# List of It's a Living episodes

The American situation comedy It's a Living ran from October 30, 1980, to June 11, 1982, on ABC, and from September 28, 1985, to April 8, 1989, in syndication. A total of 120 episodes were produced over six seasons.

## Series overview

| Season | Title | Episodes | Episodes | Originally released | Originally released | Originally released |
| Season | Title | Episodes | Episodes | First released | Last released | Network |
| 1 | It's a Living | 13 | 13 | October 30, 1980 (1980-10-30) | August 4, 1981 (1981-08-04) | ABC |
| 2 | Making a Living | 14 | 14 | October 24, 1981 (1981-10-24) | June 11, 1982 (1982-06-11) | ABC |
| 3 | It's a Living | 22 | 22 | September 28, 1985 (1985-09-28) | May 24, 1986 (1986-05-24) | Syndication |
| 4 | It's a Living | 25 | 25 | September 27, 1986 (1986-09-27) | May 23, 1987 (1987-05-23) | Syndication |
| 5 | It's a Living | 26 | 26 | September 26, 1987 (1987-09-26) | May 28, 1988 (1988-05-28) | Syndication |
| 6 | It's a Living | 20 | 20 | October 15, 1988 (1988-10-15) | April 8, 1989 (1989-04-08) | Syndication |

## Episodes
### Season 1 (1980–1981)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code |
| 1 | 1 | "Pilot" | John Tracy | Story by : Dick Clair, Jenna McMahon Teleplay by : Stu Silver | October 30, 1980 (1980-10-30) | 01-ALV-80 |
| For the first time in her life, long-time virgin Vicki prepares for her first date. |||||||
| 2 | 2 | "The Intruder" | Joel Zwick | Wally Dalton, Shelley Zellman | November 6, 1980 (1980-11-06) | 03-ALV-80 |
| Despite reports of a cat burglar roaming her neighborhood, Lois invites Jan to stay at her home while her husband and children are away on a camping trip for the weekend. But those plans take an even bigger turn when Vicki, Cassie and Dot insist on turning it into a pajama party... of which is, of course, crashed by the cat burglar! |||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Roomies" | Joel Zwick | Sheldon Bull | November 13, 1980 (1980-11-13) | 02-ALV-80 |
| When Vicki's plans to have the apartment to herself is delayed by the tenants' desire to stay in the place, the ladies turn to a reluctant Cassie to let Vicki move in with her. |||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Fallen Idol" | Joel Zwick | Sheldon Bull | November 27, 1980 (1980-11-27) | 04-ALV-80 |
| Vicki's father pays his daughter a visit and is disappointed at her job and work attire. But Vicki becomes more disappointed when her father ends up sleeping with Nancy. |||||||
| 5 | 5 | "The Lois Affair" | Joel Zwick | Wally Dalton, Shelley Zellman | December 11, 1980 (1980-12-11) | 07-ALV-80 |
| After Lois and her husband have a fight, Lois learns that a former flame has shown up in town hoping to rekindle their romance, prompting the ladies to intervene before it is too late. |||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Super-Mom" | Jay Sandrich | Story by : Paula A. Roth Teleplay by : Sheldon Bull | December 18, 1980 (1980-12-18) | 06-ALV-80 |
| Jan takes another job in order to pay for her daughter's ballet lessons. But the conflict with working two jobs prompts Nancy to fire Jan. |||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Cassie's Punctured Romance" | Joel Zwick | Sheldon Bull, Mark Rothman | January 1, 1981 (1981-01-01) | 08-ALV-80 |
| In an effort to impress her boyfriend despite her personal feelings about falling in love, Cassie decides to cook him a dinner with help from the ladies. |||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Up on the Roof" | Jay Sandrich | Greg Antonacci | January 8, 1981 (1981-01-08) | 05-ALV-80 |
| Things are about to get hot for the waitresses when a fire breaks out at the hotel. Note: This episode was originally scheduled to air on November 27, 1980. ABC postponed it since the scheduled airing came six days after 85 people had died in the MGM Grand fire. |||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Making the Grade" | Joel Zwick | Kimberly Hill | January 15, 1981 (1981-01-15) | 10-ALV-80 |
