List of 9 to 5 episodes
This is the complete episode list for 9 to 5. It was based on the 1980 film of the same name. The series ran for 5 seasons, had a total of 85 episodes (2 unaired), and aired on two different networks (1982–1983 for 3 seasons and 33 episodes on ABC, and 1986–1988 for 2 seasons and 52 episodes in First-Run Syndication).
- All episodes are arranged in production order.
ABC Era (1982–1983)
Season 1 (1982)
01. "New Kid on the Block" (1U01; Pilot)
Written by: Kim Weiskopf & Michael S. Baser
Violet and Judy suspect a new secretary has been hired for her physical attributes.
- Broadcast: Mar/25/1982
- Pilot Episode.
- Rachel Dennison, the actress playing Doralee, is the sister of singer Dolly Parton, who played Doralee in the movie 9 to 5. She and Valerie Curtin were the only cast members to reprise their roles in the First-Run Syndicated version, while Dennison was the only cast member to appear in all 85 episodes.
- Valerie Curtin and Jeffrey Tambor both previously worked on the Three's Company franchise. Valerie portrayed the original Janet Wood in the first unaired pilot filmed in March 1976. Jeffrey portrayed the Roper's neighbor and landlord in the ill-fated The Ropers spinoff. Despite this, the two never worked together on that series.
- Suzanne Stone appeared a few more times during the series as Roberta.
- The show originally used a different version of the theme song. It was sung by Phoebe Snow. Beginning in season 2, and continuing until the end of the shows' run, Dolly Parton's version was used.
- The first two seasons were shot and completed on film, while the third season, and the entire First-Run Syndicated era was shot and completed on videotape.
- Differences between the TV series and the film: Violet is a widow with four children, the most visible of whom is Tommy, while in the movie she had four children, but we only meet her son Josh, Violet's maiden name is Fernandez, (due to Rita Moreno's playing Violet as a fiery Latina woman) while in the movie, Violet's maiden name is not disclosed, and Hart's hard edge was softened considerably, and was portrayed more as a bumbling and incompetent idiot than the despotic tyrant he was in the movie.
02. "The China Sin-Drome" (1U02)
Written by: Debra Frank & Scott Rubenstein
Hart's chance to land a big contract in Taiwan hinges on whether Doralee is willing to go along as part of the package.
- Broadcast: Apr/08/1982
- The title is a pun on the 1979 Jane Fonda film The China Syndrome.
03. "Herassment" (1U03)
Written by: Larry Balmagia
An image change for Judy works too well and attracts the amorous Mr. Hart.
- Broadcast: Apr/01/1982
- Peter Hobbs returned as Mr. O'Malley for the season 1 finale. He also appeared in the movie version as Doctor at St. Ambrose Hospital.
04. "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Secretary" (1U04)
Written by: Larry Balmagia
Violet risks her job when she refuses to take a polygraph test ordered by Hart.
- Broadcast: Apr/08/1982
- Peggy Pope also appeared in the movie version as Margaret Foster.
- The shows' 4-episode trial run did well enough for it to be renewed for a full-length second season, later that same year.
Season 2 (1982–1983)
For season 2, Peter Bonerz replaced Jeffrey Tambor as Franklin Hart. Herb Edelman (fatherly salesman Harry Nussbaum) and Ann Weldon (Clair) also joined the cast.
05. "The Loverwear Party" (2C01)
Written by: Wendy Kout & Michele Willens
Violet decides to supplement her income by selling erotic apparel but Roz mistakes the coffeeroom sales conferences for union organizing.
- Broadcast: Sep/28/1982
- Marian Mercer also appeared in the movie version as Missy Hart.
06. "The Security Guard" (2C02)
Written by: Dale McRaven
Jane Fonda (who portrayed Judy in the movie) plays a cynical security guard who learns about "pink collar" life from stories the secretaries tell.
- Broadcast: Oct/12/1982
07. "Dick Doesn't Live Here Anymore" (2C03)
Written by: Susan Seeger
Judy lets her estranged husband (John Larroquette) and his girlfriend stay at her place.
- Broadcast: Oct/26/1982
08. "Real Men Don't Make Quiche" (2C04)
Story by: Ron Bloomberg & Jeffrey Ferro & Fredric Weiss
Teleplay by: Jeffrey Ferro & Fredric Weiss
Judy mistakes the computer's power switch for the light switch, wipes out the office data, and loses her job.
- Broadcast: Oct/19/1982
09. "Hard Sell" (2C05)
Written by: Ron Bloomberg
Harry quits the company, but Violet can't join the others in urging him to stay – she's next in line for his job.
- Broadcast: Dec/07/1982
10. "The Party's Over (A.K.A. Time to Panic)" (2C06)
Written by: Jeffrey Ferro & Fredric Weiss
Story by: Ron Bloomberg
If the mail clerk's rumor is true, company budget cuts call for the firing of one employee, and everyone thinks they'll be the unlucky one.
