We Got It Made
We Got it Made season-two opening title
GenreSituation comedy
Created by
  • Gordon Farr
  • Lynne Farr Brao
Written by
  • Michael S. Baser
  • Lynne Farr Brao
  • Bob Brunner
  • David Chambers
  • Chet Dowling
  • Gordon Farr
  • Jeffrey Ferro
  • Ken Hecht
  • Arnold Kane
  • Sandy Krinski
  • Susan H. Lee
  • Bowie Lennon
  • C.M. Leon
  • Laura Levine
  • Chick Mitchell
  • Geoffrey Neigher
  • Kim Weiskopf
  • Margaret Weisman
  • Fredric Weiss
Directed by
Starring
Opening theme"We Got It Made"
ComposerTom Wells
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes46
Production
Executive producerFred Silverman
Producers
  • Lynne Farr Brao
  • Gordon Farr
  • Alan Rafkin
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network
ReleaseSeptember 8, 1983 (1983-09-08) 
March 30, 1988 (1988-03-30)

We Got It Made is an American sitcom television series that aired on NBC from September 8, 1983, to March 10, 1984, and in first-run syndication from September 11, 1987, to March 30, 1988. It starred Teri Copley as a woman who works as a maid for two bachelors in New York City, played by Tom Villard and Matt McCoy, who was replaced by John Hillner for the syndicated version. The series was created by Gordon Farr and Lynne Farr Brao (credited as simply Lynne Farr during the 1987–88 season). The executive producer was Fred Silverman.

Synopsis

1983 NBC version

The show focuses on Mickey Mackenzie (Teri Copley), a girl in her early 20s who applies for a housekeeping job in Manhattan. Her employers are two bachelors who share the two-bedroom apartment—conservative attorney David Tucker (Matt McCoy) and goofy, idealistic salesman Jay Bostwick (Tom Villard). Mickey is the first — and only — applicant for the job; in fact, both David and Jay are so taken by her beauty, they immediately hire her.

Both David and Jay had girlfriends—David's was attorney Claudia Jones (Stepfanie Kramer, who left after episode #19 and found far greater fame on the NBC crime drama Hunter - Copley and Villard would also later appear as guest stars), while Jay dated kindergarten teacher Beth Sorensen (Bonnie Urseth). Both Claudia and Beth were skeptical about their boyfriends having such an attractive maid living with them, but they eventually grew to accept Mickey as a friend.

When it first premiered, We Got It Made looked to be successful, winning its time slot early in the run.[1] Before long, though, negative reviews from both critics and the general viewing public eroded its viewership. NBC moved the series from its original Thursday night berth to Saturdays in January 1984. The change in its night and time did little in keeping the series on the air; in March 1984, We Got It Made was cancelled.

1987 syndicated version

After being cancelled in 1984, We Got It Made was revived three years later, for first-run syndication, for the 1987–1988 season as part of NBC's "Prime Time Begins at 7:30" campaign. With this campaign, the network's owned-and-operated stations ran first-run sitcoms in the 7:30–8:00 pm ET/PT (6:30–7:00 pm CT) time slot to counterprogram competing stations' game shows, sitcom reruns, and other offerings. The series was picked up by some non-NBC stations as well, but was not available in all large or medium markets for syndication.

Teri Copley and Tom Villard were the only returning cast members. The characters of Jay and Beth were no longer a couple, Bonnie Urseth had decided not to participate this time. The character of David was now played by John Hillner. Mickey, Jay, and David had new neighbors as well —policeman Max Papavasiolios Sr. (Ron Karabatsos) and his son, Max Jr. (Lance Wilson-White).[2] Mickey seemed to allow greater physical attention — and affection - from the now-single Jay and David, but at the same time, she doted on them as if they were her young sons. She also had a special relationship with teenaged Max, who frequently came to her for advice in attracting and dealing with women, although he would have preferred putting that advice to use on Mickey alone.

As they had with the NBC run, critics lambasted the series, and We Got It Made lasted only one season in syndication.[1] The series' final original episode was released on March 30, 1988, with reruns airing until the week of September 3, 1988, in most markets.

