Fired Up (TV series)

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."

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
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseApril 10, 1997 (1997-04-10) –
February 9, 1998 (1998-02-09)

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 in later episodes Steve Summer, a former classmate of Gwen's who has carried a torch for her for decades.

Cast

Recurring

Notable Guest Stars

Episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
18April 10, 1997 (1997-04-10)June 23, 1997 (1997-06-23)
220September 22, 1997 (1997-09-22)February 9, 1998 (1998-02-09)

Season 1 (1997)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
11"Pilot"James BurrowsStory by : Arleen Sorkin & Paul Slansky
Teleplay by : Arleen Sorkin & Paul Slansky & Victor Fresco		April 10, 1997 (1997-04-10)26.64[2]
22"The Next Day"James BurrowsVictor FrescoApril 17, 1997 (1997-04-17)22.09[3]
33"Who's the Boss"Max TashArleen Sorkin & Paul SlanskyApril 24, 1997 (1997-04-24)25.39[4]
44"They Sell Horses, Don't They?"Rod DanielKit BossMay 1, 1997 (1997-05-01)21.84[5]
55"A Concurrent Affair"James BurrowsLinda Teverbaugh & Mike TeverbaughMay 8, 1997 (1997-05-08)22.29[6]
66"The Rules"David LeeAron Abrams & Gregory ThompsonMay 15, 1997 (1997-05-15)19.55[7]
77"Are We Not Friends?"Will MackenzieThom Bray & Michael A. RossMay 15, 1997 (1997-05-15)22.61[7]
88"Under Pressure"James BurrowsDanny ZukerJune 23, 1997 (1997-06-23)6.94[8]

Season 2 (1997–98)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
91"The Mother of All Gwens"Lee Shallat-ChemelVictor FrescoSeptember 22, 1997 (1997-09-22)13.78[9]
102"Truth and Consequences"Lee Shallat-ChemelArleen Sorkin & Paul SlanskySeptember 29, 1997 (1997-09-29)10.52[10]
113"You Don't Know Jack"Jeff MelmanKit BossOctober 6, 1997 (1997-10-06)11.48[11]
124"Swallow Your Bliss"Lee Shallat-ChemelGregory Thompson & Aron AbramsOctober 13, 1997 (1997-10-13)11.81[12]
135"Total Recall"Gordon HuntLinda Teverbaugh & Mike TeverbaughOctober 20, 1997 (1997-10-20)11.78[13]
146"Beat the Clock"Pamela FrymanGregory Thompson & Aron AbramsOctober 27, 1997 (1997-10-27)9.88[14]
157"The Baby-Sitter's Club"Pamela FrymanBill BarolNovember 10, 1997 (1997-11-10)10.22[15]
168"In Your Dreams"Will MackenzieDon RhymerNovember 17, 1997 (1997-11-17)11.10[16]
179"Honey, I Shrunk the Turkey"Ken LevineKit BossNovember 24, 1997 (1997-11-24)9.83[17]
1810"Ten Grand a Dance"Will MackenzieGregory Thompson & Aron AbramsDecember 1, 1997 (1997-12-01)11.84[18]
1911"Where There's Smoke"Will MackenzieMichael A. Ross & Thom BrayDecember 22, 1997 (1997-12-22)9.66[19]
2012"You Go, Boss!"Lee Shallat-ChemelKit BossJanuary 12, 1998 (1998-01-12)8.67[20]
2113"Beauty and the Priests"Leonard R. Garner Jr.Bill BarolJanuary 19, 1998 (1998-01-19)9.37[21]
2214"Mission: and A-Hopin'"Lee Shallat-ChemelLinda Teverbaugh & Mike TeverbaughJanuary 26, 1998 (1998-01-26)8.59[22]
2315"Fire and Nice"Lee Shallat-ChemelDwight D. SmithFebruary 9, 1998 (1998-02-09)8.88[23]
2416"The Pajama Game"Lee Shallat-ChemelLu Abbott Stacey & Berman WoodwardUnaired (Unaired)N/A
2517"What I Really Want to Do Is Direct"Randy SuhrPaul Slansky & Arleen SorkinUnaired (Unaired)N/A
2618"Lustline"Lee Shallat ChemelStory by : Bill Barol
Teleplay by : Thom Bray & Michael A. Ross		Unaired (Unaired)N/A
2719"Domestic Bliss"Lee Shallat ChemelCraig HoffmanUnaired (Unaired)N/A
2820"With Sex, You Get Eggroll"Max TashThom Bray & Michael A. RossUnaired (Unaired)N/A

