
Cast
edit- Penny Marshall as Laverne DeFazio
- David Lander as Andrew "Squiggy" Squiggman (episodes 1, 3, 5, 7, 12-14, 17-21)
- Phil Foster as Frank DeFazio (episodes 1-10, 13, 15-19, 21-22)
- Eddie Mekka as Carmine Ragusa (episodes 1-4, 6-9, 14, 16-22)
- Leslie Easterbrook as Rhonda Lee (episodes 1-8, 10, 16-22)
Guest appearances
edit- Cindy Williams as Shirley Feeney (episodes 1 and 2)
- Michael McKean as Leonard "Lenny" Kosnowski (episodes 1, 3, 7, 13 and 18)
Episodes
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 157 | 1 | "The Mummy's Bride" | Tom Trbovich | Roger Garrett | September 28, 1982 | 157 |
|
Shirley makes plans to marry Walter Meeney. | ||||||
| 158 | 2 | "Window on Main Street" | Tom Trbovich | Al Aidekman | October 12, 1982 | 158 |
|
The roommates have to spend a week in a store display, but make fools of themselves when they're hypnotized into believing they're chickens when they hear a bell. Note: This is Cindy Williams' final episode. Neither Michael McKean nor David L. Lander appear in this episode. | ||||||
| 159 | 3 | "The Note" | Gabrielle Alice James | Judy Pioli | October 19, 1982 | 169 |
|
After Shirley leaves to live with her new husband, everyone tries to help Laverne cope by finding her a new roommate. Note: This is the first episode without Cindy Williams. | ||||||
| 160 | 4 | "Lost in Spacesuits" | Tom Trbovich | Barry Rubinowitz | October 26, 1982 | 166 |
|
Laverne gets a job testing anti-gravity boots. Note: Neither Michael McKean nor David L. Lander appear in this episode. | ||||||
| 161 | 5 | "The Playboy Show" | Michael McKean | Story by : Ed Solomon & Joan Marks Teleplay by : Ed Solomon | November 9, 1982 | 160 |
|
Laverne decides to become a Playboy bunny. Guest Star: Carrie Fisher Note: Though Michael McKean directs this episode, he does not appear in it. | ||||||
| 162 | 6 | "Death Row: Part 1" | Tom Trbovich | Gene Braunstein & Robert Perlow | November 16, 1982 | 167 |
|
Laverne gets mixed up with a group of radicals who rob a bank. Note: Neither Michael McKean nor David L. Lander appear in this episode. | ||||||
| 163 | 7 | "Death Row: Part 2" | Tom Trbovich | Nick LeRose | November 23, 1982 | 168 |
|
Laverne gets sent to Death Row by mistake. She soon finds out that she’ll be murdered by midnight. | ||||||
| 164 | 8 | "Jinxed" | Tom Trbovich | Tony DiMarco & Dave Ketchum | November 30, 1982 | 171 |
|
Laverne thinks her bad luck is connected to a chain letter. Guest Star: Carol Kane Note: Neither Michael McKean nor David L. Lander appear in this episode. | ||||||
| 165 | 9 | "Of Mice and Men" | Paul Sills | Story by : Susan Jane Lindner & Jack Lukes Teleplay by : Jill Gordon & Ed Solomon | December 7, 1982 | 170 |
|
Laverne's boyfriend loses his self-confidence. Note: Michael McKean, David L. Lander, and Leslie Easterbrook do not appear in this episode. | ||||||
| 166 | 10 | "The Gymnast Show" | Tom Trbovich | Monica Johnson | December 14, 1982 | 173 |
|
Laverne discovers she resembles a circus aerialist's partner, whom he blames for a serious trapeze accident. Guest Stars: Adam West as Edgar Garbaldi, Patrick O'Moore as Arthur Note: Michael McKean, David L. Lander, and Eddie Mekka do not appear in this episode. | ||||||
| 167 | 11 | "The Monastery Show" | Garry Marshall | Story by : Ken Sagoes & Nick LaRose Teleplay by : Jill Gordon & Ed Solomon | January 4, 1983 | 175 |
|
Laverne goes to a monastery for rest and relaxation. Featuring Louise Lasser, and Fran Ryan. Note: Penny Marshall is the only series regular to appear in this episode. | ||||||
| 168 | 12 | "Defective Ballet" | Tom Trbovich | Nick LeRose | January 11, 1983 | 165 |
