Fired Up (TV series)

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Fired Up
GenreSitcom
Created by
Starring
ComposerMark Mothersbaugh[1]
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes28 (5 unaired)
Production
Executive producers
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production companies
DistributorCBS Television Distribution
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseApril 10, 1997 (1997-04-10) –
February 9, 1998 (1998-02-09)

Fired Up is an American sitcom television series created by Arleen Sorkin and Paul Slansky, that aired on NBC from April 10, 1997 to February 9, 1998, for two seasons and 28 episodes. The series, the first from Grammnet Productions, starred Sharon Lawrence as a self-centered promotions executive and Leah Remini as her mouthy assistant. When the pair got fired from their jobs, they teamed up to create a business as equal partners. The tagline of the series was "First she got fired, then she got fired up."

Plot[]

Gwendolyn Leonard epitomized the term "self-involved." After being fired from her corporate job, she was reduced to moving in with her former assistant, spunky Terry Reynolds, and starting up a new promotions business as her partner. Terry and her brother Danny shared a loft apartment atop a clock tower in New York City, and Danny worked as bartender at Clockworks, the restaurant below, while he pursued his dream of becoming a writer. Clockworks was owned by Guy Mann, an average Joe who adamantly pursued Gwen, though she kept him at arm's length (his response to each of her blow-offs was "Oh, yeah!").

Also regularly seen was Mrs. Francis, a crotchety unemployment agent whom Gwen ultimately inspired to quit her job and open an eggroll shop; Ashley Mann, Guy's son who worked as a female impersonator; Scott Bickley, Danny's lecherous agent who moonlighted as a suit salesman; and Steve Summer, a former classmate of Gwen's who'd carried a torch for her for decades. Infrequently seen were Gwen's snobbish mother Rita (Dixie Carter) and Terry and Danny's loud-mouthed mother Tina (Randee Heller).

Cast[]

Episodes[]

Season 1 (1997)[]

No.
overall 		No. in
season 		Title Directed by Written by Original air date
11"Pilot"James BurrowsStory by : Arleen Sorkin & Paul Slansky
Teleplay by : Arleen Sorkin & Paul Slansky & Victor Fresco		April 10, 1997 (1997-04-10)
22"The Next Day"James BurrowsVictor FrescoApril 17, 1997 (1997-04-17)
33"Who's the Boss"Max TashArleen Sorkin & Paul SlanskyApril 24, 1997 (1997-04-24)
44"They Sell Horses, Don't They?"Rod DanielKit BossMay 1, 1997 (1997-05-01)
55"A Concurrent Affair"James BurrowsLinda Teverbaugh & Mike TeverbaughMay 8, 1997 (1997-05-08)
66"The Rules"David LeeAron Abrams & Gregory ThompsonMay 15, 1997 (1997-05-15)
77"Are We Not Friends?"Will MackenzieThom Bray & Michael A. RossMay 15, 1997 (1997-05-15)
88"Under Pressure"James BurrowsDanny ZukerJune 23, 1997 (1997-06-23)

Season 2 (1997–98)[]

No.
overall 		No. in
season 		Title Directed by Written by Original air date
91"The Mother of All Gwens"Lee Shallat-ChemelVictor FrescoSeptember 22, 1997 (1997-09-22)
102"Truth and Consequences"Lee Shallat-ChemelArleen Sorkin & Paul SlanskySeptember 29, 1997 (1997-09-29)
113"You Don't Know Jack"Jeff MelmanKit BossOctober 6, 1997 (1997-10-06)
124"Swallow Your Bliss"Lee Shallat-ChemelGregory Thompson & Aron AbramsOctober 13, 1997 (1997-10-13)
135"Total Recall"Gordon HuntLinda Teverbaugh & Mike TeverbaughOctober 20, 1997 (1997-10-20)
146"Beat the Clock"Pamela FrymanGregory Thompson & Aron AbramsOctober 27, 1997 (1997-10-27)
157"The Baby-Sitter's Club"Pamela FrymanBill BarolNovember 10, 1997 (1997-11-10)
168"In Your Dreams"Will MackenzieDon RhymerNovember 17, 1997 (1997-11-17)
179"Honey, I Shrunk the Turkey"Ken LevineKit BossNovember 24, 1997 (1997-11-24)
1810"Ten Grand a Dance"Will MackenzieGregory Thompson & Aron AbramsDecember 1, 1997 (1997-12-01)
1911"Where There's Smoke"Will MackenzieMichael A. Ross & Thom BrayDecember 22, 1997 (1997-12-22)
2012"You Go, Boss!"Lee Shallat-ChemelKit BossJanuary 12, 1998 (1998-01-12)
2113"Beauty and the Priests"Leonard R. Garner Jr.Bill BarolJanuary 19, 1998 (1998-01-19)
2214"Mission: and A-Hopin'"Lee Shallat-ChemelLinda Teverbaugh & Mike TeverbaughJanuary 26, 1998 (1998-01-26)
2315"Fire and Nice"Lee Shallat-ChemelDwight D. SmithFebruary 9, 1998 (1998-02-09)
2416"The Pajama Game"Lee Shallat-ChemelLu Abbott Stacey & Berman WoodwardUnaired
2517"What I Really Want to Do Is Direct"Randy SuhrPaul Slansky & Arleen SorkinUnaired
2618"Lustline"Lee Shallat ChemelStory by : Bill Barol
Teleplay by : Thom Bray & Michael A. Ross		Unaired
2719"Domestic Bliss"Lee Shallat ChemelCraig HoffmanUnaired
2820"With Sex, You Get Eggroll"Max TashThom Bray & Michael A. RossUnaired

History[]

Fired Up was a mid-season replacement on NBC. It premiered on April 10, 1997, and ended the first season on June 23 after 8 episodes. The second season premiered on September 22, 1997, and the last episode aired on February 9, 1998. It was a contemporary of shows like Caroline in the City and Suddenly Susan, and at one point, all three shows were part of a Monday-night promotion: "The Ladies of Monday Night."[2]

Reception[]

Caryn James of The New York Times said the series had a "topical premise and an edgy lead character, just what most sitcoms lack" but that after a promising start, its first season episodes lost the "sharp writing this series needs."[1]

Fired Up premiered in the "cushy Thursday night slot after Seinfeld"[1] through May 15, 1997, on a night that NBC promoted as Must See TV. It started out strong in the ratings; the premiere garnered an 18.8 rating and 29 share,[3] but after NBC changed its timeslot, the show lost its audience and NBC canceled it.

Syndication[]

Fired Up had a brief syndication run on the USA Network.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e Review of Fired Up from an April 10, 1997 article in The New York Times
  2. ^ Tucker, Ken (1997-10-19). "Women's Glib". ew.com. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
  3. ^ Fired tops last of the crop from Variety

External links[]

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