Working Stiffs (TV series)

Last updated
Working Stiffs
Genre Sitcom
Created byArthur Silver
Bob Brunner [1]
Marc Sotkin
Harry Colomby
Developed byDavid W. Duclon
Directed by Penny Marshall
Norman Abbott
Greg Antonacci
Starring James Belushi
Michael Keaton
ComposerJohn Cacavas
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes9 (5 unaired)
Production
Executive producers Bob Brunner [1]
Arthur Silver
Running time30 min. (per episode; with commercials)
Production companiesFrog Productions
Huk, Inc.
Paramount Television
Original release
Network CBS
ReleaseSeptember 15 (1979-09-15) 
October 20, 1979 (1979-10-20)

Working Stiffs is an American sitcom which starred James Belushi and Michael Keaton as brothers Ernie and Mike O'Rourke. The pair were janitors who aspired to work their way up in the field of business. The brothers worked in an office building owned by their Uncle Harry. Ernie and Mike also were roommates in an apartment over a cafe where they befriended the owner Mitch and waitress Nikki. Each episode featured slapstick and physical comedy. Penny Marshall directed the pilot.

Contents

The series aired on CBS. It competed against the highly-rated shows NBC's CHiPs and ABC's The Ropers in its timeslot. Nine episodes were produced but after four episodes aired, the series was canceled. After Belushi and Keaton became film stars in the 1980s, six episodes of the show were released on home video. Reruns have also aired on A&E Network, Comedy Central and TV Land. The syndication package included the previously unaired episodes.

Cast

Recurring

Episode list

TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"The Preview Presentation" Penny Marshall Marc SotkinSeptember 15, 1979 (1979-09-15)
2"Looking for Mr. Goodwrench" Norman Abbott E. Jack KaplanSeptember 22, 1979 (1979-09-22)
3"The Bank Robbery"Norman AbbottAlan AidekmanSeptember 29, 1979 (1979-09-29)
4"My Boys Are Having a Baby"Arthur SilverGail HonigbergOctober 6, 1979 (1979-10-06)
5"The Bosses"Greg AntonacciDavid W. DuclonUNAIRED
6"Pal Joey"Dennis SteinmetzE. Jack KaplanUNAIRED
7"The Old Man in the Building"TBDTBDUNAIRED
8"Trading Up"TBDTBDUNAIRED
9"Sagebrush Estates"TBDTBDUNAIRED

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Belushi</span> American actor, comedian, and musician (1949–1982)

John Adam Belushi was an American comedian, actor, and musician. He was one of the seven original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL). Throughout his career, Belushi had a personal and artistic partnership with his fellow SNL star Dan Aykroyd, whom he met while they were both working at Chicago's Second City comedy club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Aykroyd</span> Canadian-American actor (born 1952)

Daniel Edward Aykroyd is a Canadian-American actor, comedian, screenwriter, producer, and musician.

<i>Family Ties</i> American television sitcom (1982–1989)

Family Ties is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC for seven seasons, premiering on September 22, 1982, and concluding on May 14, 1989. The series, created by Gary David Goldberg, reflected the social shift in the United States from the cultural liberalism of the 1960s to the conservatism of the 1980s. Because of this, Young Republican Alex P. Keaton develops generational strife with his ex-hippie parents, Steven and Elyse Keaton.

<i>My Three Sons</i> American television sitcom (1960–1972)

My Three Sons is an American television sitcom that aired from September 29, 1960, to April 13, 1972. The series was broadcast on ABC during its first five seasons, before moving to CBS for the remaining seasons. My Three Sons chronicles the life of widower and aeronautical engineer Steven Douglas as he raises his three sons.

<i>According to Jim</i> American comedy television series

According to Jim is an American sitcom television series starring Jim Belushi in the title role as a suburban father of three children. It originally ran on ABC from October 3, 2001, to June 2, 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Keaton</span> American actor (born 1951)

Michael John Douglas, known professionally as Michael Keaton, is an American actor. He is known for his leading roles in a wide variety of genre films. He has received numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award. In 2016, he was named Officer of Order of Arts and Letters in France.