|
Squiggy is mistaken for a defecting Russian dancer. Note: Michael McKean, Eddie Mekka, Leslie Easterbrook and Phil Foster do not appear in this episode. | ||||||
| 169 | 13 | "The Baby Show" | Phil Perez | Judy Pioli | January 18, 1983 | 159 |
|
Sgt. Plout enlists Laverne's help in winning an expectant-mothers contest. Note: Leslie Easterbrook does not appear in this episode. | ||||||
| 170 | 14 | "Rock & Roll Show" | Chris Thompson | Jill Gordon | January 25, 1983 | 172 |
|
Chuck asks Laverne to manage his band. Note: Michael McKean, Leslie Easterbrook and Phil Foster do not appear in this episode. | ||||||
| 171 | 15 | "The Fashion Show" | Tom Trbovich | Roger Garrett & Al Aidekman & Marc Sotkin | February 1, 1983 | 163 |
|
Laverne thinks her photographer boyfriend is spending too much time with models. Note: Michael McKean, David L. Lander, Eddie Mekka, and Leslie Easterbrook do not appear in this episode. | ||||||
| 172 | 16 | "Short on Time" | Tom Trbovich | Jack Lukes | February 8, 1983 | 161 |
|
Laverne's commitment to babysitting could hurt her chances of singing with the Spinners. Note: Michael McKean and David L. Lander do not appear in this episode. | ||||||
| 173 | 17 | "Ghost Story" | Tom Trbovich | Kenny Wolin & Barry Bleach | February 15, 1983 | 176 |
|
Laverne believes there's a ghost in her apartment. Note: Michael McKean does not appear in this episode. | ||||||
| 174 | 18 | "Please Don't Feed the Buzzards" | Tom Trbovich | Story by : Andy Goldberg & Cheryl Alu Teleplay by : Andy Goldberg | February 22, 1983 | 162 |
|
Lenny and Squiggy try to keep their treasure map a secret, but they soon have Frank and Carmine along on the treasure hunt. Note: This is Michael McKean's final episode. | ||||||
| 175 | 19 | "How's Your Sister?" | Tom Trbovich | Roger Garrett | March 1, 1983 | 174 |
|
Carmine accepts payment to date Squiggy's sister, then comes to regret it when Rhonda invites them to a big party. Note: Michael McKean does not appear in this episode. | ||||||
| 176 | 20 | "Do the Carmine" | Tom Trbovich | Jay Grossman | March 15, 1983 | 164 |
|
An activist claims that anti-American propaganda can be heard on Carmine's hit record -- if it plays in reverse. Note: Michael McKean and Phil Foster do not appear in this episode. | ||||||
| 177 | 21 | "Councilman DeFazio" | Tom Trbovich | Story by : Francis T. Perry Williams & Dottie Archibald Teleplay by : Dottie Archibald & Phil Foster | May 3, 1983 | 177 |
|
Frank runs for city council in protest of plans to raze Cowboy Bill's for an office complex. Note: This is the final appearance of David L. Lander. Michael McKean does not appear in this episode. | ||||||
| 178 | 22 | "Here Today, Hair Tomorrow" | Tom Trbovich | Story by : Susan Jane Lindner & Ken Sagoes Teleplay by : Susan Jane Lindner | May 10, 1983 | 178 |
|
Carmine moves to the Big Apple to make it as an actor. Note: The episode was produced as a backdoor pilot for a spin-off series for Carmine, who was shown moving to New York City to star in the Broadway show Hair. Laverne, Frank and Rhonda are seen only very briefly; Lenny and Squiggy are not seen at all. The spin-off never materialized. | ||||||
References
edit- ^ "TV Listings for - November 18, 1980". TV Tango. November 18, 1980. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
- ^ "TV Listings for - May 26, 1981". TV Tango. May 26, 1981. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
- ^ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (Ninth Edition). Ballantine Books. p. 1687-1690. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4.