George Tipton wrote this theme along with lyricist Leslie Bricusse. I was a studio singer for 55 busy years and George called me to get three other girls to record this. The other girls were Edie Lehmann, Susie McCune and Lynda Harmon. We had a lot of fun.
Thanks so much for this. So great to hear the names of the singers. Believe me, as a teen watching this show, I wonder who you were. I thought Y'all sound amazing. I consider this theme song the very best lyrically, melodically, and vocally. It captures the spirit of the show. It reminds me of a well-considered, seemingly effortless, opening number for a hit Broadway musical.
Great job. My mom used to watch this show when I was in elementary school and like pretty much every theme show tune back then (themes were usually as good as the shows back then) it sticks in my mind and I hum them outta nowhere til this day in my forties!
When George called me to contract the singers, he said Call girls who love to get into the mic and aren’t afraid to push others out of the way LOL. I said I know just who to call!
I have been trying to remember the name of this show forever! I kept asking people: “do you remember that show with waitresses, and the theme song showed them walking towards a building together?” Everyone just looked at me like I had two heads. Finally! Another hidden memory brought to consciousness and put away.
I used to use a dolly for my work and when I started to get moving with it in a good stride, this song would come into my head. I guess I reminded myself of that beginning with the ladies walking at a brisk pace.
Can't explain why I loved this show so much back in the day??!! Still do!! I think it was because of Anne Jillian--------she just had this something about her that drew me to her, but when she left, I'm glad they found the sassy and quick-witted Sheryl Lee Ralph to replace her. She and Crystal were both good fits toward the end of the show's run!!
Agreed w/ everything you said. I, too, couldn’t figure out why I liked this show! Just something about it, I guess. Ann Jillian was a big reason. In fact, I only really liked the 3rd Season, which was her last.
Yes!!! To everything!!! Crystal Bernard is as sassy as they come while still being sweet and between her and Sheryl Lee Ralph it just made it easier to stomach the loss of Ann Jillian. I still remember feeling that way about it as a kid because I was so obsessed with Jillian! But then I became obsessed with Bernard and Ralph. 😂❤️
@@Oneofmyfavoritesongs remember when she played Stan Zbornack's cousin from Czechoslovakia on the The Golden Girls. It was the episode when Blanche thought her sister Charmaine wrote that novel about her. Marian was hilarious as Magda.
It's A Living Theme Song Title: "It's A Living" By: "George Tipton and Leslie Bricusse" Life's not the French Riviera Believe me, Life's not a charity ball. It isn't all a great, big bed of roses It's not like showbiz But the main thing I suppose is We're not the people you envy Believe me, We know we're doing okay We may be less than wealthy But better yet, We're young and healthy And anyone who's young and healthy knows That that's the way the traffic flows It's a living.
Watched this show for the first time in December of 1981 on a Saturday night on ABC right after the Treasure Hunt game show when I was nine years old. Television was better back then than today.
I remember my mom watching it on KCAL 9 in Los Angeles in the mid 80s. That theme is infectious. Right up there with Jeffersons as one of the best TV themes.
I'm embarrassed as a guy to say I watched this show. Looking back now, it seems like a chic show. But, then again, it was the '80s and I was just an 8 or 9 year old kid. Theme song is catchy though. The part where they say "we're young and healthy" is kinda sad, because that was 30-40 years ago. Time just keeps moving. The young become old.
This show ABSOLUTELY TOUCHED MY HEART, because back in the late 80's/early 90's my mom was a waitress and although a humble job, she managed to keep food on our table, clothes on our backs and the lights never got turned off, because she worked so hard and truly stayed on top of the bills, all that to support us (my brothers and I) So now as and adult, when I look back on those years? All I can do is THANK THE LORD he protected her so much and gave her the wisdom, strength and love to keep it all together WITHOUT resorting to marrying some man to simply support us.
I had no idea this Wendy Schaal was the same one who does the voice of Francine Smith on American Dad. Marian Mercer was definitely the Diva of this show. She later appeared on The Golden Girls as Stan's cousin Magda from Czechoslovakia. Lol
I like Sheryl Lee Ralph as ginger,as talented she is as an actress, especially an sitcom actress, i can understand why many fans of this series considered as a weak replacement for the wonderful Ms.jillian.she was kind of a hard act to follow,Sheryl Lee lacked Ann's pizzazz of verbal comic delivery, execution, and especially her timing.when Ann as Cassie uttered out a verbal line you know you're in for a genuinely good laugh.
