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
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes22
Release
Original networkABC
Original releaseSeptember 28, 1982 (1982-09-28) 
May 10, 1983 (1983-05-10)
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

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. Edna, a regular since season 2, was written out after actress Betty Garrett had committed to another show. The character is said to have left Frank DeFazio, Laverne's father.

The changes left Laverne and Squiggy (David Lander) as the two main leads. The season is set in 1967, remaining (as the show had been since season 5) set in Burbank, California.

Cast

Guest appearances

Episodes

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 spend a week in a store display.
Note: This is Cindy Williams' final episode.
1593"The Note"Gabrielle Alice JamesJudy PioliOctober 19, 1982 (1982-10-19)169
Shirley leaves to live with her new husband.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
16812"Defective Ballet"Tom TrbovichNick LeRoseJanuary 11, 1983 (1983-01-11)165
Squiggy is mistaken for a defecting Russian dancer.
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.
17014"Rock & Roll Show"Chris ThompsonJill GordonJanuary 25, 1983 (1983-01-25)172
Chuck asks Laverne to manage his band.
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.
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.
17317"Ghost Story"Tom TrbovichKenny Wolin & Barry BleachFebruary 15, 1983 (1983-02-15)176
Laverne believes there's a ghost in her apartment.
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' 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.
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.
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.
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 was only to be seen at the beginning and end of the episode. The spin-off never materialized.

References

  1. "TV Listings for - November 18, 1980". TV Tango. 1980-11-18. Retrieved 2018-06-02.
  2. "TV Listings for - May 26, 1981". TV Tango. 1981-05-26. Retrieved 2018-06-02.
  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.
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