It's a Living (1980 TV series)
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It's a Living was the name of a sitcom which aired on American television from 1980 to 1982 and from 1985 to 1989. The show first aired on ABC and was later moved to syndication.
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[edit] Synopsis
The show followed the lives of the waitresses who worked in a posh restaurant located at the top of the Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles, designed by John Portman. At the helm was their supervisor Nancy Beebe (Marian Mercer), who sometimes fraternized with the girls but usually gave orders. More often than not, the scheme of the week involved Nancy in some way, which upset her because all she wanted was an orderly staff. Adding to the chaotic working environment was a wisecracking pianist named Sonny Mann (Paul Kreppel). One of the many waitresses on the show was Cassie Cranston, played by actress Ann Jillian. Due to her stint on this show, she became very popular for a time.
[edit] Title changes
It's a Living was not a success in its first season and was retooled extensively, airing in 1981 under the name Making a Living. This incarnation did not catch on either, and the show was canceled after two seasons.
[edit] "The Show That Wouldn't Die"
While the show was never a hit on network TV, its fortunes would later turn around in 1983, when all 39 episodes went to syndication. Thats when the series began to attract a following along with surprising ratings for the reruns. That prompted the producers (and then-distributor Golden West Television) to bring the series back to television. Another factor in its sudden rediscovery was due to Ann Jillian's public disclosure that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 1984, the same year the announcement was made to bring the show back. The news also earned the show another 'unofficial' title: "The show that wouldn't die".
[edit] The "Rebirth" of "It's a Living"
In 1985, the show was revived under its old name for the syndicated market. Most of the cast remained intact from the former version. A new waitress, Amy Tompkins (Crystal Bernard), arrived at the restaurant and was immediately accepted by the group. When Jillian decided to leave the show in 1986 (She only agreed to do one season in syndication, plus she wanted to continue her treatments for breast cancer), she was replaced by Ginger St. James (Sheryl Lee Ralph), the first black waitress to be showcased on the sitcom. With these core cast members in place, the show continued to produce episodes for syndication until the show was ended in 1989.
[edit] Cast
- Crystal Bernard - Amy Tompkins (1985-1989)
- Earl Boen - Dennis Hubner (1981-1982)
- Gail Edwards - Dot Higgins (1980-1982,1985-1989)
- Ann Jillian - Cassie Cranston (1980-1982,1985-1986)
- Paul Kreppel - Sonny Mann (1980-1982,1985-1989)
- Louise Lasser - Maggie McBurney (1981-1982)
- Marian Mercer - Nancy Beebe (1980-1982,1985-1989)
- Sheryl Lee Ralph - Ginger St. James (1986-1989)
- Bert Remsen - Mario (1980-1981)
- Wendy Schaal - Vicki Allen (1980-1981)
- Richard Stahl - Howard Miller (1985-1989)
- Susan Sullivan - Lois Adams (1980-1981)
- Barrie Youngfellow - Jan Hoffmeyer (1980-1982,1985-1989)