@@josephcalderon906 Sheryl Lee Ralph was NOT AnnJillian’s replacement. Barrie became the lead actress after Jillian left. Two years later Sheryl came in to replace Susan Sullivan after she left got another show.
Having grown up during this era, I thought I knew all of the shows. I have never seen reruns of anything I didn't have some memory of...until this. I have zero memory of this show. Weird.
Never heard or seen this show in my life lol. But crazy to see Sheryl Lee Ralph before Moesha, Crystal Bernard before Wings and Gail Edwards before Vicki from Full House.
I used to watch this Show All the time When i was a Kid. This is Where i knew All these Actresses From When i would Watch Wings,Moesha,Full House & Blossom It was a syndication it came on Saturday & Sunday Afternoons. Its on Now on DirecTV Logo Channel 272
I never knew that the title was changed to "Making a Living" during the second season (and in the lyric of the theme song!)...I have a few episodes from that season on tape with the regular "It's a Living" title and theme song!
ABC wanted to call it “Living It Up” when it returned for a revamped second season. But there were legal issues with that name, so they went to Making a Living instead. The syndicated revival a few years later used the better, original title. And when the whole package went into reruns, the second season episodes were retitled It’s a Living for consistency.
I don't remember the original network broadcast of this show. But I remember this syndication run aired on Sunday afternoons here in Atlanta just before Mama's Family.
@@Tech_Traveler Wendy was barely on "It's a Living", but you're quite right. I've never really watched "American Dad", but thank you so much because I never knew she has had a 20 year stint with that show. Brava!!
Yes but Barrie Longfellow's no slouch, and imo Susan Sullivan, Crystal Bernard and Sheryl Lee Ralph were the finest out of all the women good lord! I never knew Susan Sullivan was ever that damn sexy.
I liked her better with curly hair...in fact, she said it became a trademark for her in auditions. When she straightened her hair in the second season it didn't look right.
I was in elementary school when this was on the air, so I couldn't relate to the premise, but like most 70s and 80s sitcoms a kid could still enjoy the fun performances and lighthearted mood.
this song had an impact on my musical ear as a child. i thought it was such an extravagant opening for a tv show. i watched the show for the sheryl lee ralph and the theme song
Weird, I just saw this on Antenna TV and wondered what it was. I looked at the guide and found the name...and I have no memory of this at all. I thought I knew all of the shows from back in the 1980s, even shows we didn't watch I was at least familiar with due to ads, commercials, etc. I do not understand how this show completely went under the radar...no memory of it at all.
As a young boy in L.A. when then show came out when I would see that building complex in DTLA I always thought that the ladies from this show were actually working in them, lol. Now, when I see the complex (dwarfed by the other skyscrapers now in DTLA) this theme song flies right back to my head. What good memories! :)
The song sounds like a mix between a British Henry Mancini, Camarata and Joe Raposo musical and the first time I heard this song when it aired on Antenna TV I thought it sounded kinda like a sped up version of that You'll be swell song from Gypsy because that line 🎵It's just like showbiz🎵 sounded like they're saying 🎵Everything's coming up roses.🎵
0:00 - (season 1, 1980-1981) 1:00 - (renaming for season 2, "MAKING A LIVING!" 1981-1982) 1:58, 2:57 - (seasons 3,4,5 and 6, 1985-1989. New episodes later aired in first-run syndication)
I can't remember 💩, but I remember TV themes. I have hummed pieces of this theme for years having no idea what show it came from because I rarely watched this one. Minutes ago I was thinking how the current reboots, revivals, and rescue of canceled shows on streaming services was done in the 80s. What's Happening, WKRP in Cincinnati came back, The Munsters came back (albeit with a new cast), and shows like Charles in Charge and some show about women waitresses got new seasons in syndication. But what was that show? Suddenly I thought of this theme song. I wanted to look it up, but I didn't know the name of the show and only remembered fragments of thr lyrics, then I remembered Crystal Bernard! I looked her up on iMDB, found the show's name, and found this video! It's a decades long mystery solved!
