Working Stiffs

Working Stiffs

1979
Working Stiffs
Working Stiffs

Working Stiffs

6.7 | en | Comedy

Working Stiffs is a short-lived 1979 American television series which starred James Belushi and Michael Keaton as brothers Ernie and Mike O'Rourke. The pair were janitors who aspired to work their way up in the field of business. The brothers worked in an office building owned by their Uncle Harry. Ernie and Mike also were roommates in an apartment over a cafe where they befriended the owner Mitch and waitress Nikki. Each episode featured slapstick and physical comedy. Penny Marshall directed the pilot. Includes an early appearance of Paul Reubens as Heimlich the delivery boy at the cafe. The series aired on CBS. It competed against the highly-rated shows NBC's CHiPs and ABC's The Ropers in its timeslot. Nine episodes were produced but after four episodes aired, the series was canceled. After Belushi and Keaton became major film stars in the 1980s, six episodes of the show were released on home video. Reruns have also aired on A&E Network, Comedy Central and TV Land. The syndication package included the previously unaired episodes.

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Seasons & Episodes

1
EP9  Sagebrush Estates
Jan. 01,0001
Sagebrush Estates

We don't have an overview of this episode, please check back later.

EP8  Trading Up
Jan. 01,0001
Trading Up

The brothers' classy dates are more interested in dessert.

EP7  The Old Man in the Building
Jan. 01,0001
The Old Man in the Building

Strange events prompt Boss Falzone to rent a guard dog.

EP6  My Boys Are Having a Baby.
Jan. 01,0001
My Boys Are Having a Baby.

We don't have an overview of this episode, please check back later.

EP5  The Bosses
Jan. 01,0001
The Bosses

We don't have an overview of this episode, please check back later.

EP4  Pal Joey
Jan. 01,0001
Pal Joey

Mike is reunited with a long-lost buddy.

EP3  The Bomb Show
Sep. 29,1979
The Bomb Show

After witnessing a bank robbery, Michael is being stalked by the robber, and is hilariously jumpy. He & Ernie wind up stuck in an elevator with a bomb. They disarm it, and their reward is being told to paint the elevator.

EP2  Looking for Mr. Goodwrench
Sep. 22,1979
Looking for Mr. Goodwrench

The boys master a new combo-tool. Steckler decides to fire one of them, because, after all, the tool can replace a person. After conversing with 2 nuns that used to be teachers of the boys, and a very funny scene with Michael and a soda machine, Steckler decides to keep both of the boys.

EP1  The Preview Presentation
Sep. 22,1979
The Preview Presentation

We don't have an overview of this episode, please check back later.

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6.7 | en | Comedy | More Info
Released: 1979-09-15 | Released Producted By: Paramount Television Studios , Frog Productions Country: United States of America Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:
Synopsis

Working Stiffs is a short-lived 1979 American television series which starred James Belushi and Michael Keaton as brothers Ernie and Mike O'Rourke. The pair were janitors who aspired to work their way up in the field of business. The brothers worked in an office building owned by their Uncle Harry. Ernie and Mike also were roommates in an apartment over a cafe where they befriended the owner Mitch and waitress Nikki. Each episode featured slapstick and physical comedy. Penny Marshall directed the pilot. Includes an early appearance of Paul Reubens as Heimlich the delivery boy at the cafe. The series aired on CBS. It competed against the highly-rated shows NBC's CHiPs and ABC's The Ropers in its timeslot. Nine episodes were produced but after four episodes aired, the series was canceled. After Belushi and Keaton became major film stars in the 1980s, six episodes of the show were released on home video. Reruns have also aired on A&E Network, Comedy Central and TV Land. The syndication package included the previously unaired episodes.

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Cast

Jim Belushi , Michael Keaton , Val Bisoglio

Director

Producted By

Paramount Television Studios , Frog Productions

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Reviews

Wizard-8 "Working Stiffs" was one of the first television programs to be cancelled in the 1979-1980 television season, being terminated after just four episodes had been aired. I never saw the show when it was first aired, and today I just watched the first three episodes after finding a videotape that Paramount put out of the show in the mid '80s. After seeing those episodes, I felt that the show had potential. Yes, it's very uneven, having some dumb attempts at humor and maybe a bit too much slapstick. On the other hand, stars Michael Keaton and Jim Belushi are very good, giving very enthusiastic performances and having great chemistry together. And there were a number of very funny moments sprinkled throughout the episodes. Many shows get off to a rough start before finding their groove, and I think had the show been given a chance it might have soon hit its stride. It makes you wonder about all the hundreds of early cancelled shows that might have become popular had they been given more of a chance to prove themselves.
happipuppi13 I was 11 when "Working Stiffs" debuted on CBS's fall schedule and while it only lasted 4 shows,I never forgot it. It was what most kids would look for in a sitcom,two buddies who were supposed to be fix-it guys but were more so just terribly inept and klutzy. The show seemed more about sight gags and pratfalls than overall plot but at that age,I just knew it was very funny. Little did I know,I was watching not only the younger brother of comedian John Belushi(who I had only seen in ads for "Animal House")but also a young comedic actor who would 10 years later be the new Batman!Jim Belushi had only been in one TV show at that time,the short lived NBC comedy "Who's Watching The Kids" with Scott Baio & Lynda "Lori Beth" Goodfriend (before Happy Days).Michael Keaton had 9 TV credits to his name at the time,his first being a brief part in an episode of "Maude" and a short stint on Mary Tyler Moore's two post "MTM" shows.Together they were definitely a goofy pair and maybe,had the show been written better,it could have launched them into bigger things sooner. I liked what I saw then and can only rate it as I remember it. Funny for what it was. So,for nostalgia's sake,I'll go as high as 7 stars. Only because they became two very big stars. (END)