| Jan's decision to date her college professor takes a turn for the worse when he threatens to fail her if she does not sleep with him. |||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Our Man Barry" | Joel Zwick | Sheldon Bull | January 22, 1981 (1981-01-22) | 11-ALV-80 |
| Dot and Vicki discover that they fallen for the same guy, while Nancy makes Lois and Cassie lose weight to conform within standards. |||||||
| 11 | 11 | "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" | Joel Zwick | Story by : Stu Silver Teleplay by : Gloria Banta | January 29, 1981 (1981-01-29) | 09-ALV-80 |
| Lois learns that her daughter (Tricia Cast) has told her class in her essay that she works as a bank executive just a day before Lois is invited to speak at her class. |||||||
| 12 | 12 | "Kids" | Joel Zwick | Greg Antonacci | July 21, 1981 (1981-07-21) | 12-ALV-80 |
| Jan and Lois debate over a pornographic magazine that was found in the bedroom of Lois' son. |||||||
| 13 | 13 | "You're Not Old, You're Fired" | Joel Zwick | Wally Dalton, Shelley Zellman | August 4, 1981 (1981-08-04) | 13-ALV-80 |
| Age discrimination takes center stage when Nancy is suddenly fired. Lois, being the most senior of the waitresses, replaces her and learns that being in charge is not what she had in mind. |||||||

### Season 2 (1981–1982, as Making a Living)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code |
| 14 | 1 | "Boys of Summer" | John Bowab | Sheldon Bull | October 24, 1981 (1981-10-24) | 03-MAL-81 |
| The ladies step up to bat when a baseball team visits the restaurant. |||||||
| 15 | 2 | "All My Son" | Jay Sandrich | Story by : Greg Antonacci & Vicki S. Horwits Teleplay by : Greg Antonacci | October 31, 1981 (1981-10-31) | 01-MAL-81 |
| Sonny learns that a woman that he slept with 10 years earlier has shown up to tell him that she has a son... and he might be the father. |||||||
| 16 | 3 | "Of Mace and Men" | John Bowab | Barbara Benedek | November 7, 1981 (1981-11-07) | 04-MAL-81 |
| Reports of a mugger attacking women near the hotel takes center stage for the waitresses. But it is Dot who becomes the reluctant hero after she confronts and attacks him seriously with her can of mace, prompting the criminal to sue her for his injuries. |||||||
| 17 | 4 | "The Wedding" | John Bowab | Deborah Leschin & Barbara Benedek | November 14, 1981 (1981-11-14) | 07-MAL-81 |
| A wedding event that is about to take place at the restaurant is called off because the groom has professed his love for someone he dated for five years way before he met his fiancee... Cassie! |||||||
| 18 | 5 | "Second Time Around, Almost" | John Bowab | Sheldon Bull | November 21, 1981 (1981-11-21) | 06-MAL-81 |
| Jan and her Ex learn that they still have feelings for each other, even though Jan thought it had already died a while back. |||||||
| 19 | 6 | "Off the Top" | John Bowab | Barbara Benedek | December 5, 1981 (1981-12-05) | 10-MAL-81 |
| When the restaurant is sold and its owners wanting to turn it into a fitness center, the waitresses prepare to face unemployment, except for Sonny, who just got hired at another restaurant. |||||||
| 20 | 7 | "Mann Is Mann" | John Bowab | Greg Antonacci | December 12, 1981 (1981-12-12) | 08-MAL-81 |
| Sonny's brother pays him a visit that gets too brotherly – and goes too far – when the brother's girlfriend makes a move on Sonny. Meanwhile, the waitresses search for a missing winning raffle ticket |||||||
| 21 | 8 | "Jealousy or Mildred Fierce" | John Bowab | Gloria Banta | January 2, 1982 (1982-01-02) | 05-MAL-81 |
| The waitresses, and even Nancy, try their best to comfort Dennis after his wife leaves him. |||||||
| 22 | 9 | "Young Love" | Jay Sandrich | Larry Balmagia | January 9, 1982 (1982-01-09) | 04-IAL-81 |
