It's a Living

This series featured a group of waitresses (and a pianist, Sonny) who work at a fancy restaurant at the top of a skyscraper.

Genre: Comedy

Cast:Gail Edwards , Barrie Youngfellow , Paul Kreppel , Marian Mercer , Crystal Bernard , Richard Stahl , Sheryl Lee Ralph , Ann Jillian , Louise Lasser , Earl Boen , Susan Sullivan , Wendy Schaal , Bert Remsen , Richard Kline , Robyn Peterson , Tom La Grua , Phil Morris , Paul Willson

1Season 1

S1.E1 ∙ Pilot

Thu, Oct 30, 1980

We are introduced to the waitresses at Over the Top restaurant in Los Angeles: single and sassy Cassie, single mother Jan, young and innocent Vicki, wise married mother Lois, and aspiring actress Dot. We also meet their bossy manager Nancy and the restaurant's piano player wannabe lothario, Sonny Mann. In the pilot, Jan battles Nancy on the chauvenistic elements to her job. The girls help Vicki decide what she'll do about a weekend away with a new boyfriend.

2Season 1

S1.E2 ∙ The Intruder

Thu, Nov 6, 1980

With Lois' family away and reports of a burglary in the neighbourhood, the girls sleep over- and they have an unexpected visitor.

3Season 1

S1.E3 ∙ Roomies

Thu, Nov 13, 1980

When Vicki doesn't get the apartment she was suppose to get, she needs a place to stay. And the only one who can take her is Cassie and she reluctantly does. But she cramps Cassie's style.

4Season 1

S1.E4 ∙ Fallen Idol

Thu, Nov 27, 1980

Vicki'a father comes for a visit but things change when she catches him with Nancy.

5Season 1

S1.E5 ∙ The Lois Affair

Thu, Dec 11, 1980

Lois is in a big fight with her husband when her old high school boyfriend shows up at the restaurant, and gives her his room key. Jan asks Cassie to cover her weekend shift so she'll take her daughter to a concert, but Cassie won't, starting a battle of whose time is more valuable.

6Season 1

S1.E6 ∙ Super-Mom

Thu, Dec 18, 1980

Jan's daughter wants to take up ballet and Jan doesn't want to disappoint her. But she can't afford it on her waitress salary alone. So she does a little moonlighting. But when it affects her job, the girls tell her that it's ok to say no to her daughter. But Jan is determined not to fail her.

7Season 1

S1.E7 ∙ Cassie's Punctured Romance

Thu, Jan 1, 1981

Cassie is reluctant to let herself fall for her latest beau, so the girls offer their encouragement. Sonny finds out a record executive will be dining at the restaurant, and is ready to pull out all the stops.

8Season 1

S1.E8 ∙ Up on the Roof

Thu, Jan 8, 1981

When there's a fire in the building and because the restaurant is on the top, it's difficult for them to get out. And among the people is a man who's on a date with someone who is not his wife and an elderly couple who are celebrating their anniversary. When an evacuation plan is implemented, the staff have to go last.

9Season 1

S1.E9 ∙ Making the Grade

Thu, Jan 15, 1981

Jan decides to go out with one of her teachers just as her course is ending. But when she decides to break it off, she learns that her final grade could be in jeopardy because he doesn't want to end it. So she turns to the Dean who tells her it's her word against his and that she should tell him to just accept it.

10Season 1

S1.E10 ∙ Our Man Barry

Thu, Jan 22, 1981

Vicki and Dot are interested in the same man, which starts causing problems. Cassie tries to lose some weight with a diet Jan recommended.

11Season 1

S1.E11 ∙ R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Thu, Jan 29, 1981

When Lois' daughter's teacher asks her to make a speech to her class, she finds out her daughter doesn't respect her because she's a waitress. Dot tries to help boost Sonny's spirits.

12Season 1

S1.E12 ∙ Kids

Tue, Jul 21, 1981

When Jan's daughter spend spends the night at Lois' and comes home with a dirty magazine, tempers flare between the two women. Sonny falls for a woman who doesn't want to commit.

13Season 1

S1.E13 ∙ You're Not Old, You're Fired

Tue, Aug 4, 1981

The girls are told that Nancy is being retired and that Lois is replacing her. Lois eventually learns that Nancy was retired because the boss thought she's too old. So they go to Nancy to tell her that and they find her working as a waitress in a diner.

