shirleyfeeneys

[shirleyfeeneys]

Meeting Cindy Williams

I am still in utter shock at the sudden passing of Cindy Williams. So I thought it might help me if I tell the story in written form of the time I met her back in 2021.

It was a typical August, well maybe not so typical for me. My mom had been through a major health challenge and I had recently quit my job due to depression and suicidal thoughts. I even spent a few days as an outpatient in a mental hospital because of it. As all of that was slowly coming behind me, my favorite (and nearest) comic con, Planet Comicon, was about to occur in Kansas City, Missouri, a few hours away from where I live.

The guest I was originally looking forward to had cancelled last minute due to COVID travel restrictions (hence why I went as Princess Leia but I’ll mention that more later). But as I looked through the guest list another name caught my eye. Cindy Williams from Laverne & Shirley. Now I had seen Laverne & Shirley once before, the episode with Carrie Fisher which ironically didn’t even have Cindy in it. While the episode hadn’t kick started me into the series back in 2016 when I watched it I remember throughly enjoying it. So I thought I’d watch this show again and see if I actually like it without Carrie Fisher to tide my attention. I tried finding episodes online to watch, which was difficult but I did anyway and eventually found Pluto TV which at the time was only showing select episodes at certain schedules.

I enjoyed the show and decided I would meet Cindy at the con. It was a lovely Saturday morning at around 10:40ish am. I went up to her table. And she was so delighted to see me. As I mentioned earlier I was dressed as Princess Leia, hair buns and all, because of the other guest. I knew so little knowledge of Cindy at the time that I had no idea she had auditioned for the role of Princess Leia. But she wasn’t offended or anything. She genuinely liked my cosplay, and was impressed that I did the hair buns using my own hair, which was pretty long at the time. I noticed she had a Laverne & Shirley face mask, and I commented that I liked it. She offered to give it to me, if it weren’t for COVID safety. This woman was so sweet. If anything I want people to take that away from this story. So sweet, so kind, so caring. She did my autograph, inscribed: “Love, Peace & Happiness to Brianna.” She signed it and asked if I wanted her to include “Shirley.” I did, even though I didn’t realize the picture I had picked out wasn’t just a generic photo of her. It was from More American Graffiti.

Anyway, next it came time to take our photo together. Now I rarely look good in pictures. But this one came out really well for the both of us. It’s been my screensaver on my phone since late 2021. We then said our goodbyes and I told her I would see her later at the professional photo op and her panel. Later at the professional photo op she remembered me, not my name but my face and outfit. And she asked me again what my name was, and I told her. That picture is nice too but the one at her table is my favorite so it is the one I always share.

Later that evening at her panel she shared many anecdotes from her life and answered questions including favorite episodes (she said “Guinea Pigs” here). And she mentioned her upcoming one woman show “Me, Myself & Shirley. From that moment on I was determined to see it, buying tickets to four different shows over the past year and a half that all got cancelled. It just wasn’t meant to be.

My biggest regret from that day was not getting to tell her how much she and Shirley and Boo Boo Kitty meant to me. But I was so new to the show then and didn’t yet know that, so I guess my biggest regret is not getting to see her show and tell her these things. My most recent plan was to go to Austin, TX in May to see her show there. But again, it wasn’t meant to be.

I’ll always remember how warm and kind Cindy was to me. May she rest in peace.

[shirleyfeeneys]

“𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝟒𝟓𝟎 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝. 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭.” -𝐂𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐓𝐕 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞 & 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝. In memory of Cindy Williams, who has passed away following a brief illness at the age of 75. Born on August 22nd, 1947 in Los Angeles, California Died on January 25th, 2023 in Los Angeles, California May she rest in peace. ❤ Photos of Cindy with Penny Marshall from the years they starred together on the popular sitcom Laverne & Shirley (ABC, 1976-1983).

[shirleyfeeneys]

Moments I really wish hadn't been cut from the show. S5E9: We're in the Army, Now: Part 1

[shirleyfeeneys]

Regarding the failed Lenny & Squiggy spinoff, excerpts from the books Spinning Laughter (Richard Irving) and David L. Lander's autobio, Fall Down Laughing.

[shirleyfeeneys]

A wonderful gem from 1999, The Rosie O'Donnell Show: Surprise You're It Penny Marshall, highlighting Penny's life and career. Featuring Garry Marshall, Carrie Fisher, and a Laverne & Shirley reunion with Cindy Williams, Michael McKean & David Lander. <3

[shirleyfeeneys]

The cast of Laverne & Shirley clowning around during rehearsals for Upstairs, Downstairs. (spotted in Sitcom: The Adventures of Garry Marshall)

[shirleyfeeneys]

prom photos

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Betty Garrett + Phil Foster in “Laverne & Shirley” (1980)

[shirleyfeeneys]

Laverne & Shirley

S1E12: Hi, Neighbor

Directed by Alan Meyerson Written by Michael McKean and David Lander and Harry Shearer

“That’s me, Laverne. The lone wolf.”

[shirleyfeeneys]

LAVERNE & SHIRLEY 

“FAKEOUT AT THE STAKEOUT” (S1E11)

Dir. Alan Meyerson

[shirleyfeeneys]

Laverne & Shirley

S1E13: How Do You Say “Are You Dead?” In German

Directed by John Thomas Lennox Written by Bob Brunner

“Ich bin fired?!”

[shirleyfeeneys]

Sexless Sitcoms

[shirleyfeeneys]

laverne and shirley |1976|

[shirleyfeeneys]

Penny Marshall as Laverne to Cindy Williams’ Shirley, in "Laverne & Shirley“

[shirleyfeeneys]

[shirleyfeeneys]

Laverne and Shirley - Penny Marshall