Fired Up (TV series)

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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
  • Grammnet Productions
  • Paramount Television
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseApril 10, 1997 (1997-04-10) –
February 9, 1998 (1998-02-09)

Fired Up is an American

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 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

Series overview

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-Chemel
Victor 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

Broadcast 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]

Fired Up had a brief syndication run on the USA Network.

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.

References

External links