44 years ago: ABC premiered '9 to 5' TV series inspired by movie and hit song

[TMC]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainm...887754de&ei=15

Story by Stacy Carey



On this day in 1982, ABC debuted a new television series that was based on both a popular movie and a hit song. 9 to 5 starred Rita Moreno, Dolly Parton's younger sisterRachel Dennison, and Valerie Curtin as the core characters.

A second version of the series, which added Sally Struthers to the cast, hit television screens via syndication in 1986.

The original movie titled 9 to 5 premiered in 1980. It starred Parton, Lily Tomlin, and Jane Fonda along with Dabney Coleman. The ladies played colleagues who worked for Franklin Hart (Coleman), a difficult boss.

The movie version of 9 to 5 marked Parton's first film role. She played Doralee Rhodes, which was played by her younger sister Dennison in the television series.

Fonda, and later Curtin, played Judy Bernly. Tomlin and Moreno portrayed Violet Newstead.

In the new episodes that were incorporated into syndication in 1986, Struthers stepped in to play Marsha McMurray Shrimpton, as Moreno was unavailable to reprise the character of Newstead.

In the first season of 9 to 5 on TV, Jeffrey Tambor played the character of Hart. In Seasons 2 and 3, Peter Bonerz took over the role.

According to Rewind Magazine, the first season of 9 to 5 stuck fairly close to the original movie in terms of storylines, and only consisted of four episodes. In its brief Season 1 run, the show ranked 33rd in the Nielsen television ratings.

Season 2 strayed further from the original storylines and incorporated new characters. 9 to 5 performed strongly for ABC, climbing as high as 15th in the Nielsen ratings.

There was stiff competition for high ratings in that season, with other shows such as Dallas, M*A*S*H, Magnum P.I., Dynasty, and Three's Company dominating the television landscape.

The television series marked something of a shift in Moreno's career. She had been acting for years when cast for the series, and was already an EGOT winner when the series debuted. Moreno won an Oscar in 1962, a Grammy in 1972, a Tony in 1975, and two Emmy Awards, in 1977 and 1978.

Moreno's Oscar was for Best Supporting Actress in West Side Story. The Grammy was in the Best Recording for Children category for The Electric Company, and the Tony was in the Best Featured Actress category for The Ritz.

Her first Emmy Award came after an appearance on The Muppet Show. Moreno's second Emmy was awarded to her after a guest role on The Rockford Files.

9 to 5, the song, the movie, and the television show, are still fondly remembered by fans all these decades later.

[Dude111]

The movie is much better than thier show ever was!!