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Laverne & Shirley" was no less than a sitcom phenomenon from the time of its first airing in January of 1976. It was a slapstick spin-off from "Happy Days," where the characters Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney had made their debut as friends of Fonzie. "Laverne & Shirley" joined ABC's line up following directly after "Happy Days" on Monday nights, and went straight to the top of the ratings. In its second and third full seasons, it even surpassed the popularity of "Happy Days," resting comfortably in the number one spot for two full years.
"Laverne & Shirley" was wildly popular for its first few years. Even the shows theme song was a top-25 single in the Summer of 1976. In the 1980 season, to give the show some fresh plot ideas, the entire cast moved from Milwaukee to Los Angeles, where the girls attempted to break into show biz and took on many hilarious odd-jobs.
"Laverne & Shirley" remained in prime time until the end of the 1983 season. It was also seen as a Saturday morning cartoon from 1981-1983. In the show's final year, Cindy Williams (who played Shirley) left the show after becoming pregnant, and Penny Marshall remained, as the show was renamed simply "Laverne."
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