MovieChat Forums > Laverne & Shirley (1976) Discussion > What became of Laverne?

What became of Laverne?

posted 16 years ago by donnamartingraduate
21 replies | jump to latest

I know that some shows never had an official 'ending', but did Laverne have any kind of closing? If I were a writer at that time, (I was only 14 in 1983) I would have Laverne experience the Haight Ashbury movement. She would resurface again in the mid-seventies at Studio 54. Then by the eighties, she would have settled down with a matured Lenny. I like to think that all Lenny needed was a boost of self esteem. Squiggy? Hmmmm. Let's see. Squiggy saved the life of a starlet and lived off the reward money for the rest of his life. As for Shirley....she lived happily ever after raising her daughter....paralelled by Laverne and Lenny raising their daughter. The girls meet up in high school...and their names are Laverne and Shirley. Full circle! (Laverne named her daughter Shirley, and Shirley named hers Laverne) How does my theory sound? :) I'm only doing this to have fun. Any meanies out there need not reply! ;)

Why did the calliope crash to the ground? Was it blinded by the light?

[–] ritamilo 16 years ago

There was a special L&S "reunion" of sorts filmed a couple of years ago: they were trying out for "Survivor." Of course it ended with Lenny & Squiggy's shenanigans but during the special, it was mentioned that Shirley was divorced (and I think had a couple of children) and Laverne had been married numerous times, and also had several children.

I wish I'd taped that show - I have yet to see it as a rerun and don't even remember which network aired it!

"...truth against the world..." - attributed to Boudicca of the Iceni

[–] donnamartingraduate 16 years ago

Was this a real reunion show? Or a spoof on Comedy Central or some other channel? I'm shocked that I missed something like this!

"You lint licker!" ~~ Orbit gum commercial

[–] ritamilo 16 years ago

I know it wasn't a spoof.

I forget which network aired it (I want to say ABC but am really not sure).

The only spoof, I think, was the sketch in which the girls audition for Survivor.

"...truth against the world..." - attributed to Boudicca of the Iceni

[–] donnamartingraduate 16 years ago

Thanks. I'm sorry I missed this gem......
I grew up in the 70's, and Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley were my 'safe place.' If that makes sense. Having divorced parents made growing up hard, and having televison to take you away for a half hour was the best remedy.

"You lint licker!" ~~ Orbit gum commercial

[–] ncih 16 years ago

There is no reunion show of any kind listed.

It must have been a spoof.

[–] ritamilo 16 years ago

I remember that it was not an official reunion show. The Survivor tryout was kind of a spoof but I think it was one of those Entertainment Tonight type shows where they do a 10 minute segment about series, talk to the former stars, etc., and that's what I think this was.

"...truth against the world..." - attributed to Boudicca of the Iceni

[–] Cagney-7 16 years ago

That's what it was, all right. It wasn't a reunion show in the sense that "The Andy Griffith Show" had a reunion -- the actors were only in character for the brief "Survivor" skit. Most of it was the actors themselves. I sort of got the sense that Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams really don't like each other, even though they were acting friendly. But when they got into character again, everything clicked. I could believe it was Laverne and Shirley, together again.

[–] ritamilo 16 years ago

I agree, Cargney-7. When Williams wanted out of her contract, any closeness she and Penny had was lost. The Marshall family produced the original "Happy Days" and following spinoffs and not only was Garry executive producer, their sister Ronnie Hallin was also a producer. And they were really angry about Williams' departure.

As Laverne & Shirley, Penny and Cindy had chemistry. Off-set, I think it was another matter.

Side note: Remember Penny Marshall's role as Myrna Turner on The Odd Couple? She was Oscar's secretary. She had a couple of meaty episodes, including one where she was marrying her boyfriend Sheldn Stimmler (I think that was the last name, but the "Sheldn" was correct because she explained that his birth certificate had it spelled that way). Sheldn was played by Penny's then-husband Rob Reiner and after the wedding, in the closing tag, she stops by Oscar and Felix's apartment to say good-bye. She introduces her siblings, Werner Turner (played by Garry, who also produced that series) and Verna Turner (played by Ronnie). They all stood there and did that trademark laugh. Great scene.

