Work It Premieres Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 8:30PM ET/PT on ABC

[TJ]

Work It - Tuesdays 8:30PM ET/PT on ABC
Premieres Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 8:30PM ET/PT

From Friends producers Andrew Reich & Ted Cohen comes Work It, a high-concept comedy about two unrepentant guy's guys who, unable to find work, dress as women to get jobs. Not only do they pull it off, but they just might learn to be better men in the process.

Lee Standish is a quick-witted and likable family man. His best friend, Angel Ortiz, is a hotheaded ladies' man with no filter. The two of them worked at Pontiac -- Lee as a top salesman and Angel as head mechanic -- until the company went out of business. Out of work for a year, their job prospects don't look too bright. They've learned the hard way that the current recession is more of a "man-cession" and their skills aren't in high demand. Then the almost-broke Lee finds out that Coreco Pharmaceuticals is looking to hire sales reps -- female sales reps. He takes a chance and goes into the interview dressed in heels, a skirt and make-up. The transformed Lee gets hired -- as a woman. Lee wants to stay true to his agreement with Angel that, if one of them is working, then the other will be too, so he tells Angel what he has to do if he wants a job at Coreco. Angel, who is miserable working at a fast-food dump, is desperate to make a change so he decides to swallow his pride and go for it. Unfortunately he tanks his interview, but when he fixes the boss' car, he too is hired – also as a woman.

To stay employed, Lee and Angel must put aside their alpha male selves and learn to navigate their all-female workplace. Their presence at Coreco with their new female coworkers initially raises a few eyebrows, but the company's two newest sales reps find ways to put almost everyone at ease: Enthusiastic and sometimes naïve Kristin is excited when the female Lee tells her that she, too, is a single mom. Kelly, the office party girl, is thrilled to have two more friends to hit the town with. Only Grace, the somewhat icy regional sales leader, keeps a suspicious eye on Lee and Angel, convinced that there's something seriously wrong with them. To complicate matters, when Angel meets their new boss, Vanessa, he is immediately smitten with her. But there are some serious obstacles in the way of their romance: She's his boss, and -- no small detail -- she thinks he’s a woman.

For his part, Lee can't disclose his feminine secret to his wife, Connie, or to their 14-year-old daughter, Kat, so he tells them he got a job at a drug company – as himself, the man he is. Connie notices that, since Lee has begun working at Coreco, he seems to be more understanding and sensitive to her needs. The opposite is true of Connie's unemployed brother, Brian, who is also Lee and Angel's drinking buddy. Sensitive and understanding he is not, so they definitely can't reveal their secret to him. Lee and Angel quickly realize how much they have to learn to get by in their new environment. It's not just how to walk in heels and tighten up with Spanx. For the first time, they're really listening to the women in their lives and opening themselves up to a whole new realm of experiences. In the process, they’re learning that to be a better man may mean having to be a better woman.

Read our review of the pilot here:
http://blog.sitcomsonline.com/2012/0...w-work-it.html

[EmoJoe]

This might be the worst sitcom ever created.

[*Pleasant Tomorrow*]

That new show, "Work It?"

It’s a joke. Some exec at ABC was like, “Hey, Dick, wouldn’t it be hilarious if we greenlighted a really, obviously awful show and see how people react?” And Dick was all, “Boy, Marty, that would be HIGHLARIOUS! People would get so up in arms at not only how offensive it is, but how terrible it is in general!”

I caught you, Dick and Marty! I win! What’s my prize?

[EmoJoe]

Originally Posted by *Pleasant Tomorrow*

That new show, "Work It?"

It’s a joke. Some exec at ABC was like, “Hey, Dick, wouldn’t it be hilarious if we greenlighted a really, obviously awful show and see how people react?” And Dick was all, “Boy, Marty, that would be HIGHLARIOUS! People would get so up in arms at not only how offensive it is, but how terrible it is in general!”

I caught you, Dick and Marty! I win! What’s my prize?

If I could I'd 'like' this. That is 100% what happened.

[Chelsea]

Watched the pilot. Painfully unfunny. Mildly offensive.

