It''s a Living
It deserves its own thread.
Why?
Because of Ann Jillian's hair.
Because of Mabel Mercer.
Because Paul Kreppel was fucking hot until he got fat and gross as Donna's dad on THAT 70s SHOW.
Because everyone got Barrie Youngfellow confused with Patti Deutsch.
Because the theme song sounded like it should have been belted out by Ethel Merman.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 167 | August 1, 2020 1:37 AM
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Considering you can't even get the name Marian Mercer right do you think you should be starting a thread about anything?
by Anonymous | reply 1 | November 21, 2010 11:52 PM
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Oh, you're so right, r1--I'll go out and commit seppuku now because of that unforgivable error.
by Anonymous | reply 2 | November 21, 2010 11:55 PM
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Holy crap I forgot all about that show. WEHT Ann Jilian? I knew she had breast cancer.
by Anonymous | reply 3 | November 21, 2010 11:57 PM
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Barrie was considerably prettier than Patti. Sorry, Patti. And the show had Susan Sullivan, didn't it?
by Anonymous | reply 4 | November 21, 2010 11:59 PM
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I was gonna ask when Mabel Mercer was in a sitcom but r1 answered it for me.
by Anonymous | reply 5 | November 22, 2010 12:02 AM
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According to Wikipedia, that theme (the most braying theme song of all time) was written by Leslie Bricusse. Good Lord.
Remember when Louise Lasser was added to the cast (briefly) as one of the waitresses? Did. Not. Work.
by Anonymous | reply 6 | November 22, 2010 12:09 AM
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Paul Kreppel did NOT play Donna's dad on "That 70's Show", you douche--that was Don Stark as Bob. %0D %0D Maybe you should take R1's advice. Or better yet--your own.
by Anonymous | reply 7 | November 22, 2010 12:16 AM
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That was the best R1 of all time.
by Anonymous | reply 8 | November 22, 2010 12:18 AM
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They went through a lot of cast changes - partly due to the shift from network to first run syndication but didn't it also get cancelled briefly then brought back during its network run?
Crystal Bernard from Wings and the last awful season of Happy Days was also on for awhile.
by Anonymous | reply 9 | November 22, 2010 12:21 AM
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I loved the theme song!!!
by Anonymous | reply 10 | November 22, 2010 12:24 AM
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Mabel Mercer was the cabaret singer. Marian Mercer was the actress in It's A Living.
by Anonymous | reply 11 | November 22, 2010 12:25 AM
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Ann Jillian was all over TV in the 80s and then she just disappeared.
by Anonymous | reply 12 | November 22, 2010 12:27 AM
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Marian Mercer also won a tony award for playing Marge Macdougal in Promises, Promises 40 years before Katie Finneran won a tony for the same role.
by Anonymous | reply 13 | November 22, 2010 12:27 AM
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Don't forget that between 1982 (the end of its network run) and 1985 (the beginning of its syndicated run) the show was retooled as "Making A Living".
by Anonymous | reply 14 | November 22, 2010 12:31 AM
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Was this show syndicated all over the country? I told a friend of mine about the show this summer, but she had never heard of it. I showed her the theme song on Youtube, but she drew a blank.
by Anonymous | reply 15 | November 22, 2010 12:37 AM
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At one point, it was called "Making a Living."
by Anonymous | reply 16 | November 22, 2010 12:38 AM
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Paul Kreppel was JACKIE'S dad on "That 70's Show", OP, not Donna's.
by Anonymous | reply 17 | November 22, 2010 12:44 AM
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Is Crystal Bernard still in denial?
by Anonymous | reply 18 | November 23, 2010 1:00 PM
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Sadly, Ann Jillian's breast cancer and subsequent mastectomy was a serious blight on a show that featured waitresses in sexy low-cut uniforms. If I'm not mistaken, this opening clip was after the operation because the original uniforms showed far more cleavage.
by Anonymous | reply 19 | November 23, 2010 1:09 PM
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Ann Jillian stole my hair-do!
by Anonymous | reply 20 | November 23, 2010 1:10 PM
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No, no, no.%0D %0D In it's first season (1980-81), it was called "It's a Living" and featured Susan Sullivan but not Barrie Youngfellow. The show was cancelled, Sullivan signed on for "Falcon Crest," then somebody at ABC decided to give the show another try and retooled it as "Making a Living," with Youngfellow replacing Sullivan, for the '81-'82 season. Still didn't work and it was cancelled.%0D %0D Brought back for syndication under the original title, "It's a Living," from 1985 to 1989, with Ann Jillian gone, being replaced by Sheryl Lee Ralph.
by Anonymous | reply 21 | November 23, 2010 1:32 PM
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I wanted Ann Jillian's hair. Desperately.
by Anonymous | reply 22 | November 23, 2010 1:40 PM
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I am obsessed with this show - why isn't it on DVD. There are EIGHT seasons of it. Yes, there's that high-belt theme song; I didn't know Leslie Bricusse wrote it, though that makes sense.
