Laverne & Shirley [TV Series] (DVD)
Season 4
APPROX. 606 MINS. - PROD. YEAR: 1976 - MPA RATING: NR
" If you do the math, there are far more successful shows than turkeys this fourth season.
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4) "The Robbery." A strong episode has Laverne, the one with the wild side, going for a "bad boy" and loving it, until he decides to rob a grocery store.
5) "The Quiz Show." One of the best episodes has Laverne, Shirley, Lenny, and Squiggy appearing on a TV game show together. The episode really plays to the characters' strengths. Funny stuff.
6) "Laverne & Shirley Go to Night School." Shirley drags Laverne to night school to learn how to become medical assistants. Despite some Lucy moments involving a skeleton and a German professor, the writing just isn't as sharp.
7) "A Date with Eraserhead." Paul Willson guests as Shirley's blind date in an episode that has more than a few laughs.
8) "The Bully Show." It's pimp time, as Lenny and Squiggy are forced to set up a date between Laverne and their boss.
9) "A Visit to the Cemetery." As the title implies, this one plays with emotion as Laverne visits her mother's grave for the first time. A little schmaltzy for my taste.
10) "A Chorus Line." Laverne auditions for "West Side Story" in another Lucy plot.
11) "Laverne and Shirley Move In." Entertaining flashback has Shirley remembering the first day the pair moved in together.
12) "Dinner for Four." The girls get excited when two attractive and rich guys invite them over, but learn that it's not dates they want . . . it's maid service.
13) "It's a Dog's Life." Shirley tries to rescue a pooch from the pound, but the writers squander another decent premise with hackneyed and obvious lines.
14) "Oh, Come All Ye Bums." There's heck to pay when Frank decides to cancel his annual charity dinner. Pretty decent episode.
15) "Who's Papa?" Another decent episode has Shirley suspecting she might be adopted, and setting out on a search to find the truth.
16) "The Third Annual Shotz Talent Show." It's almost a tradition that one episode be devoted to this show. This time, Laverne and Shirley are human puppets. Yep, more Lucy.
17) "Supermarket Sweep." Funny episode has Laverne winning three minutes of free shopping, and all of her friends filling her head with want-list items.
18) "Lenny's Crush." One of the most memorable episodes has poor Lenny misinterpreting something Laverne says to him and thinking they could be a couple.
19) "The Fire Show." When a handsome fireman arrives at their apartment to douse a flame, a few more sparks fly as the girls compete for his attentions.
20) "Squiggy in Love." Another poignant show has Squiggy being used by an attractive woman, while his friends calculate how to best keep him from getting hurt.
21) "The Feminine Mistake." Jay Leno guests as Joey, a man whom Laverne is determined to impress. And so Shirley helps her smooth out some of the rough edges. Sort of.
22) "The Tenants Are Revolting." So-so episode has the girls blowing the whistle on the building, and Edna, their super, catching heat for it.
23) "There's a Spy in My Beer." Despite the hokey concept, this one is pretty entertaining. Laverne sees an industrial spy, who threatens her if she doesn't keep her mouth shut.
24) "Shirley and the Older Man." Robert Alda guests as a rich man that Shirley befriends, much to the dismay of a jealous Carmine.
Video:
For an older Seventies' show, "Laverne & Shirley" looks very good. Colors are bright, the edges are fairly sharp, and there's more detail than in the first-year release. "Laverne & Shirley" is presented in 1.33:1 aspect ratio.
Audio:
The sound is a Dolby Digital Restored English Mono, and it's free of hiss, crackle, or pop. While providing a clarity and spread across the front speakers that you usually get with two-channel stereo. Not bad, in other words.
Extras:
Sorry, slapstick fans, there are no extras.
Bottom Line:
Despite starting the season as the number one show in America, this season of "Laverne & Shirley" was as uneven as the previous ones. Some of the shows are laugh-out-loud funny, while others are amusing, and still others borderline tedious or flat-out dumb. But if you do the math, there are far more successful shows than turkeys this fourth season.
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