It's a Living 1980
“Get 'em with laughs!”
- Status
- Ended
- First Aired
- October 30, 1980
- Last Aired
- April 8, 1989
- Format
- 6 seasons · 120 eps
- Total Runtime
- ~60 hours (30 min/ep)
- Created By
- Dick Clair, Jenna McMahon, Stu Silver
- Networks
- ABC, Syndication
- Where to Stream
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Streaming data from JustWatch
★ TMDB users: 6.0/10 from 13 votes Comedy 6 seasons · 120 eps Ended
Where to watch:
Pluto TVAmazon Prime Video Free with AdsTubi TVFawesomeAmazon Prime VideoAmazon Prime Video with AdsAmazon VideoApple TV StoreFandango At Home
Get new episode dates in your calendar
Sync automatically with Apple, Outlook, or Google Calendar.
Advertisement
Quick answer
What is It's a Living?
"It's a Living" is an American sitcom set in a restaurant. The show premiered on ABC in 1980 and initially aired until 1982.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1980
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 120
- Runtime
- 30 minutes
- First aired
- Oct 30, 1980
- Last aired
- Apr 8, 1989
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- US
- Networks
- ABC, Syndication
- Genres
- Comedy
- Updated
Series guide
At a glance
- Rating
- ★ TMDB users: 6.0/10 from 13 votes
- Format
- 6 seasons · 120 episodes
- Episode runtime
- ~30 minutes
- Status
- Ended
- Networks
- ABC, Syndication
Availability by region
Where to watch in United States
Stream
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video with AdsWith ads
Tubi TVBuy
Apple TV StoreStream
Amazon Prime VideoAmazon Prime Video with AdsWith ads
Amazon Prime Video Free with AdsStream
Amazon Prime VideoAmazon Prime Video with AdsFree
FawesomeWith ads
Pluto TVAmazon Prime Video Free with AdsTubi TVBuy
Amazon VideoApple TV Store
Fandango At HomeStreaming availability data provided by JustWatch via TMDB. Availability changes by country and date; verify on the provider before subscribing or purchasing.
Planning tool
How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 120 episodes and an average 30-minute runtime.
Trailer
No official trailer is available for this title yet.
Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
"It's a Living" is an American sitcom set in a restaurant. The show premiered on ABC in 1980 and initially aired until 1982. It was created by Stu Silver, Dick Clair, and Jenna McMahon. The series was produced by Witt/Thomas Productions, later in association with Golden West Television and Lorimar-Telepictures. After its initial run, new episodes of the series aired in first-run syndication from 1985 to 1989. The show is set in a restaurant at the top of the Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles.
Advertisement
Should you watch it?
“A lighthearted sitcom about waitstaff atop Los Angeles' Bonaventure Hotel.”
Reasons to watch
- Comedy set in a high‑rise restaurant
- Shows 1980s Los Angeles hotel backdrop
- Created by veteran sitcom writers
Keep in mind
- Series had a split broadcast run
- Humor may feel dated to modern viewers
Watch it if you enjoy a breezy 1980s workplace comedy set in a hotel restaurant.
The series offers family‑friendly humor suitable for general audiences.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about It's a Living — answers are spoiler-safe.
Your verdict
Is It's a Living worth watching?
Cast
Barrie Youngfellow
Jan Hoffmeyer Gray
Marian Mercer
Nancy Beebe Miller
Gail Edwards
Dot Higgins
Paul Kreppel
Sonny Mann
Crystal Bernard
Amy Tompkins
Richard Stahl
Howard Miller
Sheryl Lee Ralph
Ginger St. James
Ann Jillian
Cassie Cranston
Louise Lasser
Maggie McBurney
Earl Boen
Dennis Hubner
Susan Sullivan
Lois Adams
Wendy Schaal
Vicki Allen
Comprehensive Directory
Episode guide
🛡️ SPOILER SHIELD
Spoiler-Safe Browsing Progress
Future titles & recaps blurred. Tap "Reveal" on any item to peek.