I was up super early this morning and this show was on the Logo channel. I didn’t recognize it until the next episode and this theme song came on. Memories from my childhood then came flooding back. Th was so much better back then.
It's a Living from the late Dick Clair & the late Jenna McMahon-Creators of The Facts of Life & Mama's Family and Stu Silver Creator of Webster and from Paul Junger Witt & Thomas-Producers of SOAP, Benson, The Golden Girls, Empty Nest, Blossom and Herman's Head Starring TV Veteran and New Yorker Susan Sullivan of Falcon Crest, Dharma & Greg and Castle Fame, TV Veteran and Motivational Speaker Ann Jillian, Wendy Schaal of the film Innerspace and TV's American Dad, Louise Lasser of TV's Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Singer/Actress and Texan Crystal Bernard of Happy Days & Wings Fame, TV & Broadway Star Sheryl Lee Ralph of TV's Moesha Fame, Veteran Film Star the late Bert Remsen, Earl Boen of TV's California Dreams and The Terminator Trilogy, Veteran Film Star the late Richard Stahl of the film 9 to 5 and 4 stars who became the only cast members to appear in all 6 seasons of the show-Veteran TV & Film Star Barrie Youngfellow who is now the current president of the California corporation To Be Announced, Inc., TV Veteran Gail Edwards of TV's Blossom & Full House Fame, Tony Award Winning Actor Paul Kreppel and Veteran Stage & TV Actress the late Marian Mercer of The Sandy Duncan Show I never saw it on abc, but I did watch'em in reruns, but also, I use to watch the syndicated version with NEW episodes on Saturday Evenings on WGN SuperStation Chicago and on Sunday Nights on KLFY-TV 10 Lafayette, LA
You can really see the power dynamics shift as the show goes on, who gets more time and who gets less. Like that Marian Mercer made sure she was second placement most of the time
Actually I think second placement is last - and you get your character name as well. No idea why this format seems to be so common ; so the last season was Barrie (RIP), Marian, Gail, Paul in order of seniority.
OMG! That's Gail Edwards from Blossom and Full House. I had no idea who she would become back when I used to watch this in the 80's. So I don't even remember her being in this.
I absolutely adore the decor of the restaurant, the wall to wall mauve/pink carpet everywhere is just so 80s. I also love the dresses from season 1, the more spaghetti strap one. It fit well with the early 80s soft glam sort of look that the girls had
same little poses when they flip around and look... "hair shot"... LOL I love the sound of the theme, showy, and it sounds like it could be all these girls singing... even if it's not them.
@@timothyhh And if you have it's sister channel,rewind tv,which exclusively has eighties and nineties sitcoms, you can watch on the very early morning hours at 5:00a.m..
Yeah, it’s hard to find that slightly longer original first season theme. They edited it down for syndication, which is what you see here, so the first season theme omits the consecutive shots of the individual waitresses at the end.
I woke up singing this theme song for some reason. I had forgotten how many changes had occurred during the run of this show and I truly didn’t remember the name change. Another revelation.... I wondered why Melissa Fumero seemed familiar to me. She strongly favors Gail Edwards imho
This may be a stupid question but did the actresses who played the waitresses sing the theme song? When I hear the versions, I hear voices that sound like Ann Jillian and Sheryl Lee Ralph, both of whom fans know are musical performers. And some of the other actresses like Susan Sullivan, Gail Edwards and Crystal Bernard have all done their share of musical performances (either on stage or other TV projects). When I try to look up the theme song performer, they just list the song's writer Leslie Briccusse (who wrote the songs for Doctor Doolittle and Willy Wonka).
I like how the hair styles get larger as the end of the 70's becomes the center of the 80's. I've been to the restaurant at the top of the Westin Bonaventure, it is pretty good!
George Tipton wrote this theme along with lyricist Leslie Bricusse. I was a studio singer for 55 busy years and George called me to get three other girls to record this. The other girls were Edie Lehmann, Susie McCune and Lynda Harmon. We had a lot of fun.
Thanks so much for this. So great to hear the names of the singers. Believe me, as a teen watching this show, I wonder who you were. I thought Y'all sound amazing. I consider this theme song the very best lyrically, melodically, and vocally. It captures the spirit of the show. It reminds me of a well-considered, seemingly effortless, opening number for a hit Broadway musical.
