In the first half of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single one-hour episode) , Laverne (Penny Marshall) and Shirley (Cindy Williams) decide to pursue new goals when they are denied promotions at the brewery. As result, the girls enlist in the Army as WACS--placing themselves at the mercy of sadistic drill sergeant Alvinia T. Plout (Vicki Lawrence, in her first series appearance). This episode was clearly the inspiration for the Saturday-morning animated spinoff Laverne & Shirley in the Army. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi