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Nor am I a fan of stupid TV, I don't mind silly but have a low tolerance stupid.
Amen to that! In particular, I hate stupid + formulaic. Those 70s shows were so loaded with catch phrases that there was almost no time for plot, and the plots they did have were formulas.
This is the typical Laverne & Shirley plot:
First 3 minutes: Mildly funny joke about an unfortunate or embarrassing event from the night before, in which Laverne says something cynical and Shirley counters with something perky. Laverne rolls her eyes.
1 minute: focus on Laverne's "L". Discussion about how Laverne drinks milk and pepsi and some joke that clues us in that these are "working class girls" who aren't very sophisticated but have "hearts of gold". Often a good place for a few 1950s references.
2 minutes: Entrance of Lenny & Squiggy. Every entrance they waste lots of time saying "Hello" in a signature dopey voice. Time is wasted while the staged audience cheers and whistles as if this was the funniest thing they had ever seen.
2-3 minutes: Discussion with Lenny & Squiggy about whatever weird thing they did that day. Shirley gets grossed out, and/or Laverne makes some "oh geez"type of remark. Discussion about how they love Bosco Chocolate Syrup. More 1950s references.
5 minutes: Today's plot. will be presented in 5 minutes. Not much time, and you don't even get the full 5 minutes because during this portion of the show the following formulaic things will take place: Frank will call his daughter "Muffin". Carmine will spin or do a little dance. Shirley will say "a little vo-dee-o-doe-doe" (usually either to criticize some other woman, sometimes to brag about her own love life.) The song "High Hopes" will be sung, usually as a manipulation. There will be an excuse to mention "Boo Boo Kitty", a large stuffed cat which sits next to a bed. There will be a reason to mention the Feeney Family Photo Album. Laverne will go "wah," trying to sound like Lucille Ball.
1 minute: The Insult! At about the same point in each show, something happens that insults the girls or hurts their feelings.
5 minutes: The slapstick portion of the show. Takes two forms: Revenge for the Insult or Retrieving Something They Accidentally Left Somewhere. Either way, you can count on something getting stuck and other typical slapstick moves. There isn't much plot in this portion of the show, it's usually just a series of slapstick routines. After 5 minutes they either succeed or at least get out of the situation.
Final 2 minutes: At least one of the girls feels bad over what happened, but they cheer each other up, and decide to make the best of their misfortune that day. If they didn't sing High Hopes before, you'll probably hear it here.
M*A*S*H was by far my favorite sitcom from the 70's. I still watch re-runs of that one at times. Three's Company and Laverne and Shirley were both funny but IMO, Three's Company was funnier.
Amen to that! In particular, I hate stupid + formulaic. Those 70s shows were so loaded with catch phrases that there was almost no time for plot, and the plots they did have were formulas.
This is the typical Laverne & Shirley plot:
First 3 minutes: Mildly funny joke about an unfortunate or embarrassing event from the night before, in which Laverne says something cynical and Shirley counters with something perky. Laverne rolls her eyes.
1 minute: focus on Laverne's "L". Discussion about how Laverne drinks milk and pepsi and some joke that clues us in that these are "working class girls" who aren't very sophisticated but have "hearts of gold". Often a good place for a few 1950s references.
2 minutes: Entrance of Lenny & Squiggy. Every entrance they waste lots of time saying "Hello" in a signature dopey voice. Time is wasted while the staged audience cheers and whistles as if this was the funniest thing they had ever seen.
2-3 minutes: Discussion with Lenny & Squiggy about whatever weird thing they did that day. Shirley gets grossed out, and/or Laverne makes some "oh geez"type of remark. Discussion about how they love Bosco Chocolate Syrup. More 1950s references.
5 minutes: Today's plot. will be presented in 5 minutes. Not much time, and you don't even get the full 5 minutes because during this portion of the show the following formulaic things will take place: Frank will call his daughter "Muffin". Carmine will spin or do a little dance. Shirley will say "a little vo-dee-o-doe-doe" (usually either to criticize some other woman, sometimes to brag about her own love life.) The song "High Hopes" will be sung, usually as a manipulation. There will be an excuse to mention "Boo Boo Kitty", a large stuffed cat which sits next to a bed. There will be a reason to mention the Feeney Family Photo Album. Laverne will go "wah," trying to sound like Lucille Ball.
1 minute: The Insult! At about the same point in each show, something happens that insults the girls or hurts their feelings.
5 minutes: The slapstick portion of the show. Takes two forms: Revenge for the Insult or Retrieving Something They Accidentally Left Somewhere. Either way, you can count on something getting stuck and other typical slapstick moves. There isn't much plot in this portion of the show, it's usually just a series of slapstick routines. After 5 minutes they either succeed or at least get out of the situation.
Final 2 minutes: At least one of the girls feels bad over what happened, but they cheer each other up, and decide to make the best of their misfortune that day. If they didn't sing High Hopes before, you'll probably hear it here.
Some of those shows were bad then and are still bad now.
WKRP in Cincinnati was a much better show all the way around. It was an original show with some real life experiences. Not a copy like Three's Company which came from a british comedy (man about the house) or a spin off like Laverne and Shirley.
MASH, Mary Tyler Moore show, All in The Family were shows with political or social commentary at it's core. I'm not really a fan of that style of "entertainment". Nor am I a fan of stupid TV, I don't mind silly but have a low tolerance stupid.
Also back then people watched them because there were only three networks to choose from.
Yup the same reason Gunsmoke and Bonanza did well in the ratings back then, there was not much competition.
Yup the same reason Gunsmoke and Bonanza did well in the ratings back then, there was not much competition.
Gunsmoke and Bonanza were actually good that's why they are ranked among the longest running drama series on tv. They withstood the test of time appealing to more than just one generation of viewers during their respective runs.
Can't say the same for Lavern and Shirley and Three's Company.
Gunsmoke and Bonanza were actually good that's why they are ranked among the longest running drama series on tv. They withstood the test of time appealing to more than just one generation of viewers during their respective runs.
Can't say the same for Lavern and Shirley and Three's Company.
Gunsmoke and Bonanza didnt come along during the cable tv era and that's why the shows were so popular. At that time it was only 3 channels and most CBS stations were a lot clearer than ABC and NBC stations which also explains the higher ratings
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