SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Tuesday, November 10, 2026

Antenna TV's Thanksgiving on the Eastside: The Jeffersons Marathon; Laverne & Shirley Book Released in Celebration of the Sitcom's 50th Anniversary

The Jeffersons formally invite you to... Thanksgiving! Cook up some insults with Florence. Kick back and take it easy with Weezie. And gobble up 50 episodes of The Jeffersons with the biggest little jive turkey in Manhattan. Watch the "Thanksgiving on the Eastside: The Jeffersons Marathon" starting Wednesday, November 25 at 8pm ET only on Antenna TV. You won't want to miss this!

Created by Norman Lear, The Jeffersons stars Sherman Hemsley (George Jefferson), Isabel Sanford (Louise "Weezy" Jefferson) and Marla Gibbs (Florence Johnston). The groundbreaking sitcom originally aired from 1975 through 1985 with 253 episodes over its 11 seasons. View the promo below.

And stay with us in the coming days for more on Antenna TV and its sister network Rewind TV!

From the moment they appeared on Happy Days, Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams stole our hearts as Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney. When Laverne & Shirley premiered on ABC on January 27, 1976, it debuted at number one in the ratings and earned a 49 share-one of the highest-rated debuts in television history.

Though the road behind the scenes was sometimes rocky, the show remained at the top of the charts for four consecutive years. At its heart were Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams, two women who-despite what you may have read in the tabloids-were actually friends.

In celebration of the sitcom's 50th anniversary, the complete history of Laverne & Shirley comes to life in The Belles of Bottle Capping: The Legacy of Laverne & Shirley, the first book solely devoted to the show. Based on personal interviews with creator Lowell Ganz, director Joel Zwick, cast members Michael McKean, Carole Ita White, Ed Marinaro, and others, the book traces the evolution of the series, from Laverne and Shirley's first appearance on Happy Days through the show's final season and beyond. It also includes an extensive episode guide with behind-the-scenes stories and little-known facts that will bring a smile to fans of the beloved sitcom.

Author Ashley Phipps has been a Laverne & Shirley historian since 1998, when, at twelve years old, she caught the "Circle of Success" marathon on Nick at Nite. She has made it her entire personality ever since. She is the founder of The Ultimate Laverne & Shirley Fan Club and has spent decades celebrating the series, connecting with fellow fans, and preserving its legacy. Her deep affection and gratitude for the show and its place in television history led her to write the first book devoted to its lasting influence. She lives in North Carolina. This is her first book.

Buy it on Amazon.com.