1Season 2

S2.E1 ∙ Boys of Summer

Sat, Oct 24, 1981

A baseball team who is in town for a series of games is having their meals at the restaurant. And the girls make connections with a different player.

2Season 2

S2.E2 ∙ All My Son

Sat, Oct 31, 1981

A woman shows up to the restaurant and tells Sonny he's the father of her child- from eight years ago. Dot brings a mouse she rescued to the restaurant, and it escapes its box.

3Season 2

S2.E3 ∙ Of Mace and Men

Sat, Nov 7, 1981

After Maggie is mugged, the girls decide to start carrying mace.

4Season 2

S2.E4 ∙ The Wedding

Sat, Nov 14, 1981

A wedding is going to take place at the restaurant. And Cassie knows the groom. And when he sees her, he wants to leave his fiancée to be with her.

5Season 2

S2.E5 ∙ Second Time Around, Almost

Sat, Nov 28, 1981

Jan's ex husband returns to town and they are both surprised to feel sparks again. Dot gets cast in dog food commercial, but her canine co-star buys the farm when in her care.

6Season 2

S2.E6 ∙ Off the Top

Sat, Dec 5, 1981

With news that Over the Top is closing and few jobs available, the ladies visit an employment counsellor.

7Season 2

S2.E7 ∙ Mann Is Mann

Sat, Dec 12, 1981

Sonny's brother comes to visit with his fiancée, who takes an extra liking to Sonny. The ladies and Nancy win a contest, but have lost the winning ticket.

8Season 2

S2.E8 ∙ Jealousy or Mildred Fierce

Sat, Jan 2, 1982

Dennis' wife Mildred is cheating on him, so the ladies jump in to help him. An interesting item of gossip about Jan is revealed.

9Season 2

S2.E9 ∙ Young Love

Sat, Jan 9, 1982

Maggie tries to set Dot up with her brother, but he takes a shine to Jan instead, which displeases Maggie.

10Season 2

S2.E10 ∙ The Garden of Countess Natasha

Fri, Feb 12, 1982

Dot gets the lead in a play, but she's not very good in it, leaving the ladies to break the news.

11Season 2

S2.E11 ∙ Falling in Love Again

Fri, Feb 19, 1982

Dot suggests Maggie join her theatre ensemble to keep herself occupied and she finds herself falling for the director. A pair of restaurant robbers are expected to hit Above the Top, so a detective goes undercover as a busboy for three nights.

12Season 2

S2.E12 ∙ Horsing Around

Fri, Feb 26, 1982

Maggie and Jan overhear a horse racing tip and soon the whole gang is trying to cash in.

13Season 2

S2.E13 ∙ Strange Bedfellows

Fri, Jun 4, 1982

Dot has to have surgery and makes friends with her roommate. Over the Top hosts a veterans' reunion, with two brothers who refuse to get along.

14Season 2

S2.E14 ∙ A Farewell to Arm

Fri, Jun 11, 1982

The ladies help Maggie prepare for a garage sale, and Jan gets her hand stuck in the basement when she has a big date that night.

1Season 3

S3.E1 ∙ Harassed

Sat, Sep 28, 1985

Amy has a stalker, but the police won't take her seriously. Howard and Nancy battle it out over their fish supplier.

2Season 3

S3.E2 ∙ Cassie's Cowboy

Sat, Oct 5, 1985

A millionaire cowboy shows a romantic interest in Cassie.

3Season 3

S3.E3 ∙ Amy Big Girl Now

Sat, Oct 12, 1985

Amy's father comes to visit and tells her to come home. Above the Top hosts a weight loss group, including an old friend of Jan's, and the ladies' tips suffer as much as the newly bland dinners do.

4Season 3

S3.E4 ∙ Desperate Hours

Sat, Oct 19, 1985

An ambassador is dining at the restaurant which excites Nancy and the others, however the night goes south when terrorists from the ambassador's home country take hostages.

5Season 3

S3.E5 ∙ I Write the Songs

Sat, Oct 26, 1985

Sonny is discovered by a record company executive and abruptly quits the restaurant.

