Ann Jillian Interview Comments from 1981

[Kasey]

I recently acquired a copy of an obscure magazine called Video Swapper dated November 1981 and it features a cover story/interview with Ann Jillian. I am posting the quotes that she made in regards to Making a Living:

"I'm really happy with the new show" [the second season].

"Everyone gets along well and we have some terrific material this year".

"We're in a tough time slot, but the network is confident and I believe good will come from this no matter what. We're giving it our best effort".

"Louise Lasser is a complete professional. She is painstaking in her approach to the program and it's marvelous working with her. Earl [Boen] has his own style and talent too".

[TeeVeeCloset]

I loved Ann Jillian (Fron Season 5 of "Hazel" to the underated one season "Jennifer Slept Here" & Gail Edwards "Full House".

Always felt the first season of "IAL" was the best, or it was my youth because their outfits showed more skin in the first season....lol......Odd though because I remember Louise Lasser "Mary Hartman" not joining the series till much later than the second season, or thought it wasn't till the series went into new first run syndication, with other cast changes.

I agree with your avitar, I too am waiting for "It's A Living" as well as "The New Gidget" to return to the airwaves.....if "Small Wonder" can return (Antenna TV) anything is still possible!

And lets throw in the ABC one season Barbi Benton wonder "Sugar Time" Totally Vanished TV! TVTN I would name my lost TV digital channel.

[Kasey]

OMG I love your idea for that TVTN! And I totally remember watching Sugar Time religiously for the short time it was on! Barbi Benton as Maxx, Didi Carr as Diane and Marianne Black as Maggie?

When IAL was on the air until I obtained a complete bootleg set a few years ago I always remember liking S2 the best since I was a HUGE fan of Mary Hartman and was thrilled when i read in the Fall Preview TV Guide that she was joining the cast. But rewatching it as an adult S1 defiinitely holds up better. The writing is sharper and funnier, Susan Sullivan adds an air of class to everything, the Cassie character is much more man-crazy and possesses a sharp, sardonic wit that is watered down in S2. The second year in retrospect is quite uneven with quite a few duds/boring stories, although the ones the writers wrote well they did VERY well (the Horse Track episode).

Too bad these shows like IAL, The New Gidget, 9 to 5, She's the Sheriff, etc. seem to be buried for good. Yeah, they could be silly and goofy, but that's part of the charm.

[TeeVeeCloset]

Originally Posted by Kasey

OMG I love your idea for that TVTN! And I totally remember watching Sugar Time religiously for the short time it was on! Barbi Benton as Maxx, Didi Carr as Diane and Marianne Black as Maggie?

When IAL was on the air until I obtained a complete bootleg set a few years ago I always remember liking S2 the best since I was a HUGE fan of Mary Hartman and was thrilled when i read in the Fall Preview TV Guide that she was joining the cast. But rewatching it as an adult S1 defiinitely holds up better. The writing is sharper and funnier, Susan Sullivan adds an air of class to everything, the Cassie character is much more man-crazy and possesses a sharp, sardonic wit that is watered down in S2. The second year in retrospect is quite uneven with quite a few duds/boring stories, although the ones the writers wrote well they did VERY well (the Horse Track episode).

Too bad these shows like IAL, The New Gidget, 9 to 5, She's the Sheriff, etc. seem to be buried for good. Yeah, they could be silly and goofy, but that's part of the charm.

Boy are we on the same page and thanks for your compliment on "Totally Vanished Tv Network" idea.....

No one ever remembers "Sugar Time" here! I am very happy that "Small Wonder" is returning on Antenna TV and I still keep preaching why don't they alternate "Gidget" with "The New Gidget", but never bring back those "New Monkees" LOL!

Others on my pretent network would be
Tammy 1965 ABC
The New Andy Griffith Show
Life Goes On (Why isn't this on anywhere?")
Getting Together
Gloria
Room 222 (should be on Aspire Now)
Good Morning World (at least on DVD complete)
Please Stand By (Elinor Donohue syndicated)
My World & Welcome To It
Blondie TV Series (both B&W and 60's color)
Marblehead Manor
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman plus Forever Fernwood spin off
Fernwood 2Night/America Tonight
L.A.T.E.R. The Life & Times Of Eddie Roberts
Tales Of The Unexpected

so many more, thanks for a great informative post and yes you are correct with Louise Lasser, BTW....I bought the "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" boxset. So shocked it was released.

[Mace Dolex]

I've seen just bits of IAL in the late 90's, it was about waitresses right? was Ann Jillian sort of being built to be the next Farrah Fawcett and Loni Anderson or something?

[Kasey]

Yes, you're correct. When IAL premiered in 1980, it was the same time ABC was having all those problems with Suzanne Somers and were considering dumping her from "Three's Company". They probably figured Ann could take over as the prominent network sex symbol. She had a poster out at the time, and though the show was an ensemble comedy, Ann is the only one who seemed to make the cover of TV Guide and other local TV magazines for the most part.

[Mace Dolex]

Man I feel bad for the other female cast members that were fallen by the wayside, I am familiar with Gail Edwards she was pretty too, she guest starred on Three's A Crowd and later in the 90's a few episodes of Full House.

[Kasey]

Gail and the others didn't have the promotion behind them that Ann did. If you ever get a chance to view the episode of Ann's 1983 NBC show Jennifer Slept Here in which Gail appears--she never looked better. The hair and makeup people on that episode made Gail look absolutely gorgeous. I couldn't find any screen caps online and the pic I found doesn't do her justice.

[wise3]

I'd love to see an official set of IAL.
And Sugar Time. I too watched it religiously; I was (am) a big Barbi Benton fan. First actress I ever met in person; that 1000 watt smile is amazing.
The opening credits to ST are on youtube; just enough to whet my appetite....

[Kasey]

Originally Posted by wise3

I'd love to see an official set of IAL.
And Sugar Time. I too watched it religiously; I was (am) a big Barbi Benton fan. First actress I ever met in person; that 1000 watt smile is amazing.
The opening credits to ST are on youtube; just enough to whet my appetite....

Now that MAUDE is coming out, an official release of IAL is my Holy Grail. Everyone says it won't happen due to the music issues (Sonny /Paul singing at the piano) but even if they only release the ABC years or Ann's three seasons I would be happy with just those. The later years with Crystal Bernard and Sheryl Lee Ralph had WAY more music in them than the Ann Jillian era. One of these days I am going to get around to compiling a list of all the music included in the series. I wish Warner Archive would realize just how many people still want this show.

[Kasey]

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

The closest TV actress might be Ann Sothern from the 50s.

True, both blondes, but I think Ann's acting style was more like Eve Arden's if we're going back to the '50s.

[Kasey]

I finally managed to make some screen shots of Gail's appearance on Jennifer Slept Here.