"An Affair to Forget"

"An Affair to Forget"
February 9, 1982
B-

I thought from the title and the return of Jim Greenleaf as Lyle Nowicki, especially since he gives Laverne a big horizontal kiss of thanks for getting him a job at Bardwell's, that Lyle would start a rumor that he's having an affair with Laverne, but, no, he shows up in the first scene and is never mentioned again.  Instead, a man named Hank (Larry Breeding, who would return in a different role) shows up and flirts heavily with Laverne, while dropping hints that he's married.  She fails to pick up on these hints and goes out with him.  Unfortunately, his wife, Geraldine (30-year-old Anjelica Huston, who would also return in another role), shows up at the restaurant and Laverne ends up in the fish tank, repeatedly.  Again, I failed to predict what would happen, since there were cutaways to the cute waiter, so I thought he would defend Laverne and she'd end up with him.

Laverne makes her soggy way home, after pushing Hank in the tank.  Earlier, Carmine told Frank he felt like a son by being asked to a Dodgers game, and he and Laverne argued like siblings.  He's sort of like a big brother when they talk after her date, although still borderline flirty.  He's surprised to find out that the reason why she doesn't want to go around expecting guys to lie and cheat is because she's actually a romantic who's waiting for that one guy she can believe in.  And he lets Laverne cry on his shoulder, after he first takes off his Dodgers jacket.

There is also Shirmine, with a horizontal smooch on the couch when she comes home from a short visit to a friend (or maybe it was a relative) who's having a baby shower.  I believe this is the first episode where she refers to him as Pookie Bear, although I could be wrong.

Steve Granat and Mel Sherer wouldn't write any more for L & S.