Great job. My mom used to watch this show when I was in elementary school and like pretty much every theme show tune back then (themes were usually as good as the shows back then) it sticks in my mind and I hum them outta nowhere til this day in my forties!
@@FineWineFletch I’m in my 50s but same hum the songs all the time! I was just having the theme song from the greatest American hero the other day.
@@chocolatesouljah exactly! I still sing (and play) the theme song to wkrp in Cincinnati theme song too! Lol
When George called me to contract the singers, he said Call girls who love to get into the mic and aren’t afraid to push others out of the way LOL. I said I know just who to call!
I have been trying to remember the name of this show forever! I kept asking people: “do you remember that show with waitresses, and the theme song showed them walking towards a building together?” Everyone just looked at me like I had two heads. Finally! Another hidden memory brought to consciousness and put away.
Nice, the building is the Bonaventure in downtown LA
I've experienced that, too haha
I loved watching this show as a kid in the '80s and '90s. Such a great theme song!
I WATCHED THIS SHOW AS A KID!!
still, the show did have two titles, so you're excused for not nailing it down...
Yeah, throughout the 80's, on Saturday afternoons my grandma and aunts watched this, along with Bosom Buddies, and Benson.
I miss those days terribly.
The good ol' dinner and a beer routine!
All great shows I watched as a kid with my mom and/or whole family!
@@hume7171 didn't Amen come on Saturday afternoon also
I believe you're correct. I miss those days.@@pp3k3jamail
An observation...my pop was in the beauty business for 45+years. Ann Jillian always had the best edgy "Vidal Sassoon" haircut!
Everytime I see a hotel, I think of this song. Sheryl Lee Ralph has come such a long way
She sure has. And whatever happened to Crystal Bernard?
I used to use a dolly for my work and when I started to get moving with it in a good stride, this song would come into my head. I guess I reminded myself of that beginning with the ladies walking at a brisk pace.
@@toddanthony6664 Crystal must have decided to give up acting and live a private life. Her last credit on IMDb was in 2008. I loved her on Wings.
@@toddanthony6664 Crystal has a great singing voice too! She did a duet with Peter Cetera back in the day.
R.I.P. Barrie Youngfellow
October 22, 1946 - March 28, 2022 (aged 75)
Yes. 😔💗
Aged 75 years 157 days
She was my crush
This was actually a good show, all the different actresses were really good and relatable.
Yeah, I think of it as a younger version of Golden Girls, but at work.
Can't explain why I loved this show so much back in the day??!! Still do!! I think it was because of Anne Jillian--------she just had this something about her that drew me to her, but when she left, I'm glad they found the sassy and quick-witted Sheryl Lee Ralph to replace her. She and Crystal were both good fits toward the end of the show's run!!
Agreed w/ everything you said. I, too, couldn’t figure out why I liked this show! Just something about it, I guess. Ann Jillian was a big reason. In fact, I only really liked the 3rd Season, which was her last.
Yes!!! To everything!!! Crystal Bernard is as sassy as they come while still being sweet and between her and Sheryl Lee Ralph it just made it easier to stomach the loss of Ann Jillian. I still remember feeling that way about it as a kid because I was so obsessed with Jillian! But then I became obsessed with Bernard and Ralph. 😂❤️
My mother was a waitress. I know why.
😊😊😊@@crazysingingchick
R.I.P. Marian Mercer
November 26, 1935 - April 27, 2011 (aged 75)
Marian Mercer was Every. F***ing. Thing.
@@Oneofmyfavoritesongs remember when she played Stan Zbornack's cousin from Czechoslovakia on the The Golden Girls. It was the episode when Blanche thought her sister Charmaine wrote that novel about her. Marian was hilarious as Magda.
@@seanpowell1661 Cousin Magda, with her love of Slurpees😉
@@Oneofmyfavoritesongs exactly! 🤣🤣🤣
Sean Powell, thank you 🙏 for that information. Definitely will look 👀 her up
RIP Barrie Youngfellow (1946-2022)
1st Season outfits = BEST outfits.
