*** EXPLICIT LANGUAGE WARNING *** We cover one of the most infamous episodes of Laverne & Shirley this week. Laverne tries to scam a free set out of her local bank by creating a fresh account. But during her latest attempt at chicanery, with an equally-disguised Rhonda at her side, she's spotted by a couple of revolutionaries casing the joint for a heist. The revolutionaries, led by Aaron (Ben Powers) and Sheba (Laraine Newman) worm their way into Laverne's life by using a mix of moral guilt and handsome lackey power. When it comes time to get into fatigues and hold up the bank, they keep Laverne in the dark even as she carries dynamite in a backpack to blow the vault. The heist turns into a hostage situation in no time flat, with the cops, tellers and bank manager all lead to believe that Laverne's in on the gig. Then, it gets weird. Laverne is arrested even though she helped thwart RALPH. At the police station, she and Sheba use aliases during the booking process. The names they pick match those of two convicted but escaped murderesses on their way to death row with a very imminent execution date. Presumed to be the twosome, Laverne and Sheba find themselves staring down their immanent deaths. The only hope comes in the form of Lenny and Squiggy, and the audience's only form of entertainment stems from two out-of-left-field gospel number. Will Laverne make it to the front gates or the pearly gates? On pod, we go absolutely ballistic on the two-parter's wild tone shifts, our frustrations over the show's characterization of nearly everyone, the bizarre plot, and even the jaw-dropping parts of the script that *didn't* make it to the small screen. Be warned, this is our first breaking point for season eight.

It's time to add a little T&A to your L&S! Laverne does a quick favor for a very busy Rhonda and runs down to the soon-to-be-opened local Playboy™ Club to pick up an application. Rhonda hopes to become a bunny tail wearing hostess, but a still money-hungry Laverne finds herself signing up for a try-out. Laverne soon starts training along with her new pal/possible co-worker Cathy (the effulgent Carrie Fisher). After they both pass the "Squiggy" test where they have to tolerate their "forward" customer during a staged encounter, the girls are put up to the final test. Can they serve and please the one and only Hef? And what will Cathy and Laverne do if there's only one slot open for the both of them? Meanwhile, Rhonda's scored a role in an experimental Romeo & Juliet meets Lil' Abner mash-up, and Frank bemoans his lost groove in the kitchen now that he's making fast food junk. On pod, we talk the episode's strangely mixed messages, the unexpected source of the teleplay, the wonders of Space Mama, and of course... Laverne's legs.

Laverne finally lands a new job thanks to her Pop calling in a favor with a war buddy. Mr. Ajax turns out to be a big wheel with a place in a future-facing industry, with his company making aeronautics supplies for NASA. There, her stern boss, G. Bullets Klein, puts her to the boring task of testing various products which are slated to go up into space on the latest shuttle, then boxing them up. Her new co-worker, Chuck (Charles Fleischer), asks Laverne for help clandestinely testing a new anti-gravity space suit. But after a successful run, she can't get herself out of said suit. With quitting time at hand and the looming fact that no employees are allowed on the premises after hours, the two rush off back to Laverne's place. There, Laverne's friends and family are simultaneously planning a surprise birthday party for her (weeks in advance) while being grilled by Bullets Klein as part of Laverne's background check. Will she be able to dodge a Bullets or will she be lost in the space suit forever? On pod, Lisa talks about the infamous behind-the-scenes stunt mishap from this episode, while Chris has actor notes and nerdy trivia to go with his developing Season 8 opinions. THE BLOOPER FOOTAGE - [Timestamped] https://youtu.be/WZnZWfT2krQ?si=KEiuvVpBBd0IsU_G&t=1505

When Laverne and Carmine return to the apartment after attending the Burbank Business Association's Dancing Contest, they find that all of Shirley's things are gone ... along with the lady herself. All that's left is a single note waiting for Laverne -- a goodbye letter from Shirl that seems to brush off the many years of friendship and sisterhood. Seeing Laverne devastated by the news, Pop and Carmine and all the others try their best to lift Laverne's spirits, from helping her search for a new roommate, to getting the whole gang of their friends together to keep Laverne company when she goes to bed. But will Laverne find there's more to this single page note? How will she move on? Is this truly the end of Laverne & Shirley?! On pod, we continue to discuss the major shifts in production on the eighth season, and its emotional ramifications on the show's tone. Plus, we geek out on the guest star appearances.

**EXPLICIT LANGUAGE WARNING** Laverne and Shirley get a big opportunity at their department store job, only it's the kind where they have to live in an "apartment of the future" for a week. Realizing she's come down with a case of claustrophobia, Laverne isn't sure she can pull it off. With some coaxing and encouragement from their neighbor Rhonda, they seek the help of a hypnotist... but when a mistake during the session leads the girls to acting like chickens (and not knowing it afterward), hijinks ensue as they become chickens of tomorrow! Will they maintain their jobs? Will Laverne get a proper smooch with that handsome guy outside the window? And who died?! On pod, we talk the wardrobe, the old-fashioned style and tone, and make a handful of inappropriate jokes. Chris also chimes in about the guest actors.

