LAVERNE & SHIRLEY: FESTIVAL {PARTS 1 AND 2} {FOURTH SEASON PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about two young working women, following their humorous adventures from the 1950s through the 1960s.
In this episode, Laverne, Shirley, Edna, and Frank head to New York City to see some DeFazio relatives, most notably Frank’s hard-nosed mother. Shirley has a hard time saying goodbye to Carmine. En route on the bus, Shirley marvels at the beauty of America before they arrive in Manhattan, where the Italian festival is being set up. Edna is anxious to meet Frank’s mother. However, Frank’s mother goes on the offensive with her son from the get-go. Meanwhile, Laverne shows Shirley a pole which is later greased as part of the festival, with various teams climbing it in order to win a trip to Italy. They run into a handsome man to whom Laverne is attracted, at least until finding out that he is her grown-up cousin Anthony. After meeting the instantly smitten Shirley, Anthony wonders if Frank is getting a team together for the greased pole competition.
Then, Laverne and Shirley are surprised to see Lenny and Squiggy on the street, wondering how they got to New York. Lenny says that he promised to “spy” on Shirley for Carmine. Later, Grandma DeFazio tries to speak Italian to Laverne, having been duped by Frank’s claims that he taught his daughter their native language. After dinner, Anthony makes a move on Shirley while Carmine wonders what’s going on, having called the apartment and talked to Lenny. Later, Frank lies to his mother and tells her that Laverne is engaged to Squiggy. Grandma claims that her two dreams in life are to see Laverne marry and to return to Italy. Grandma wants Laverne and Squiggy to wed on the following Sunday. Frank is quickly forced to admit that Laverne is not marrying Squiggy, or anyone else. Grandma is predictably furious at her son.
Back at the festival, Lenny tells Anthony about Carmine, much to Shirley’s chagrin. Meanwhile, Laverne causes a bit of a free-for-all at the carnival after she accidentally causes a vendor to lose his merchandise. Later, Frank laments to Laverne that his mother has never been proud of him. He thinks the only way to change her feelings is by sending her on a trip to Italy – which he’ll manage by winning the greased pole climb. Initially, Laverne thinks her father is acting crazy. By the next day, Laverne has found Gino, a hunky local who claims he can help Frank if she pays him $70. However, the deal sours when Shirley inadvertently makes Gino opt to win the contest for himself. Soon, Laverne and Shirley are coming to blows, though they quickly come to terms. Back at the festival, Gino’s team makes a good showing at climbing the pole.
Next, the DeFazio team attempts to scale it. With seconds remaining to beat Gino’s record, Laverne is able to get to the top and grab the flags with the fortuitous arrival and help of Carmine. However, the judges disqualify the DeFazio team for having too many teammates and award victory to Gino. Afterward, Laverne tries to sing to Grandma in Italian for her birthday party. Grandma remains angry, thinking her son is stupid. Laverne criticizes Grandma for tongue-lashing Frank, after which he tells Laverne that she shouldn’t yell at her elders. Frank thinks that maybe he is as stupid as his mother claims. Finally, Grandma admits to Laverne how good her son is, just wishing he was in New York City more often. Once Laverne conveys the sentiments to Frank, all make up and go to dance at the festival. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: September 5, 1978 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:30:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:63533
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1976-1983
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Thomas L. Miller … Executive Producer
- Edward K. Milkis … Executive Producer
- Garry K. Marshall … Executive Producer , Created by
- Lowell Ganz … Supervising Producer, Created by
- Tony Marshall … Producer
- Arthur Silver … Producer
- Jeff Ganz … Associate Producer
- Alan Myerson … Director
- Mark Rothman … Created by
- Paula A. Roth … Writer
- Mark Sorkin … Writer
- Richard Lewis Warren … Music by
- Charles Fox … Theme Music by
- Norman Gimbel … Theme Music by
- Penny Marshall … Cast, Laverne DeFazio
- Cindy Williams … Cast, Shirley Feeney
- Betty Garrett … Cast, Edna Babish
- David L. Lander … Cast, Squiggy Squiggman
- Michael McKean … Cast, Lenny Kosnowski
- Phil Foster … Cast, Frank DeFazio
- Eddie Mekka … Cast, Carmen Ragusa
- Penny Santon … Cast, Grandma DeFazio
- John Lansing … Cast, Anthony
- Rick Podell … Cast, Gino
- Billy Sumpter … Cast, Concessionaire
- Bernie Kuby … Cast, Judge
- Betty Lou Robinson … Cast, Neighbor
- Ogden Talbot … Cast, Cabbie