It's a Living on Antenna TV - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

cfr1970 · 01-07-2020, 09:19 PM

I haven't seen this series since the days it originally aired so my memory of it has been hazy and I was really anticipating seeing it again.

But my God are these women annoying. I can't say I like any of them and can understand why it didn't initially do well in ratings.

I can see however how this show probably birthed the idea for shows like Designing Women & Golden Girls. It has a vague feel of both those shows---just with not so likable characters. Maybe it got better when Crystal Bernard came aboard?

I may just wait until then to tune back in again.

TV Guy · 01-07-2020, 09:32 PM

The first season is kind of tough to watch. Lois and Jan are basically the same person. Vicki is super annoying. The chef, Mario, is also kind of a dud. And the skimpy outfits really date the show.

The second season - down to four waitresses, and with a new cook - is better. And the third season (Ann Jillian’s last) has the strongest lineup of waitresses.

cfr1970 · 01-07-2020, 09:51 PM

The first season is thankfully short so it won't take long for season 2 to start and maybe i'll like it better then. Right now the waitresses all blend into each other that I really can't tell them apart.

LUNCH · 01-08-2020, 02:44 PM

It is a pleasant but average show.In my opinion the show does not get any better during the later seasons.I think the first 2 seasons are its best.They also may have gotten the idea for It's A Living from the show Alice. Alice especially during it's first 4 seasons or so is the better show of the two.

OH Nuts! · 01-09-2020, 01:46 PM

I really enjoyed the show and love Marion Mercer and Ann Jillian. Looking forward to seeing the show after so many years.

boechsner · 01-09-2020, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUNCH

It is a pleasant but average show.In my opinion the show does not get any better during the later seasons.I think the first 2 seasons are its best.They also may have gotten the idea for It's A Living from the show Alice. Alice especially during it's first 4 seasons or so is the better show of the two.

Agreed! I love this show and the earliest seasons are my favorites.

rcbrad · 01-10-2020, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUNCH

It is a pleasant but average show.In my opinion the show does not get any better during the later seasons.I think the first 2 seasons are its best.They also may have gotten the idea for It's A Living from the show Alice. Alice especially during it's first 4 seasons or so is the better show of the two.

I agree, about the first two seasons of IAL being the best. I was a teen when it first aired and watched it regularly. I remember not really caring much for the revival episodes much. I really did not watch most of them. I am going to see how I like the later years at this point in time, decades later.

I think it had a good cast, the show was lively and it was fairly well written, at least for ABC years.

cfr1970 · 01-10-2020, 10:29 PM

I think one of the things I don't like about it is that most of the characters are too similar to each other. There's the two who are both sweet and naive, Dot and Vicki. And then you have another two who are too similar, as mentioned above, Lois and Jan who are the older ones.

The only character that breaks from all that monotony is Cassie who, as also previously mentioned is too tough a character to warm up to. And comes off as kind of a bitch at times.

For me they just all blend together in a big fat ball of estrogen. At least on similar shows like Designing Women, Alice, and Golden Girls, the characters were all very separate and distinct from the start.

I'll keep tuning in though because I want to see how this show evolves and can't wait till Crystal Bernard shows up later on.

dee2364 · 01-13-2020, 08:17 PM

This show has not held up well at all. I remember loving it as a kid. Watching it decades later, I have no idea what I was thinking. It was very canned, and there was very little chemistry between the characters. Ann Jillian comes across as obnoxious with that weird delivery of hers.

And some of the story lines I've seen so far are so cheesy. One of the girls gets upset because she catches her elderly father having sex, and the episode's written like she's 12 years old.

icecream · 01-14-2020, 08:50 PM

Several posters on this board were wanting It's a Living to come so bad, yet it seems to have been a disappointment for many. Plus I saw the other thread where the visual quality is horrible compared to most Antenna shows. I like the That Girl pickup and Strokes/Facts are also nice, but there are several other sitcoms that surely could have been better pickups for Antenna. Perfect Strangers, The Real McCoys, Harry Morgan's show December Bride that he did before Dragnet and M*A*S*H, Angie, C.P.O. Sharkey, Get Smart, Harper Valley PTA, Dave's World, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, Boy Meets World, and Punky Brewster for some examples. And shows they previously aired that no one else is airing and it would be nice to return are Too Close for Comfort, Mr. Belvedere, and Bachelor Father.

