It was essentially meant to be ABC's answer to CBS' Alice, which, in turn, was adapted from the movie, "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore". However, It's a Living had trouble finding an audience, despite the fact that it came from two of the producers behind Soap and its spin-off, Benson. Getting a late start due to a strike at the beginning of the 1st season didn't help, and neither did changing its title to Making a Living for the 2nd season.
The series was about a staff of waitresses, but unlike Alice, this was set in a nightclub, not a desert diner. Susan Sullivan (ex-Another World) was not retained after the 1st season, and moved to CBS' Falcon Crest. Gail Edwards might be better known for a later gig on Full House. Ann Jillian, during the time Living was off, gave it a try with NBC's Jennifer Slept Here, but that flopped, and after she went public with her battle with breast cancer, Jillian may have spurred interest in Living, such that the series was revived in syndication. However, she left after the 1st syndicated season (season 3), replaced by Sheryl Lee Ralph. By that point, Crystal Bernard (ex-Happy Days) had joined the cast.
This video montage covers the opens to both the ABC & syndicated runs.
Rating: B.
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