Fired Up (TV series)
| Fired Up | |
|---|---|
| Created by |
Arleen Sorkin Paul Slansky[1] |
| Starring |
Sharon Lawrence Leah Remini Mark Feuerstein Jonathan Banks Francesca P. Roberts |
| Composer(s) | Mark Mothersbaugh[1] |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 28 (5 unaired) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
Kelsey Grammer Rudy Hornish[1] |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
Grammnet Productions Paramount Television |
| Distributor | CBS Television Distribution |
| Release | |
| Original network | NBC |
| Original release | April 10, 1997 – February 9, 1998 |
Fired Up is an American sitcom that aired on NBC 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
- Gwen Leonard – Sharon Lawrence
- Terry Reynolds – Leah Remini
- Danny Reynolds – Mark Feuerstein
- Guy Mann – Jonathan Banks
- Mrs. Francis – Francesca P. Roberts
- Ashley Mann – Mark Davis
- Steve Summer – Thomas F. Wilson
- Scott Bickley – Timothy Omundson
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, 1996, 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 2 3 4 5 Review of Fired Up from an April 10, 1997 article in The New York Times
- ↑ Tucker, Ken (1997-10-19). "Women's Glib". ew.com. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
- ↑ Fired tops last of the crop from Variety
External links
- Fired Up at epguides.com
- Fired Up from JumptheShark.com
- Fired Up at the Internet Movie Database
- Fired Up at TV.com