Top 10 L&S Episodes
My Top 10 Laverne & Shirley Episodes
Selected with the utmost care because, well, some things in life are just plain important.
10. The Society Party
One of my favorite TV pilots, this episode makes us feel like we’ve known the girls’ quirky personalities for years, and we are immediately given a ton of great character-driven humor (quite impressive for a pilot). The premise is L&S “us-vs.-them” at its finest, and it includes everything from a discussion of vo-de-oh-doe-doe-ing to a recitation of the girls’ yearbook poem to each other to Shirley singing “High Hopes” in an effort to cheer up Laverne. Within 22 minutes, these girls prove that they are far more than just sidekicks to the Happy Days crew, and it becomes quite apparent that they’re going to be able to shine on their own.
9. To Tell the Truth
A glimmer of hope in the often-mediocre California years, this episode succeeds in large part because of its willingness to just let the characters play off of each other. The episode is, simply put, just plain fun. It wastes no time in having the gang dive into an amusing (and revealing) game called “Truth,” in which the characters go back and forth divulging information about themselves and each other. If forgettable characters like Rhonda and Sonny had been lost, and if the fun had instead taken place back in the Milwaukee days, during the height of the show’s popularity, I would expect that this episode would have gone down as one of Laverne & Shirley’s finest hurrahs.
8. Once Upon a Rumor
At once a social commentary on girls, guys, and reputations, and a fun situation comedy set-up, this early episode, for me, is the first truly “breakout” one of the series. By this point, we’ve become a bit more familiar with the characters and their relationships with each other, making the rumor-gone-awry plotline all the more entertaining.
7. L&S Meet Fabian
This episode includes everything from a mock-striptease done to the sounds of the radiator to a performance of Fabian’s “Turn Me Loose” that is muffled by Shirley’s shrieks to a final scene that involves the gang all playing Monopoly together. Shirley is perhaps at her most amusing when she is full-on star-crazy mode, and the episode also includes a very memorable physical comedy scene on the balcony of Fabian’s hotel room. The episode takes on the familiar format of “The girls stick it to the man!” (In this case, the man = Rosie Greenbaum), but the familiarity is refreshing - it’s hard not to cheer the girls on as they win their bet with Rosie (and a kiss from Fabian!).
6. The Diner
Classic Laverne & Shirley - the “Betty, please” scene alone makes this one worthy of a spot on the list. Although the episode aired around the time when some say the show’s creative juices were starting to run dry, this little outing remains a physical-comedy-laden gem.
5. Hi Neighbor, Book II
I’m a firm believer of the philosophy that if you put Penny, Cindy, Michael, and David in a room together (acting in-character), hilariousness is pretty much guaranteed. This episode cashes in on that principle, as we witness the girls accompanying the boys out to dinner on what might just take the cake as the most entertaining double-date ever. Lenny & Squiggy are allowed to stick around in this show for much longer than the length of their typical barge-in, and the result is an extremely memorable comedic excursion - the girls’ back-and-forth banter is balanced perfectly by the boys’ typical goofyness, and the writers play around with the boy-girl chemistry that is a part of the group as well (the episode ends with a lengthy double-kiss between Lenny & Laverne, and Shirley & Squiggy).
4. Playing the Roxy
This episode takes the whole “mistaken identity” concept to a hilarious new level, as we see what the always-a-good-girl Shirley is like when she hits her head and suddenly thinks she’s… a famous stripper. Cindy really seemed to let loose with this performance, and she seemed to genuinely enjoy getting play the un-Shirley. The premise here is unabashedly “sitcomy” (main character gets amnesia, craziness results!), but the end product is a constant stream of laughs - and one of the most fun episodes to date.
3. The Slow Child
A testament to Michael McKean’s fine acting skills, this episode succeeds at venturing down the “dramatic” road without ever becoming super-sacchariney, gooey, whiny, or over-exaggerated. We are shown a softer side of a character who often tends to be overshadowed by his sidekick, and the relationship that blossoms between Amy and Lenny, although only lasting this one episode, seems more sincere than even some of the show's more long-term relationships. The touching final scene, with Carmine’s rendition of “Danny Boy” in the background, remains one of my all-time favorites.
2. Lenny’s Crush
One of the show’s most genuinely heartfelt episodes, Lenny’s Crush gives us a look at what is perhaps the show’s most sought-after pairing, and does it in a way that is strikingly realistic given the prior context of their relationship. While Lenny’s feelings for Laverne end up not being returned, the show’s final scene is perfectly ambiguous, and it leaves us a tad hopeful that maybe the story with these two isn’t quite over. In a sense, this episode bursts open a big can of worms - and then doesn’t quite put the lid back on tight at the end. Just the right blend of humor and emotion, this story tends to hold a sacred place in the heart of just about anyone who considers themselves a “Lavenny” fan.
1. Steppin’ Out
Laverne & Shirley in its simplest, purest, and truest form. Free from over-the-top distractions or crazy locations, this episode just lets the girls feed off each other from the comfort of their humble apartment, as they rush to get ready for a couple of big dates. The laughs are numerous, the chemistry is at its best, and the plot is straightforward, but with the perfect amount of kooky complications. It is Laverne & Shirley, stripped down to its bare essentials - and yet somehow, the show has never seemed so glorious.