MA · 01-14-2020, 09:00 PM

Antenna TV should’ve picked up The John Larroquette Show.

cfr1970 · 01-14-2020, 09:11 PM

I was one of the people highly anticipating It's a Living and after viewing it so far, I believe it's one of those shows that's best left a childhood memory. I have it on right now, but barely even paying attention to it as i'm typing this post.

I don't know if it's on another channel, but I would've loved Antenna to get Laverne & Shirley. That's definitely a childhood memory show that I know i'd love seeing again as an adult.
I haven't seen the show in decades but remember it well and refuse to buy the dvd's since i've seen too many reviews on Amazon saying how terrible the dvd's are and I don't want to waste my money.
I'd also like to see Harper Valley PTA as Catsrule suggests, but with only 30 episodes it doesn't seem feasible unless they did a one time Marathon of it.

MA · 01-14-2020, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfr1970

I was one of the people highly anticipating It's a Living and after viewing it so far, I believe it's one of those shows that's best left a childhood memory. I have it on right now, but barely even paying attention to it as i'm typing this post.

I don't know if it's on another channel, but I would've loved Antenna to get Laverne & Shirley. That's definitely a childhood memory show that I know i'd love seeing again as an adult.
I haven't seen the show in decades but remember it well and refuse to buy the dvd's since i've seen too many reviews on Amazon saying how terrible the dvd's are and I don't want to waste my money.
I'd also like to see Harper Valley PTA as Catsrule suggests, but with only 30 episodes it doesn't seem feasible unless they did a one time Marathon of it.

Laverne & Shirley is on Logo.

icecream · 01-14-2020, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfr1970

I was one of the people highly anticipating It's a Living and after viewing it so far, I believe it's one of those shows that's best left a childhood memory. I have it on right now, but barely even paying attention to it as i'm typing this post.

I don't know if it's on another channel, but I would've loved Antenna to get Laverne & Shirley. That's definitely a childhood memory show that I know i'd love seeing again as an adult.
I haven't seen the show in decades but remember it well and refuse to buy the dvd's since i've seen too many reviews on Amazon saying how terrible the dvd's are and I don't want to waste my money.
I'd also like to see Harper Valley PTA as Catsrule suggests, but with only 30 episodes it doesn't seem feasible unless they did a one time Marathon of it.

I agree Laverne and Shirley would be a good pickup. Last I knew Me TV had the broadcast rights, but those might have expired. Harper Valley PTA could air on weekends like The Paul Lynde Show and Lotsa Luck! have, and like previous short-lived shows that aired on Antenna Good Morning World, My Mother the Car, and It's About Time.

cfr1970 · 01-14-2020, 09:47 PM

I just looked at Logo's schedule and see they also air It's a Living there too. So I wonder if more than one station can get rights to air a show at the same time? If so, then wouldn't Antenna TV be able to get Laverne & Shirley if they really wanted it? They must've paid for It's A Living even though Logo plays it too. Or maybe since it's a dud show it's much cheaper lol.

I didn't realize Good Morning World & Lotsa Luck had less than 30 episodes each and I really loved when Antenna played them once a week on Saturday nights. So yeah, they could easily do that with Harper Valley PTA too.

Another short lived sitcom i'd love to see again is "It Takes Two". An early 80's Patty Duke sitcom with only 22 episodes.

01-07-2020, 09:19 PM	#1
cfr1970 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 13, 2017 Location: Kissimmee, Florida Posts: 3,368	It's a Living on Antenna TV I haven't seen this series since the days it originally aired so my memory of it has been hazy and I was really anticipating seeing it again. But my God are these women annoying. I can't say I like any of them and can understand why it didn't initially do well in ratings. I can see however how this show probably birthed the idea for shows like Designing Women & Golden Girls. It has a vague feel of both those shows---just with not so likable characters. Maybe it got better when Crystal Bernard came aboard? I may just wait until then to tune back in again.

