Writer: Various
Director:Various
Cast: Cindy Williams, Penny Marshall, Michael McKean, David L. Lander, Eddie Mekka, Phil Foster, Betty Garrett
Rating: N/A
Studio: Paramount Home Video
Release Date: November 27, 2007

Laverne & Shirley The Complete Third Season aired on television the year that I was born. Obviously, my memories of watching it, which I am sure I didn’t, would be pretty non-existent. However, when it was in syndication in the 80s, I watched it quite a bit. I used to sit around the console television and would watch Laverne & Shirley whenever it aired.

As syndication has changed, I have not had the chance to watch the show in years. It’s always interesting to look back at any classic television to determine what you really like and what was only good at the time and has since moved on to be replaced by new favorites. I was excited to watch Laverne & Shirley: The Complete Third Season so when it showed up I opened the case and popped it right in to get started on my review.

Release Information:
Laverne & Shirley The Complete Third Season aired its first season back in 1976. The entire series ran for eight seasons and ended in 1983. Laverne & Shirley began as a spin-off of Happy Days. However, when it comes to the DVDs both were released about the same time, which is a complaint of many purists. Laverne & Shirley The Complete Third Season has been available through various retailers since November 27, 2007.

The Plot
The slapstick comedy on Laverne & Shirley was stronger than it ever was in the third season. The show, for those who are not familiar with it, is based on two female roommates, Laverne (Penny Marshall) and Shirley (Cindy Williams). The two girls live in an apartment and work in a brewery. The show revolves around them and their relationships, along with Laverne’s father and his girlfriend and the girls’ neighbors Lenny (Michael McKean) and Squiggy (David L. Lander).

By the third season of Laverne & Shirley, things were pretty much established and the comedy was flowing freely. One of the best things about the show is the comedic duos and how they bounce things off one another. Obviously you have Laverne and Shirley, but you also have Lenny and Squiggy. The latter two are the entirely inappropriate oddball guys that you just don’t want to get to know. They are slimy and creepy and absolutely hilarious.

Being fair, Lenny is a little more public-ready than Squiggy, but that’s not saying much. Squiggy is a wannabe greaser with slicked back hair and a leather jacket. His sneakers don’t really match the greaser look and he ends up looking like a small greasy weasel. Lenny could almost pass for a normal guy if he learned not to speak or hang out with Squiggy. The two get into the best schemes on the show and they always end up being absolutely hilarious.

Meanwhile, Laverne puts off this pseudo-lesbian vibe even though she’s always into the men and Shirley is the naïve yet hopeful, slightly dopey best friend. Together they work well and end up in schemes that you might compare to that of Lucy and Ethel. This season finds Laverne (who is afraid of flying) having to fly a commercial airplane after the duo end up knocking out the pilot, the two working in a shoe store dressed as Jack and Jill in order to make a little extra money to go on a cruise…around the Great Lakes, and both girls wrestling professionals in an exhibition match gone wrong.

My favorite episodes this season include “Airport ‘59”, “Tag Team Wrestling”, “Robot Lawsuit”, “An Affair to Forget”, “Laverne and Shirley Meet Fabian”, “Shirley’s Operation”, “New Years Eve – 1960”, “The Slow Child”, “The Dentist”, and “The Obstacle Course.”

Storyline/Plot:
Replayability:
Acting:
Directing:

Audio/Visual:
Considering the time in which Laverne & Shirley came out, the transfer to DVD was absolutely stunning. The DVDs are available in full frame with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The colors are clear and bright and the picture quality remains crisp throughout. The audio is available in Dolby Digital English mono. This offers sound similar to the original series broadcast, which isn’t the absolute best, but it gets the job done without fail.

Visual:
Audio:

Bonus Features:
I am surprised to say that there are absolutely no special features for Laverne & Shirley: The Third Season. I was assuming something would have been on these discs, but there aren’t even commentary tracks.

Bonus Features:

Bottom Line:
Laverne & Shirley: The Third Season had me laughing out loud at numerous parts of the show. It only took me a few minutes, if that, to remember just how great this show really was. Comedy lovers, people who love slapstick, and lovers of classic television will not want to miss purchasing this box set. As far as the classic television circuit goes, this one comes highly recommended.

Overall Rating:

Technorati Tags: Laverne and Shirley, The Third Season, Lenny, Squiggy, Frank, Di Fazio, Comedy, Duo, Slapstick, Classic Television, TV on DVD, DVD Review

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