Laverne & Shirley – The Second Season (DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: D     Episodes: B+

 

 

Laverne and Shirley - The Second Season is now available on DVD for all to enjoy.  A series that was ranked as one of the best of its time, still manages to make audiences buckle over laughing today.  To this reviewer and many others this series is timeless and in many ways is even better than the series it was spun off from (Happy Days).  Now if you have never heard of Laverne and Shirley (most likely living in a hole) here is a brief, brief synopsis.  Laverne De Fazio and Shirley Feeney are two single woman living in Milwaukee trying to make the best of life and having fun all the way.  The shows events range from simple daily life humor to downright ridiculous.  The world is never simple with Laverne and Shirley and that is why the show is a classic.  One of this reviewer’s favorites!

 

The episodes in the set are in the original Air order, though some ‘minor’ things have changed.  For example two titles have changed (for some unknown reason) and it is noticeable maybe only to true fans, but some musical numbers have been cut out of the episodes as well.  This includes ‘dance numbers’ as well as background jukebox music.  In the end it does not detract too much, but one day this reviewer would like to see fully restored and complete episode releases.  The following episodes are included in this Season Two release:

 

1)     Drive She Said

2)     Angels of Mercy

3)     Bachelor Mothers

4)     Excuse Me, May I Cut In?

5)     The Bridal Shower

6)     Look Before You Leap

7)     Dear Future Model

8)     Goodtime Girls

9)     Two of Our Weirdos Are Missing

10)  Oh Hear the Angel’s Voices (Changed from Christmas Eve at the Booby Hatch)

11)  Guilty Until Proven Not Innocent

12)  Birthday Show (Changed from Anniversary Show)

13)  Playing Hooky

14)  Guinea Pigs

15)  Call Me a Taxi

16)  Steppin' Out

17)  Buddy Can You Spare a Father?

18)  Honeymoon Hotel

19)  Hi Neighbor, Book II

20)  Frank's Fling

21)  Haunted House

22)  Lonely at the Middle

23)  Citizen Krane

 

 

This is a great series and the technical features aren’t bad, but by no means great.  The picture is presented in a pleasantly soft Full Screen that though shows its age and could use some restoration, definitely holds true to the cinematographers’ original intent.  The sound is once again released in a restored Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono that is adequate to the series, but to this reviewer seems a bit soft at times.  No extras once again, sadly, but this reviewer thinks that one day the girls and boys will pull their heads out there Milwaukee Brew Bottles and get some neat stuff done for fans.

 

Do yourself a favor and pick up a classic.

 

 

-   Michael P Dougherty II