01-14-2020, 08:50 PM	#10
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,614	Several posters on this board were wanting It's a Living to come so bad, yet it seems to have been a disappointment for many. Plus I saw the other thread where the visual quality is horrible compared to most Antenna shows. I like the That Girl pickup and Strokes/Facts are also nice, but there are several other sitcoms that surely could have been better pickups for Antenna. Perfect Strangers, The Real McCoys, Harry Morgan's show December Bride that he did before Dragnet and MAS*H, Angie, C.P.O. Sharkey, Get Smart, Harper Valley PTA, Dave's World, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, Boy Meets World, and Punky Brewster for some examples. And shows they previously aired that no one else is airing and it would be nice to return are Too Close for Comfort, Mr. Belvedere, and Bachelor Father.
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01-14-2020, 09:00 PM	#11
MA Member Moderator Forum Idol Join Date: May 20, 2017 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 127,116	Antenna TV should’ve picked up The John Larroquette Show.
	__________________ ~-Mikaela-~

01-07-2020, 09:32 PM	#2
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	The first season is kind of tough to watch. Lois and Jan are basically the same person. Vicki is super annoying. The chef, Mario, is also kind of a dud. And the skimpy outfits really date the show. The second season - down to four waitresses, and with a new cook - is better. And the third season (Ann Jillian’s last) has the strongest lineup of waitresses.

01-07-2020, 09:51 PM	#3
cfr1970 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 13, 2017 Location: Kissimmee, Florida Posts: 3,368	The first season is thankfully short so it won't take long for season 2 to start and maybe i'll like it better then. Right now the waitresses all blend into each other that I really can't tell them apart.

01-08-2020, 02:44 PM	#4
LUNCH Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 23, 2010 Location: New York State Posts: 1,304	It is a pleasant but average show.In my opinion the show does not get any better during the later seasons.I think the first 2 seasons are its best.They also may have gotten the idea for It's A Living from the show Alice. Alice especially during it's first 4 seasons or so is the better show of the two.

01-09-2020, 01:46 PM	#5
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	I really enjoyed the show and love Marion Mercer and Ann Jillian. Looking forward to seeing the show after so many years.

01-10-2020, 10:29 PM	#8
cfr1970 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 13, 2017 Location: Kissimmee, Florida Posts: 3,368	I think one of the things I don't like about it is that most of the characters are too similar to each other. There's the two who are both sweet and naive, Dot and Vicki. And then you have another two who are too similar, as mentioned above, Lois and Jan who are the older ones. The only character that breaks from all that monotony is Cassie who, as also previously mentioned is too tough a character to warm up to. And comes off as kind of a bitch at times. For me they just all blend together in a big fat ball of estrogen. At least on similar shows like Designing Women, Alice, and Golden Girls, the characters were all very separate and distinct from the start. I'll keep tuning in though because I want to see how this show evolves and can't wait till Crystal Bernard shows up later on.

01-13-2020, 08:17 PM	#9
dee2364 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 20, 2019 Posts: 643	This show has not held up well at all. I remember loving it as a kid. Watching it decades later, I have no idea what I was thinking. It was very canned, and there was very little chemistry between the characters. Ann Jillian comes across as obnoxious with that weird delivery of hers. And some of the story lines I've seen so far are so cheesy. One of the girls gets upset because she catches her elderly father having sex, and the episode's written like she's 12 years old.

01-14-2020, 09:11 PM	#12
cfr1970 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 13, 2017 Location: Kissimmee, Florida Posts: 3,368	I was one of the people highly anticipating It's a Living and after viewing it so far, I believe it's one of those shows that's best left a childhood memory. I have it on right now, but barely even paying attention to it as i'm typing this post. I don't know if it's on another channel, but I would've loved Antenna to get Laverne & Shirley. That's definitely a childhood memory show that I know i'd love seeing again as an adult. I haven't seen the show in decades but remember it well and refuse to buy the dvd's since i've seen too many reviews on Amazon saying how terrible the dvd's are and I don't want to waste my money. I'd also like to see Harper Valley PTA as Catsrule suggests, but with only 30 episodes it doesn't seem feasible unless they did a one time Marathon of it.

01-14-2020, 09:47 PM	#15
cfr1970 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 13, 2017 Location: Kissimmee, Florida Posts: 3,368	I just looked at Logo's schedule and see they also air It's a Living there too. So I wonder if more than one station can get rights to air a show at the same time? If so, then wouldn't Antenna TV be able to get Laverne & Shirley if they really wanted it? They must've paid for It's A Living even though Logo plays it too. Or maybe since it's a dud show it's much cheaper lol. I didn't realize Good Morning World & Lotsa Luck had less than 30 episodes each and I really loved when Antenna played them once a week on Saturday nights. So yeah, they could easily do that with Harper Valley PTA too. Another short lived sitcom i'd love to see again is "It Takes Two". An early 80's Patty Duke sitcom with only 22 episodes.