Glad for Marquette Day to squeeze in between my catching up on the obits, I don’t want people to think Picayune is always morbid and bitchy. But I can’t forget Cindy who had a big presence in my childhood like her comedy partner Penny Marshall.
Before she landed her biggest role, Cindy had worked in numerous bit parts for TV: Love American Style, Room 222; big roles in a couple successful movies: American Graffiti and The Conversation. The former was a major factor for ABC developing Happy Days and Lavern & Shirley in the new nostalgia for The Fifties®. I think their characters originally had a couple guest spots on Happy Days as older ladies the Fonz knew via dating. They were definitely his backup singers when he performed “Heartbreak Hotel” at Arnold’s.
Years ago I used to have a book on 50 cult movies and Cindy starred in one that came back to bite her once Laverne & Shirley was a hit. The First Nudie Musical was a low-budget, R-rated comedy in the same humor or style as Kentucky Fried Movie. Despite the topic entailing pornography, it’s a tongue-in-cheek thing mocking the Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland stuff in which they put on a show to save the farm or in First‘s case, a failing movie studio. ABC wasn’t thrilled. The film’s producers originally released it in 1976 but it made the rounds by 1978 again with emphasis on Cindy Williams being a key actress. I’ve never had any interest in watching it, the trailer was enough to make the point…and why National Lampoon‘s primary humor was often unfunny and juvenile.
After Laverne & Shirley ended in 1982, Cindy carried on with guest appearances until her passing. She did have one more chance as a lead in a SitCom during the Nineties, Getting By. As per imdb.com it had 31 episodes so I’m guessing it had a season and a half via Fox. Our loss. Cindy had great timing.
Thanks for everything Cindy! You played a great scaredy cat to Penny’s loud, libertine. My brother named a kitten he loved very much after your character in honor of you and during my favorite radio show for WMUR, Sheila and I would do your little ritual dance from the show’s opening as our opening.