It's A Living Theme Song
Title: "It's A Living"
By: "George Tipton and Leslie Bricusse"
Life's not the French Riviera
Believe me, Life's not a charity ball.
It isn't all a great, big bed of roses
It's not like showbiz
But the main thing I suppose is
We're not the people you envy
Believe me, We know we're doing okay
We may be less than wealthy
But better yet, We're young and healthy
And anyone who's young and healthy knows
That that's the way the traffic flows
It's a living.
Thanks!
Some of your words are wrong, but thanks.
Watched this show for the first time in December of 1981 on a Saturday night on ABC right after the Treasure Hunt game show when I was nine years old. Television was better back then than today.
It’s so cute how all of Jan’s credits are of her turning around at her locker and looking surprised
RIP Barrie Young fellow aka Jan Hoffmeyer
@@allanhernandez2508i didn't know 😢
I remember HATING the change to Making a Living lol. I was a crabby old 10 yr old 😂
I remember watching the last cast and themes song, I love the theme, with that big, broadway sound.
My mother was on Broadway. I know why I found this so delightful. My mother was a star.
Being a kid in Chicago watching this on WGN Chicago, when I was in kindergarten, memories #80sKid
I remember my mom watching it on KCAL 9 in Los Angeles in the mid 80s. That theme is infectious. Right up there with Jeffersons as one of the best TV themes.
I'm embarrassed as a guy to say I watched this show. Looking back now, it seems like a chic show. But, then again, it was the '80s and I was just an 8 or 9 year old kid. Theme song is catchy though.
The part where they say "we're young and healthy" is kinda sad, because that was 30-40 years ago. Time just keeps moving. The young become old.
This show ABSOLUTELY TOUCHED MY HEART, because back in the late 80's/early 90's my mom was a waitress and although a humble job, she managed to keep food on our table, clothes on our backs and the lights never got turned off, because she worked so hard and truly stayed on top of the bills, all that to support us (my brothers and I) So now as and adult, when I look back on those years? All I can do is THANK THE LORD he protected her so much and gave her the wisdom, strength and love to keep it all together WITHOUT resorting to marrying some man to simply support us.
Amen to that! Sounds like she's a great mom!😊
@bigdaddygru thank you sir!!!
I had no idea this Wendy Schaal was the same one who does the voice of Francine Smith on American Dad.
Marian Mercer was definitely the Diva of this show. She later appeared on The Golden Girls as Stan's cousin Magda from Czechoslovakia. Lol
Wendy Schaal was in an episode of Friends as one of Monica's coworkers when she was a rollerskating waitress.
She was very funny in that first season.....They should have kept her.
One of the best TV theme songs ever! 💖
Catchy theme song great comedy show great chemistry great cast 🙂
Ann Jillian was great! She was the reason i watched this series. Love her!
Ann Jillian reminded me of Mae West. She was hilarious always throwing shade.
She was always one of my TV faves! 💛
I like Sheryl Lee Ralph as ginger,as talented she is as an actress, especially an sitcom actress, i can understand why many fans of this series considered as a weak replacement for the wonderful Ms.jillian.she was kind of a hard act to follow,Sheryl Lee lacked Ann's pizzazz of verbal comic delivery, execution, and especially her timing.when Ann as Cassie uttered out a verbal line you know you're in for a genuinely good laugh.
@@josephcalderon906 Sheryl Lee Ralph was NOT AnnJillian’s replacement. Barrie became the lead actress after Jillian left. Two years later Sheryl came in to replace Susan Sullivan after she left got another show.
One of the catchiest intros ever.
R.I.P Barrie Youngfellow...She passed away today at 75 :(
As of 8/5/18, reruns of “It’s a Living” are back now that Logo Network has switched formats and now only shows vintage TV from the 70’s and 80’s.
Interesting that you mention that; I saw it on their listings a week ago; then, it seemed to disappear and now is not even mentioned on their website!
Watchin a LOGO commercial, is what brought me here.
If Logo has switched formats, where's RuPaul's Drag Race?
@@LogoMan7777 - VH1 has it now.
souderomana and now the show is on Antenna TV
The 80s had the best sitcoms
That's why this period of television was known as the golden age of TV sitcoms.
I miss the 80s!
I am 42 and grew up watching this show.
