Laverne & Shirley

Watch Laverne & Shirley

  • TV-G
  • 1976
  • 8 Seasons
  • 7.0  (8,734)

Laverne & Shirley is an American sitcom that premiered on ABC in 1976 and continued until 1983. The show stars Penny Marshall as Laverne DeFazio and Cindy Williams as Shirley Feeney, two best friends and roommates who work together at the Shotz Brewery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The show also features a supporting cast of characters including Michael McKean as Lenny Kosnowski, David Lander as Andrew "Squiggy" Squiggman, Phil Foster as Frank DeFazio, Eddie Mekka as Carmine Ragusa, and Betty Garrett as Edna Babish.

The show follows the daily lives and misadventures of Laverne and Shirley as they navigate the challenges of working in a male-dominated workplace, maintaining their friendship, and pursuing their respective aspirations. Laverne is sassy, streetwise, and tough, while Shirley is bubbly, ambitious, and often idealistic. Despite their differences, the two friends deeply care for each other, and their enduring bond forms the heart and soul of the show.

Over the course of its run, Laverne & Shirley became one of the most popular sitcoms on television, consistently ranking in the top ten shows during its early seasons. The show's broad appeal was due in part to its balance of physical comedy, wacky hijinks, and heartfelt moments. And while the show's humor could be broad and silly, it often tackled serious issues such as sexism, classism, and mental health in a sensitive and thoughtful manner.

One of the show's most enduring legacies is its catchphrase "Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!" which was sung by Laverne and Shirley during the show's opening credits. The phrase, which roughly translates to "clumsy, unlucky people serving rabbit stew," has become a cultural touchstone for fans of the show.

Another key element of Laverne & Shirley is its music, which was a prominent part of the show's identity. The show's theme song, "Making Our Dreams Come True" by Cyndi Grecco, was a chart-topping hit in its own right, and the show frequently featured musical segments and guest appearances by famous musicians such as Ray Charles, The Temptations, and The Four Tops.

Despite its popularity, Laverne & Shirley was not without controversy. The show's original creators, Garry Marshall and Lowell Ganz, left after the second season due to creative differences with the show's producers. This led to a shift in tone and focus for the show, which some fans criticized as a departure from the original's charm and wit.

Despite this, Laverne & Shirley remains a beloved classic of 70s and 80s television, remembered for its humor, heart, and enduring friendship between two of TV's most iconic characters.

Laverne & Shirley is a series that is currently running and has 8 seasons (179 episodes). The series first aired on January 27, 1976.

