Rotten Tomatoes
Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Season 1 – Laverne & Shirley

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Laverne & Shirley Jan 1976 Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
52% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 43% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Best friends, roommates and polar opposites Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney work together at the Shotz Brewery in Milwaukee and keep each other's spirits up at home for the show's first several seasons. But after losing their jobs at Shotz, the pair moves to Burbank, Calif., in season six to get a fresh start and hope to break into the movie business. Many of their friends and family, inspired by the women, move to California with them, though they make some new friends as well, including Sonny the stuntman and Rhonda, a model.
Laverne & Shirley — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams make for a hilarious duo who are easy to root for, but their big dreams feel constrained by this sitcom's retrograde take on women's lib.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
John Pinkney The Age (Australia) 02/12/2021
The network downtoned its heroines into sexless shadows... Thus, a scenario originally as rich in caricatured character as The Odd Couple has become a churn for mechanistic gags. Go to Full Review Lee Winfrey Philadelphia Inquirer 02/11/2021
It looks like it is going to be an enormous hit, and deservedly so. Go to Full Review Noel Holston Orlando Sentinel 02/11/2021
It boasts in its title roles two sharp young comediennes, Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams, who are not only perfectly cast but act as though they've been working together for years. Go to Full Review Charles Benbow Tampa Bay Times 02/12/2021
Everyone behaved badly with much shouting and misunderstanding; this high-decibel mood seems to be a mandatory ingredient in today's situation comedies and this was one of the worst. Go to Full Review Dwight Newton San Francisco Examiner 02/12/2021
The show is blue collar in texture, conservative in outlook and lily white in casting. There is no message, no moral, no sophistication, no intellectual stimulation... There seems to be an enormous American appetite for this sort of primitive comedy. Go to Full Review Win Fanning Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 02/11/2021
The frightfully noisy premiere couldn't in my eyes be saved by a guest appearance by The Fonz, nor by the admittedly appealing performances by Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Mike P @RT77437476 08/24/2023 Or Dumb and Dumber. Gary Marshall has said openly his purpose with this show was not to make highbrow entertainment, a la, Mad About You, which he said "people use as a nightlight to help them nod off..." It's just to make them laugh... He should have aimed HIGHER though. Someone should have told Gary you can also make a SMART show which also makes me people laugh. (Happy Days demonstrated that well enough)... Look at Seinfeld, Arrested Development, Modern Family, Cheers, Frasier... These shows are intelligent and they make people laugh. What...Does he think only the Three Stooges type schtick will land with audiences or something? I wouldn't have minded the goofy slapstick; if there was a lot of clever stuff to augment or counteract it; or the occasional smart, pithy moment; but this is ALL just braindead...This is JUST slapstick. And it's bad. A good cast wasted. I have no idea or explanation as to why it shot to number one in the ratings. Except that it was a quick fad which quickly burned out... The theme song was great though, I'll give it that.... VERDICT: Thumbs down 👎 NOT recommended See more Read all reviews
Laverne & Shirley — Season 1

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Penny Marshall

Laverne De Fazio

Cindy Williams

Shirley Feeney

Eddie Mekka

Carmine Ragusa

Michael McKean

Lenny Kosnowski

Phil Foster

Frank De Fazio

David L. Lander

Andrew "Squiggy" Squiggman

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jan 27, 1976 The Society Party The roommates wear stolen gowns to a posh party at the Shotz Brewery, boss's house. Details Episode 2 Aired Feb 8, 1976 The Bachelor Party The girls agree to let Fonzie (guest star Henry Winkler) throw a party at the Pizza Bowl. Details Episode 3 Aired Feb 10, 1976 Bowling for Razzberries Laverne challenges a wisecracking Shotz tour guide to a bowling championship. Details Episode 4 Aired Feb 24, 1976 A Nun's Story The girls are excited to hear that "wild" Anne Marie will attend their class reunion. Details Episode 5 Aired Mar 2, 1976 Falter at the Altar Shirley tries to break up Laverne's wedding plans with Sal leaving for the Navy. Details Episode 6 Aired Mar 9, 1976 Dog Day Blind Dates The girls' blind dates are bank robbers and plan to rob the bank next to the Pizza Bowl. Details Episode 7 Aired Mar 16, 1976 Once Upon a Rumor When Shirley is caught half-dressed with Squiggy, the brewery employees believe she's a "fun date.". Details Episode 8 Aired Mar 23, 1976 One Flew Over Milwaukee Shirley blames Laverne for the disappearance of her sick canary. Details Episode 9 Aired Mar 30, 1976 Dating Slump When Carmine finds another girlfriend, Shirley gets depressed and vows never to date again. Details Episode 10 Aired Apr 6, 1976 It's the Water The gang suspects ulterior motives in Shirl's promotion when Laverne is more experienced. Details Episode 11 Aired Apr 13, 1976 Fakeout at the Stakeout After someone steals Shirley's poodle skirt and Laverne's sweater, the girls become police decoys. Details Episode 12 Aired Apr 27, 1976 Hi Neighbors Lenny and Squiggy set up a bachelor pad in the girls' building. Details Episode 13 Aired May 4, 1976 How Do You Say Are You Dead in German? A German deliveryman faints in the girls apartment causing them to use their nursing skills. Details Episode 14 Aired May 11, 1976 From Suds to Stardom The coordinator of the annual Shotz Brewery Talent Show may not let the girls perform. Details Episode 15 Aired May 18, 1976 Mother Knows Worst Shirley's mother comes to visit and criticizes her for her friends and the way she lives. Details

More Like This

View All
The Partridge Family % % The Partridge Family Watchlist Webster % % Webster Watchlist Sister, Sister % % Sister, Sister Watchlist Step by Step % % Step by Step Watchlist Top Cat % % Top Cat Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Laverne & Shirley — Season 1

View more photos

Season Info

Director
Alan Myerson, John Thomas Lenox, Michael Kidd, James Burrows, Jim Burroughs, Jerry Paris, Howard Storm, Dennis Klein, Jay Sandrich, Garry Marshall
Network
ABC
Rating
TV-G
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jan 27, 1976