Introduction

Laverne & Shirley, also known as Laverne & Shirley in the Army, is an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and Paramount Television that was originally broadcast on ABC from 10 October 1981 to 13 November 1982.

It is a spin-off of the live-action sitcom Laverne & Shirley with the title characters voiced by Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams and was loosely based on the 1979 two-part episode “We’re in the Army, Now” (Part 01 and 02) in which Laverne and Shirley enlisted in the Army.

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Outline

The series is set at Camp Fillmore and follows the comedic antics of roommates Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney as privates with the US Army. They wind up getting involved in clandestine escapades with their immediate superior, a pig named Sergeant Squealy, who is always threatening to report them to his superior, Sergeant Turnbuckle. The series aired for one season of 13 episodes from 10 October 1981 to 02 January 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. 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 1980-1981 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 25 September 1982 to 13 November 1982. Thus, the existing segments produced up to that point were rerun for the rest of the series. Except for a few publicity cel paintings, no further plans for the series were made.

Cast

• Laverne DeFazio – Penny Marshall.
• Shirley Feeney – Cindy Williams (season 1), Lynne Marie Stewart (season 2).
• Sgt. Squealy – Ron Palillo.
• Sgt. Turnbuckle – Kenneth Mars.
• Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli – Henry Winkler (season 2).
• Mr. Cool – Frank Welker (season 2).

Home Media

On 05 November 2019, the 13-episode first season was released as a made-on-demand DVD-R by CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment.

Laverne & Shirley in the Army Series

• Series 01 (1981-1982):
  • Episode 01: Invasion of the Booby Hatchers.
  • Episode 02: Jungle Jumpers.
  • Episode 03: Naval Fluff.
  • Episode 04: April Fools in Paris.
  • Episode 05: I Only Have Ice for You.
  • Episode 06: When the Moon Comes Over the Werewolf.
  • Episode 07: Bigfoot.
  • Episode 08: Two Mini Cooks.
  • Episode 09: Super Wacs.
  • Episode 10: Meanie Genie.
  • Episode 11: Tokyo-Ho, Ho.
  • Episode 12: The Dark Knight.
  • Episode 13: Super Duper Trooper.

• Series 02 (1982):
  • Episode 01: The Speed Demon Get-Away Caper.
  • Episode 02: Swamp Monsters Speak with Forked Face.
  • Episode 03: Movie Madness.
  • Episode 04: One Million Laughs B.C.
  • Episode 05: The Robot Recruit.
  • Episode 06: All the President’s Girls.
  • Episode 07: Laverne and Shirly and the Beanstalk.
  • Episode 08: Raiders of the Lost Park.

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s):
  • Chris Cuddington … (13 episodes, 1981-1982).
  • George Gordon … (13 episodes, 1981-1982).
  • Carl Urbano … (13 episodes, 1981-1982).
  • Rudy Zamora … (13 episodes, 1981-1982).
  • Doug Paterson … (12 episodes, 1981-1982).
  • Ray Patterson … (1 episode, 1981).
• Producer(s):
  • Joseph Barbera … executive producer (13 episodes, 1981-1982).
  • William Hanna … executive producer (13 episodes, 1981-1982).
  • Doug Paterson … associate producer (13 episodes, 1981-1982).
  • Duane Poole … producer (13 episodes, 1981-1982).
  • Art Scott … producer (13 episodes, 1981-1982).
  • Tom Swale … producer (13 episodes, 1981-1982).
  • Iwao Takamoto … creative producer (13 episodes, 1981-1982).
• Writer(s):
  • Duane Poole … (13 episodes, 1981-1982).
  • Tom Swale … (13 episodes, 1981-1982).
• Music: Hoyt Curtin.
• Cinematography: Gil Iverson.
• Editor(s): Ginny McSwain.
• Production: Hanna-Barbera Productions and Paramount Television.
• Distributor(s): Paramount Television.
• Release Date: 10 October 1981 to 13 November 1982.
• Running Time: 30 minutes.
• Rating: PG.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

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