- Broadcast: Nov/23/1982
11. "Home is Where the Hart is" (2C07)
Written by: Jeffrey Ferro & Fredric Weiss
Doralee's boyfriend (Howard Hessman) comes up from Tennessee for a visit – and won't go home without her.
- Broadcast: Nov/09/1982
12. "Don't Take My Wife, Please (A.K.A. An Affair to Forget)" (2C09)
Written by: Garry Ferrier & Aubrey Tadman
It seems that Mr. Hart has been neglecting his wife; Roz sees her at dinner with another man.
- Broadcast: Nov/16/1982
13. "Temporarily Disconnected" (2C10)
Story by: Maxine Herman
Written by: Maxine Herman & Wendy Kout
- Broadcast: Nov/30/1982
14. "Power Failure" (2C11)
Written by: Fredric Weiss
Felled by back spasms, Hart tells Roz to "hold down the fort" and she does – like a drill sergeant
- Broadcast: Dec/14/1982
15. "Off Broadway" (2C12)
Written by: Ron Bloomberg
Judy suggests that the company's products show feature live performers – the employees.
- Broadcast: May/03/1983
16. "Did it Happen One Night?" (2C13)
Written by: Susan Seeger
A power blackout in snowbound Cleveland gives rise to some unusual survival tactics like Hart building a fire in his office.
- Broadcast: Jan/04/1983
17. "Torn Between One Lover" (2C14)
Written by: Jeffrey Ferro & Wendy Kout
Judy invites her new racquetball partner to the apartment, unaware he's also the psychology professor Doralee is smitten with.
- Broadcast: Jan/11/1983
18. "Hex Marks the Spot" (2C15)
Written by: Gary H. Miller
Doralee claims that the company's new toothpaste logo is the same symbol her grandmother told her was a bad luck sign.
- Broadcast: Jan/18/1983
19. "Three for the Money" (2C16)
Written by: Jeffrey Ferro & Fredric Weiss
The secretaries each add their own personal ingredients to their food-processor demonstration as they audition for a new job.
- Broadcast: Feb/01/1983
20. "The Phantom" (2C17)
Written by: Ron Friedman
Items missing from the office suggest that a thief has been at work, so Hart teaches the women self-defense.
- Broadcast: May/10/1983
21. "The Oldest Profession" (2C18)
Written by: Fredi Towbin
The secretaries do moonlighting work delivering singing telegrams. Their costumes give a vice cop the wrong idea and the girls are arrested for prostitution.
- Broadcast: Feb/15/1983
22. "Big Bucks" (2C19)
Written by: Ron Bloomberg
Judy learns she's being paid more than her friends and tells Mr. Hart—hoping he'll raise their salaries.
- Broadcast: Mar/01/1983
23. "When Violet Gets Blue" (2C20)
Written by: Marty Farrell
Violet is offered a big promotion – after a night of romance with a visiting executive.
- Broadcast: Feb/22/1983
24. "I Want to Dance" (2C21)
Written by: Wendy Kout
Violet is acting strange: waltzing in the office, sneaking into the executive steamroom, and refusing Hart's demand that she reschedule her trip to New York.
- Broadcast: Mar/15/1983
25. "Big Bucks" (2C22)
Written by: Jeffrey Ferro & Fredric Weiss
- Broadcast: Apr/12/1983
26. "Movin' On" (2C23)
Written by: Gary H. Miller
Violet has 24 hours to raise $100,000 or the bank will foreclose on her house.
- Broadcast: Mar/22/1983
- The series once again did well enough to continue for another season.
Season 3 (1983)
In the 3rd season, the original executive producers of this series, Jane Fonda & Bruce Gilbert left due to a dispute regarding the direction in the show, and were replaced by James Komack, which resulted in many dramatic changes made during this season. Among them were the Fonda character of Judy Bernly (portrayed by Valerie Curtin), being written out and replaced by a 20-something secretary in Linda Bowman (portrayed by Leah Ayres), the introduction of Violet's 12-year-old son Tommy (played by Tony La Torre, in between his stints on CBS' oft-cancelled Cagney & Lacey), salesman Nussbaum being replaced by Michael Henderson (played by George Deloy), and office snoop Roz being written out. Lastly, the company setting changed from Consolidated Companies to American House. Unfortunately, the changes caused a steep ratings decline, forcing ABC to pull the plug on the series, along with the remaining 2 episodes (only 7 episodes were made during this season). However, the show saw a second life in First-Run Syndication, and the remaining 2 ABC episodes were finally shown during that particular run.
27. "Mid-Wife Crisis" (1S01)
Written by: Diane Wilk
Hart is an emotional wreck after learning his wife wants a divorce, so he seeks comfort at the secretaries' apartment.
- Broadcast: Oct/13/1983
28. "The Frog Inside Prince Charming (1S02)
Written by: George Bloom
New salesman Michael charms the secretaries, but only Violet finds the nerve to ask him out.
