Did Shirley's departure from Laverne and Shirley affect the show's ratings?

Yes, Shirley's departure from Laverne and Shirley did affect the show's ratings. Following the departure of Cindy Williams' character, ratings for the show dropped significantly. This was mainly due to the fact that Shirley's character was a major part of the show and her absence was felt by fans. Additionally, Laverne and Shirley had been running for seven seasons prior to Shirley's departure, leading to viewer fatigue and a drop in ratings.

The show attempted to continue without Cindy Williams' character, introducing a new character, Carmine Ragusa, played by Eddie Mekka. However, the ratings for the show continued to decline, leading to the series being cancelled in 1983.

Overall, Shirley's departure from Laverne and Shirley had a negative effect on the show's ratings. The show had been running for several seasons, leading to viewer fatigue and a drop in ratings, and the show was unable to recover from the absence of Cindy William's character.