"You could tell that they were afraid the show was too sexy..." - Jane Espensen

Susan and Sharon start their look back at the under-the-radar 1980’s comedy “It’s A Living” with modern-day TV writer/producers Jane Espenson and Drew Z. Greenberg. Jane Espenson has written for shows such as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, “Once Upon A Time”, “Gilmore Girls”, “Jessica Jones”, “Battlestar Galactica” and “Game of Thrones”. Drew Greenberg’s credits include “Dexter”, “Warehouse 13”, “Firefly”, “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” and “Arrow”.

Jane and Drew grew up as 70’s and 80’s “TV Babies” and each found their way to their dream career along twisting paths back when getting into the business was just as difficult – but even more mysterious. When the COVID-19 quarantine began, Jane and Drew came up with a unique way of keeping themselves entertained -- and sane: they embarked on a rewatch of “It’s A Living”. After almost 40 years, what did they remember? What did they forget? What surprised them? Does it hold up? And what happened to Susan Sullivan and Ann Jillian??

THE CONVERSATION

• TO BOLDLY GO – How two separate chance meetings with Star Trek writer/producer René Echevarria paved the way for both Jane and Drew.
• Jane remembers Drew’s first day at “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” – and so does Drew!
• Who is “It’s A Living” creator Jenna McMahon – and why is she using a pseudonym??
• What are the hidden similarities between “Facts Of Life”, “Desperate Housewives”, “Golden Girls”, “Sex And The City”… and “It’s A Living”?
• In Season One – are six characters too many? Can you have too many women?
• THE “CHARACTER TYPES” OF “IT’S A LIVING”: the Innocent, the Maneater, the Grounded Realist and the Smart Aleck – but who is who?
• What’s up with those ever-changing waitress outfits?
• How Ann Jillian was the “secret comedy weapon” of the show – and what happened when she got de-sexy-ied in Season Two?
• Could you have a character like Sonny today? And is he really playing that piano?
• What it means to re-watch a show with “nostalgia goggles”.
• Jane reveals her “Secret Trick” to writing Iconic Women!
• When Anne met Jane! Susan's sister and 8TL superfan, Anne Lambert, joins in to say hello and keep us talking during the break.

So join Susan and Sharon – and Jane and Drew – as they talk “Small Wonder”, syndication, “success pie”, swim-top switches -- and Piggy Barbecue!!

NOTE: This episode was recorded before the WGA and SAGAFTRA strike.

AUDIOGRAPHY
Read “Girl in the Show: Three Generations of Comedy, Culture and Feminism” by Anna Fields at Bookshop.
Check out Molly Ringwald’s New Yorker essay “What About ‘The Breakfast Club? Revisiting the Movies of My Youth in The Age of #MeToo”
Follow Drew Greenberg on Twitter @DrewZachary
Follow Jane Espenson on Twitter @JaneEspenson
Watch “It’s A Living” on Tubi or YouTube.
Visit the WGA Strike hub.
Visit the SAG AFTRA strike hub.

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