- Broadcast: Oct/06/1983
29. "Eleven-Year Itch" (1S03)
Written by: Stan Cutler
Doralee advises 11-year-old Tommy how to kiss a girl, then innocently leaves the boy alone with Linda in the apartment.
- Broadcast: Oct/20/1983
30. "Dag Day Afternoon" (1S04)
Written by: George Bloom
- Unaired until Syndication.
31. "'Till Tomorrow Do Us Part" (1S05)
Written by: Al Jean & Michael Reiss
Hart asks Violet to pose as his wife as a college reunion.
- Broadcast: Sep/29/1983
32. "Pillow Talk" (1S06)
Written by: Susan Sebastian & Diane Ayers
- Unaired until Syndication.
33. "Family Business" (1S07)
Written by: Dave Hackel
Hart hopes a new contract results from Linda's meeting with her father, an Army purchasing agent, but Linda just wants a quiet evening with her dad.
- Broadcast: Oct/27/1983
First-Run Syndication Era (1986–1988)
In 1986, the series came back, this time for First-Run Syndication. It was revamped yet again. 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. Also the Franklin Hart character was written out entirely; 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, the show became eligible for rerun syndication.
Season 4 (1986–1987)
34. "Reach Out and Touch Someone" (4V01)
Written by: Michael Kagan & Ava Nelson
Marsha is stumped by the new phone system, which stumps everyone when it goes kaput.
- Broadcast: Sep/13/1986
35. "Ghoswriter" (4V02)
Written by: Andy Guerdat & Steve Kreinberg
- Broadcast: Dec/06/1986
36. "Uh, About Last Night" (4V03)
Written by: Martin Sage & Sybil Adleman
- Broadcast: Oct/11/1986
37. "You Don't Know Me" (4V04)
Written by: Michael Kagan
- Broadcast: Sep/20/1986
38. "A Date with Judy" (4V05)
Written by: Jack Carrerow & Lisa A. Bannick
- Broadcast: Sep/26/1986
39. "Every Super Women Gets the Blues" (4V06)
Story by: Paul K. Taylor
Teleplay by: Michael Kagan
- Broadcast: Oct/04/1986
40. "The Acid Test" (4V07)
Written by: Steve Kreinberg & Andy Guerdat
- Broadcast: Nov/01/1986
41. "The Party" (4V08)
Written by: David Silverman & Stephen Sustarsic
- Broadcast: Oct/18/1986
42. "The Naked City" (4V09)
Story by: Norm Chandler Fox
Teleplay by: Jack Carrerow & Lisa A. Bannick
- Broadcast: Nov/08/1986
43. "An American Dream" (4V10)
Story by: Norm Chandler Fox
Teleplay by: Jack Carrerow & Lisa A. Bannick
- Broadcast: Oct/25/1986
44. "What's Up, Curtis?" (4V11)
Written by: Steve Kreinberg & Andy Guerdat
- Broadcast: Nov/15/1986
45. "The Russians are Coming" (4V12)
Written by: Leonard Mlodinow & Scott Rubenstein
- Broadcast: Nov/22/1986
46. "Sharman Cunningham, Vice President" (4V13)
Written by: Deborah K. Scott
- Broadcast: Jan/3/1987
47. "Judy's Dream" (4V14)
Written by: Duncan Scott McGibbon
- Broadcast: Jan/10/1987
48. "Blue Christmas" (4V15)
Written by: Jack Carrerow
- Broadcast: Dec/13/1986
49. "Move Over Millie Maple" (4V16)
Written by: Jeanne Baruch & Jeanne Romano
- Broadcast: Jan/31/1987
50. "Bud Knows Best" (4V17)
Written by: Andy Guerdat & Steve Kreinberg
- Broadcast: Jan/17/1987
51. "Make Room for Corky" (4V18)
Written by: Michael Kagan
- Broadcast: Jan/24/1987
52. "Love and Death" (4V19)
Written by: Michael Kagan
- Broadcast: Mar/28/1987
53. "Bud's Mid-Life Crisis" (4V20)
Written by: Martin Sage & Sybil Adelman
- Broadcast: Feb/07/1987
54. "She Gives Good Phone" (4V21)
Written by: Joelyn Grippo
- Broadcast: Feb/14/1987
55. "You're Dating My Baby" (4V22)
Written by: Lisa A. Bannick
- Broadcast: Feb/21/1987
56. "The Interns" (4V23)
Written by: Andy Guerdat & Steve Kreinberg
- Broadcast: Feb/28/1987
57. "From Here to Kingdom Come" (4V24)
Written by: Jeffrey Sachs
- Broadcast: Mar/07/1987
58. "Look But Don't Touch" (4V25)
Written by: Jack Carrerow
- Broadcast: Mar/14/1987
59. "The Big Game" (4V26)
Written by: Michael Kagan
- Broadcast: Mar/21/1987