Cast

We Got it Made first-season cast photo featuring Villard, Copley and McCoy.
  • Teri Copley as Mickey Mackenzie
  • Tom Villard as Jay Bostwick
  • Matt McCoy as David Tucker (1983–1984)
  • Bonnie Urseth as Beth Sorensen (1983–1984)
  • Stepfanie Kramer as Claudia Jones (1983–1984)
  • John Hillner as David Tucker (1987–1988)
  • Ron Karabatsos as Max Papavasilios Sr. (1987–1988)
  • Lance Wilson-White as Max Papavasilios, Jr. (1987–1988)

Notable guest stars included Elaine Joyce (as Mickey's mother), Edie McClurg, Julie Brown, Scatman Crothers, Alice Ghostley, Richard Paul, Billie Bird, Joel Brooks, Jack Bannon, Peggy Pope, and Jean Kasem.

NBC ratings

Season Episodes Start Date End Date Nielsen Rank Nielsen Rating[3] Tied With
1983-84 22 September 8, 1983 March 10, 1984 73 12.8 Ripley's Believe It Or Not

Syndicated stations (1987-88)

City Station
Boston WCVB-TV
Chicago WMAQ-TV
Cleveland WKYC-TV
Columbus WCMH-TV[4]
Dallas WFAA-TV
Detroit WJBK-TV
Houston KPRC-TV
Indianapolis WRTV
Johnstown WWCP-TV
Las Vegas KVVU-TV
Los Angeles KNBC[5]
Miami WDZL
New Haven WTNH
New York WNBC-TV[6][7]
Orlando WFTV
Philadelphia WCAU-TV
Pittsburgh WPGH-TV
Rochester WOKR
Sacramento KCRA-TV
Saint Paul KSTP-TV
San Antonio KABB[8]
San Diego KGTV
Tampa WTVT
Toledo WUPW[9]
Washington, D.C. WRC-TV
West Palm Beach WFLX

Episode list

Season 1: 1983–84

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date PC
11"Pilot"Alan RafkinGordon Farr & Lynne Farr BraoSeptember 8, 1983 (1983-09-08)3120
22"Mickey Sleepwalks"UnknownUnknownSeptember 15, 1983 (1983-09-15)3126
33"The Boyfriend"Alan RafkinGordon Farr & Lynne Farr BraoSeptember 22, 1983 (1983-09-22)3127
44"Mickey Goes Topless"Alan RafkinLaura LevineSeptember 29, 1983 (1983-09-29)3129
55"David's Birthday"Alan RafkinJeffrey Ferro & Fredric WeissOctober 13, 1983 (1983-10-13)3124
66"Mickey the Shoplifter"UnknownUnknownOctober 20, 1983 (1983-10-20)3122
77"Mickey's Mom"UnknownUnknownOctober 27, 1983 (1983-10-27)3128
88"Mickey Gets Married: Part 1"UnknownUnknownNovember 3, 1983 (1983-11-03)3129
99"Mickey Gets Married: Part 2"UnknownUnknownNovember 10, 1983 (1983-11-10)3130
1010"The Super"UnknownUnknownNovember 17, 1983 (1983-11-17)3131
1111"Am I Blue?"UnknownUnknownNovember 24, 1983 (1983-11-24)3121
1212"Mickey's T-shirt"UnknownUnknownDecember 1, 1983 (1983-12-01)3132
1313"Sexiest Bachelor"UnknownUnknownDecember 8, 1983 (1983-12-08)3123
1414"Mickey's Misconception"UnknownUnknownJanuary 7, 1984 (1984-01-07)3134
1515"Mickey's Poster"UnknownUnknownJanuary 14, 1984 (1984-01-14)3135
1616"The Other Tucker"UnknownUnknownJanuary 21, 1984 (1984-01-21)3136
1717"The Break-up: Part 1"UnknownUnknownFebruary 4, 1984 (1984-02-04)3137
1818"The Break-up: Part 2"UnknownUnknownFebruary 11, 1984 (1984-02-11)3138
1919"Miss Mom"UnknownUnknownFebruary 18, 1984 (1984-02-18)3141
2020"The Fight"UnknownUnknownFebruary 25, 1984 (1984-02-25)3133
2121"A Paige in David's Life"UnknownUnknownMarch 3, 1984 (1984-03-03)3140
2222"Mickey Makes the Grade"UnknownUnknownMarch 10, 1984 (1984-03-10)3139

