Five, six, seven eight...Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!
Those words started the opening theme to Television's Laverne & Shirley. The main title characters were reciting a Yiddish-American hopscotch chant.
Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams played those title characters. The show ran for 8 seasons, although Williams left during the 8th season. She was pregnant and asked for unspecified considerations, which Paramount declined.
Despite the show ranking #25 during that 8th season Paramount pulled the plus. Marshall wanted the show production to move to New York, but Paramount declined.
I met the famous duo at a Hollywood Celebrities show and took advantage of a rare opportunity to meet both together. Thirty-ish years after the show, both looked great. More importantly, both were in great spirits and seemed to enjoy the day.
I talked to Williams a bit about her role in the iconic American Graffiti and I talked to Marshall about The Odd Couple and A League of Their Own. Aside from those projects, both had fond memories of Laverne & Shirley and all of their co-stars.
I think I could have been a neighbor to the pair. I would have been a happy medium between Carmine and Lenny and Squiggy.
Cindy Williams, Penny Marshall and me in Rosemont, IL-October 2011..