"...truth against the world..." - attributed to Boudicca of the Iceni

[–] santaburger57 12 years ago

I also wish much more closure had been given to Laverne's character at the end - such a shame that the last episode of the sitcom focused almost solely on Carmine. I understand that it was meant to be a pilot of sorts for a Carmine spinoff (which never ended up happening, THANK THE LORD), but the show and its characters deserved more.

In terms of the reunions - yes, there were a few actually. But, yeah, as far as I know, that Survivor spoof was the last time they all were in character together again.

As for the on-the-set tension - it used to bother me that there was so much animosity apparently happening behind the scenes, but it's nice to know that the cast is all quite close now. I'm reading Garry Marshall's autobiography right now, and he has only great things to say about Cindy, despite the ill will back in the early 80's. And it sounds like Cindy and Penny are actually quite close these days.

_______
-Jamie

Visit my Laverne & Shirley fan site!: http://santaburger57.wix.com/lands
Twitter: www.twitter.com/lavandshirley

[–] kycor 16 years ago

Reunion? Well, there have been 2. I hope I get these right.

The first was a Hour Special showing clips and interviews with the cast. The special recreated the apartment set (badly).
It was 'fair' at best. It seemed to come across a little cheap and lacked any emotion.

The second was billed as 'Entertainment Tonight's Laverne & Shirley Reunion" (or something very close). As others have mentioned, this is the one with the 'Survior/game show' skit. The 1/2 hour(I believe)special was 1/2 Skit then 1/2 Penny and Cindy chatting and welcoming former cast members. They took questions from the audiance. Better than the first attempt, but again, fair at best. I think that Penny's standard 'slow and emotionless' personality contributed to the slow and quite boring Special.
The 2nd 'Happy Days Reunion' was leaps and bounds better.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] happipuppi13 14 years ago

Yes,i saw that Entertainment Tonight special and the re-teaming of Marshall & Williams was hilarious.

Aside from what was mentioned about the girls lives,no,there never really was a conclusion to Laverne & Shirley. In fact,check the episode list here on IMDb and the last show is about Carmine!

HaPpIpUPpI 13 *Arf!*

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] jefgg 12 years ago

Laverne and Lenny would have made a nice couple. But Lenny left without explanation towards the end of the final season.

Laverne and Carmine would have made a nice couple. After Shirley married Walter Meany and dumped Carmine he became fair game for Laverne. But it might have felt funny for Laverne being with someone who had dated her best friend for so long. Who am I kidding? Laverne was O.B., Original Bimbo. I am joking, of course. Those were fighting words. I guess she was a little bit of a bimbo.

[–] noamshouseparty 12 years ago

Squiggy appeared in Simpsons. Don-something, producer, died on the toilette.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] jefgg 11 years ago

I saw the last episode of "Laverne & Shirley" on The Hub Channel last summer. It did not wrap up the series. Maybe they were hoping Cindy Williams would return and there might be another season. It did say goodbye to Carmine. He scraped together some money and went to New York to make it on Broadway. He got a part in the play "Hair". I think it was his first audition. The end of the last season was painful. Everyone knows there was no Shirley. And Edna left Frank for a jockey.

[–] ExplorerDS6789 11 years ago

I would say...

Lenny and Squiggy became partners of their own nostalgia business, investing in a string of '50s diners that became popular in the 1960s.

Laverne died after being diagnosed with two severe STDs.

[–] jdchisholm 8 years ago

Lenny and Squiggy became partners of their own nostalgia business, investing in a string of '50s diners that became popular in the 1960s.

Laverne died after being diagnosed with two severe STDs

LOL, along with her L symbol

[–] metrocub 8 years ago

Laverne still lives in the apartment expecting Shirley to come back.

[–] jdc-40660 8 years ago

Laverne became disillusioned with the United States and defected to East Germany.