Saturday evenings in the 80s...everything in the 80s actually
Miss great 80s tv shows.
Same
RIP Barrie Youngfellow
It’s on Antenna tv starting Jan 2020.
Where was I when this show was on in the early 80’s? Now I’m watching it on antenna tv every chance I can. Hopefully it’ll be released on DVD 📀 soon
Season 3 had the best cast. I wish Ann Jillian would've rode out the syndicated run.
RIP Barrie. 😢
I remember the show, the faces, and a few character names, but for the life of me cannot remember any plots
Having grown up during this era, I thought I knew all of the shows. I have never seen reruns of anything I didn't have some memory of...until this. I have zero memory of this show. Weird.
In your defense, the plots are all pretty thin.
I can’t even make out like 75% of the theme song 😂😂
@@stevekay1925 it doesn’t flow well like The Nanny intro.too many words.
I found myself randomly humming this song today. I remember watching this at like 3 or 4yrs old.
Never heard or seen this show in my life lol. But crazy to see Sheryl Lee Ralph before Moesha, Crystal Bernard before Wings and Gail Edwards before Vicki from Full House.
I used to watch this Show All the time When i was a Kid. This is Where i knew All these Actresses From When i would Watch Wings,Moesha,Full House & Blossom It was a syndication it came on Saturday & Sunday Afternoons. Its on Now on DirecTV Logo Channel 272
And Susan before Falcon Crest
Gail Edwards was always my favorite on the show!!
Me too..so damn cute!
Mine too!!
I was looking for this show for so much years I used to watch it back in like 1987 to 1988 1989 I’m just 39 of age love the 80s n 90s Mann 👈🏽
I never knew that the title was changed to "Making a Living" during the second season (and in the lyric of the theme song!)...I have a few episodes from that season on tape with the regular "It's a Living" title and theme song!
retrorhythms that making a living version sounds horrible when they shoehorn in all those words lol
After the show came back years later for Season 3, they changed the name back for reruns in syndication, so what you have on tape were the reruns!
I remember when they changed the name, but I always still called it "It's a Living".
ABC wanted to call it “Living It Up” when it returned for a revamped second season. But there were legal issues with that name, so they went to Making a Living instead. The syndicated revival a few years later used the better, original title. And when the whole package went into reruns, the second season episodes were retitled It’s a Living for consistency.
I don't remember the original network broadcast of this show. But I remember this syndication run aired on Sunday afternoons here in Atlanta just before Mama's Family.
Two of my favorites from the '80s!
You made sure that you never did miss one episode. Some of the best tv shows ever
And only Miss Sheryl Lee Ralph has survived in show business! SNAP!!!
And she just most recently won a Emmy, you go girl!!♥️😘
Crystal Bernard did wings after this so she was still active for several years after this show ended.
@zt1053 "Has survived", meaning has remained in television shows beyond 1997.
Wendy Shal is killing it on American Dad. 😊
@@Tech_Traveler Wendy was barely on "It's a Living", but you're quite right. I've never really watched "American Dad", but thank you so much because I never knew she has had a 20 year stint with that show. Brava!!
Gail Edwards is so pretty
Yes but Barrie Longfellow's no slouch, and imo Susan Sullivan, Crystal Bernard and Sheryl Lee Ralph were the finest out of all the women good lord! I never knew Susan Sullivan was ever that damn sexy.
I liked her better with curly hair...in fact, she said it became a trademark for her in auditions. When she straightened her hair in the second season it didn't look right.
@@TheMultialdo2009 Yes, absolutely. I agree about the curly hair too. What a babe. An early crush of mine.
I was in elementary school when this was on the air, so I couldn't relate to the premise, but like most 70s and 80s sitcoms a kid could still enjoy the fun performances and lighthearted mood.
I remember watching this show every once in a while and thinking that the cast kept changing.
I forgot about this show . Great memories
this song had an impact on my musical ear as a child. i thought it was such an extravagant opening for a tv show. i watched the show for the sheryl lee ralph and the theme song
I used to watch this when I was in elementary school! Loved it!
