Working Stiffs
Series Overview
Working Stiffs is a short-lived 1979 American television series which starred James Belushi and Michael Keaton as brothers Ernie and Mike O'Rourke. The pair were janitors who aspired to work their way up in the field of business. The brothers worked in an office building owned by their Uncle Harry. Ernie and Mike also were roommates in an apartment over a cafe where they befriended the owner Mitch and waitress Nikki. Each episode featured slapstick and physical comedy. Penny Marshall directed the pilot. Includes an early appearance of Paul Reubens as Heimlich the delivery boy at the cafe. The series aired on CBS. It competed against the highly-rated shows NBC's CHiPs and ABC's The Ropers in its timeslot. Nine episodes were produced but after four episodes aired, the series was canceled. After Belushi and Keaton became major film stars in the 1980s, six episodes of the show were released on home video. Reruns have also aired on A&E Network, Comedy Central and TV Land. The syndication package included the previously unaired episodes.
Broadcast Schedule & Network Information
Airing status, episode counts, upcoming schedule, and network syndication.
1 Season • 9 Episodes
30 min per episode
1979 – 1979
Premiered: Sat, Sep 15, 1979
Latest Aired Episode
Season 1, Episode 3: “The Bomb Show”
After witnessing a bank robbery, Michael is being stalked by the robber, and is hilariously jumpy. He & Ernie wind up stuck in an elevator with a bomb. They disarm it, and their reward is being told to paint the elevator.
Seasons & Episodes Breakdown
Cast & Creators
Explore Star Directory →
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Harry Colomby, Marc Sotkin, Arthur Silver, David W. Duclon, Bob Brunner
Harry Colomby
Department Leadership Roster
Harry Colomby
Producer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Working Stiffs.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Working Stiffs
Key facts, seasons breakdown, and credits for search engines and AI assistants.
What is Working Stiffs about?
Working Stiffs is a short-lived 1979 American television series which starred James Belushi and Michael Keaton as brothers Ernie and Mike O'Rourke. The pair were janitors who aspired to work their way up in the field of business. The brothers worked in an office building owned by their Uncle Harry. Ernie and Mike also were roommates in an apartment over a cafe where they befriended the owner Mitch and waitress Nikki. Each episode featured slapstick and physical comedy. Penny Marshall directed the pilot. Includes an early appearance of Paul Reubens as Heimlich the delivery boy at the cafe. The series aired on CBS. It competed against the highly-rated shows NBC's CHiPs and ABC's The Ropers in its timeslot. Nine episodes were produced but after four episodes aired, the series was canceled. After Belushi and Keaton became major film stars in the 1980s, six episodes of the show were released on home video. Reruns have also aired on A&E Network, Comedy Central and TV Land. The syndication package included the previously unaired episodes.
How many seasons does Working Stiffs have?
Working Stiffs comprises 1 season available to explore.
Who stars in Working Stiffs?
Key cast members in Working Stiffs include Jim Belushi, Michael Keaton, Allan Arbus, Val Bisoglio, Lorna Patterson.
Who created or directed Working Stiffs?
Working Stiffs was developed and directed by Harry Colomby, Marc Sotkin, Arthur Silver, David W. Duclon, Bob Brunner.