It's a Living

I have always liked Amy Bernard since I loved watching Wings so much. But since it first aired on prime time in the early 1980s, it's hard not to imagine changes with cast members. Marian Mercer who plays the restaurant hostess and piano player Paul Kreppel who plays Sonny remained from the beginning to the end. There was three years between the network cancellation and it's remergence in syndication so of course there were changes to the cast. In fact, it got better as the show progressed. Sheryl Lee Ralph joined the cast as well. I'm not saying it was one of the best shows but I remember their black and white outfits, their heartaches, and triumphs on the series in both network and syndication. I miss syndicated comedies. If you're like me and you liked the show on prime time and missed it too, you'll just be happy to get it back in any form.

I just found this show on Antenna TV. I remember when it came on in the early 80's because I just had a baby an was at home watching a lot of TV. I believe this is the show that catapulted Ann Jillian's career; for those of you who remember her being a sex symbol. I remember it was changed to Making a Living then back to It's a Living. Susan Sullivan was on Season 1 then left because she started working on Falcon Crest. Never got into the Louise Lasser character. It's a bit cheesy but it was the 80's right?

This show was about a group of waitresses working in a restaurant in Los Angeles. It introduced me to Ann Jillian and several other actresses still working in the industry. I loved the theme song and still can remember it now. Like many of the shows I grew up with I can't find it on DVD anywhere. "Alice"(the TV show) is getting a DVD. Where are some of the others that I remember so well? "One Day at a Time" also comes to mind. I know that it was also called "Making a Living" for a season and can find all kinds of information on it. Why do they release all the crap that passes for entertainment, and don't release some of the shows that we grew up in the '80's with!

This show had great casting with actors like Paul Kreppel who play Sonny in both series, Marian Mercer, Barrie Youngfellow, the beautiful Ann Jillian, Gail Edwards, Wendy Schall, and Louise Lasser from the Woody Allen films. The show took place in the evening at a posh restaurant in an Los Angeles skyscraper. For a thirty minutes show that aired first in prime time television and later in syndication, it was a memorable and decent show to watch. But it didn't get enough viewers or whatever the reason and was canceled on network television but later resurfaced to syndication which did very well on Saturday afternoon television. I have to say that I always watched it on television during my youth and never understood the networks which canceled fare and attractive television programming in favor of something better or most cases it was worse than expected.

Score: 6/10

REVIEW OF SEASONS 1-3 ONLY

There's nothing wrong with this show. It's well-written, funny, well-performed, with fully realized characters. There's nothing about it that makes it special, but there's nothing about it that is sub-par. Watching this made me remember how stale the sitcom formula had become and why shows like Seinfeld were so revolutionary (and took so long to catch fire). Nevertheless, It's a Living is a well-executed, if typical, sitcom.

Gail Edwards, Barrie Youngfellow, Marian Mercer, Paul Kreppel, and Ann Jillian are mainstays of the cast through the 3 full seasons. Ann Jillian, in particular, is fantastic as Cassie Cranston. Marian Mercer is also impeccable as the hostess/manager, Nancy Beebe. And Paul Kreppel, as Sonny Mann, is an incredible talent. Although It's a Living is a perfectly average sitcom, there is an impressive amount of talent on display.

It is unfortunate that Louise Lasser, who joined the cast in Season 2, did not remain--she was a real boost to the cast. Her comedic sensibility was perfect for the Maggie McBurney character. Though I was VERY disappointed that both Susan Sullivan AND Wendy Schaal did not return from Season 1, Louise Lasser was terrific.

In summary, It's a Living is not an outstanding, genre-defining sitcom. It's an average sitcom from the 80s. Your life will be no poorer for having never seen it; however, there's a lot here to like and if you give it a chance it will grow on you.

It's a Living, Seasons 1-3, is currently airing on Tubi. Unfortunately, they only have a handful of episodes from Season 4 and nothing from later seasons.

Score: 6/10

0-3 Don't waste your time 4-6 Good 7-9 Great 10 Outstanding.