Decades prior to her winning an Emmy for her captivating performances on “Abbott Elementary”, Sheryl Lee Ralph was already delivering perfectly timed chuckles on a different office-themed sitcom.
The show titled “It’s a Living” made its debut on ABC in 1980. With an impressive background — Paul Junger Witt, known for Soap and The Golden Girls, served as executive producer — the series took place in a fictional eatery named Above the Top, filmed within the real and ongoing Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The story revolved around a band of quick-witted waitresses and their volatile boss, the maître d’, portrayed by Marian Mercer. They navigated both their professional and personal journeys through thick and thin. Although it boasted a strong cast chemistry and witty dialogue, the show failed to attract viewers. To revive its fortunes, the production team replaced many roles and rechristened it “Making a Living” for season two. Despite a THR review in October 1981 praising it as a “solid sitcom with some robust jokes stemming from well-developed characterizations,” the show was ultimately terminated at the end of that season.
Initially, when rebroadcasts of the show began to thrive in syndication, “It’s a Living” was revitalized in 1985 with a few adjustments to the cast. Notably, Ann Jillian, a standout performer from the original series, lasted just one year before taking a break due to her high-profile battle with breast cancer. (She ultimately triumphed over the disease and is currently thriving at 75.) In 1986, Ralph—who had already been recognized with a Tony nomination in 1982 for her work in Broadway’s “Dreamgirls”—made her debut as the optimistic Ginger St. James during the show’s fourth season. Ralph remained with the series until its conclusion in 1989, and later gained a new fanbase playing Brandy Norwood’s stepmother and high school principal on “Moesha,” which aired from 1996 to 2001 and garnered Ralph five nominations for NAACP Image Awards. Ralph’s portrayal of the kindergarten teacher Barbara Howard in “Abbott Elementary” has earned her three Emmy nominations for supporting actress, with her win in 2022 making her the second Black woman to receive this award after Jackée Harry from “227” in 1987.
Originally featured in a solo edition of The Hollywood Reporter’s magazine during June, you can get this magazine by clicking here to subscribe.
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2025-06-16 00:24