Laverne & Shirley
Filter by Source

Seasons
Here Today, Hair Tomorrow
22. Here Today, Hair Tomorrow
May 10, 1983
Carmine has faced the realization that his career in California is dead and decides to head to New York and try out for a part in a Broadway show.
Councilman DeFazio
21. Councilman DeFazio
May 3, 1983
When a councilman decides that a new high rise building should be built on the site of Cowboy Bill's, Frank DeFazio decides to through his hat in the ring and run for the job himself.
Do the Carmine
20. Do the Carmine
March 15, 1983
Carmine's singing career seems to be headed no where, until his record is heard by a record executive and offer's him a shot to appear on popular music show.
How's Your Sister?
19. How's Your Sister?
March 1, 1983
Squendelyn, Squiggy's weird sister has arrived in town for a visit and falls in love with Carmine.
Please Don't Feed the Buzzards
18. Please Don't Feed the Buzzards
February 22, 1983
Lenny and Squiggy believe they have found a treasure map and go searching for the riches along with Carmine and Frank.
Ghost Story
17. Ghost Story
February 15, 1983
Laverne believes her apartment is being spooked by a ghost and holds a seance along with the gang in order to exorcise it off her residence.
Short on Time
16. Short on Time
February 8, 1983
Frank seeks condolences from Laverne after finding a note from Edna stating that she is leaving him. Because Laverne is in a hurry she asks her pop to watch Little Chucky, unaware that he is a chimp.
The Fashion Show
15. The Fashion Show
February 1, 1983
Laverne's new boyfriend is a fashion photographer which makes her jealous over spending all day with beautiful models. So Laverne attends a fashion show in order to keep an eye on him and mistakenly ends up walking down the catwalk as a model.
Rock 'n' Roll Show
14. Rock 'n' Roll Show
January 25, 1983
Laverne informs Chuck that if his band is going to make any money then they will need to learn to play rock 'n roll music. Unfortunately, they are going to need a lot of help.
The Baby Show
13. The Baby Show
January 18, 1983
Sgt. Plout is back, pregnant and needing a place to stay. So Laverne gives her a room as the two mothers-to-be contest and then head to a funeral for an old friend of Mr. DeFazio. While at the proceedings Sgt. Plout goes into labor and has her baby...right there.
Defective Ballet
12. Defective Ballet
January 11, 1983
The Russian ballet is in town and a defector from the troupe is a dead ringer for Squiggy...except for the dancing part.
The Monastery Show
11. The Monastery Show
January 4, 1983
Laverne can't shake her depression over the direction in which her life has been going and asks Mother Superior if she can move into the convent for awhile. But Laverne's big mouth may get her kicked out of the nunnery.
The Gymnast
10. The Gymnast
December 14, 1982
Laverne is dating a gymnast who's specialty is the flying trapeze. But she can't get passed a feeling that he is trying to kill her.
Of Mice and Men
9. Of Mice and Men
December 7, 1982
Laverne tries to restore her boyfriend's confidence, but her plan goes awry.
Jinxed
8. Jinxed
November 30, 1982
Laverne is sent to see a gypsy after breaking a chain letter and then going through a run of bad luck.
Death Row  (2)
7. Death Row (2)
November 23, 1982
While waiting to be booked into jail, Laverne and her gang are mistaken for a group of murderers and are sentenced to be executed. With no one knowing she is in prison, Laverne's goose seems to be cooked. That is until Squiggy stops by the prison as he does every Saturday night and notices Laverne in there.
Death Row  (1)
6. Death Row (1)
November 16, 1982
Laverne gets herself mixed up with bad company when her new friends bring her to a bank for what she believes is to pick up new dishes, unknown that they are bank robbers. Now she is arrested with them and taken to jail.
The Playboy Show
5. The Playboy Show
November 9, 1982
Laverne is asked to try out as a Playboy bunny while at the Playboy club, getting an application for Rhonda. After passing the first test, Laverne is asked to attend bunny training course which she finds is harder than it looks.
Lost in Spacesuits
4. Lost in Spacesuits
October 26, 1982
Laverne takes a job at Ajax Aerospace after running low on money. After becoming bored, Laverne puts on an experimental anti-gravity suit from the laboratory and can't seem to keep her feet on the ground.
The Note
3. The Note
October 19, 1982
Laverne is crushed and hurt when Shirley rushes off overseas to be with her husband and only left a short note after years of friendship. The gang try to find Laverne a new roommate and cheer her up to get her out of the depression which has set in.
Window on Main Street
2. Window on Main Street
October 12, 1982
Bardwell's department store is hosting a "House of the Future" display in their window, and Laverne and Shirley have agreed to live there for the weekend.
The Mummy's Bride
1. The Mummy's Bride
September 28, 1982
Shirley falls in love with a man named Walter Meeney while at the Veterans Affairs hospital, and after a short courting has decided to marry him, which means she will soon be moving away from Laverne.
Description
Where to Watch Laverne & Shirley
Laverne & Shirley is available for streaming on the ABC website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Laverne & Shirley on demand at Amazon Prime and Pluto TV.
  • Premiere Date
    January 27, 1976
  • IMDB Rating
    7.0  (8,734)
Watch all of
Do you have Prime Video?
Ad Info
No thanks, I'm not interested in Prime Video