| Maggie decides to throw a party to thank everyone for welcoming her to town. But her party is actually a scheme to pair her 23-year-old brother with Dot. Unfortunately, her brother has fallen for an older woman... 33-year-old Jan! |||||||
| 23 | 10 | "The Garden of Countess Natasha" | Greg Antonacci | Gloria Banta & Greg Antonacci | February 12, 1982 (1982-02-12) | 12-MAL-81 |
| The waitresses act like Siskel & Ebert after they witness and give their review of Dot's new play. |||||||
| 24 | 11 | "Falling in Love Again" | John Bowab | Sheldon Bull | February 19, 1982 (1982-02-19) | 09-MAL-81 |
| For the first time since her husband died, Maggie reconnects with the first man that she ever dated before she met her husband. Meanwhile, cops stakeout Above The Top to capture bandits. |||||||
| 25 | 12 | "Horsing Around" | Jay Sandrich | Greg Antonacci | February 26, 1982 (1982-02-26) | 03-IAL-81 |
| Jan and Maggie take up gambling on horses after Jan gets a hot tip from a jockey, prompting the staff to get in on the details. But all bets could be off when Maggie mistakes a menu number the jockey orders as the number of the winner in the next race. |||||||
| 26 | 13 | "Strange Bedfellows" | John Bowab | Deborah Leschin | June 4, 1982 (1982-06-04) | 11-MAL-81 |
| Dot is besieged with bad luck, landing in the hospital with a deviated septum, and while at the hospital must deal with a relentless cheery roommate. Meanwhile, the rest of the waitresses must deal with a roomful of World War I veterans. |||||||
| 27 | 14 | "A Farewell to Arm" | John Bowab | Deborah Leschin | June 11, 1982 (1982-06-11) | 02-MAL-81 |
| Jan's biggest day in her life, a dream date, is sidetracked by helping Maggie with her garage sale. |||||||

### Season 3 (1985–1986, as It's a Living, in first-run syndication)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code |
| 28 | 1 | "Harassed" | Jay Sandrich | Susan Beavers | September 28, 1985 (1985-09-28) | 029 |
| Newcomer Amy Tompkins (Crystal Bernard) must deal with a stalker who keeps sending her threatening messages. Meanwhile Howard refuses to accept a shipment of fish from a supplier he does not approve of, infuriating Nancy, who wants him to take the supplies. |||||||
| 29 | 2 | "Cassie's Cowboy" | Jay Sandrich | Tom Whedon | October 5, 1985 (1985-10-05) | 028 |
| Cassie falls for a millionaire cowboy, who wants Cassie to be a cowgirl if she wants to be with him. |||||||
| 30 | 3 | "Amy Big Girl Now" | J.D. Lobue | Sheldon Bull | October 12, 1985 (1985-10-12) | 033 |
| Amy's father pays a surprise visit... and to bring her back to Texas with him. |||||||
| 31 | 4 | "Desperate Hours" | J.D. Lobue | Marc Sotkin | October 19, 1985 (1985-10-19) | 030 |
| Nancy is excited to receive the arrival of an ambassador of a Third World country. However, the plans goes awry when the restaurant is taken hostage by terrorists from his home country. Meanwhile, Jan helps her daughter Ellen deliver her pet cat's litter of kittens. |||||||
| 32 | 5 | "I Write the Songs" | J.D. Lobue | Sheldon Bull | October 26, 1985 (1985-10-26) | 032 |
| Sonny is offered a recording contract and abruptly quits the restaurant hoping that he'll make it big... or so he thinks. Guest star: Stuart Pankin |||||||
| 33 | 6 | "Jan's Engagement" | J.D. Lobue | Marc Sotkin | November 2, 1985 (1985-11-02) | 031 |
| Jan falls for a fan repairman (Richard Kline), but the romance accelerates to when he asks Jan to marry him. Meanwhile, Amy, taking advice from Dot, tries to lie to Nancy to get a day off so she can go to a rodeo. |||||||
| 34 | 7 | "From Russia With Love" | J.D. Lobue | Andy Guerdat & Steve Kreinberg | November 9, 1985 (1985-11-09) | 034 |
| A Russian decides to defect to the United States after he falls for Cassie and takes refuge in her locker. |||||||
| 35 | 8 | "The Prom Show" | J.D. Lobue | Marc Sotkin | November 16, 1985 (1985-11-16) | 035 |