Season 1 · 13 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →- E1 Pilot Mytharc Oct 30, 1980
- E2 The Intruder Core Nov 6, 1980
- E3 Roomies Core Nov 13, 1980
- E4 Fallen Idol Core Nov 27, 1980
- E5 The Lois Affair Core Dec 11, 1980
- E6 Super-Mom Core Dec 18, 1980
- E7 Cassie's Punctured Romance Core Jan 1, 1981
- E8 Up On the Roof Core Jan 8, 1981
- E9 Making the Grade Core Jan 15, 1981
- E10 Our Man Barry Core Jan 22, 1981
- E11 R-E-S-P-E-C-T Core Jan 29, 1981
- E12 Kids Mytharc Jul 21, 1981
- E13 You're Not Old, You're Fired Mytharc Aug 4, 1981
Season 2 · 14 episodes
Open the complete Season 2 guide & lore primer →- E1 Boys of Summer Mytharc Oct 24, 1981
- E2 All My Son Core Oct 31, 1981
- E3 Of Mace and Men Core Nov 7, 1981
- E4 The Wedding Core Nov 14, 1981
- E5 Second Time Around, Almost Core Nov 28, 1981
- E6 Off the Top Core Dec 5, 1981
- E7 Mann is Mann Core Dec 12, 1981
- E8 Jealousy or Mildred Fierce Core Jan 2, 1982
- E9 Young Love Core Jan 9, 1982
- E10 The Garden of Countess Natasha Core Feb 12, 1982
- E11 Falling in Love Again Core Feb 19, 1982
- E12 Horsing Around Core Feb 26, 1982
- E13 Strange Bedfellows Mytharc Jun 4, 1982
- E14 A Farewell to Arm Mytharc Jun 11, 1982
Season 3 · 22 episodes
Open the complete Season 3 guide & lore primer →- E1 Harassed Mytharc Sep 28, 1985
- E2 Cassie's Cowboy Core Oct 5, 1985
- E3 Amy Big Girl Now Core Oct 12, 1985
- E4 Desperate Hours Core Oct 19, 1985
- E5 I Write the Songs Core Oct 26, 1985
- E6 Jan's Engagment Core Nov 2, 1985
- E7 From Russia with Love Core Nov 9, 1985
- E8 The Prom Show Core Nov 16, 1985
- E9 The Wedding Show Core Nov 23, 1985
- E10 Hail to the Chef Core Dec 21, 1985
- E11 Eleven Angry Men and Dot Core Dec 28, 1985
- E12 Gender Gap Core Jan 11, 1986
- E13 Jealous Wife Core Jan 18, 1986
- E14 The Doctor Danny Show Core Feb 1, 1986
- E15 Jewel Heist Core Feb 15, 1986
- E16 The Jerks Core Feb 22, 1986
- E17 Oddest Couple Core Mar 1, 1986
- E18 Dot's Puppy Mytharc Apr 12, 1986
- E19 Dinner with Deedee Core May 3, 1986
- E20 Jump Core May 10, 1986
- E21 America's Sweetheart Mytharc May 17, 1986
- E22 Mann Act Mytharc May 24, 1986
Season 4 · 25 episodes
Open the complete Season 4 guide & lore primer →- E1 The Roof Show Mytharc Sep 27, 1986
- E2 The Bar Core Oct 4, 1986
- E3 The Reunion Show Core Oct 11, 1986
- E4 Surprise Core Oct 18, 1986
- E5 Nancy's Sister Core Oct 25, 1986
- E6 Night at the Iguana Core Nov 1, 1986
- E7 Family Feud Core Nov 8, 1986
- E8 The Dot and Howard Show Core Nov 15, 1986
- E9 Farewell, My Sonny Core Nov 22, 1986
- E10 Critic's Choice Core Dec 6, 1986
- E11 Richie's Sculpture Core Dec 20, 1986
- E12 Sonny's Oil (a.k.a.) The Oil Show Core Jan 3, 1987
- E13 Nancy's Birthday Party Core Jan 10, 1987
- E14 The Evictables Core Jan 17, 1987
- E15 Ginger's Baby Core Jan 24, 1987
- E16 Bachelor Party Core Jan 31, 1987
- E17 Amy's Rusty Core Feb 7, 1987
- E18 Dot's Priest Core Feb 14, 1987
- E19 The Dickie Doodle Show Core Feb 21, 1987
- E20 The Howie Show Core Feb 28, 1987
- E21 The Dot Quits Show Core Mar 7, 1987
- E22 The Two Guys Show Core May 2, 1987
- E23 A Romantic Comedy Core May 9, 1987
- E24 Manhandling Mytharc May 16, 1987
