The 1950s-themed sitcom Happy Days was such a hit for ABC in the 1970s that it spawned several spinoffs, including Laverne & Shirley, a show about two young women juggling the demands of life, love, and work in 1950s Milwaukee. The show originated in a 1975 Happy Days episode in which Laverne DeFazio (Penny Marshall) and Shirley Feeney (Cindy Williams) go on a double date with The Fonz (Henry Winkler) and Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard). The response to the episode was so positive that ABC quickly developed a spinoff, which premiered on January 27, 1976. Laverne & Shirley ran for eight seasons and 178 episodes, making its stars household names.

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