RIP David L. Lander

I began this blog while still processing Penny Marshall's death about nine months later.  I didn't want to still be doing this blog when we lost another member of the cast.  I will freely admit that Squiggy was never my favorite, but he has truly grown on me, especially after watching some episodes multiple times in the last year or so.  David L. Lander had an under-rated comic timing and a stubborn persistence in making Squiggy lovably despicable and creepy.  Moments of vulnerability flashed through, but Squiggy was not "soft" like Lenny.  His "fodder" ran out on him and he had a strained relationship with his "mutter."  He was deeply cynical about women, and yet in his own way he idolized Shirley.  He wanted a fast buck but was capable of random generosity and kindness.

David wasn't Squiggy.  In fact, he was very un-Squiggy, as much as Bob Denver was never that Gilligany in real life.  But David created this indelible character, the perfect life-partner for Lenny.  My heart breaks for the long-term best-friendship behind these two greaseball goofballs.  If Michael McKean still thinks of Penny almost every day (as he Tweeted recently), this has to be a loss that will shake him to the core.

Since I'm already pretty immersed in Laverne and Shirley (still?  it's been over a year!  what the hell is wrong with me?), I won't do a marathon, but here, off the top of my head are some suggested "Squiggy" episodes:

Great episodes about Squiggy:

• "The Driving Test"
• "You Pushed Me Too Far"

Great episodes that aren't about Squiggy specifically but he has classic moments in them:

• "Hi Neighbor, Book 2"
• "The Second Annual Shotz Talent Show"
• "Lenny's Crush" 
• "Testing, Testing"
• "The Dating Game"
• "Sing, Sing, Sing"
• "Perfidy in Blue" (this will probably be the one I'll watch today, since he's hilarious in a very different way than he usually was on the series)

Not great episodes that tell you more about Squiggy:

• "The Duke of Squigmann" [sic]
• "Helmut Weekend"
• "Friendly Persuasion"
• "How's Your Sister?"

Not great episodes in which you have to ignore Lavenny to appreciate Squiggy tearing the scenery:

• "It's a Dog's Life"
• "High Priced Dates"