Makin' It aired from February until March 1979 on ABC.
This short-lived sitcom was a thinly disguised TV adaptation of the hot movie Saturday Night Fever. The " disco freak" here was young college student Billy Manucci ( David Naughton), who was torn between the glittering life of a big man on the dance floor and his more practical desire to complete his education and become a teacher. On the other side of the nightlife were his pals , Bernard and Kingfish ( Gary Prendergast, Ralph Seymour), and his laid back brother Tony ( Greg Antonacci), star dancer at the local disco; urging sober responsibility were his working class parents, Joseph and Dorothy ( Lou Antonio, Ellen Travolta). Corky ( Rebecca Balding) was Billy's girlfriend, and Tina ( Denise Miller) his little sister.
To make the connection with the movie as close as possible, the producers used the music of the Bee Gees in the dance sequences, snared Ellen Travolta for one of the roles ( since they couldn't get her brother John), and even titled the premiere episode " Stayin Alive." Robert Stigwood, who produced the movie was involved with this series as well. None of this helped much, although David Naughton did have a real-life hit record with the show's theme song, in mid-1979.
Theme Song Lyrics
Makin' It written and performed by David Naughton
Original Air Dates: 1979 (ABC)
Makin' it. Ooh-ooh-ooh. Makin' it.
I'm solid gold. I've got the goods
They stand when I walk through the neighborhoods
I'm makin' it. I've got the chance.
I'm takin' it. No more, no more fakin' it
This time in life I'm makin' it (oh-oh-oh) Makin' it.
Hello uptown. Goodbye poverty.
The top of the ladder is waiting for me
I'm makin' it. I've got the chance.
I'm takin' it. No more, no more fakin' it
This time in life I'm makin' it (oh-oh-oh) Makin' it.
Listen everyone here this coming year's gonna be my year
I'm as bad as they come, number two to no one.
I've got looks, I've got brains and I'm breakin' these chains.
Make some room now dig what you see
Success is mine, I've got the key. I'm makin' it.
BIOGRAPHY OF DAVID NAUGHTON
He may not be a household name, but David Naughton has more accomplishments in his career than some actors could ever dream of.
Born 1951 in Hartford, Conn., David is the brother of actor James Naughton.
In the late 1970's David Naughton starred in a series of Dr. Pepper soft drink TV commercials. These popular commercials were staged as if they were 30-second Hollywood musicals.
In 1979, the song "Makin' It" as the theme song for the TV show of the same name as well as the film "Meatballs" starring Bill Murray. The song went to #5 on the charts that summer and sold well over 1million copies.
"Makin' It" the TV series was a blatant copy of the film "Saturday Night Fever". The show's setting was a pizza shop instead of the film's hardware store. The producers even hired Ellen Travolta(John's sister) to play in the supporting cast. She had a brief role in "Saturday Night Fever" as the pizza counter clerk who gives John Travolta a slice of pizza during the opening credits.
The show lasted only two months, but it was a fun, light-hearted comedy similar to other ABC network sitcoms.
In 1981, David Naughton starred in John Landis' film "An American Werewolf in London". This black comedy about a young American recouperating in London after being savagely attacked in the English moors. The morbid humor and gory FX were a popular mixture for movie audiences. It even won an Oscar for best special-effects that year. David spent upwards of 10 hours a day getting make-up applied for the various transformations between man and beast. For his trouble though, he did have a love scene with Jenny Agutter. (Lucky guy!)
In 1986, after spending a few years as a supporting actor in a few films and an unsuccessful TV show, David hit the jackpot again. He was the male lead on the popular sitcom "My Sister Sam" during the show's run. The series starred Pam Dawber and the late Rebecca Schaffer. But the series was short-lived. After a successful first season, the network broken the golden rule by moving a popular series to a new night. The fans never followed and the show sank to 81st place in the ratings.
Recently, David has starred in many small and foreign movie productions. Several of which can be seen on pay cable. Check out "Wild Cactus" and "Overexposed" in particular.
Speaking of exposure, David guest-starred in a memorable episode of the TV series "Seinfeld". He played Elaine's co-worker, the one that heckles Jerry.
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