<i>Spin City</i> American television series (1996-2002)

Spin City is an American sitcom television series that aired from September 17, 1996, to April 30, 2002, on ABC. Created by Gary David Goldberg and Bill Lawrence, the show is set in a fictionalized version of the New York City mayor's office, and originally starred Michael J. Fox as Mike Flaherty, the Deputy Mayor of New York. Fox departed in 2000 at the conclusion of Season 4 due to symptoms of Parkinson's disease, and Charlie Sheen became the new lead as Charlie Crawford for the final two seasons. The series was cancelled after six seasons in May 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penny Marshall</span> American actress, director and producer (1943–2018)

Carole Penny Marshall was an American actress, director and producer. She is known for her role as Laverne DeFazio on the television sitcom Laverne & Shirley (1976–1983), receiving three nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy for her portrayal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael O'Donoghue</span> American actor and writer (1940–1994)

Michael O'Donoghue was an American writer and performer.

<i>Saturday Night Live</i> American late-night live TV sketch comedy and variety show

Saturday Night Live is an American late-night live sketch comedy variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and streams on Peacock. Michaels currently serves as the program's showrunner. The show's premiere was hosted by George Carlin on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title NBC's Saturday Night. The show's comedy sketches, which often parody contemporary American culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers the opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, with featured performances by a musical guest. An episode normally begins with a cold open sketch that was usually based on political events and ends with someone breaking character and proclaiming, "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!", properly beginning the show.

<i>The Wayans Bros.</i> American television series (1995–1999)

The Wayans Bros. is an American sitcom television series that aired on The WB from January 11, 1995, to May 20, 1999. The series starred real life brothers Shawn and Marlon Wayans, comedian John Witherspoon and Anna Maria Horsford.

Saturday Night Live is an American sketch comedy series created and produced by Lorne Michaels for most of the show's run. The show has aired on NBC since 1975.

<i>Less than Perfect</i> American television sitcom

Less than Perfect is an American television sitcom created by Terri Minsky and starring Sara Rue and Sherri Shepherd which originally aired on ABC from October 1, 2002, to June 6, 2006. It follows Claude (Rue), who works at a television network named GNB, as well as her friends and colleagues.

Let's Bowl is a scripted bowling game show that aired on the Comedy Central television network from 2001 to 2002 after a brief run on several TV stations across the U.S. in the mid-1990s, the first three being Minneapolis-St. Paul stations: KXLI-TV 41, KLGT-TV 23, and KARE channel 11.

Mitchell Donald "Mitch" Hurwitz is an American television writer, producer, and actor. He is best known as the creator of the television sitcom Arrested Development as well as the co-creator of The Ellen Show. He is also a contributor to The John Larroquette Show and The Golden Girls.

Working Stiffs may refer to:

Robert Illes is an American award-winning screenwriter, television producer, playwright and author.

Robert Brunner was an American screenwriter, film producer, and television producer. He frequently collaborated in film and television with Garry Marshall, the creator of Happy Days. Brunner is credited with creating the "Fonzie" nickname for Henry Winkler's character, Arthur Fonzarelli, on Happy Days. He also created one of Fonzie's key catchphrases, "Sit on it."

<i>K.C. Undercover</i> American comedy series (2015–2018)

K.C. Undercover is an American comedy television series created by Corinne Marshall that aired on Disney Channel from January 18, 2015 to February 2, 2018. The series stars Zendaya, Veronica Dunne, Kamil McFadden, Trinitee Stokes, Tammy Townsend, and Kadeem Hardison.

<i>Not Safe with Nikki Glaser</i> American TV series or program

Not Safe with Nikki Glaser is an American television sex comedy talk show series hosted by Nikki Glaser. It premiered February 9, 2016 at 10:30 p.m. in the United States on Comedy Central, in Canada on MUCH, and in the United Kingdom on 4Music. The show features Glaser and a panel of comedians as they talk about topics about sex.

References

  1. 1 2 "Bob Brunner, 'Happy Days' writer, dies". Variety . 2012-11-08. Retrieved 2012-11-27.

Brooks, Tim; Earl Marsh (2003). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows . Ballantine Books. ISBN   0-345-45542-8.