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SeriesComedy

Working Stiffs (1979)

1979-09-15 · 30m · EN
53%
User score
3 votes

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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Top billed cast

Full cast & crew →
Jim BelushiJim BelushiMichael KeatonMichael KeatonAllan ArbusAllan ArbusVal BisoglioVal BisoglioLorna PattersonLorna PattersonNikki EvashevskyMichael ConradMichael ConradMarcia LewisMarcia LewisPaul ReubensPaul ReubensDonald MayDonald May

Movie DNA

Genre affinityComedyDialogue densityComedyPacingShortDirector preference341654 · 73562Actor preference73563 · 14664 · 202259Country preferenceUs

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Frequently asked questions about Working Stiffs

What is Working Stiffs about?

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.

How long is Working Stiffs?

Working Stiffs has a runtime of 30 minutes.