To think it all started with Laverne & Shirley in a 2-part primetime story arc with guest star Vicki Lawrence (ex-The Carol Burnett Show). In hindsight, Hanna-Barbera, ABC, & Paramount would've been better served asking Lawrence to reprise her role in an animated spin-off.
As it was, Laverne & Shirley in The Army was virtually doomed from the start. The girls (Penny Marshall & Cindy Williams) were given a pig for a commanding officer (Ron Palillo, ex-Welcome Back, Kotter), which was meant for comic tension, but Sgt. Squealy was about as much fun as a moldy brick of cheese. Palillo played him like he was Horshack on a power trip, and the girls had to bail him out every time. Then again, over on CBS, airing later in the day, you had Private Olive Oyl, which wasn't much better or worse.
In season 2, Williams had left the parent series, and for the cartoon, actress Lynne Stewart was brought in to take over as Shirley. Only 8 episodes were produced for season 2, with Fonzie (Henry Winkler) & Mr. Cool (Frank Welker) coming over from the concluded Fonz & The Happy Days Gang. That made sure Squealy was neutralized.
Here's the series opener, "Invasion of The Booby Hatchers":
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