There's Louise Lasser, Ann Jillian (is that her singing "although we may be less than wealthy"), Tony winner Marian Mercer, Susan Sullivan and Sheryl Lee Ralph and Crystal Bernard later on...
Here's a dissection of the cast changes through the years:
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 23 | November 23, 2010 1:40 PM
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Wrong R21.%0D %0D Barrie was always on "It's a Living". Susan Sullivan was replaced by Louise Lasser.%0D %0D And Ann Jillian was on the first syndicated season but left in 1986. She was replaced by Sheryl Lee Ralph.
by Anonymous | reply 24 | November 23, 2010 1:44 PM
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Also some agents seem to have gone into overtime on the billing. Season 1 is "Starring Susan Sullivan", but then both Ann Jillian and Barrie Youngfellow get the "And" + their character names, though two other actors (without an "And") are sandwiched between.
It was another Junger Witt / Thomas sitcom, I think they had a bunch of shows on ABC around that time.
It was also one of the first shows to be made exclusively for strip syndication (in its later seasons)...Suzanne Somers in "She's The Sheriff" was another from around the same time.
Here's season one ("It's A Living"):
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 25 | November 23, 2010 1:46 PM
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Who was Barrie Youngfellow that she rated that special billing?
by Anonymous | reply 26 | November 23, 2010 1:48 PM
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Here's season 3 - those poor girls, having to go back to the Bonaventure Hotel and walk around and ride the elevator to reshoot the opening all the times the cast re-tooled.
Billing is now "Starring Ann Jillian" and only Barrie Youngfellow gets the "And"
WARNING: lots of fried 80's hair in this one, but the print quality is better than the other clips.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 27 | November 23, 2010 1:53 PM
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Paul Kreppel is neither fat, nor gross.
by Anonymous | reply 28 | November 23, 2010 1:55 PM
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Even as a kid I could see that without the blonde mushroom hair Ann Jillian would not look like much
by Anonymous | reply 29 | November 23, 2010 1:56 PM
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Was Youngfellow as well-known as Jillian before this show started? Because I notice the credits for each are the same.
by Anonymous | reply 30 | November 23, 2010 2:00 PM
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%0D I thought Sheryl Lee Ralph did a great job. Of course, I was about 7 at the time, but I did love her anyway.%0D
by Anonymous | reply 31 | November 23, 2010 2:03 PM
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Our Datalounge tour of IT'S A LIVING title sequence variations continues with Season 6 (still somehow with the title IT'S A LIVING, though the MAKING A LIVING title was in there for a while).
Crystal Bernard has traded in the hideous blue-green and black hunter's jacket pattern for an awful looking bear sweater. This time it's Gail Edwards who wears the awful blue-green and black hunter pattern garment...only this time, it's a dress.
At last, it's "Starring" Barrie Youngfellow, still twirling around by the locker (though in a different direction and with different hair), and Sheryl Lee Ralph is sandwiched in the middle and Marian Mercer gets the "And" with her character's first AND last names; previously she was closer to the top of the credit sequence, but with no "And".
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 32 | November 23, 2010 2:03 PM
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Barrie Youngfellow is married to Sam Freed (Kate & Allie) for over 30 years. She is a NY theater actress, and once the series was canceled resumed her theater career in NY.
by Anonymous | reply 33 | November 23, 2010 2:05 PM
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I imagine Youngfellow being very demanding... like Lupone. Anyone know her?
I dreamed of having a nice cocktail in that lounge. It looked so glamorous to my six year old eyes.
by Anonymous | reply 34 | November 23, 2010 2:11 PM
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My biggest beef was that the restaurant only offered one type of salad!
by Anonymous | reply 35 | November 23, 2010 2:14 PM
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Here are some lyrics.
Life's not the French Riviera, believe me, life's not a charity ball.
It isn't all a great big bed of roses, it's not like showbiz, but the main thing I suppose is%E2%80%A6
(KEY CHANGE)
We're not the people you envy, believe me, we know we're doing okay.
(Descant over the above: We are not faking it, we are gonna make it)
(SOLO)
Okay, we may be less than wealthy, but then again, we're young and healthy,
(TUTTI)
And anyone who's young and healthy knows that that's the way the traffic flows.
It's a living.
by Anonymous | reply 36 | November 23, 2010 2:14 PM
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Oops -there are only SIX seasons of it (120 episodes). And I'm ashamed to admit, I cannot find the Lasser version of the credits, nor can I find any MAKING A LIVING titled credits (though there's no question that was the title for a while).
by Anonymous | reply 37 | November 23, 2010 2:19 PM
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Here's Ann Jillian's website. There are pics of her with everyone from Jonas Salk to Mickey Rooney.