Susan Sullivan ohhh. Beauty
Weird, I just saw this on Antenna TV and wondered what it was. I looked at the guide and found the name...and I have no memory of this at all. I thought I knew all of the shows from back in the 1980s, even shows we didn't watch I was at least familiar with due to ads, commercials, etc. I do not understand how this show completely went under the radar...no memory of it at all.
As a young boy in L.A. when then show came out when I would see that building complex in DTLA I always thought that the ladies from this show were actually working in them, lol. Now, when I see the complex (dwarfed by the other skyscrapers now in DTLA) this theme song flies right back to my head. What good memories! :)
The lyrics and rhymes in the song are perfect!
The song sounds like a mix between a British Henry Mancini, Camarata and Joe Raposo musical and the first time I heard this song when it aired on Antenna TV I thought it sounded kinda like a sped up version of that You'll be swell song from Gypsy because that line 🎵It's just like showbiz🎵 sounded like they're saying 🎵Everything's coming up roses.🎵
RIP Earl Boen
0:00 - (season 1, 1980-1981)
1:00 - (renaming for season 2, "MAKING A LIVING!" 1981-1982)
1:58, 2:57 - (seasons 3,4,5 and 6, 1985-1989. New episodes later aired in first-run syndication)
I can't remember 💩, but I remember TV themes. I have hummed pieces of this theme for years having no idea what show it came from because I rarely watched this one.
Minutes ago I was thinking how the current reboots, revivals, and rescue of canceled shows on streaming services was done in the 80s. What's Happening, WKRP in Cincinnati came back, The Munsters came back (albeit with a new cast), and shows like Charles in Charge and some show about women waitresses got new seasons in syndication.
But what was that show?
Suddenly I thought of this theme song.
I wanted to look it up, but I didn't know the name of the show and only remembered fragments of thr lyrics, then I remembered Crystal Bernard! I looked her up on iMDB, found the show's name, and found this video!
It's a decades long mystery solved!
I loved this tune. It had such a Broadway feel to it.
Think of the song and show each and every time I go by down town la CA USA
Love Ann Jillian! Never missed an episode, but when Jillian left, i sort of stopped watching a lot.
Trust me Sheryl Lee Ralph more then pick up the slack :)
The days watching this in Detroit on channel 20 on Saturday afternoons. Miss it.
Omg!! My favorite! And I'm a waitress to this day..or I guess server. Love to the whole cast !!!
I was up super early this morning and this show was on the Logo channel. I didn’t recognize it until the next episode and this theme song came on. Memories from my childhood then came flooding back. Th was so much better back then.
I used to watch this as a kid in 80s waiting for wrestling to come on,it would always air on Saturday afternoons
I cam searching after Sheryl Lee Ralph won her emmy. I remembered this fondly from when I was a kid
It's a Living from the late Dick Clair & the late Jenna McMahon-Creators of The Facts of Life & Mama's Family and Stu Silver Creator of Webster and from Paul Junger Witt & Thomas-Producers of SOAP, Benson, The Golden Girls, Empty Nest, Blossom and Herman's Head
Starring TV Veteran and New Yorker Susan Sullivan of Falcon Crest, Dharma & Greg and Castle Fame, TV Veteran and Motivational Speaker Ann Jillian, Wendy Schaal of the film Innerspace and TV's American Dad, Louise Lasser of TV's Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Singer/Actress and Texan Crystal Bernard of Happy Days & Wings Fame, TV & Broadway Star Sheryl Lee Ralph of TV's Moesha Fame, Veteran Film Star the late Bert Remsen, Earl Boen of TV's California Dreams and The Terminator Trilogy, Veteran Film Star the late Richard Stahl of the film 9 to 5 and 4 stars who became the only cast members to appear in all 6 seasons of the show-Veteran TV & Film Star Barrie Youngfellow who is now the current president of the California corporation To Be Announced, Inc., TV Veteran Gail Edwards of TV's Blossom & Full House Fame, Tony Award Winning Actor Paul Kreppel and Veteran Stage & TV Actress the late Marian Mercer of The Sandy Duncan Show
I never saw it on abc, but I did watch'em in reruns, but also, I use to watch the syndicated version with NEW episodes on Saturday Evenings on WGN SuperStation Chicago and on Sunday Nights on KLFY-TV 10 Lafayette, LA
wow
It's A Living reruns on Antenna TV now!
