Laverne & Shirley - The Complete First Season

Rating:
Summary: the best females in comedy
Review: are you kidding? laverne and shirley are the funniest two ladies of comedy in a sitcom. there is not a moment in any one of their shows that you don't laugh. laverne and that big L on everything she wears and shirley and BOO BOO kitty. you won't be sorry in purchasing this collection. i myself could not wait for someone to release it.braaaavvvooo to laverne and shirley. i only wish the series had more support and could have continued.

Rating:
Summary: Paramount's Gonna Make Our Dreams Come True ...
Review: Back in 1976 a new series - a spin-off of the hit ABC sitcom "Happy Days" - debuted on ABC. Called "Laverne and Shirley," it centered on the lives of 2 bottle-cappers who worked at a brewery in Milwaukee, Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney.

To me, this show was MUCH better than "Happy Days"; funnier, not as corny, and with much better performances by the leads. Cindy Williams as Shirley, and Penny Marshall as Laverne, created a classic television comedy that Paramount is finally premiering on DVD in August!

The show, a mid-season replacement as "Happy Days" had been, had a first-season run of 15 episodes ... so here is what the first boxed set should contain:

1) The Society Party - The boss's nephew wants to mingle with the "commoners" ... so invites the girls to a dinner at his Nana's manor -- where the girls show up wearing stolen gowns provided by Lenny and Squiggy, and get busted mid-dinner!

2) The Bachelor Party - With Laverne's father away and the girls managing the Pizza Bowl, L&S show a bad error in judgment when Fonzie talks them into letting a bachelor party go on there after hours.

3) Bowling for Razzberries - A bowling tournament is Laverne's big chance to finally get back at a bowling rival ... but by the night of the contest she falls ill, and is so doped up on medication she can hardly walk.

4) A Nun's Story - An old high school buddy, crazy Anne-Marie, shows up for the reunion as a nun.

5) Father at the Altar - Laverne decides to marry her boyfriend of only two months before the Navy ships him off.

6) Dog Day Blind Dates - Laverne and Shirley unwittingly have blind double dates set up with 2 criminals who plan to heist the bank next to the Pizza Bowl.

7) Once Upon a Rumor - Shirley's stuck zipper (with Squiggy trying to help her) leads to a rumor around the brewery that Shirley is a "fun date."

8) One Flew Over Milwaukee - Shirley drives everyone nuts when she loses her pet canary.

9) Dating Slump - Shirley becomes sullen and depressed when Carmine finds a new girlfriend.

10) It's the Water - L&S set out to earn promotions at work when they try out for a beer tasting position.

11) Fakeout at the Stakeout - A robber, "The Milwaukee Masher," is terrorizing local women; L&S set out to help Laverne's cop boyfriend catch him.

12) Hi, Neighbor - Lenny and Squiggy move into the girl's building.

13) How Do You Say "Are You Dead?" in German? - The girls set out to help a German delivery guy who faints in their living room.

14) From Suds to Stardom - Another Shotz Brewery talent show has the girls determined to win this year - after losing 4 years in a row.

15) Mother Knows Worst - Shirley's domineering mother pays a visit, and drives Shirley crazy criticizing her friends, clothes, home, life ... until Laverne finally sets the old gal straight.

"Laverne and Shirley" was an instant hit, and ran for eight years. The show relied a lot on silly humor and schtick and physical comedy, but could always be guaranteed for a lot of laughs, and remains a TV classic. Thanks so much Paramount, and please don't hesitate on other seasons - the two-parter where they foil a murderer on a train to Moosejaw, Canada (season 5) is still the BEST!!

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious!!
Review: Cindy Williams and Penny Marshall when together had a chemistry that can make sparks. Including excellent supporting cast of Lenny and Squiggy! Also rare cameos of future stars. One of the best tv shows on tv is finally on DVD. We want more!! I already finished Season 1 and it's as hilarious as when I first saw it. Good for the whole family, even the little ones love it!!

Rating:
Summary: Please Paramount... Don't Stop at Season One!
Review: FINALLY, after a long time waiting, Paramount Home Video is releasing all those great sitcoms we all love and remember, one of my favourites being Laverne and Shirley of course!

These DVD's are long overdue in my opinion. I was very impressed with the quality of the transfers, and I couldn't help but marvel at the vibrant colours and sharpness of the picture, despite the fact that the master prints are nearly 30 years old... Colours that I never even noticed on the re-runs come through crisp and clean on the DVD. The sound, although being mono, is also quite good, but there were times (especially with the music scenes) where the volume peaked a little too high, but no big deal. All 15 original episodes are here, complete and unedited, the way we remember them.

I sincerely hope that Paramount releases ALL seasons of L&S, and not cheat us out of the later episodes. One of my all-time favourites, and one which another reviewer all ready mentioned, is "Murder on the Moose Jaw Express", which aired in two parts and featured an all-star cast that included Scatman Crothers (always a hoot), Charlene Tilton, Conrad Janis, and several others. This was basically a spoof of "Murder on the Orient Express", but MUCH more funny. Curiously enough, this particular episode isn't shown anymore, even in the re-runs. I only hope that Paramount decides to give it to us-if they even release season 5 that is... I guess time will tell, but PLEASE, don't stop at season one!

Now that we've been given a teaser, let's hope we get the entire series. L&S is a great reminder of what comedy USED to be like. Along with "All In The Family", "Happy Days", "Mary Tyler Moore", this show will always by synonymous with the 70's. Thank-you for the memories-and the laughs. Keep 'em coming Paramount. I'll be the first in line!