- E25 Nancy's Shrink Mytharc May 23, 1987
Season 5 · 26 episodes
Open the complete Season 5 guide & lore primer →- E1 Till Death Do Us Part Mytharc Sep 26, 1987
- E2 Her Back to the Future Core Oct 3, 1987
- E3 No, My Darling Daughter Core Oct 10, 1987
- E4 Sweet Charity Core Oct 17, 1987
- E5 Killing of Sister Dot Core Oct 24, 1987
- E6 The Date Show Core Oct 31, 1987
- E7 Search and Strike Core Nov 7, 1987
- E8 The Vegas Show (1) Core Nov 14, 1987
- E9 The Vegas Show (2) Core Nov 21, 1987
- E10 The Sonny's Mother Show Core Nov 28, 1987
- E11 Strictly Personal Core Dec 12, 1987
- E12 A Pen Pal for Your Thoughts Core Dec 19, 1987
- E13 Twelve Angry Women Core Dec 26, 1987
- E14 Skin Deep Core Jan 2, 1988
- E15 Everyone's a Critic Core Jan 16, 1988
- E16 Take Back Your Mink Core Jan 23, 1988
- E17 The One About the Tattooed Lady Core Jan 30, 1988
- E18 Daddy's Little Girl Core Feb 6, 1988
- E19 Ginger's Grandmother Show Core Feb 13, 1988
- E20 Dot's Hope Core Feb 20, 1988
- E21 The Amy and Louie Show Core Feb 27, 1988
- E22 Ginger and the Senator Core Apr 23, 1988
- E23 Healings, Nothing More Than Healings Core Apr 30, 1988
- E24 The No Guys Show Core May 7, 1988
- E25 The Waiting Game Mytharc May 14, 1988
- E26 Tune In, Tune Out Mytharc May 28, 1988
Season 6 · 20 episodes
Open the complete Season 6 guide & lore primer →- E1 Pistol Packin' Mama Mytharc Oct 15, 1988
- E2 The Nancy and Roscoe Show Core Oct 22, 1988
- E3 The Jan's Pregnant Show Core Oct 29, 1988
- E4 Never Trust Anyone Under 40 Core Nov 5, 1988
- E5 The New Guy Show Core Nov 12, 1988
- E6 Rear Window Core Nov 19, 1988
- E7 You Do Voodoo Core Nov 26, 1988
- E8 The Amy and Bobby Show Core Dec 3, 1988
- E9 Dot Casts Off Core Dec 10, 1988
- E10 A Very Scary It's a Living Core Jan 7, 1989
- E11 The Ginger's Mother Show Core Jan 14, 1989
- E12 Mike Fright Core Jan 21, 1989
- E13 He Never Sang for His Father Core Jan 28, 1989
- E14 Just Say Yes Core Feb 11, 1989
- E15 Wedding, Wedding Core Feb 18, 1989
- E16 The Dark at the Top of the Top Core Feb 25, 1989
- E17 My Little Red Book Core Mar 4, 1989
- E18 Matchmaker, Matchmaker Core Mar 11, 1989
- E19 A Very Special It's a Living Mytharc Mar 18, 1989
- E20 The Sonny and Dot Show Mytharc Apr 8, 1989
Verified insights
Frequently asked questions
When did the series originally air?
It premiered on ABC on October 30, 1980 and ran until June 11, 1982.
Was there a later run of new episodes?
Yes, new episodes aired in first‑run syndication from September 28, 1985 to April 8, 1989.
Where is the show set?
The sitcom takes place in a restaurant on the top floor of the Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles.
Who created It's a Living?
The series was created by Stu Silver, Dick Clair and Jenna McMahon.
Which production companies were involved?
It was produced by Witt/Thomas Productions and later in association with Golden West Television and Lorimar‑Telepictures.
Advertisement
■ Ended / Final Season Complete Renewal tracker
Explore It's a Living
Where to watch Episode ratings heatmap How long to watch Facts & FAQ Similar shows Take the quiz More from ABCMore from Syndication
What viewers say
No comments yet. Be the first to share your take on It's a Living.