MovieChat Forums > Laverne & Shirley (1976) Discussion > This show did not age well.

This show did not age well.

posted 13 years ago by mojo2004
14 replies | jump to latest

The show is on a channel called The Hub. The episode on this morning was supposed to be reunion for the class of '56. But they mention only 4 yrs have passed. Who gets together at 4 yrs? Five yes. But the worse part was trying to believe they were in high school only 4 short yrs ago. Penny Marshall & the rest of the cast looked their real ages. Marshall was 33 st the time the episode aired. Old enough to actually have a child high school age! The episode was not funny at all. The show is painful to watch now.

Just for the record, I'm not a Dude, I'm a Dudette!

[–] IcingOnTheCake 13 years ago

That same episode mentioned that Shirley had several reunions within just the few years since they had graduated.
Adults often portrayed teenagers in those years. The time when 6 year olds became producers and 12 year olds went to rehab came later.

[–] mojo2004 13 years ago

Cindy Williams as Shirley didn't look that bad but Penny Marshall as LaVerne definitely looked 30+. Far too old to pass for someone in her early 20's. Fonzie also looked to old to be dating girls in high school on Happy Days. Yes plenty of shows have adults playing teens but they usually don't look as old as these people did!

Just for the record, I'm not a Dude, I'm a Dudette!

[–] IcingOnTheCake 13 years ago

It was geared towards children so that helped. When I watched as a child, the ones older than me just seemed older. I didn't nitpick as to which one looked older than the other. I can see the differences now when I look back but then it didn't matter.

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] IcingOnTheCake 12 years ago

I still enjoy it. Most people that were older than you were when you were a child will always look older than their age to you and most younger will always look younger to you. it's all relative.

[–] jefgg 12 years ago

I am not surprised that a show from the '70s and '80s that took place in the '50s and '60s did not age well. Does nostalgia ever age well?

Penny Marshall had the body of a young woman. But with all due respect, her face showed her age.

[–] PenelopeQ 12 years ago

The fact that she was nearly 5 years older than her costars didn't help. IMO, the age difference became more apparent as the show progressed.

[–] Crowsley 12 years ago

When I was a kid I loved it. Today, I can't watch the show. I loved Lenny and Squiggy back in the day. Today, I find them totally annoying, not the least bit funny. I don't think the show aged well for fans who watched during it's original run.

[–] modica (4169) 5 years ago

Right. I never got this statement. How does a television show or movie from 40 years ago not age well? I mean, anything from the past ages, so how does it age well or not age well? This is something millennials to to either disregard these shows and movies or they feel reusing the statement makes them sound intelligent. It is all very confusing.

[–] hawkluvbeer 12 years ago

Awesome episode as always. You are a Debbie Downer mojo. Let the rest of us enjoy these terrific shows.

[–] jefgg 12 years ago

Penny Marshall was only twenty years old when she gave birth to her daughter so she did have a teenage daughter when she was 33.

[–] sjbradford 12 years ago

I disagree with the OP. I think the first three or four seasons have aged VERY well. And the fact that the show was a period piece to begin with has added to its timelessness. It's only later on, when they moved, adopted 80s hairstyles, etc, that the episodes seem more dated.

[–] Artisan (3464) 5 years ago

I agree it hasn't aged well, a lot of those sitcoms were like watching stage plays and the actors tended to look like they were standing there reciting lines. I can only handle it in small doses but I like the nostalgia.

[–] modica (4169) 5 years ago

It isn't unusual to have people in their 20's being played by actors in their 30's. It happens all the time.