Apparently I'm not the only one who didn't like it. (Looks up)

Oh, and those are the nice reviews.

[EmoJoe]

Yeah, this is maybe the most poorly received pilot I've ever seen of a sitcom.

[Pavan]

Originally Posted by Seth

Watched the pilot. Painfully unfunny. Mildly offensive.

Apparently I'm not the only one who didn't like it. (Looks up)

Oh, and those are the nice reviews.

Critics these days are too spoiled with shows like Community. I stated in my piece that I am sure it will get trashed. And for those who said it is the worst sitcom ever, that is absurd. First, have you seen every sitcom out there? There were much stupider and crazier shows in the '70s-'90s. This show is not offensive at all. I don't know how you would call it offensive. He isn't a transgender. If you want to call this offensive, then what about Bosom Buddies?

It did OK in the ratings. Not great, but not bad either. Better than what Community has been doing, like I called it.

[Mr. Television]

I liked it. It's much funnier than most of NBC's sitcoms, that's for sure.

[Chelsea]

Originally Posted by Pavan

If you want to call this offensive, then what about Bosom Buddies?

That was thirty years ago. While some premises are timeless, other ideas that may make for popular or even mediocre viewing in one era simply don't work in another. Society changes. The Office would have sunk like a rock in the 1970s or 1980s. M*A*S*H wouldn't work today as anything close to a comedic show. Perhaps as a bona fide drama with occasional comedy elements. Sanford & Son would get skewered alive and would flounder. Three's Company adapted for 2012 would be a shadow of it's 70s/80s greatness, even with writers.

And really, Bosom Buddies wasn't even *that* successful or well-remembered until syndication after Tom Hanks' career took off. At which point it became known far more for being "that show Tom Hanks started on", or for it's awesome theme, than the actual episodes themselves.

Strip away the epic theme song. Strip away the puffed up legacy garnered by the post-show career of one it's actors. Replace mediocre-to-good writing with below-average writing. It's just not a good show. Heck, one thing pleasantly surprised me: most of the primary cast really, genuinely were trying to make this work. I really hope they find other vehicles when the show tanks (premiere ratings were not good) because they ARE talented - but the writing and general premise in this particular series are too bad to overcome.

I don't know. Maybe the pilot was just bad. Pilots have a habit of doing that. But I have close to zero optimism whatsoever based on the premise of this show and what I saw last night that it's going to improve in any significant way.

Honestly, I've had to devote far more of my time to thinking about this show than I ever wanted to. Not worth the headache. If you enjoy the show, fine. More power to you. Same for anyone else who enjoyed it. Great. Glad to see there's a show on television you like. I don't care for it and think it's quite bad. From most reviews of the show and the actual ratings data, I'm not alone by any stretch.

[Pavan]

That's your opinion. I made my opinion on the review. As I stated at the end of the review, it's not everyone's cup of tea, but it isn't offensive. That was my point for your statement. It's not offensive. If you don't think it is funny, that's fine. I didn't give it 5 stars. It is better than new sitcoms Free Agents, Whitney, Man Up, and How To Be A Gentleman, I think, as I once again said in the review. I'm not calling this one of the top new sitcoms by any means.

[Chelsea]

Originally Posted by Pavan

new sitcoms Free Agents, Whitney, Man Up, and How To Be A Gentleman

You know, that brings up a valid point: This has been an unusually bad year for new sitcoms. With a couple of exceptions they're just painful to sit through

[Pavan]

The top three are outstanding: 2 Broke Girls, New Girl, and Suburgatory. And Last Man Standing has done well.

[yankeesrj12]

Work It was hilarious! Whitney and Work It have to be the two best new comedies this season. I just wish more people would be watching them.

[Chelsea]

Originally Posted by Pavan

The top three are outstanding: 2 Broke Girls, New Girl, and Suburgatory. And Last Man Standing has done well.

2 Broke Girls is *outstanding*, and I'm a fan of Last Man Standing though I think it could use just a slight bit of polish (great effort for a first season though). Haven't seen New Girl or Suburgatory.