6Season 3

S3.E6 ∙ Jan's Engagement

Sat, Nov 2, 1985

Jan falls in love with a fan repairman; Amy schemes to get a day off to attend a rodeo.

7Season 3

S3.E7 ∙ From Russia with Love

Sat, Nov 9, 1985

A Russian athlete falls for Cassie and decides to defect.

8Season 3

S3.E8 ∙ The Prom Show

Sat, Nov 16, 1985

The restaurant is the venue for a prom but the band hired to perform does not show up.

9Season 3

S3.E9 ∙ The Wedding Show

Sat, Nov 23, 1985

It's Jan and Richie's wedding day but several issues put a damper on the festivities.

10Season 3

S3.E10 ∙ Hail to the Chef

Sat, Dec 21, 1985

The President visits the restaurant.

11Season 3

S3.E11 ∙ Eleven Angry Men and Dot

Sat, Dec 28, 1985

Dot is serving on a jury, which ends up being sequestered leaving the others shorthanded.

12Season 3

S3.E12 ∙ Gender Gap

Sat, Jan 11, 1986

The restaurant is hit with a discrimination suit for only having waitresses, which forces Nancy to hire an obnoxious waiter.

13Season 3

S3.E13 ∙ Jealous Wife

Sat, Jan 18, 1986

A woman accuses Cassie of stealing her husband.

14Season 3

S3.E14 ∙ The Doctor Danny Show

Sat, Feb 1, 1986

Nancy has a terrible hernia, but she won't get surgery. So her doctor keeps coming by the restaurant to convince her otherwise.

15Season 3

S3.E15 ∙ Jewel Heist

Sat, Feb 15, 1986

A princess is dining at the restaurant who turns out to be a target of jewel thieves.

16Season 3

S3.E16 ∙ The Jerks

Sat, Feb 22, 1986

The girls share stories of their encounters with less than ideal men they've met over the years.

17Season 3

S3.E17 ∙ Oddest Couple

Sat, Mar 1, 1986

Cassie stays at Sonny's place until she's ready to move into her new condo.

18Season 3

S3.E18 ∙ Dot's Puppy

Sat, Apr 12, 1986

Dot adopts a dog but finds that she can't keep it because her building doesn't allow pets.

19Season 3

S3.E19 ∙ Dinner with Deedee

Sat, May 3, 1986

Jan's high school rival visits the restaurant leaving Jan feeling insecure so she stretches the truth on how her life has turned out.

20Season 3

S3.E20 ∙ Jump

Sat, May 10, 1986

One of Dot's classmates in her acting class threatens to jump out one of the restaurant's windows unless she does a scene with him. Meanwhile, Cassie is audited by the IRS, and Amy is studying to get a California drivers license.

21Season 3

S3.E21 ∙ America's Sweetheart

Sat, May 17, 1986

Jan sets Dot up with a friend of Richie's, a comic strip artist, who creates a new character based on Dot.

22Season 3

S3.E22 ∙ Mann Act

Sat, May 24, 1986

Sonny has a fear of the girl he dated the night before is Big Joe's girl. So fearing his death he starts writing his will, & In a retrospective, he remembers Dot, Cassie, Amy, Nancy, Howard & Jan's best attributes.

1Season 4

S4.E1 ∙ The Roof Show

Sat, Sep 27, 1986

Sonny gets stuck on the roof, and as each waitress comes up to tell him to get back to work they one by one also get stuck there, leaving Nancy, Howard and Amy to handle the restaurant by themselves.

2Season 4

S4.E2 ∙ The Bar

Sat, Oct 4, 1986

The girls, Sonny, Nancy, Howard and Howard's date all find themselves at the same singles bar after work. High jinks ensue.

3Season 4

S4.E3 ∙ The Reunion Show

Sat, Oct 11, 1986

Jan's high school reunion is at the restaurant, where she runs into her old boyfriend Jack.

4Season 4

S4.E4 ∙ Surprise

Sat, Oct 18, 1986

Richie wants to make a sculpture for Jan for her birthday but needs somewhere to work on it so Ginger offers him her apartment, leading the others to think they're having an affair.

