The series is set at Camp Fillmore and follows the comedic antics of roommates Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney as privates with the U.S. Army. They wind up getting involved in clandestine escapades with their immediate superior, a pig named Sgt. Squealy, who is always threatening to report them to his superior, Sgt. Turnbuckle. The series aired for one season of 13 episodes from October 10, 1981, to January 2, 1982.
The following season, the series was re-titled Laverne & Shirley with The Fonz and combined with a half-hour adaptation of the 1978–1982 sitcom Mork & Mindy to form the Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour, which lasted for one season.[2] During the second season, Laverne and Shirley were joined by the characters of The Fonz (voiced by Henry Winkler) and his anthropomorphic dog Mr. Cool (voiced by Frank Welker; from the 1980–81 animated series The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang) working as mechanics in the army camp's motorpool. In August 1982, Cindy Williams quit her role as Shirley on the live-action sitcom Laverne & Shirley and, conversely, Williams' role in the animated series was taken over by Lynne Marie Stewart. Only eight episodes were produced from September 25 to November 13, 1982.[3]
Fed up with kitchen duties and Squealy, the ladies make a transfer to an entertainment unit, only to have Squealy trick them and falsely sends the privates to Antarctica, where the plan backfires upon arrival. Unfortunately, they're about to be in for a chilly reception: the Army base has been abandoned since 1946, and the current occupants are a sinister scientist, his assistant, and pet polar bear, who are planning to take over the world by melting the continent and flooding the planet.
6
6
"When the Moon Comes Over the Werewolf"
David R. Toddman, Duane Poole & Tom Swale
November 14, 1981 (1981-11-14)
Laverne, Shirley, and Squealy end up on an island, where they discover Dr. Yarkoff and his henchman, Talbot are planning to launch werewolf spray from a rocket. Before the villains are defeated, both Talbot and Laverne become werewolves.
7
7
"Bigfoot"
David Villaire & Coslough Johnson
November 21, 1981 (1981-11-21)
Sgt. Turnbuckle refuses to believe that the privates have seen a Bigfoot creature until he sees it for himself.
Laverne & Shirley are sent to the kitchen for their punishment in another goof-up.
9
9
"Super Wacs"
Ray Parker, Duane Poole & Tom Swale
December 5, 1981 (1981-12-05)
An Army vs. Navy basketball games has been scheduled. Laverne and Shirley sign up so they can get out of their regular duties. They have no idea what is in store for them, as the Navy players are nearly professional players and the practices that they go through are harder than the duties that they were trying to get away from.
10
10
"Meanie Genie"
David Villaire
December 12, 1981 (1981-12-12)
Laverne and Shirley discover a bottle while on maneuvers. When they clean it up, a genie appears, but he is not happy at having been disturbed from his deep sleep.
Laverne & Shirley are off to Tokyo for a special mission.
12
12
"The Dark Knight"
David Villaire
December 26, 1981 (1981-12-26)
Shirley slips and hits her head, sending her and Laverne off to a dream state of the Middle Ages, where they are forced to fight an evil knight.
13
13
"Super Duper Trooper"
David Villaire
January 2, 1982 (1982-01-02)
Evil mastermind Tony Glut kidnaps the army football teams to steal their strength for his Crusher robot. His plan backfires when Shirley, Laverne and Squealy infiltrate the laboratory.
Season 2: Laverne & Shirley with The Fonz (1982)
No. overall
No. in season
Title
Original air date
14
1
"The Speed Demon Get-Away Caper"
September 25, 1982 (1982-09-25)
When the Fonz is wrongly accused and imprisoned for stealing a car he was working on, Laverne and Shirley (along with Squealy) go on a quest to capture the real criminal.
15
2
"Swamp Monsters Speak with Forked Face"
October 2, 1982 (1982-10-02)
Laverne and Shirley (along with Squealy, The Fonz and Mr. Cool) board a boat to obtain photographic proof of a two-headed swamp monster.
16
3
"Movie Madness"
October 9, 1982 (1982-10-09)
Laverne and Shirley masquerade as stuntmen in hopes of meeting star Lance Velour when a movie is being filmed at the military base.
17
4
"One Million Laughs B.C."
October 16, 1982 (1982-10-16)
Laverne and Shirley are sent through a time warp into prehistoric times in a jeep that Fonzie has been working on.
18
5
"The Robot Recruit"
October 23, 1982 (1982-10-23)
A robot called M.A.B.E.L. is sent to the camp to sabotage the military games, for which Laverne and Shirley receive the blame. But when M.A.B.E.L. gets broken, the Fonz gives her a repair and tune-up.
^Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 489–490. ISBN978-1476665993.
^Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 352. ISBN978-1538103739.
