"The Society Party"

Fonzie approves.

The Society Party
January 27, 1976
B-

Creator Garry Marshall (yes, Penny's older brother) directed this episode, while Bob Brunner would write one more episode and here plays the Foreman.  It's a good introduction to the characters and basic premise of the show, if at times a shade awkward and/or forced.  I was worried about the Fonzie cameo, since he comes in late and then appears in the "next week" sequence before the closing credits, but Winkler underplays more than I expected, which was refreshing.  This is a spin-off, but it can stand on its own, even if he saves them from being arrested for stealing dresses that Squiggy got them.

Yes, Lenny & Squiggy are there and pretty much as we know them, down to the "hello" entrance (solo for Squiggy this time).  We learn that they went to school with "the girls" and they hang out at the Pizza Bowl.  (There's as yet no mention of Laverne's father, or for that matter Carmine.)  And, yes, there's a bit of Squigley and Lavenny, although in the former case it's Shirley trying to manipulate Squiggy by acting coyly flirtatious with him, while Laverne is just going through the motions.  That it would always be these couples, usually but not always played for laughs, is clear from the first, with Lenny saying, "I guess I get you, Laverne."  Maybe it's because of height or initials, but you rarely saw a Squiggy & Laverne pairing or a Lenny & Shirley.  It'll be interesting to see what exceptions come along.

Initial shipping fodder

As for the relationship of the girls, G. Marshall as you know also did the Odd Couple series, and Laverne and Shirley are presented as very different, although with things in common.  The song goes, "...We're gonna make our dreams come true," but Shirley is very definitely the dreamer of the two, and I did get the feels when she said, "I dream for you, too, Laverne."  Laverne will have her own dreams later, but she is definitely the tougher and more realistic friend.

I was surprised how much of this episode was both about and not about the brewery.  We first see Laverne & Shirley, and Lenny & Squiggy, there, and the party of the title is being thrown by a relative of the Mr. Shotz who owns the brewery.  Much of the credits also take place in and around the brewery.  So while I visualize the girls at home, their workplace is important, even if we don't see much of them actually working yet.

Their economic class matters, but more in relation to the (not really that rich if you think about it) snobs than as a political thing.  We're told they can't afford to buy new dresses, but I don't think that stayed true.  Other than Laverne's speech telling off the snobs (while in her slip!), it can't be described as a political episode.  As for feminism, I wouldn't call this anti-feminist, but it's not The Mary Tyler Moore Show either.  Shirley wants to meet a "nice gentleman" and we don't yet know what Laverne wants, other than a date with Fonzie.  They are "sisters" in the sense that they bicker and are devoted to each other

How '50s is it?  Well, other than fashion and a reference to The Robe (1953), the main '50sness comes through in the background music, although only Fats Domino survived music rights issues for this copy.  I read before ordering the DVD collection that these are the syndicated copies, but I figured that was better than nothing.  I don't remember any L & S episodes from the time in any great detail-- although the lyrics to "Rubber Tree Plant" of course came back to me-- so I won't be able to tell you how these versions compare to the originals, in the way I still can recite chopped-out lines from Bosom Buddies.  But I'll address this if there seem to be any glaring cuts, like lost plot threads or unexplained callbacks.

Richard Stahl makes his first of three appearances on the show, here as Mr. Marshall Stewart, while his real-life wife Kathryn Ish plays Vivien Stewart.

Re the B-, I chuckled a few times and found that reassuring.  L & S in my memory was at least a funny show, whatever else it was.