5Season 4

S4.E5 ∙ Nancy's Sister

Sat, Oct 25, 1986

Nancy's sister Gloria comes to visit, much to her dismay. With a history of stealing boyfriends, Nancy isn't happy when Gloria takes a shine to Howard.

6Season 4

S4.E6 ∙ Night at the Iguana

Sat, Nov 1, 1986

With the restaurant closed for a few days to install new sprinklers, the girls and Sonny head out to Vegas. Sonny's car breaks down en route and everyone is forced to stay the night at an isolated motel, where the desk clerk is acting an awful lot like Norman Bates...

7Season 4

S4.E7 ∙ Family Feud

Sat, Nov 8, 1986

With Dot's mom and Jan's dad in town, Ginger suggests they spend time together to get them off their daughters' cases. They end up out all night which Dot and Jan don't like. Howard, Amy and Sonny contend with a burial plot saleswoman.

8Season 4

S4.E8 ∙ The Dot and Howard Show

Sat, Nov 15, 1986

Dot and Howard start spending time together outside of work, which leaves them feeling confused, and Nancy paranoid. Sonny struggles orhanizing his event "Lounge-Aid."

9Season 4

S4.E9 ∙ Farewell, My Sonny

Sat, Nov 22, 1986

Over the Top hosts a murder mystery evening. It's all fun and games until it gets all too real for Sonny.

10Season 4

S4.E10 ∙ Critic's Choice

Sat, Dec 6, 1986

A famous restaurant critic who has a long time beef with Howard visits Over the Top, which stresses out Nancy. Sonny and Ginger spend the weekend in Palm Springs, leaving the girls perplexed.

11Season 4

S4.E11 ∙ Richie's Sculpture

Sat, Dec 20, 1986

Jan finds an old sculpture of Richie's, and Dot sells it- landing Jan in big trouble. Nancy tasks Amy with writing a profile of Ginger for the hotel magazine, but Ginger proves to be an elusive subject.

12Season 4

S4.E12 ∙ Sonny's Oil

Sat, Jan 3, 1987

Everyone decides to invest in a potentially oil bearing property, thanks to Sonny.

13Season 4

S4.E13 ∙ Nancy's Birthday Party

Sat, Jan 10, 1987

Nancy keeps hinting at her birthday so the girls decide to throw her a surprise party.

14Season 4

S4.E14 ∙ The Evictables

Sat, Jan 17, 1987

Ginger takes Jan's advice about her deadbeat landlord, getting her evicted. Amy takes Ginger in, but winds up also evicted. In the meantime, clever thinking comes in handy.

15Season 4

S4.E15 ∙ Ginger's Baby

Sat, Jan 24, 1987

Ginger must baby-sit for first-time vacationing parents, but can't get out of work. Nancy offers to be Howard's magic act assistant. Sonny has trouble with a mobster and the cops.

16Season 4

S4.E16 ∙ Bachelor Party

Sat, Jan 31, 1987

Dot agrees to fill in for a stripper at a bachelor party. Sonny takes Howard's estranged visiting daughter out on the town, much to Howard's dismay.

17Season 4

S4.E17 ∙ Amy's Rusty

Sat, Feb 7, 1987

Pressured Amy accepts a marriage proposal.

18Season 4

S4.E18 ∙ Dot's Priest

Sat, Feb 14, 1987

Dot's former beau, rethinks his vows.

19Season 4

S4.E19 ∙ The Dickie Doodle Show

Sat, Feb 21, 1987

Dickie Doodle fan club meets at the restaurant.

20Season 4

S4.E20 ∙ The Howie Show

Sat, Feb 28, 1987

Tropical island natives name Howard as their chief.

21Season 4

S4.E21 ∙ The Dot Quits Show

Sat, Mar 7, 1987

Dot auditions for a soap opera but doesn't get the part, and blames her job as a waitress for her lack of success so she quits the restaurant.

22Season 4

S4.E22 ∙ The Two Guys Show

Sat, May 2, 1987

Ginger accepts marriage proposals from two men in one day.

23Season 4

S4.E23 ∙ A Romantic Comedy

Sat, May 9, 1987

Jan wins employee of the week and uses her prize of a free night at the hotel to spend a romantic evening with Richie.

