ABC "Work It" - The writers behind the sitcom

This week our class was exposed to an episode, which I frankly have never heard of, called “Work It”. Featured on ABC, this sitcom had more degrading comments and stereotypes in the first episode then I have ever seen in an entire show. After some investigating and a few clicks in Google search, I discovered that the head writers were indeed males. Just as I had expected, Andrew Reich and Ted Cohen are not only the head writers of the show but also the executive producers and long time friends. In addition, they both appeared to have been out of work for a while.

Having worked in production myself, it is a lifestyle that not everyone is cut out for. You are continuously making connections with new people and at times find yourself dependant on those connections to call you for the next “gig” or job that arrives. Don’t get me wrong, there is lots of work in the production industry and money to be made, but without the right connections or experience you can find yourself out of work for long periods of time.

 Executive producers and writers Andrew and Ted made their mark as producers for the hit sitcom “Friends”. From there they worked on every other project together attempting several times to get another long running sitcom. Since I don’t know them personally I can only assume looking at their IBM that they attempted several times to land other big sitcom. With only working on short-term made-for-TV movies and sitcoms that didn’t go past a year, it is no wonder desperation might have played a role in their choice to create “Work It”. It was then that I realized the sitcom, “Work It” could be possibly be a portrayal of their lives and the way they feel. Being they are both two close male friends who have worked together in the same industry for a long time, their lives strongly emanate the same characters they wrote into their sitcom. I then could understand bitterness and harsh remarks were incorporated into the sitcom. Lastly, the most important thing to remember is always keep business separate from personal.