Rating:
Summary: One of my 4 favorites series
Review: I am not a TV fan. My set is hooked up to the DVD player. Period. But in my youth. Laverne & Shirley, Bob Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke were and are my all-time favorite TV shows. I'm delighted L&S is finally out on DVD (I just hope they don't drop the project like they did the MTM show after one season, the creeps). These 4 shows were to me truly funny. I read a lot of the reviews on this set before writing mine. And if I'd read the words "moral," "principles" etc. etc. ad extremely nauseum one more time I would have vomited. It's like abortion. I'm against it (with exceptions), but the other people who are also against it are so loathsome, I hate to admit it. That's how I feel about L&S. To hell with morals! This was a funny show!

Rating:
Summary: Laverne & Shirley - The Complete First Season
Review: I grew up watching Laverne & Shirley. I've been a fan of the show since the beginning, I also live in Wisconsin. Ha Ha :) One of the best and funniest 70's sit-coms to come out on DVD. Great quality worth every penny I spent! Love the slapstick/physical comedy and Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams' chemistry is wonderful. Lenny and Squiggy's cues were hysterical! Bravo to Paramount for this First Season set. I hope the shows other seasons will be released on DVD very soon.

Rating:
Summary: Best Females in Comedy!
Review: I too am quite pleased with this set... Took me back to yesterday with all the fun-filled episodes I remember watching for the first time almost thirty years ago... The picture quality is excellent! Absolutely stunning transfers and nice sound too. Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams were a perfect match, and although they supposedly had many off-screen tiffs, their chemistry worked perfect on the screen...

I agree with the review below in that I hope Paramount releases ALL seasons. I have not seen some of these episodes in YEARS, and strangely, there are certain ones that they don't show in the reruns anymore. It would be nice to rekindle some of those old memories again-especially on DVD since the picture is so amazingly clear. Good job Paramount! Now PLEASE give us the rest?

Rating:
Summary: Making Their Dreams Come True
Review: In this long-running first spinoff of Happy Days,Laverne DeFazio(Penny Marshall) and Shirley Feeney(Cindy Williams) are two Milwaukee bachelorettes sharing an apartment together. On several occasions,some HD characters made guest appearances on Laverne & Shirley. I remember one episode where Henry Winkler as Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli on HD guest-starred. Hey,he and the rest of the HD gang are in Milwaukee also. Laverne and Shirley are employees at Shotz Brewery. They placed caps on beer bottles until later in the series,an automatic process took over. Laverne and Shirley had two male friends,Lenny(Eddie Mekka) and Squiggy(David L. Lander). On several occasions,Laverne,Shirley,Lenny and Squiggy would go on double dates together. Laverne's and Shirley's landlady is Edna(Betty Garrett). Previously,Garrett had a recurring role on CBS's All In The Family as Irene Lorenzo. Later in the series,Edna would marry Laverne's father Frank and they'd move to California. This didn't happen until 1980. Laverne always wore shirts and sweaters with her embroidered first initial above her left breast. Laverne and Shirley was an immediate hit. That's great for a spinoff. It's just like AITF's spinoff The Jeffersons. Laverne and Shirley premiered in January 1976 and was cancelled seven years later. Unbelievably,Marshall and Williams did not get along well in real life. There was some real-life chemistry between L&S and AITF. At the time of the L&S premiere,Marshall was married to Rob Reiner who was Michael "Meathead" Stivic on AITF. When Reiner guest-hosted NBC's Saturday Night Live in October 1975,Marshall appeared with Reiner in at least one sketch. The couple have been divorced since 1981. Both Marshall and Reiner are two of Hollywood's most legendary film directors. As for the theme song MAKING OUR DREAMS COME TRUE by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel,it was on hit parade in the summer and fall of 1976,several months after the premiere of L&S. Cyndi Greco performed it and the hit song is a different version than the one heard in the opening and closing montages where Greco's voice is heard also.

Rating:
Summary: Make My Dreams Come True
Review: Laverne & Shirley was drfinitely one of the best stiuation comedies of the 1970's. The series could always be counted on for belly-laughs, without resorting to crude humor that is all to common on television today. L&S indeed was a spin-off from Happy Days (Richie and Potsie or Ralph (it doesnt matter) went on a double date with L&S), but did you know that Happy Days was also a spin-off?? The original idea from the series came grom a skit on Love American Style... So L&S is a spin-off of a spin-off (Like Good Times, another great 70's sit-com)

Rating:
Summary: Laverne And Shirley! Need I Say Anymore?
Review: Probably one of the funniest duo's in comedy since Laurel and Hardy or Abbott and Costello. The pairing of Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams was an instant success that won many fans. I have waited a long time for this, and I only hope that Paramount doesn't drop the project after season 1.

The DVD's are nice and clear. Superb transfers and good sound. I was astounded at how clear the picture was. Almost as if these videos were being shown for the first time! I couldn't detect any flaws at all, other than than a few sound glitches now and then, but nothing major.

Please, do us a favour and release all 8 seasons of Laverne and Shirley... I haven't seen some of these episodes in YEARS! My personal opinion is either release the series in its entirety or don't even bother. The whole purpose of these DVD re-issues is for to us to enjoy all those golden memories again right? Then do us a favour Paramount and release EVERY episode that ever aired. TV Land was only airing certain episodes, and then showing them out of sequence. I was not impressed. So please, let us enjoy all these old episodes again, complete and uncut, the way we remember seeing them.

Thank-you Laverne & Shirley for all the laughs!