24Season 4

S4.E24 ∙ Manhandling

Sat, May 16, 1987

Dot falls for a guy that Amy has been dating.

25Season 4

S4.E25 ∙ Nancy's Shrink

Sat, May 23, 1987

Nancy discusses her relationships with her psychiatrist.

1Season 5

S5.E1 ∙ Till Death Do Us Part

Sat, Sep 26, 1987

Sonny gets stood up at the altar twice.

2Season 5

S5.E2 ∙ Her Back to the Future

Sat, Oct 3, 1987

As the staff prepares for a wedding reception, Nancy dozes off and has a bizarre dream about her own marriage, ten years in the future to Sonny.

3Season 5

S5.E3 ∙ No, My Darling Daughter

Sat, Oct 10, 1987

Jan worries when her daughter has her first date.

4Season 5

S5.E4 ∙ Sweet Charity

Sat, Oct 17, 1987

The staff helps Dot put on a production of Little Red Riding Hood at a children's theater for charity.

5Season 5

S5.E5 ∙ Killing of Sister Dot

Sat, Oct 24, 1987

Dot is thrilled about her new part on a soap opera until she realizes her character is in imminent danger of being killed off.

6Season 5

S5.E6 ∙ The Date Show

Sat, Oct 31, 1987

Nancy has just the solution to Howard's mid-life crisis: she invites him to a square dance, and she won't take no for an answer.

7Season 5

S5.E7 ∙ Search and Strike

Sat, Nov 7, 1987

Nancy is having a bad week: hotel management wants her to search the waitresses' lockers, and Howard wants her to back off.

8Season 5

S5.E8 ∙ The Vegas Show: Part 1

Sat, Nov 14, 1987

Sonny pesters singer Jack Jones into getting him a gig in Las Vegas. Howard gets jealous when Nancy makes a date with Jack Jones who invites her to go to Vegas with him.

9Season 5

S5.E9 ∙ The Vegas Show: Part 2

Sat, Nov 21, 1987

When a jealous Howard follows Nancy to Las Vegas, he's horrified to find her gambling at a blackjack table with a lounge lizard named Chick.

10Season 5

S5.E10 ∙ The Sonny's Mother Show

Sat, Nov 28, 1987

Sonny's mother pays him a visit and proceeds to belittle him at every turn.

11Season 5

S5.E11 ∙ Strictly Personal

Sat, Dec 12, 1987

Dot takes out a personal ad to meet men and gets a surprise she never bargained for.

12Season 5

S5.E12 ∙ A Pen Pal for Your Thoughts

Sat, Dec 19, 1987

The person Amy has been pen pals with is paroled. When he visits the restaurant he's not exactly the person described in his letters.

13Season 5

S5.E13 ∙ Twelve Angry Women

Sat, Dec 26, 1987

Sonny manages to infuriate an entire table of feminists while Dot starts dating one of Amy's ex-boyfriends.

14Season 5

S5.E14 ∙ Skin Deep

Sat, Jan 2, 1988

After seeing Howard flirting with a much younger woman, Nancy begins considering having a face lift.

15Season 5

S5.E15 ∙ Everyone's a Critic

Sat, Jan 16, 1988

Dot's newspaper critic boyfriend is assigned to review her play.

16Season 5

S5.E16 ∙ Take Back Your Mink

Sat, Jan 23, 1988

Richie hits the big money which lands Jan in a mink coat. However, is his sudden success short lived?

17Season 5

S5.E17 ∙ The One About the Tattooed Lady

Sat, Jan 30, 1988

Nancy's estranged cousin visits to make amends, and Nancy is surprised to see the changes in her.

18Season 5

S5.E18 ∙ Daddy's Little Girl

Sat, Feb 6, 1988

Jan has hopes of reuniting her divorced parents but there is one hitch in her plan, her father is newly engaged.

19Season 5

S5.E19 ∙ Ginger's Grandmother Show

Sat, Feb 13, 1988

Grandma St James. decides to live with Ginger.

20Season 5

S5.E20 ∙ Dot's Hope

Sat, Feb 20, 1988

Dot helps an actress and sees her find success.

21Season 5

S5.E21 ∙ The Amy and Louie Show

Sat, Feb 27, 1988

Sonny bribes Amy with tickets belonging to a friend.