Season 2: 1987–88

Ep Title Directed by Written by Original air date PC
231"Instant Family"UnknownUnknownSeptember 11, 1987 (1987-09-11)201
242"The Three Faces of Mickey"UnknownUnknownSeptember 18, 1987 (1987-09-18)203
253"And David Makes Three"UnknownUnknownSeptember 25, 1987 (1987-09-25)207
264"Mickey Meet Mr. Right?"UnknownUnknownOctober 2, 1987 (1987-10-02)202
275"Hello, Dolly"UnknownUnknownOctober 16, 1987 (1987-10-16)204
286"Prisoner of Love"UnknownUnknownOctober 30, 1987 (1987-10-30)210
297"On the Ropes"UnknownUnknownNovember 6, 1987 (1987-11-06)212
308"The Naked Truth"UnknownUnknownNovember 13, 1987 (1987-11-13)215
319"Man Around the House"UnknownUnknownDecember 4, 1987 (1987-12-04)208
3210"Upstairs, Downstairs"
"Christmas Clip Show"
UnknownUnknownDecember 11, 1987 (1987-12-11)224
3311"A Dog's Life"UnknownUnknownDecember 25, 1987 (1987-12-25)218
3412"Save the Last Dance for Me"UnknownUnknownJanuary 8, 1988 (1988-01-08)219
3513"Mickey Times Two"UnknownUnknownJanuary 15, 1988 (1988-01-15)220
3614"Fatal Distraction"UnknownUnknownJanuary 20, 1988 (1988-01-20)222
3715"Jay's on the Roof"UnknownUnknownJanuary 27, 1988 (1988-01-27)221
3816"Centerfold Mickey"UnknownUnknownFebruary 3, 1988 (1988-02-03)223
3917"Confidence Man"UnknownUnknownFebruary 10, 1988 (1988-02-10)217
4018"Not for Love or Money"UnknownUnknownFebruary 17, 1988 (1988-02-17)216
4119"La Vie en Jay: Part 1"UnknownUnknownFebruary 24, 1988 (1988-02-24)213
4220"La Vie en Jay: Part 2"UnknownUnknownMarch 2, 1988 (1988-03-02)214
4321"Four Loves Have I"UnknownUnknownMarch 9, 1988 (1988-03-09)211
4422"Crime Busters"UnknownUnknownMarch 16, 1988 (1988-03-16)205
4523"Temporary Mickey"UnknownUnknownMarch 23, 1988 (1988-03-23)--
4624"Video Mickey"UnknownUnknownMarch 30, 1988 (1988-03-30)--

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Hofstede, David (2004). What Were They Thinking: The 100 Dumbest Events in Television History. Back Stage Books. p. 89. ISBN 0-8230-8441-8.
  2. "Television Obscurities – The Syndicated Season: 1987–1988". tvobscurities.com. 2005-02-15.
  3. "1983-84 Ratings History -- The Networks Are Awash in a Bubble Bath of Soaps".
  4. "Retro: Columbus/Zanesville Sat, June 18, 1988". Radio Discussions. June 24, 2010.
  5. "The Boob Tube #55: TV Shows for Sale". Retrospace. March 30, 2016.
  6. "NEW YORK TV- Late Winter 1988". Radio Discussions. October 3, 2005.
  7. "Retro: New York City, Wednesday, March 2, 1988". Radio Discussions. July 28, 2017.
  8. KABB-TV 29 Show Promos and ID 1987 on YouTube
  9. "90 Nutty Minutes!". THE VINTAGE TOLEDO TV SITE.
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