"To Tell the Truth"

"To Tell the Truth"
February 17, 1981
B

The writing, by Al Aidekman, is sharper and more insightful than we've had on the show for awhile, ironically because the gang agrees to play Rhonda's version of Truth (with cards she's either hand-written or got from her theater group).  The character is finally used well here, including taking in the criticism that she refers to herself in the third person too much.  The game moves from Stage Left to Stage Right, each player drawing a card and trying to answer honestly.  Everyone enjoys seeing the others insulted but no one wants to be insulted themselves.  Even the compliments hurt other people, and I don't think Rhonda bargained for the big kiss Squiggy gives the person in the room he finds most attractive.

The most hurt are Laverne and Shirley, whose friendship is the deepest.  (Well, OK, Lenny and Squiggy go back just as far, but they don't really attack each other in the game, and it's other people who insult them.)  Laverne storms upstairs and packs up Shirley's clothes.  There's a very nice scene with Carmine going up and talking to her, and them both realizing things about themselves.  Meanwhile, Lenny and Shirley are the only ones left downstairs.  (An offscreen moment, arguably Lenley, has Lenny licking pudding, which Laverne flung, off of Shirley's face!)  They also realize things about themselves by talking, and it's a rare, sweet exchange between them, her helping him to recognize his emotional intelligence, and him letting her know that they all rely on her to tell them what to do.  And, yes, the girls make up, although Laverne thinks this was all easier in high school.

Jack Winter had written three early L & S episodes, but this is his first of five directorial turns.  This is the last episode with Ed Marinaro, who'd debut on Hill Street Blues three months later.  I don't feel like we get to know Sonny very well, or much about his relationship with Laverne, but I don't mind him on the show, then or now.  I do remember this episode from the time, not in detail but the general plot.  It marks the beginning of the second half of Season Six, but of course I didn't then know that it would be a relatively short season (not as short as Season One obviously).