Mike et Ernie

"Working Stiffs" was one of the first television programs to be cancelled in the 1979-1980 television season, being terminated after just four episodes had been aired. I never saw the show when it was first aired, and today I just watched the first three episodes after finding a videotape that Paramount put out of the show in the mid '80s. After seeing those episodes, I felt that the show had potential. Yes, it's very uneven, having some dumb attempts at humor and maybe a bit too much slapstick. On the other hand, stars Michael Keaton and Jim Belushi are very good, giving very enthusiastic performances and having great chemistry together. And there were a number of very funny moments sprinkled throughout the episodes. Many shows get off to a rough start before finding their groove, and I think had the show been given a chance it might have soon hit its stride. It makes you wonder about all the hundreds of early cancelled shows that might have become popular had they been given more of a chance to prove themselves.