She mainly does personal appearances, it seems, though she keeps an agent at APA.
We're still waiting for you to upload those audio clips to your site, Ann. It's said "audio coming soon"...for a while.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 38 | November 23, 2010 2:26 PM
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I can't believe many of the same names that worked on Golden Girls produced this trash!
by Anonymous | reply 39 | November 23, 2010 2:27 PM
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I, too, would like to make personal appearances for a living.
by Anonymous | reply 40 | November 23, 2010 2:29 PM
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In the pilot Mabel Mercer's name was Marian Mercer but they changed it because "Mabel" sounded too ethnic!
by Anonymous | reply 41 | November 23, 2010 2:32 PM
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One of Barrie Youngfellow's pre-sitcom credits is playing - wait for it - JOAN CRAWFORD in the mini-series "The Scarlett O'Hara Wars". Talk about your MARY!%0D %0D Why isn't THAT on DVD?%0D %0D
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 42 | November 23, 2010 2:38 PM
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[quote]Who was Barrie Youngfellow that she rated that special billing?
I was thinking exactly the same thing, not to mention she's hideous in that clip.
I can't remember ever having watched this show, yet I know the theme song and it was on the air for years it seemed. Did anyone actually watch this?
by Anonymous | reply 43 | November 23, 2010 2:45 PM
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I think Bricusse makes perfect sense for the theme song. It sounds like something cut from Victor/Victoria.
by Anonymous | reply 44 | November 23, 2010 2:53 PM
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Uh, I don't think so r33. She's a hack 80's TV actress whose credits mostly stick to late season appearances in long running shows like WKRP, Three's Company, and Blossom. Her only steady work was "It's A Living."
She's never appeared on Broadway, unless it was under another name.
by Anonymous | reply 45 | November 23, 2010 2:56 PM
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I never said she was a broadway actress. I said she is a NY theater actress. Last time I checked there are TONS of theaters in NYC, with no connection to broadway.
by Anonymous | reply 46 | November 23, 2010 3:01 PM
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I want to hear more about how demanding Barrie Youngfellow is.
God knows she re-shot that spin around at the locker enough times.
by Anonymous | reply 47 | November 23, 2010 3:13 PM
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[R42] One of Barrie Youngfellow's pre-sitcom credits is playing - wait for it - JOAN CRAWFORD in the mini-series "The Scarlett O'Hara Wars". Talk about your MARY!%0D %0D Why isn't THAT on DVD? %0D %0D %0D Actually, it is on DVD. It's one of the special features on the GWTW blu-ray.
by Anonymous | reply 48 | November 23, 2010 3:15 PM
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No one said Youngfellow was demanding. One sad soul posted %0D %0D [quote]I imagine Youngfellow being very demanding%0D %0D which is one of the small handful of stock delusions about actors here on DL. The other is that every cast of every show is a big family, and stays in touch forever after.
by Anonymous | reply 49 | November 23, 2010 3:17 PM
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Ann Jillian was a pretty terrific actress. Scored three Emmy nominations during the eighties.
by Anonymous | reply 50 | November 23, 2010 3:26 PM
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Still, R49, it would be fun to hear about fireworks and backstage geschrei on the set of an 80s strip-syndicated sitcom like IT'S A LIVING.
by Anonymous | reply 51 | November 23, 2010 3:39 PM
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Speaking of Ann Jillian - anyone here see her portrayal of Mae West? Campy 80s fun at its best.:)
by Anonymous | reply 52 | November 23, 2010 3:42 PM
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I remember this being on forever but never watched anything but the opening credits. So, was it just an upscale version of "Alice"?
by Anonymous | reply 53 | November 23, 2010 3:42 PM
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I have worked in The NY Theatre for 65 years and never heard of Barrie Youngfellow.
by Anonymous | reply 54 | November 23, 2010 6:15 PM
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It wasn't a bad show, but the people who produced it also worked for "The Golden Girls" %0D %0D One episode had Crystal Bernard's character moaning about how she wanted a dog, and Ann Jillian saying "If you're lonely, get yourself a man" and I think you know how the rest of the joke turned out (word for word by the way)%0D %0D The kitchen set was the same one that they used on the Golden Girls episode where they serve the homeless dinner.
by Anonymous | reply 55 | November 23, 2010 6:23 PM
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I thought Paul Kreppel was very funny. I remember on one episode, they had a group of lounge singers singing "I Write The Songs" with him.