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."[24]

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,[25] 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. Review of Fired Up from an April 10, 1997 article in The New York Times
  2. "National Nielsen Viewership (April 7–13)". The Los Angeles Times. April 16, 1997. Retrieved June 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.icon of an open green padlock
  3. "National Nielsen Viewership (April 14-20)". The Los Angeles Times. April 23, 1997. Retrieved June 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.icon of an open green padlock
  4. "National Nielsen Viewership (April 21–27)". The Los Angeles Times. April 30, 1997. Retrieved June 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.icon of an open green padlock
  5. "National Nielsen Viewership (April 28–May 4)". The Los Angeles Times. May 7, 1997. Retrieved June 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.icon of an open green padlock
  6. "National Nielsen Viewership (May 5-11)". The Los Angeles Times. May 14, 1997. Retrieved June 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.icon of an open green padlock
  7. "National Nielsen Viewership (May 12-18)". The Los Angeles Times. May 21, 1997. Retrieved June 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.icon of an open green padlock
  8. "National Nielsen Viewership (June 23-29)". The Los Angeles Times. July 2, 1997. Retrieved June 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.icon of an open green padlock
  9. "National Nielsen Viewership (Sept. 22–28)". The Los Angeles Times. October 1, 1997. Retrieved June 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.icon of an open green padlock
  10. "National Nielsen Viewership (Sept. 29–Oct. 5)". The Los Angeles Times. October 8, 1997. Retrieved June 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.icon of an open green padlock
  11. "National Nielsen Viewership (Oct. 6–12)". The Los Angeles Times. October 15, 1997. Retrieved June 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.icon of an open green padlock
  12. "National Nielsen Viewership (Oct. 13–19)". The Los Angeles Times. October 22, 1997. Retrieved June 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.icon of an open green padlock
  13. "National Nielsen Viewership (Oct. 20–26)". The Los Angeles Times. October 29, 1997. Retrieved June 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.icon of an open green padlock
  14. "National Nielsen Viewership (Oct. 27–Nov. 2)". The Los Angeles Times. November 5, 1997. Retrieved June 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.icon of an open green padlock
  15. "National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 10–16)". The Los Angeles Times. November 19, 1997. Retrieved June 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.icon of an open green padlock
  16. "National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 17–23)". The Los Angeles Times. November 26, 1997. Retrieved June 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.icon of an open green padlock
  17. "National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 24–30)". The Los Angeles Times. December 3, 1997. Retrieved June 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.icon of an open green padlock
  18. "National Nielsen Viewership (Dec. 1-7)". The Los Angeles Times. December 10, 1997. Retrieved June 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.icon of an open green padlock
  19. "National Nielsen Viewership (Dec. 22–28)". The Los Angeles Times. January 1, 1998. Retrieved June 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.icon of an open green padlock
  20. "National Nielsen Viewership (Jan. 12–18)". The Los Angeles Times. January 21, 1998. Retrieved June 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.icon of an open green padlock
  21. "National Nielsen Viewership (Jan. 19–25)". The Los Angeles Times. January 28, 1998. Retrieved June 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.icon of an open green padlock
  22. "National Nielsen Viewership (Jan. 26–Feb. 1)". The Los Angeles Times. February 4, 1998. Retrieved June 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.icon of an open green padlock
  23. "National Nielsen Viewership (Feb. 9-15)". The Los Angeles Times. February 19, 1998. Retrieved June 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.icon of an open green padlock
  24. Tucker, Ken (1997-10-19). "Women's Glib". ew.com. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
  25. Fired tops last of the crop from Variety
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