Laverne & Shirley season 8

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 episodes22
Release
Original networkABC
Original releaseSeptember 28, 1982 (1982-09-28) –
May 10, 1983 (1983-05-10)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 7
List of episodes

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

edit

The 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

Guest appearances

edit

Episodes

edit
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
1571"The Mummy's Bride"Tom TrbovichRoger GarrettSeptember 28, 1982 (1982-09-28)157
Shirley makes plans to marry Walter Meeney.
1582"Window on Main Street"Tom TrbovichAl AidekmanOctober 12, 1982 (1982-10-12)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.
1593"The Note"Gabrielle Alice JamesJudy PioliOctober 19, 1982 (1982-10-19)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.
1604"Lost in Spacesuits"Tom TrbovichBarry RubinowitzOctober 26, 1982 (1982-10-26)166
Laverne gets a job testing anti-gravity boots.
Note: Neither Michael McKean nor David L. Lander appear in this episode.
1615"The Playboy Show"Michael McKeanStory by : Ed Solomon & Joan Marks
Teleplay by : Ed Solomon
November 9, 1982 (1982-11-09)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.
1626"Death Row: Part 1"Tom TrbovichGene Braunstein & Robert PerlowNovember 16, 1982 (1982-11-16)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.
1637"Death Row: Part 2"Tom TrbovichNick LeRoseNovember 23, 1982 (1982-11-23)168
Laverne gets sent to Death Row by mistake. She soon finds out that she’ll be murdered by midnight.
1648"Jinxed"Tom TrbovichTony DiMarco & Dave KetchumNovember 30, 1982 (1982-11-30)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.
1659"Of Mice and Men"Paul SillsStory by : Susan Jane Lindner & Jack Lukes
Teleplay by : Jill Gordon & Ed Solomon
December 7, 1982 (1982-12-07)170
Laverne's boyfriend loses his self-confidence.
Note: Michael McKean, David L. Lander, and Leslie Easterbrook do not appear in this episode.
16610"The Gymnast Show"Tom TrbovichMonica JohnsonDecember 14, 1982 (1982-12-14)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.
16711"The Monastery Show"Garry MarshallStory by : Ken Sagoes & Nick LaRose
Teleplay by : Jill Gordon & Ed Solomon
January 4, 1983 (1983-01-04)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.
16812"Defective Ballet"Tom TrbovichNick LeRoseJanuary 11, 1983 (1983-01-11)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.
16913"The Baby Show"Phil PerezJudy PioliJanuary 18, 1983 (1983-01-18)159
Sgt. Plout enlists Laverne's help in winning an expectant-mothers contest.
Note: Leslie Easterbrook does not appear in this episode.
17014"Rock & Roll Show"Chris ThompsonJill GordonJanuary 25, 1983 (1983-01-25)172
Chuck asks Laverne to manage his band.
Note: Michael McKean, Leslie Easterbrook and Phil Foster do not appear in this episode.
17115"The Fashion Show"Tom TrbovichRoger Garrett & Al Aidekman & Marc SotkinFebruary 1, 1983 (1983-02-01)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.
17216"Short on Time"Tom TrbovichJack LukesFebruary 8, 1983 (1983-02-08)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.
17317"Ghost Story"Tom TrbovichKenny Wolin & Barry BleachFebruary 15, 1983 (1983-02-15)176
Laverne believes there's a ghost in her apartment.
Note: Michael McKean does not appear in this episode.
17418"Please Don't Feed the Buzzards"Tom TrbovichStory by : Andy Goldberg & Cheryl Alu
Teleplay by : Andy Goldberg
February 22, 1983 (1983-02-22)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.
17519"How's Your Sister?"Tom TrbovichRoger GarrettMarch 1, 1983 (1983-03-01)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.
17620"Do the Carmine"Tom TrbovichJay GrossmanMarch 15, 1983 (1983-03-15)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.
17721"Councilman DeFazio"Tom TrbovichStory by : Francis T. Perry Williams & Dottie Archibald
Teleplay by : Dottie Archibald & Phil Foster
May 3, 1983 (1983-05-03)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.
17822"Here Today, Hair Tomorrow"Tom TrbovichStory by : Susan Jane Lindner & Ken Sagoes
Teleplay by : Susan Jane Lindner
May 10, 1983 (1983-05-10)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
  1. ^ "TV Listings for - November 18, 1980". TV Tango. November 18, 1980. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  2. ^ "TV Listings for - May 26, 1981". TV Tango. May 26, 1981. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  3. ^ 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.