| When the entertainment for a prom fails to show up at the restaurant, Dot takes charge with help from Sonny and Amy. Meanwhile, Jan is not so sure about marrying Richie after learning that he wants to have a child with her. |||||||
| 36 | 9 | "The Wedding Show" | J.D. Lobue | Marc Sotkin | November 23, 1985 (1985-11-23) | 036 |
| A wedding day for Jan and Richie is about to hit a snag when the judge is a no-show and the honeymoon brings along a third wheel. |||||||
| 37 | 10 | "Hail to the Chef" | J.D. Lobue | Andy Guerdat & Steve Kreinberg | December 21, 1985 (1985-12-21) | 039 |
| The President is expected to come to the restaurant. There's only one problem: Lead chef Howard isn't cleared by Secret Service after they check his background. |||||||
| 38 | 11 | "Eleven Angry Men and Dot" | J.D. Lobue | Andy Guerdat & Steve Kreinberg | December 28, 1985 (1985-12-28) | 040 |
| Dot serves jury duty and ends up being the only holdout. Meanwhile the waitresses hold out for Dot's return as they pick up her slack. |||||||
| 39 | 12 | "Gender Gap" | J.D. Lobue | Robin Pennington | January 11, 1986 (1986-01-11) | 041 |
| Nancy is forced to hire an obnoxious waiter after the restaurant is hit with a Sex Discrimination lawsuit. |||||||
| 40 | 13 | "Jealous Wife" | J.D. Lobue | Tom Whedon | January 18, 1986 (1986-01-18) | 037 |
| Cassie's dreamy one-night stand just became her nightmare when she is humiliated by the wife of the guy she slept with. |||||||
| 41 | 14 | "The Doctor Danny Show" | J.D. Lobue | Marc Sotkin | February 15, 1986 (1986-02-15) | 046 |
| After Nancy suffers a hernia during a date, her physician (Danny Thomas) insists that she have an operation immediately. But when she begins to relive her phobia about being in a hospital, she refuses to seek treatment. Meanwhile, Amy convinces the waitresses to invest in a vacation property venture. Guest star: Bob Saget (Gail Edwards who plays Dot on the show would play Vicky Larson, the love interest of Bob Saget's character Danny Tanner for three seasons on Full House.) |||||||
| 42 | 15 | "Jewel Heist" | J.D. Lobue | Tom Whedon | February 22, 1986 (1986-02-22) | 038 |
| Terrorists target the restaurant when they learn that a visiting princess will be dining there and will be wearing a necklace that they want badly. Too bad that Dot accidentally takes a drugged napkin that was meant for the princess, leading to a mad scramble by a drugged Dot to stop the crooks from making their getaway. |||||||
| 43 | 16 | "The Jerks" | J.D. Lobue | Marc Sotkin | February 22, 1986 (1986-02-22) | 049 |
| While they are forced to stay at the restaurant to take inventory, the waitresses swap their tales of the worst guys that they had ever dated. |||||||
| 44 | 17 | "Oddest Couple" | J.D. Lobue | Andy Guerdat & Steve Kreinberg | March 1, 1986 (1986-03-01) | 044 |
| Cassie reluctantly moves in with Sonny while she attempts to find a place. But this pairing also has everyone at work guessing about this arrangement. |||||||
| 45 | 18 | "Dot's Puppy" | J.D. Lobue | Tom Whedon | April 12, 1986 (1986-04-12) | 042 |
| Dot replaces her dead cat with a noisy puppy. Meanwhile, Sonny decides to quit his job so he can date a roller derby skater. |||||||
| 46 | 19 | "Dinner with Deedee" | J.D. Lobue | Tom Whedon | May 3, 1986 (1986-05-03) | 043 |
| Jan is not looking forward to a visit from an old friend (Jennifer Salt) who has always outclassed her. |||||||
| 47 | 20 | "Jump" | J.D. Lobue | Roger Garrett | May 10, 1986 (1986-05-10) | 045 |
| Cassie is stunned as to why a customer constantly refuses to leave her tips, only to learn that he works for the IRS and he has to audit her. Meanwhile, Dot's boyfriend decides to threaten suicide by jumping off the building if she doesn't continue to date him. |||||||
| 48 | 21 | "America's Sweetheart" | J.D. Lobue | Dan O'Shannon | May 17, 1986 (1986-05-17) | 047 |