**EXPLICIT LANGUAGE WARNING** The beginning of the end! With another time-jump, Shirley reveals that the guy she's been dating, Walter Meeney, has proposed! Laverne is ecstatic for her best friend. But as the two begin putting the wedding together, the timeline for it speeds up, as Walter, an Army medic, gets his orders to ship out soon. So Laverne and Shirley go into overdrive for the Feeney/Meeney wedding, only to be once more be thwarted - Walter's got a full body rash! In the end, they have the wedding at the VA Hospital... but, will Shirley Feeney marry a doctor prop? On pod, Lisa goes down the rabbit hole of Season 8's rise and fall, while Chris attempts to survive his first encounter with the enemy. REFERENCES SOURCES [among others noted]: Cindy Williams and Penny Marshall interviews [The Television Academy Foundation] - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJP_M59vk2Fox9WxjiVzpmFbuW7LbWH2Z https://youtu.be/RoCsorfgp4M Garry Marshall on Cindy's departure [The Television Academy Foundation] - https://youtu.be/NuokWhpheSk A&E Biography Retrospective (2005) - https://www.youtube.com/watch Penny Marshall Interview Snippet [The Television Academy Foundation] - https://youtu.be/tK8hYSz2GLE Cindy Discussing Her Departure [Larry King Live interview clip] - https://youtu.be/OK0ROd77nis Cindy Williams Obituary from TODAY - with interview clips - https://youtu.be/IeBM_K5ZPHk?si=D3hf1gOJwtB21xOh

CUE THE ORGAN MUSIC! It's time for a soap opera parody in which Shirley's guilt over borrowing Laverne's purse without permission -- and then losing it -- fuels her dreams while she falls asleep watching TV. The Baublenik family is a dynasty built on flapjack restaurants, but Shirley's dream keeps taking sinister, raunchy turns. Will "Charlene Baublenik" be poisoned to death? CAN you find a good chauffeur these days? And what is the next leading brand of Dose-a-coma?! On pod, we are joined by special guest Tracy Ramone, the head of Sloppy Dice Dungeons & Dragons which Chris regularly participates in. Tracy's history with Laverne and Shirley is formative and lively, along with her affection for silly TV and soap operas, making her a welcome addition to discussing this one! Prepare for tangents, derails, overlapping conversations, and enthusiastic raving about costumes.

The girls suspect they're being robbed (repeatedly!) after Shirley loses her (labeled!) keys at Disneyland. Food and a record player go missing from the apartment, causing them to call the police. Then the girls head off for a vacation to Palm Springs, leaving Frank and Carmine to figure out who's robbing the place. After some some snooping, trap-setting, and stories about Anzio, they capture first Squiggy and then Rhonda in the process of breaking into the apartment. But are either of them the robbers? Or a simple misunderstanding?? Then somehow a gun gets pulled out and it turns into a weapons safety PSA. What the hell even is this episode?! On pod, we talk the inane script, how this episode sets the tone for season 8 episodes to come, and do our best to make the most of it.

When Carmine is struck by lightning and, while still addled, thwarts a robbery at Cowboy Bills, a nearby news reporter takes it upon himself to dub him "Lightning Man." Carmine discovers that the public thinks he's a superher and Squiggy seizes this opportunity and signs Lightning Man to a brand new Squignowski Talent Agency contract. Within days, Squiggy starts booking deals for Carmine and scheduling him for personal motivation sessions with troubled kids. But Squiggy's next big gig for him involves walking a tightrope over Sunset Boulevard. It's a stunt that might just get him killed. Will Frank be able to talk Carmine down from the ledge? Meanwhile, Rhonda likens herself to ferns and the girls banter a bit before disappearing from the episode. On pod, we talk David Lander's dynamic acting style, the cartoonish slapstick that is to come, and the variety of guest actors present in the episode!

Get your tap shoes on, we've reached the anthology episode! After Carmine performs a Tom Jones song for Frank, the two get into a debate about music and entertainment through the years. They fight over what's better - the rock 'n' roll stylings of the 1960s or the classics of yesteryear. As they banter, the audience is treated to renditions of Blue Moon, Call the Police, an old-fashioned vaudevillian comedy sketch, a tap dance duet, and a full-on original operetta. Each number features the Laverne & Shirley cast playing different parts. As they traverse from the girls' apartment to Cowboy Bills, will the twosome find something they can agree on? On pod, we talk the history of director Gary Menteer, Lenny Squignowski-based stage thrusting, and more!