"I am music...me, Sonny Mann, AND I WRITE THE SONG!"
by Anonymous | reply 56 | November 23, 2010 6:30 PM
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[quote]Speaking of Ann Jillian - anyone here see her portrayal of Mae West? Campy 80s fun at its best.:)
Yes! I love this thread, I haven't thought about It's a Living in years. I wanted to be Ann Jillian.
by Anonymous | reply 57 | November 23, 2010 7:36 PM
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I don't understand R18's post. What is Bernard in denial about?
by Anonymous | reply 58 | November 23, 2010 7:40 PM
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I loved the theme song too. I would tune in just for that.
by Anonymous | reply 59 | November 23, 2010 7:42 PM
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Gotta give Gail Edwards some credit for modesty---it's her website that lists all of the cast rotations, but she never tries to give herself "top billing" on any of the lists.%0D %0D That kind of perspective is refreshing.
by Anonymous | reply 60 | November 23, 2010 7:53 PM
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"Life's...not the French Riviera...life's not a charity ball..."
by Anonymous | reply 61 | November 23, 2010 7:53 PM
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From Sam Freed's website
'He has appeared with his wife, Barrie Youngfellow, at the O%E2%80%99Neill Theatre Center and in the West Coast Premier of A. R. Gurney's The Fourth Wall at the Pasadena Playhouse.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 62 | November 23, 2010 7:57 PM
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Did they do a "very special episode" dealing with Ann Jillian's breast cancer or am I imagining that?
To the person who asked if it was just an upscale version of ALICE: not really. Or maybe in the very broadest of terms. I didn't realize it was from the same producers as GOLDEN GIRLS but now I can't help but see the similarities. Much warmer-fuzzy than ALICE, which tended to be crass and cornpone.
by Anonymous | reply 63 | November 24, 2010 1:42 AM
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I remember a TOWERING INFERNO type episode where there was a fire on the floors below and the girls were trapped in the restaurant upstairs.
Or maybe that's just my imagination.
Even enterprising R62 can't turn up an NYC theatre credit for Ms. Youngfellow.
by Anonymous | reply 64 | November 24, 2010 3:12 AM
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No, it's not your imagination, r64. I remember that episode, too.
by Anonymous | reply 65 | November 24, 2010 3:19 AM
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"Is Crystal Bernard still in denial?"
About what?
by Anonymous | reply 66 | November 24, 2010 3:55 AM
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Did anyone see Bernard on Broadway when she was the fifth Annie in the Weissler's ANNIE GET YOUR GUN revival (after Bernadette Peters, Susan Lucci, Cheryl Ladd, and Reba McIntyre?)
by Anonymous | reply 67 | November 24, 2010 4:13 AM
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A Google search turns up only 2 NY theater credits for Barrie Youngfellow: a part in one of EST's one-act marathons in 1999, and a play with her husband Sam Freed (and Kerry Butler) than ran off-off-Broadway for 21 performances (3 weeks) in 1998.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 68 | November 24, 2010 5:18 AM
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Barrie Youngfellow demanding? Well, I might have thought so, until I starred on Blossom. That Joey Lawrence is a fucking DIVA.
by Anonymous | reply 69 | November 24, 2010 5:29 AM
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Susan Sullivan, Barrie Youngfellow, Paul Kreppel, Gail Edwards and Wendy Schall appeared on All-Star Family Feud and it's on DVD!
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 70 | November 24, 2010 5:34 AM
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"Sing along, bitches! You know you want to."%0D %0D R61, you have to sing it like THIS:%0D %0D "Life's not... the French Rivieeeerrrrra...believe me, life's not.... a charity baaaaaaaaaaall!!!" %0D %0D
by Anonymous | reply 71 | November 24, 2010 5:47 AM
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Ann Jillian's husband wrote (or it was ghost written for him) a book for husbands dealing with their wives' breast cancer. I picked it up when my mom was diagnosed with bresat cancer years ago. Ann went through a horrible battle with the disease, and considering how young she was when she was diagnosed, I assumed that her disappearance from the public eye might mean she ended up dying some time ago. Very nice to see that she is not only alive, but went on to have a son. She's still married to her husband; he came off as a very nice guy in the book.
by Anonymous | reply 72 | November 24, 2010 5:56 AM
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Ann Jillian had the lowest-cut dress of all of them on that show. When she came back after her surgery, they raised the neckline and she didn't wear any padding.
It's probably more common today for breast cancer survivors to make do without visible reconstruction or padding, but it wasn't so much back then (particularly for an actress whose boobs were a big part of her public persona). It seemed to be a terrible ordeal, and she handled the whole ordeal with a lot of class.
by Anonymous | reply 73 | November 24, 2010 6:07 AM
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As a child actress, Ann Jillian played Dainty June in the movie of GYPSY with Roz Russell.
And as a child actress, Morgan Brittany played Baby June.
