Laverne & Shirley stars deny feud
LOS ANGELES — Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams play feuding ex-TV partners on an episode of Nickelodeon’s Sam & Cat, but they brush aside any comparison to their past.
The former Laverne & Shirley stars, who back in the day of their 197683 sitcom were reported to have crossed swords, said they were never enemies and remain friends despite lingering suggestions to the contrary.
“That was rumours. Any show you work on for eight years, you’re gonna argue at some point,” Marshall said. “Way overblown.”
Williams agreed, but added a bit of detail.
“Yes, it was a bit overblown,” she said. The actress added that she and Marshall have “very different personalities” with contradictory styles of working, which led to on-set clashes.
That said, Williams regularly visits Marshall’s house to watch and discuss TV. There’s a chill in the air, Williams said, but only because Marshall keeps her thermostat turned down and, to compensate, provides down coats and blankets for guests.
Marshall, whose bigscreen directing credits include A League of Their Own and Big, is busy working on a documentary about provocative ex-NBA player Dennis Rodman. But she and Williams were enticed by Sam & Cat creator Dan Schneider to guest star on the comedy.
“He loved our show,” Williams said. “He wanted to do a little tribute.”