"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.

I was 11 when "Working Stiffs" debuted on CBS's fall schedule and while it only lasted 4 shows,I never forgot it. It was what most kids would look for in a sitcom,two buddies who were supposed to be fix-it guys but were more so just terribly inept and klutzy. The show seemed more about sight gags and pratfalls than overall plot but at that age,I just knew it was very funny. Little did I know,I was watching not only the younger brother of comedian John Belushi(who I had only seen in ads for "Animal House")but also a young comedic actor who would 10 years later be the new Batman!Jim Belushi had only been in one TV show at that time,the short lived NBC comedy "Who's Watching The Kids" with Scott Baio & Lynda "Lori Beth" Goodfriend (before Happy Days).Michael Keaton had 9 TV credits to his name at the time,his first being a brief part in an episode of "Maude" and a short stint on Mary Tyler Moore's two post "MTM" shows.Together they were definitely a goofy pair and maybe,had the show been written better,it could have launched them into bigger things sooner. I liked what I saw then and can only rate it as I remember it. Funny for what it was. So,for nostalgia's sake,I'll go as high as 7 stars. Only because they became two very big stars. (END)