Of course, Natalie Wood played Louise.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 74 | November 24, 2010 6:19 AM
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I believe she did have some reconstructive surgery. Actually most women today do have reconstructive surgery, it has become very advanced now. And many insurance companies must by law cover reconstructive surgery.%0D %0D Full masectomies are not as common now as they were when Ann had her cancer. But her cancer was widespread in both breasts, so she would have had no choice even today.%0D %0D Yikes! Didn't mean to bring the thread down!%0D
by Anonymous | reply 75 | November 24, 2010 6:26 AM
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I thought Wendy Schaal had fallen off the planet after the 80s but she's currently the voice of Francine on "American Dad." I've had a gay crush on her since "Where The Boys Are '84."
by Anonymous | reply 76 | November 24, 2010 6:28 AM
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I LOVE this thread! YAY for first run syndication!
It's A Living
Mama's Family
Wait Til Your Father Gets Home
What else?
by Anonymous | reply 77 | November 24, 2010 10:46 AM
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%0D Out of This World starring the immortal Donna Pescow!
by Anonymous | reply 78 | November 24, 2010 12:53 PM
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Ann Jillian was in "Sammy, the Way-Out Seal"? Thank god for IMDB!
by Anonymous | reply 79 | November 24, 2010 1:00 PM
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Michael Feinstein! No one has mentioned Michael Feinstein!
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 80 | November 24, 2010 1:59 PM
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I loved this show back then, but wonder if it still holds up. Marian mercer stole every scene she was in as Nancy beebe.
by Anonymous | reply 82 | November 24, 2010 2:34 PM
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Apparently Ms. Youngfellow is "retired" as a TV and film actress.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 83 | November 24, 2010 10:34 PM
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Sometimes "retirement" is forced upon you.
by Anonymous | reply 84 | November 24, 2010 10:46 PM
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I didn't know Wendy Schaal was the voice of "Francine." I love stupid trivia like that.
by Anonymous | reply 85 | November 24, 2010 10:49 PM
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Heidi Klum ripped off Ann's hairstyle for this season's Project Runway, though it looked fucking awful on Heidi.
Love Ann Jillian! I think she's still performing in cabaret these days. Who else remembers "Jennifer Slept Here"?
by Anonymous | reply 86 | November 24, 2010 11:02 PM
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The Louise Lasser credits are found!
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 87 | September 9, 2011 6:23 PM
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I also wanted Ann Jillian's hair DESPERATELY. We never played anything without my going out of the way to specify that I had long platinum hair. The other kids never got it.
by Anonymous | reply 88 | September 9, 2011 6:33 PM
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I think Ann Jillian had a bout with cancer. That might be why she dropped off the radar. I've seen her in a few tv movies on Lifetime and Hallmark.
by Anonymous | reply 89 | September 9, 2011 6:37 PM
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Louise Lasser?! I must have missed that.
That was weird how "Ann Jillian as Cassie" was inserted into the middle of the credits instead of at the end.
by Anonymous | reply 90 | September 9, 2011 6:37 PM
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I love this thread. I really love Marian Mercer. I absolutely friggin' love [R54].
by Anonymous | reply 91 | September 9, 2011 7:39 PM
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Love this show! Love the theme! I think you're not gay unless you know the words to this theme song and have fantasized about going to the Bonaventure Hotel and recreating the opening!
by Anonymous | reply 92 | September 9, 2011 9:01 PM
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Was the Bonaventure nice before? Yelpers weren't impressed.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 93 | September 9, 2011 9:23 PM
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r89 is a bit late to the thread.
by Anonymous | reply 94 | September 9, 2011 9:52 PM
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Ann Jillian had a double mastectomy due to breast cancer around 1984. She later starred in a made for TV movie about her experience. She had a son about a year or so later.
by Anonymous | reply 95 | September 10, 2011 1:02 AM
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[quote]I think Ann Jillian had a bout with cancer. That might be why she dropped off the radar. Really? You thought 99.9% of DLers didn't already know this? Honey, I guarantee that not only did most DLers already know, they probably incorporated it into their Ann Jillian "dress-up" when they were kids by removing the rolled up socks.
by Anonymous | reply 96 | September 10, 2011 1:24 AM
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I'm glad to see that Barrie had her teeth fixed in between seasons.
by Anonymous | reply 97 | September 10, 2011 2:04 AM
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Ann Jillian was one of those 80s celebrities (like the Landers sisters) who was always on TV every five minutes, but as soon as the decade was over she practically disappeared.
by Anonymous | reply 98 | September 10, 2011 2:14 AM
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Fucking fantastic, another cast change. I suppose we have to redress the parking ramp with that god damn Sky High Dining...Above the Top sign, again.
by Anonymous | reply 99 | September 10, 2011 2:17 AM
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LOVE the opening theme song and video. It looks like a MAD TV parody of an 80's sitcom.
by Anonymous | reply 100 | September 10, 2011 2:18 AM
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OMG Marian Mercer died? I missed that. I loved her in 9 to 5 as Mr. Hart's clueless wife.
by Anonymous | reply 101 | September 10, 2011 3:12 AM
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Wasn't THROB with Diana Canova?
by Anonymous | reply 102 | September 10, 2011 3:24 AM
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Ann Jillian was the younger "version" of Baby June in the film version of Gypsy. I don't know if another poster mentioned this or not.
by Anonymous | reply 103 | September 10, 2011 3:44 AM
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"We're young and healthy.."