22Season 5

S5.E22 ∙ Ginger and the Senator

Sat, Apr 23, 1988

Ginger's efforts to campaign for her favorite senator make front-page news when she's photographed sitting on his lap.

23Season 5

S5.E23 ∙ Healings, Nothing More Than Healings

Sat, Apr 30, 1988

Sonny becomes an instant hero after saving a choking victim by administering the Heimlich maneuver. Meanwhile, Nancy and Howard contemplate taking separate vacations.

24Season 5

S5.E24 ∙ The No Guys Show

Sat, May 7, 1988

Ginger's beau makes a sudden and forceful proposal.

25Season 5

S5.E25 ∙ The Waiting Game

Sat, May 14, 1988

A career magazine interview inspires reminiscences.

26Season 5

S5.E26 ∙ Tune In, Tune Out

Sat, May 28, 1988

Richie (Richard Kline) becomes obsessed with Jan's blonde wig.

1Season 6

S6.E1 ∙ Pistol Packin' Mama

Sat, Oct 15, 1988

Ginger is considering kicking Amy out of the apartment after Ginger learns that Amy keeps a gun with her.

2Season 6

S6.E2 ∙ The Nancy and Roscoe Show

Sat, Oct 22, 1988

Neglected Nancy has an extramarital fling.

3Season 6

S6.E3 ∙ The Jan's Pregnant Show

Sat, Oct 29, 1988

Jan announces she's pregnant.

4Season 6

S6.E4 ∙ Never Trust Anyone Under 40

Sat, Nov 5, 1988

Sonny comes down with a severe case of "middle age blues" when he turns 40.

5Season 6

S6.E5 ∙ The New Guy Show

Sat, Nov 12, 1988

A new date proves a match for assertive Ginger.

6Season 6

S6.E6 ∙ Rear Window

Sat, Nov 19, 1988

Dot thinks she sees a murder in the next building.

7Season 6

S6.E7 ∙ You Do Voodoo

Sat, Nov 26, 1988

Ginger tries voodoo to land a husband.

8Season 6

S6.E8 ∙ The Amy and Bobby Show

Sat, Dec 3, 1988

Amy's preacher beau wants her to go on the road with him.

9Season 6

S6.E9 ∙ Dot Casts Off

Sat, Dec 10, 1988

Discouraged actress Dot works as a casting assistant.

10Season 6

S6.E10 ∙ A Very Scary It's a Living

Sat, Jan 7, 1989

Dot is casting a horror movie so she has started watching horror movies to give her casting ideas but all they do is give her nightmares.

11Season 6

S6.E11 ∙ The Ginger's Mother Show

Sat, Jan 14, 1989

Ginger decides not to talk about her career as a waitress when her successful career-oriented mother pays her daughter a visit.

12Season 6

S6.E12 ∙ Mike Fright

Sat, Jan 21, 1989

Nancy hires a replacement for Sonny who turns out to be a big hit with the customers.

13Season 6

S6.E13 ∙ He Never Sang for His Father

Sat, Jan 28, 1989

Sonny's lover and father move in simultaneously.

14Season 6

S6.E14 ∙ Just Say Yes

Sat, Feb 11, 1989

A valentine from Amy's beau includes a hotel room key.

15Season 6

S6.E15 ∙ Wedding, Wedding

Sat, Feb 18, 1989

Ginger and Amy have a double wedding at the restaurant.

16Season 6

S6.E16 ∙ The Dark at the Top of the Top

Sat, Feb 25, 1989

The restaurant owner wants to replace Nancy with someone younger.

17Season 6

S6.E17 ∙ My Little Red Book

Sat, Mar 4, 1989

Sonny finds trouble in a notebook full of women's numbers.

18Season 6

S6.E18 ∙ Matchmaker, Matchmaker

Sat, Mar 11, 1989

Frustrated Dot hires a professional matchmaker.

19Season 6

S6.E19 ∙ A Very Special It's a Living

Sat, Mar 18, 1989

Delivery complications nearly kill Jan, guest Danny Thomas.

20Season 6

S6.E20 ∙ The Sonny and Dot Show

Sat, Apr 8, 1989

After hours, Dot and Sonny console each other at the restaurant.