| 9 to 5 | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Starring | Rita Moreno Rachel Dennison Valerie Curtin Leah Ayres Sally Struthers Jeffrey Tambor Peter Bonerz Edward Winter Jean Marsh |
| Theme music composer | Dolly Parton |
| Opening theme | "9 to 5" |
| Composer(s) | Jack Elliott Dan Foliart Jimmie Haskell Howard Pearl |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 5 |
| No. of episodes | 85 (2 unaired) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Jane Fonda Michael J. Kagan |
| Producer(s) | Jane Fonda (1982–1983) Bruce Gilbert (1982–1983) James Komack (1983) |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 22–24 minutes |
| Production company(s) | 20th Century Fox Television |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | ABC (1982–1983) Syndication (1986–1988) |
| Original run | March 25, 1982 - October 27, 1983 September 13, 1986 – September 10, 1988 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Nine to Five |
9 to 5 is an American situation comedy based on the 1980 film of the same name. The series aired on ABC from 1982 to 1983, and in first-run syndication from 1986 to 1988.
9 to 5 features Rachel Dennison, Dolly Parton's younger sister, in Parton's role of Doralee Rhodes; Rita Moreno portrayed the Lily Tomlin role of Violet Newstead, and Valerie Curtin took the Jane Fonda role of Judy Bernly. In the second version of the show, Sally Struthers replaced Moreno. A total of 82 episodes were filmed. The first season was on film in front of a studio audience but switched to videotape for the next season.
Contents |
The first two seasons' opening credits featured clips from the 1980 movie trailer, of various office duties being performed.
Cast changes were constant early on, as the show tried to find the right ensemble combination. Jeffrey Tambor was the original Franklin Hart (Dabney Coleman's character from the film) during the spring 1982 run, but that fall Peter Bonerz replaced him in that role. He would remain throughout the rest of 9 to 5's ABC run. In another key element straight from the movie, resident flunky to Mr. Hart, office snoop Roz Keith, was played by (Jean Marsh). Roz was responsible for digging up the personal dirt on the secretaries and to help Hart scheme his way to the very top.
Season 2 also saw the addition of Herb Edelman as fatherly salesman Harry Nussbaum, who became an ally to Violet, Judy and Doralee in their schemes against Mr. Hart. Another co-worker, Clair (Ann Weldon), became a regular.
Ratings
1982-' 83: #15
Jane Fonda, who also developed the film version, acted as executive producer during the show's first two seasons. However, she disassociated herself after a dispute over the direction of the show. Her co-producer Bruce Gilbert went with her. Prior to the start of Season 3, veteran TV actor and producer James Komack stepped in to helm the show in their stead. His vision for the show included many changes, which tried to add a new angle without taking the premise away from the original movie and TV format.
The Fonda character of Judy Bernly, portrayed by Valerie Curtin, was written out for the purposes of replacing her with a younger, 20-something secretary, Linda Bowman (Leah Ayres). She instantly became friends with Violet and Doralee, so much that she subsequently became a roommate of theirs in Violet's apartment. Also inhabiting this living arrangement was Violet's 12-year-old son Tommy (played by Tony La Torre, in between his stints on CBS' oft-cancelled Cagney & Lacey). Salesman Nussbaum was also replaced, by Michael Henderson (George Deloy), and Komack also dropped office snoop Roz. Additionally, the company setting changed from Consolidated Companies to American House.
The revamp failed to improve ratings, and the series was cancelled five episodes into the new season. As ABC decided to pull the plug on 9 to 5 just a month into the season, only five episodes were broadcast in the 1983-84 season, with two episodes remaining unaired.
Ratings
Fall 1983: #75
New episodes of 9 to 5 resurfaced in first-run syndication in Fall 1986. Valerie Curtin was back as Judy Bernly as was Rachel Dennison. Assuming the starring role, in place of the unavailable Rita Moreno, was Sally Struthers as slightly naive single mother Marsha McMurray Shrimpton, who added fresh perspective to the group. For the second time in the TV series, the company that the lead characters worked for changed again, this time to Barkley Foods International.
In the syndicated version, Franklin Hart was history; the girls' superiors were ladies' man Russ Merman (Peter Evans), Bud Coleman (Edward Winter), and Marsha's boss in the 1986-87 season, Charmin Cunningham (Dorian Lopinto). The following season, Vice President of Sales E. Nelson Felb (Fred Applegate) became Marsha's boss. The series enjoyed a revival in popularity, and with its additional seasons in first-run syndication, 9 to 5 became eligible for rerun syndication.
The hit title song from the movie "9 to 5", by Dolly Parton, was used as the theme song for the TV series. However, during the first season run in spring 1982, Phoebe Snow performed the vocals. Starting with Season 2 and through the end of the show's syndication run in 1988, Parton sang the theme once again.
In addition to the numerous casting, character, setting and theme changes mentioned above:
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