Except for Ann's tits.
by Anonymous | reply 104 | September 10, 2011 3:49 AM
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Marian Mercer was Cousin Magda on the Golden Girls. "Dorothy, let it go"
The guys in the kitchen were:
The priest at Phil's funeral
The city inspector that threatens to kick Dorothy, Rose and Sophia out of Blanche's house.
by Anonymous | reply 105 | September 10, 2011 3:53 AM
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Paul Kreppel has a Tony award.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 106 | September 10, 2011 9:35 AM
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Yes, Throb was mine, MINE, ALL MINE!
by Anonymous | reply 107 | September 10, 2011 11:51 AM
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"Throb" starred Diana Canova with co-star, Jane Leeves. A really enjoyable sitcom at the time.
by Anonymous | reply 108 | September 10, 2011 11:54 AM
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My friend saw the Landers sisters do a cabaret act in the early 90s and said they sucked. What made them so special?
by Anonymous | reply 109 | September 10, 2011 1:12 PM
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THROB credits. I loved this show as a kid. Didn't realize Paul Walker played Diana Canova's son.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 110 | September 10, 2011 2:36 PM
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Dear God, that looks awful, r110. I have absolutely NO recollection of that show and I'm a TV addict since childhood. From the look of it I'm guessing late-80s first-run syndication, but please correct me if I'm wrong and one of the big networks actually aired that shit.
by Anonymous | reply 111 | September 10, 2011 2:47 PM
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I WAS awful, R111, lol. But I watched it anyway on Saturday afternoons. It usually came on after my cartoons. Throb, along with shows like It's A Living, Mama's Family and Small Wonder babysat me while my mom was at work.
And yes, it was syndicated.
by Anonymous | reply 112 | September 10, 2011 2:55 PM
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Interesting that the opening credits to Throb are on You Tube, but I can't find the credits to "I'm a Big Girl Now" anywhere!
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 113 | September 10, 2011 3:01 PM
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Thank goodness Diana Canova is out of the business. Her acting got on my nerves.
by Anonymous | reply 114 | September 10, 2011 4:10 PM
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I think Throb was mid-80s
It was another one of those "dweeby little guy wins the heart of cute gal" shows.
by Anonymous | reply 115 | September 10, 2011 4:16 PM
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I remember one thing about THROB. It was a scene where the short guy and Miss Canova were on a bus and they were giving each other the googly eyes as a generic version of Tina Turner's "Two People" played in the background.%0D %0D Jimmie Walker's BUSTIN LOOSE and Don Adams supermarket sitcom were also on around that time.%0D %0D I miss the old USA!! NBC execs should be hanged for what they've done to it!
by Anonymous | reply 116 | September 10, 2011 4:32 PM
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Was Diana Canova considered an IT girl in the early 80's? Didn't she leave Soap a la Shelley Long to do bigger and better things? Hard to believe she was ever a star she has that look that screams soccer frau.
by Anonymous | reply 117 | September 10, 2011 5:41 PM
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it never seemed like a very demanding waitressing job
by Anonymous | reply 118 | September 10, 2011 6:17 PM
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And the tips must have been really good for them to stay on for almost a decade!
by Anonymous | reply 119 | September 10, 2011 6:25 PM
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I remember watching this show as a kid but not being particularly moved by it. I think it was on Friday nights. Surprised to read that it was controversial at the time and even considered risque. Was also surprised it was given numerous lifelines throughout its run, even disappearing from the schedule for almost 3 years. As if ITS A LIVING was SUCH an astounding show, that had to be continually saved, which it really wasn't. I mean, it was nothing like the Golden Girls or Taxi, real groundbreakers. I am also surprised that nobody here has yet mentioned that the theme song lyrics were different when it was called MAKING A LIVING. The last lines go like:
With no misgiving.... We're making a living....
