Working Stiffs (TV series)
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image =
| caption =
| genre = Sitcom
| creator = Arthur Silver
Bob Brunner{{cite news|title=Bob Brunner, 'Happy Days' writer, dies |url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118061908?refCatId=14|work=Variety|date=2012-11-08|accessdate=2012-11-27}}
Marc Sotkin
Harry Colomby
| director = Penny Marshall
Norman Abbott
Greg Antonacci
| developer = David W. Duclon
| starring = James Belushi
Michael Keaton
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| composer = John Cacavas
| country = United States
| language = English
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 9 (5 unaired)
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer = Bob Brunner
Arthur Silver
| producer =
| camera =
| runtime = 30 min. (per episode; with commercials)
| company = Frog Productions
Huk, Inc.
Paramount Television
| network = CBS
| first_aired = {{Start date|1979|9|15}}
| last_aired = {{End date|1979|10|20}}
}}
Working Stiffs is an American sitcom that 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.
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
- James Belushi as Ernie O'Rourke
- Michael Keaton as Mike O'Rourke
- Val Bisoglio as Al Steckler
- Allan Arbus as Mitch Hannigan
- Lorna Patterson as Nikki Evashevsky
=Recurring=
- Phil Rubenstein as Frank Falzone
Episode list
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" background:#fff;" |
| style="background:#63B8FF; width:20px"| Nº
! style="background:#63B8FF"| Title ! style="background:#63B8FF"| Directed by ! style="background:#63B8FF"| Written by ! style="background:#63B8FF; width:135px"| Original air date {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 1 | Title = The Preview Presentation | DirectedBy = Penny Marshall | WrittenBy = Marc Sotkin | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1979|9|15}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 63B8FF }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 2 | Title = Looking for Mr. Goodwrench | DirectedBy = Norman Abbott | WrittenBy = E. Jack Kaplan | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1979|9|22}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 63B8FF }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 3 | Title = The Bank Robbery | DirectedBy = Norman Abbott | WrittenBy = Alan Aidekman | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1979|9|29}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 63B8FF }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 4 | Title = My Boys Are Having a Baby | DirectedBy = Arthur Silver | WrittenBy = Gail Honigberg | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1979|10|6}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 63B8FF }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 5 | Title = The Bosses | DirectedBy = Greg Antonacci | WrittenBy = David W. Duclon | OriginalAirDate = N/A | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 63B8FF }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 6 | Title = Pal Joey | DirectedBy = Dennis Steinmetz | WrittenBy = E. Jack Kaplan | OriginalAirDate = N/A | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 63B8FF }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 7 | Title = The Old Man in the Building | DirectedBy = | WrittenBy = | OriginalAirDate = N/A | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 63B8FF }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 8 | Title = Trading Up | DirectedBy = | WrittenBy = | OriginalAirDate = N/A | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 63B8FF }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 9 | Title = Sagebrush Estates | DirectedBy = | WrittenBy = | OriginalAirDate = N/A | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 63B8FF }} |
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References
{{reflist}}
Brooks, Tim; Earl Marsh (2003). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows. Ballantine Books. {{ISBN|0-345-45542-8}}.
External links
- {{IMDb title|0078711|Working Stiffs}}
Category:1979 American television series debuts
Category:1979 American television series endings
Category:1970s American sitcoms
Category:American English-language television shows
Category:Television series by CBS Studios