Makin' It (partially found ABC sitcom; 1979)
An ad for the series in a newspaper.
Status: Partially Found
Makin' It was a short-lived disco-themed sitcom that aired on ABC from February 1st to March 23rd, 1979, with only nine episodes.
The series' main theme was also titled "Makin' It", and was sung by David Naughton, who was also the main star of the series. The series is 40th on TV Guide's 2002 list of the top 50 worst television shows of all time.[1]
Plot
Billy Manucci is a New Jersey man who visits the local disco club on a frequent basis after finishing his job at a local ice cream parlor titled "Tasty Treats". He is slowly making his way through college, and his parents try to make him study more.[2] The character of Manucci was inspired by the 1977 film Saturday Night Fever and the people of disco in general.
Cancellation
The series had an extremely short run, lasting for a single month with a mere amount of nine episodes. The disco-themed sitcom's failure can be attributed to one factor: the decline of disco in the summer of 1979.
In July 1979, in what is called "Disco Demolition Night", large stacks and crates of disco records were blown up and destroyed in Chicago's Comiskey Park. This is what signaled the end of the disco era and what began public dislike against it.[3] The premiere of Makin' It around the time of this event likely contributed to the series' failure.
The show has not had any cult success in modern-day either, as one modern viewer stated that while the show was not deserving of its spot on TV Guide's list, it was "not anything" either.[4]
Availability
Out of the series' nine episodes, only one has been uploaded in full, that being episode six. However, the opening theme and some promos for the series exist as well.
Episode List
| Episode Name | Plot | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Stayin' Alive | Billy is struggling through college and living in his home, while his older brother is succeeding.[5] | Lost |
| 2. Art Auction | Billy disguises himself as the brother of Al Pacino and bids five thousand dollars on a painting to impress a woman named Corky Crandall.[6] | Lost |
| 3. Big Brother Is Watching | When they learn their little sister has accepted a date with the local casanova, Billy and Tony are unjustifiably worried.[7] | Lost |
| 4. Fun, Fun, Fun: Part 1 | Billy drops out of school and quits his job in order to live a "good life". | Lost |
| 5. Fun, Fun, Fun: Part 2 | After throwing his responsibilities out the window, Billy moves in with his older brother, Tony.[8] | Lost |
| 6. Something for Ma | Tony gifts his mother some earrings for her birthday, but accidentally gets her arrested due to suspicion from the police that the earrings were stolen.[9] | Found |
| 7. Little Orphan Fusco | Dorothy Manucci gets various gifts from an unknown person, leading the others to suspect that she is in a relationship with an encyclopedia salesman.[10] | Lost |
| 8. Tony's Homecoming | After two years of separation, Tony and his parents reunite with each other. | Lost |
| 9. Friends For Life | Some sources (though sources like Wikipedia are not concrete, so this must be taken with a pinch of salt) state that this episode has the same/similar plot to Little Orphan Fusco,[10] as in both episodes, Dorothy receives gifts from someone secret and it is suspected they are from a lover. | Lost |
Gallery
External Links
- Wikipedia article for the series. Retrieved 09 Oct '19
- IMDb page for the series. Retrieved 09 Oct '19
References
- ↑ TV Guide's list of the top 50 worst television series of all time. Retrieved 09 Oct '19
- ↑ A page of the Calexico Chronicle where Makin' It is mentioned. Retrieved 09 Oct '19
- ↑ An article on the story of "Disco Demolition Night". Retrieved 09 Oct '19
- ↑ A newer review of the sole surviving episode of Makin' It. Retrieved 09 Oct '19
- ↑ The TV.com page for "Stayin' Alive". Retrieved 09 Oct '19
- ↑ The TV.com page for "Art Auction". Retrieved 09 Oct '19
- ↑ An ad for Makin' It in the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Retrieved 09 Oct '19
- ↑ A page of the Santa Cruz Sentinel where Makin' It is listed on the schedule. Retrieved 09 Oct '19
- ↑ A picture of the San Bernardino newspaper with a listing for Makin' It. Retrieved 09 Oct '19
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 A snippet of the San Bernandino newspaper with a listing for "Little Orphan Fusco" in the television listings. Retrieved 09 Oct '19