Also, weird that they would have made such a subtle change to the title. I don't get how Hollywood works sometimes.
by Anonymous | reply 120 | September 10, 2011 6:59 PM
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There were many 80's sitcoms that found new life in first run syndication after the networks cancelled them. It's A Living, Mama's Family, We Got It Made, Charles in Charge, What's Happenin' and I'm sure there were a few others. First-run syndication for comedies and dramas kind of died off in the last decade though. I guess those are the shows that are pitched to cable now.
by Anonymous | reply 121 | September 10, 2011 7:59 PM
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Susan Sullivan was wonderfully funny in this and didn't deserve to be canned for Louise Lasser. Susan got the last laugh, though, for several succesful seasons on Falcon Crest.
by Anonymous | reply 122 | September 10, 2011 8:25 PM
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Susan Sullivan gave the show class, something it lacked by the time Crystal Bernard joined.
by Anonymous | reply 123 | September 11, 2011 3:48 PM
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I thought Ann Jillian's hair was awful. However, I did spend a large part of the 80s scrunching, crimping and spritzing my hair to look like Crystal Bernard's, so my taste is suspect.
by Anonymous | reply 124 | September 11, 2011 5:06 PM
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Can we get way from Diana Canova (not quickly enough!) and back to It's A Living?
by Anonymous | reply 125 | September 12, 2011 12:35 AM
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Wait. I'm confused. We do hate or love Crystal Bernard?
by Anonymous | reply 126 | September 12, 2011 12:41 AM
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Louise Lasser was hysterical (new Youtube clip found).
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 128 | May 5, 2013 2:26 PM
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The wait staff had to make their own salads at a rounded prep area...there was no consistency
by Anonymous | reply 129 | May 5, 2013 2:49 PM
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So why did Barrie Youngfellow get top billing OVER Gail Edwards?
It's A Living
Starring
Barrie Youngfellow
by Anonymous | reply 130 | May 5, 2013 3:01 PM
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When your whole schtick for making a living is that you are young and have big boobs, it's no surprise that you sink without a trace when you're old and had a double mastectomy.
by Anonymous | reply 131 | May 5, 2013 3:18 PM
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Mr Barrie Youngfellow (Sam Freed) was a seriously hot man back in his "Kate & Allie" days. He had that Aiden Quinn look that used to drive me wild.
Valerie Harper was Wendy Shaal's stepmom at one time.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 132 | May 5, 2013 3:26 PM
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Yes R132. And Nancy Beebe was Cousin Magda.
"It's just a helluva book!" - Dorothy Zbornak
by Anonymous | reply 133 | May 5, 2013 6:16 PM
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From an old thread about Ann Jillian:
[quote]Now it can be told: I was Paul Kreppel's fuck buddy.
[quote]He produces now as well as acts, and produced Jay Johnson (the ventriloquist from SOAP)'s one man show. We met when it "tried out" at an off-Broadway theater in Chelsea in 2005. And we were fbs on and off for about 3 years while the show played off and then on Broadway.
[quote]Nice guy, very funny, furry chest, very oral. Nice cut cock about 7" and versatile. Great hot Jewish lover, esp. since was in his late 50s when we were fbs.
[quote]I asked him about the tv series (since I remembered him from it) and he said he had a great time doing it, but he was very much a second-tier cast member - the women were far more catered to.
by Anonymous | reply 134 | May 5, 2013 6:32 PM
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I wonder why this show isn't on a cable network or AntennaTV or MeTV. There are certainly enough episodes available, and it hasn't been repeated to death like some other shows of the era (e.g., Golden Girls.)
by Anonymous | reply 135 | May 5, 2013 6:36 PM
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It's distributed by Warner Bros. and for some reason their shows aren't shown on any retro stations like the shows owned by CBS/Paramount or Sony. The Hogan Family, Mama's Family, Alice, Perfect Strangers, It's a Living, Growing Pains, Murphy Brown all have enough episodes for syndication yet air nowhere.
by Anonymous | reply 136 | May 5, 2013 8:06 PM
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Bump for "It's A Living."
by Anonymous | reply 137 | February 18, 2014 2:22 AM
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Why is Barrie top billed?
by Anonymous | reply 138 | February 18, 2014 3:09 AM
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"Why is Barrie top billed?"
Would Gail Edwards have been more appropriate?
by Anonymous | reply 139 | February 18, 2014 3:14 AM
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Murphy Brown is on the Encores retro station.
by Anonymous | reply 140 | February 18, 2014 3:32 AM
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Hey, Barrie is part of TV history -- she played Blossom's mother in the pilot. But then she was never seen again.
by Anonymous | reply 143 | February 19, 2014 11:27 PM
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Susan Sullivan was wonderful at comedy. That was really more her metier than melodrama--she was annoying as hell on Falcon Crest (despite her mastery of the credits pivot), but she was enjoyable in both this and Dharma & Greg.
by Anonymous | reply 144 | February 19, 2014 11:32 PM
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I remember Barrie Youngfellow when she was still Barrie Rivchun.
by Anonymous | reply 145 | February 19, 2014 11:35 PM
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I was in love with Ann Jillian as a kid due to that Alice in Wonderland TV movie where she was the red queen. She was so beautiful and her big song always made me cry. She sold that shit, man.