Loved this show
R.I.P Barrie Youngfellow
You can really see the power dynamics shift as the show goes on, who gets more time and who gets less. Like that Marian Mercer made sure she was second placement most of the time
Actually I think second placement is last - and you get your character name as well. No idea why this format seems to be so common ; so the last season was Barrie (RIP), Marian, Gail, Paul in order of seniority.
i miss barrie youngfellow dearly
OMG! That's Gail Edwards from Blossom and Full House. I had no idea who she would become back when I used to watch this in the 80's. So I don't even remember her being in this.
I absolutely adore the decor of the restaurant, the wall to wall mauve/pink carpet everywhere is just so 80s. I also love the dresses from season 1, the more spaghetti strap one. It fit well with the early 80s soft glam sort of look that the girls had
One good show to watch in the 80s and now!
My favorite show of all time
i wonder if antenna tv will pick up re-runs of it's a living in 2019
rich cerasale it's on logo network now
They confirmed they are
I read 2020!! I’m so excited!!
Antenna TV is currently airing episodes, weeknights @ 8pm & Sunday nights @ 10pm EST
I can confirm antenna is airing Its a living. I been watching omg been missing this series. Needs a dvd release now.
I watched this show all the time as a kid....seeing the cast again after all these years. I can see why I liked it. The cast was a total smoke show.
I am only 42 but this show reminds of the late 80s early 1990s I used to watch this at my grandmas lol idk why everyone saw the show with grandma.
I used to love this show
I love this TV show
Loved this show and had a huge crush on Anne Jillian ❤️💞💕💓
Loved this show!
I just loved this theme song. The show was wonderful!
St boneventure hotel where this show was made is still in Los Angeles California and I stayed here back in 2008.
Jan was my favorite character; man, I used to have this stupid 😍 on her :)
Its a living was the best tv show of all time
Rupauls drag race season 16 episode 3 sent me here.
This brings back so many great memories as a child.
same little poses when they flip around and look... "hair shot"... LOL I love the sound of the theme, showy, and it sounds like it could be all these girls singing... even if it's not them.
I loved this show
This comes on Antenna TV right after Murphy Brown.
I used to watch this show when it was a current show
I remember this show.
This was a great show. It never seems to show up in reruns anymore, or at least I haven’t seen it.
If you get the channel called Antenna TV they just put it on their weekend rotation. Think it’s Saturday and Sunday at 5:00pm.
@@timothyhh And if you have it's sister channel,rewind tv,which exclusively has eighties and nineties sitcoms, you can watch on the very early morning hours at 5:00a.m..
The one line omitted near the end of the theme song: "We've no misgivings."
Yeah, it’s hard to find that slightly longer original first season theme. They edited it down for syndication, which is what you see here, so the first season theme omits the consecutive shots of the individual waitresses at the end.
@@jaredjlindenThe full version can be found on the album "Television's Greatest Hits, Vol. 6: Remote Control"!
I woke up singing this theme song for some reason. I had forgotten how many changes had occurred during the run of this show and I truly didn’t remember the name change. Another revelation.... I wondered why Melissa Fumero seemed familiar to me. She strongly favors Gail Edwards imho
Lol
Its a tv theme song few ppl know i will find myself singing it in the car
Namcy had the most beautiful gowns and outfits. Some were dogs, but those were few and far between
Fantastic show
I use to watch this on Sunday mornings
This may be a stupid question but did the actresses who played the waitresses sing the theme song? When I hear the versions, I hear voices that sound like Ann Jillian and Sheryl Lee Ralph, both of whom fans know are musical performers. And some of the other actresses like Susan Sullivan, Gail Edwards and Crystal Bernard have all done their share of musical performances (either on stage or other TV projects). When I try to look up the theme song performer, they just list the song's writer Leslie Briccusse (who wrote the songs for Doctor Doolittle and Willy Wonka).
In a way it sounds like the same women who sang the One day at a time song
I like how the hair styles get larger as the end of the 70's becomes the center of the 80's. I've been to the restaurant at the top of the Westin Bonaventure, it is pretty good!
The show's second season, with Louise Lasser as the lead, was very good - all in all, I enjoyed the entire series!
I love the theme song 🎵
One of not many that is a proper multi part song.