RIP Laverne, 1943 -2018Posted on 12/19/2018 4:58:37 AM PST by NOBO2012
Yes, yes, I know: the theoretically Republican House was unable to muster up a measly $5 billion for the border wall but coughs up nearly $11 billion for “aid” to Central America and Mexico. And the left’s continuing efforts to deplatform Tucker Carlson because the only free speech they approve of is that which they don’t find offensive. Then there’s the weirding of the Flynn sentencing. I’m too numb to do anything other than acknowledge all of the above and move along at this point. So I’m just going to focus on the passing of Penny Marshall who gave us one of the most endearing characters of the 20th century in the form of working girl Laverne DeFasio, constantly broke and perpetually seeking romance.
Sclemeel, schlimazel, hasenfeffer incorporated!
It’s a bit disconcerting to realize that we now have legislators like the Occasional Cortez who were not even born at the time this true bit of Americana completed its 8 season run (1976-83). Set in the mid-60’s the only thing AOC had in common with the characters of Laverne and Shirley is the fact that they were all broke – albeit Alexandria after having spent $280,000 on an economics degree from Boston University, so you decide who is the dumb one. Oh, plus all three of them worked in establishments that moved a lot of beer.
But while Laverne and Shirley knew how to have fun, AOC found her job to be underpaid, repressive, and indicative of everything that is wrong with America. That seems to be the only thing she learned in college.
So I choose to ignore everything else today and just celebrate the joy Penny Marshall brought into the world through her movies (Big, A League of Their Own, Awakenings) and TV characters, especially Laverne. Let’s celebrate the season, Laverne and Shirley style, and call it a day.
“Almost everyone had a theory about why ‘Laverne & Shirley’ took off,” Marshall wrote in her 2012 memoir “My Mother Was Nuts.” ”I thought it was simply because Laverne and Shirley were poor and there were no poor people on TV, but there were plenty of them sitting at home and watching TV.”
I think it was just because it was fun.
Posted from: MOTUS A.D.
The show was well written. The physical comedy became a hit part of the show.
The characters, even Lenny and Squigy, were likeable.
TV writers could learn from those shows of the 70s.
They'd be completely flummoxed that a comedy didn't have three kids with the youngest being the smartass of the bunch and a curmudgeonly in-law living in the house.
That was a great Happy Days episode! LandS we’re blind dates for Richie arranged by Fonzie. Richie got Shirley. A major babe in her time!
I still like to watch those episodes.
...and don’t forget the dumb, fat white Dad who’s nothing more than an irrelevant punching bag for the wife and kids.
Of course, the #metoo folks would have a conniption over the Fonz and the guys and their dating.
I love Happy Days as well! “Jump the Shark” episode was indeed the beginning of the end though. Just plain stupid.
Reprising their roles from American Graffiti
RIP Penny.
The end of television came with the rural purge.
There’s nothing good on tv anymore. I watch some TCM and that’s about it. Flipping channels I start getting interested in the commercials and they’ll interrupt it with programming . . . only temporarily though. Mostly commercials.
Lenny and the Squigtones is still my favorite comedy album
Back in the day, you had shows like Laverne and Shirley, Happy Days, Mork and Mindy, Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Dukes Of Hazzard, Three’s Company, M*A*S*H, The Jeffersons, WKRP, Good Times, The Facts Of Life, Little House On The Prairie, The Waltons, Eight Is Enough, The Wonderful World Of Disney, Alice, Buck Rogers, Battle Star Galactica, All In The Family.
Even more serious shows like Charlies Angels, or Columbo or The Rockford Files.
TV back then was fun.
Today, it’s all about vulgarity.
Not just language, or sexual situations,
but life in general.
Look at the popularity that the entire Law And Order series has had.
You go into the dark under belly of the world and roll around in it for an hour. They make it as real and seedy as possible.
Then you have the NCIS franchise.
Or the CSI franchise.
How “real” and gruesome can we make it?
There is seldom anything uplifting in todays TV.
Back in the day, shows ended on a good note.
Today, even if the “good guys”...”win”, there is no happiness at the end. It’s all gloom and despair.
A/G H/D and L/S was obviously written by someone who grew up in the era they were portraying. From the music and character interaction the scripts were spot on. I know cause I grew up in the 50’s.If I am not mistaken Gary Marshal played a huge part in the success of the shows.
What a change!!! We’ve gone from 10/12 inch Black/White TV sets with GREAT programming choices (ie L & S) to GREAT 48Inch Color/Stereo/remote controlled Hi-Tech television sets with atrocious programming and “news” that is “Propaganda Central” and not worth the cost of electricity.
Happy Days became preachy.
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