She has a killer voice.
by Anonymous | reply 146 | February 19, 2014 11:40 PM
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Susan Sullivan was great in this too. She had a good feel for comedy, but the show wanted to promote Ann Jillian far too much. The weak link was Wendy Schaal.
by Anonymous | reply 147 | February 19, 2014 11:41 PM
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The "Scarlett O'Hara War" episode of the 1980 miniseries Moviola is worth tracking down for Barrie's portrayal of Joan Crawford. The movie, about the top Hollywood actresses bitch-fighting over the chance to play Scarlett, should be a DL favorite. It's like an early-80's "The Women".
by Anonymous | reply 148 | February 20, 2014 12:03 AM
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I loved Marian Mercer when she guested on The Golden Girls as Dorothy's ex-husband's cousin Magda from communist Czechoslavakia. She had a heavy accent and got addicted to Slurpees because "They taste so natural and fruit-like".
"She said we live in a plastic society with no soul. This, after I took her to Hickory Farms for beefsticks and spreadable cheese."
by Anonymous | reply 149 | February 20, 2014 12:14 AM
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Bump because I was thinking about this show and about being less than wealthy but young and healthy.
by Anonymous | reply 150 | April 11, 2014 2:27 AM
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This is on logo right now first time ever watching it.
by Anonymous | reply 151 | August 6, 2018 7:55 AM
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What season did they change the title to Making a Living?
by Anonymous | reply 152 | August 6, 2018 8:33 AM
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It hasn’t aged well or maybe it was never all that funny?
by Anonymous | reply 153 | August 6, 2018 8:36 AM
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I know r148's entry is ancient history now, but "The Scarlett O'Hara War" is one of my top guilty pleasure films. To see so many of then contemporary actresses trying to channel vintage Hollywood stars is a hoot. Sharon Gless IS Carole Lombard! Loved Carrie Nye who played Tallulah Bankhead. Edward Winter was terrible as Clark Gable though. Barrie Youngfellow as Crawford chews scenery like it's her last meal. Well worth watching.
by Anonymous | reply 154 | August 6, 2018 8:58 AM
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The Village Voice praised the show when it came on in 1980. They principally praised Susan Sullivan as Lois. She was great as the straight person in a swirl of nut jobs. Then ABC decided SHE was the problem (how stupid) and she ended up for those gaylings who loved Falcon Crest as ''....and SUSAN SULLIVAN as Maggie' with that classic head twist. So it all worked out.
by Anonymous | reply 155 | August 6, 2018 9:05 AM
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In it's day, the Bonaventure where it was supposed to take place was quite a thing, it was brand new. Huge open interior with skylights and water fountain almost the entire footprint of the ground floor. The original elevators which now have a glass wall around them used to be completely open. So, when you were inside it would jet up with a clean view in the interior than surprise everyone as it shoots through the glass ceiling and suddenly you are on the outside of the building.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 156 | August 6, 2018 10:22 AM
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CHRIST, I haven't seen this show in FOREVER. Does anyone know why certain shows are picked up on Retro TV channels and some aren't? Like...is there some criteria a show needs to meet or is it as simple as popularity?
by Anonymous | reply 157 | August 6, 2018 11:06 AM
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It's all about money r157, which comes down to popularity. This show didn't really hold up well like say I live Lucy.
by Anonymous | reply 158 | August 6, 2018 11:29 AM
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been binge watching on logo.. love it!
by Anonymous | reply 159 | September 6, 2018 10:12 AM
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Opening "It's A Living" All Six Seasons (1980 - 1982 | 1985 - 1989). Four different openings used in its six season run
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 161 | September 6, 2018 10:50 PM
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Who the hell is Barrie Youngfellow?
by Anonymous | reply 162 | September 7, 2018 10:53 AM
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R162 red headed Linda Lavin
by Anonymous | reply 163 | September 7, 2018 7:29 PM
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The “Jan” character is insufferable. during the hostage episode I wish they shot her in the head.
by Anonymous | reply 164 | November 6, 2019 3:57 PM
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"Barrie Youngfellow... once the series was canceled resumed her theater career in NY."
She's currently starring as "Evita" at the Motel 6 in Poughkeepsie.
by Anonymous | reply 165 | November 6, 2019 4:11 PM
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Here's Ann a couple years ago. She still looks great.
Maybe she won the lottery and doesn't need to work anymore?
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 166 | November 6, 2019 4:32 PM
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Somebody uploaded all season of It's a Living on YouTube.
WHET Crystal Bernard? I looked her up and somehow found out she used to date Rush Limbaugh(eww). It looks like she hasn't done anything since Wings.
by Anonymous | reply 167 | August 1, 2020 1:37 AM
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