"Love Out the Window"

"Love Out the Window"
February 3, 1981
C+

Ruth Bennett wrote this episode that doesn't live up to its potential but at least shows some connection to an earlier episode.  Shirley has taken up painting, including Laverne and Sonny as Scarlett and Rhett.  (There's also a portrait of what looks a fat Laverne on the back wall.)  Laverne confesses to Shirley that she's starting to fall for Sonny.  However, Laverne worries when she hears about a dangerous stunt Sonny is going to do, so she cancels their next date.

After Laverne goes up to the bedroom, Shirley sits down with Sonny and tells him something that he can't tell Laverne she told him: Laverne was in love with a fireman "a couple years ago" and Randy died before he could propose.  So Sonny quits stuntwork and becomes an insurance salesman.  He's very unhappy but denies it.  Shirley admits to Laverne about telling him about Randy.  Even now, it's painful for Laverne to talk about. 

So far, so good, a little drama, mixed in with some sight gags, like Carmine as Cupid, Lenny & Squiggy in borrowed neck-braces.  Even the scene of Frank trying to get Laverne and Sonny to make up is a nice touch.  And Laverne taking the picnic basket to Sonny's office is fine.  But then she, out of desperation, goes out on the ledge to convince him to become a stuntman again.  He goes after her and they talk things out, while pigeons land on her head and eventually take her fall (hairpiece).  Even that I didn't totally mind, although a scene of them talking this out like adults would've been preferable.  And then Shirley somehow goes out on the ledge (from another office) without noticing that Sonny and Laverne have come back in.  At least in the Fabian episode, not one of my favorites, there was sort of a reason for the girls to be out on the ledge, but here it feels forced. 

Still, I do like the acknowledgement that the past is impacting the girls in California.  And Shirley's story of the artist "Michael Angelo" made me laugh.

William Sumper's fourth of five L & S roles is as the Policeman.

"The Diner"

"The Diner"
May 6, 1980
B-

Robert Perlow's first of three L & S stories has Lenny inheriting the title location from his Uncle Lazlo.  Due to a signed agreement, Squiggy gets half of the inheritance, but the guys don't know anything about running the place, so they agree to hand it over to the girls, who know a little bit more than nothing.  The main thing I remember about this episode from the time is cook Laverne saying, "Betty, please," whenever she has an order for waitress Shirley to pick up.

I'd forgotten about Shirley getting pinched by men several times in a row and then Laverne saying into the microphone, "Please don't harass Betty please."  And I'd forgotten how much Lavenny there is in this episode, although part of that is when Lenny startles Laverne with a kiss, as Squiggy startles Shirley with one, because that's how they plan to greet all their female customers.  Lenny informs us that women are hungrier after sex, as if he'd know.

The Laverne/Lenny starts with Laverne going over and comforting Lenny, who's crying over his dead uncle.  She even puts his head on her chest, although she knows the grease will ruin her bottle-capper's smock.  He asks her to do him a favor and from her reaction, we can tell she expects something sexual, but he says, "Not that," and has her open a telegram.  She, and Shirley, are protective of Lenny when Squiggy claims his share of the diner. 

And then when they go over to the diner, to see what the boys have done to it, besides the "surprise" kisses, we also see the boys holding the girls' hands, including Lenny leading Laverne out by hers so he can hang up the sign.  There's definitely a subtext that Lenny wants to share his sorrow and joy with Laverne, although of course he bails on the diner when he gets the chance.  He may love Laverne, but he's happy for her and Shirley to do all the work.

Oh, and Carmine sings a couple songs, one with the jukebox ("There's No Business Like Show Business," while you'd expect something food-related) and then one with the girls (Shirley's jingle for the diner).

This time, Jack Lukes plays Lou.  Linda McMurray would direct one other episode.

Some Lavenny stills for your viewing pleasure: