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Laverne & Shirley

(Rated TV-G, Comedy, Starring Michael McKean, Cindy Williams, Penny Marshall, Where to watch: Lifetime Television, Syndicated, DVD)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 7; suggested age 7.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Classic sitcom duo is still doing it their way.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 7 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Laverne and Shirley are independent but must contend with the double standards that exist for men and women as well as the traditional female roles of the time (the show is set in the late '50s and early '60s). Friendship and loyalty are strong themes, particularly between Laverne and Shirley and Lenny and Squiggy. The cast is Caucasian, but many of the characters are of Italian and/or Polish heritage. The characters are from a working-class background, and occasional plots highlight this fact. Frank De Fazio exhibits chauvinistic behavior, and Mrs. Babish has been married eight times.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Plenty of physical comedy and pratfalls, and some slapstick-like pushing and shoving. One specific episode suggests that Laverne was at risk of being raped by a blind date.

  • Sexy stuff:

    Occasional kissing and mild sexual innuendo that will go over the head of young viewers. Shirley is a prude and refers to sex as "vodeo-doe-doe." Occasional discussions about the double standards that exist for men and women when it comes to sexual activity. Laverne is sexually active and has a pregnancy scare.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Pepsi bottles are visible, and the product is referred to often (Laverne likes to drink Pepsi and milk). Squiggy likes to drink Bosco chocolate flavoring.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Alcohol (especially beer) and tobacco products are occasionally visible and consumed. Some characters appear drunk as part of the comedy sequences.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Laverne & Shirley

Parents need to know that this classic slapstick sitcom is about two young women living and working on their own in Milwaukee in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Their desire to live independently is often challenged by the traditional gender roles of the time. The series stresses the importance of friendship, loyalty, and family. Alcohol (mostly beer) is visible -- the girls work in a brewery, after all -- and characters sometimes get drunk. The show's mild references to sexual activity will easily go over kids' head.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about what it's like to move out of your parents' home and live independently. What are some of the major responsibilities of people living on their own? At what age is it OK for kids to leave the "nest"? Was it the same for young people in the '50s and '60s? Families can discuss the traditional gender roles of the '50s and '60s. How does the show address those issues? Does it reinforce them or try to change them? How does the fact that the show was filmed in the '70s and '80s affect its messages about independence and gender roles two decades earlier?
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