| Dot learns that her cartoonist boyfriend (Jeff Altman) is using her as a model for a new character in his comic strip. |||||||
| 49 | 22 | "Mann Act" | J.D. Lobue | Tom Whedon & Marc Sotkin | May 24, 1986 (1986-05-24) | 048 |
| Sonny learns the girl he's dating is a mobster's moll. |||||||

### Season 4 (1986–1987)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code |
| 50 | 1 | "The Roof Show" | J.D. Lobue | Roger Garrett | September 27, 1986 (1986-09-27) | 050 |
| The staff find themselves trapped on the roof, while Amy, Nancy and Howard must deal with an unruly crowd at the restaurant. Sheryl Lee Ralph joins the cast as Ginger St. James on the show. |||||||
| 51 | 2 | "The Bar" | J.D. Lobue | Bob Colleary | October 4, 1986 (1986-10-04) | 053 |
| The girls decide to cheer up a lonely Amy by taking her to a singles bar. But the ladies are discovering that the place is full of Mr. Wrongs. Jonathan Frakes, Ernie Hudson and Charles Fleischer guest stars as the aforementioned male patrons. |||||||
| 52 | 3 | "The Reunion Show" | J.D. Lobue | Marc Sotkin | October 11, 1986 (1986-10-11) | 052 |
| Jan learns that an old boyfriend still carries a torch for her while she attends her high school reunion. Meanwhile, Nancy comes up with a plan to trick Howard into coming home with her. |||||||
| 53 | 4 | "Surprise" | J.D. Lobue | Tom Whedon | October 18, 1986 (1986-10-18) | 051 |
| Amy believes that Richie is having an affair with Ginger, and is not so sure whether to tell Jan just days before her birthday party. |||||||
| 54 | 5 | "Nancy's Sister" | J.D. Lobue | Robert Bruce & Marty Weiss | October 25, 1986 (1986-10-25) | 057 |
| Nancy is not happy when her sister Gloria shows up, especially when Nancy is convinced that she'll go after Howard. |||||||
| 55 | 6 | "Night at the Iguana" | J.D. Lobue | Tom Whedon | November 1, 1986 (1986-11-01) | 054 |
| A Psycho-themed episode, which finds the ladies and Sonny checking into a hotel run by a mysterious man and his unseen mother after their car breaks down en route to Las Vegas. |||||||
| 56 | 7 | "Family Feud" | J.D. Lobue | Bob Perlow & Gene Braunstein | November 8, 1986 (1986-11-08) | 058 |
| Dot's divorced mother and Jan's divorced father become an unlikely item while visiting their daughters. |||||||
| 57 | 8 | "The Dot and Howard Show" | J.D. Lobue | Marc Sotkin | November 15, 1986 (1986-11-15) | 055 |
| Rumors start flying after Dot and Howard start going to social events together as friends. |||||||
| 58 | 9 | "Farewell, My Sonny" | J.D. Lobue | Tom Whedon | November 22, 1986 (1986-11-22) | 059 |
| A murder mystery party just got a lot more murderous for Sonny after he becomes a prime suspect. |||||||
| 59 | 10 | "Critic's Choice" | J.D. Lobue | Roger Garrett | December 6, 1986 (1986-12-06) | 060 |
| When Howard receives a visit from a rival, who happens to be a food critic who is doing a review of the restaurant, he find his job and his relationship with Nancy could be in jeopardy in more ways than one. |||||||
| 60 | 11 | "Richie's Sculpture" | J.D. Lobue | Bill Davenport | December 20, 1986 (1986-12-20) | 056 |
| Richie allows a new sculpture that he borrowed from someone else be displayed at the restaurant, only to have Jan accidentally sell it to a tourist. |||||||
| 61 | 12 | "Sonny's Oil (aka The Oil Show)" | Gary Brown | Marc Sotkin | January 3, 1987 (1987-01-03) | 063 |
| Sonny convinces the ladies to join him on his oil investment venture. |||||||
| 62 | 13 | "Nancy's Birthday Party" | J.D. Lobue | Story by : Michael Lawrence & Gil Junger Teleplay by : Gil Junger | January 10, 1987 (1987-01-10) | 072 |
| Nancy drops hints about her birthday party that she believes the waitresses will be throwing for her. Meanwhile Jan and Richie have a marital fight and Sonny wants to join Dot's carpool. |||||||
| 63 | 14 | "The Evictables" | J.D. Lobue | Tom Whedon | January 17, 1987 (1987-01-17) | 061 |
| After Ginger is evicted from her apartment because she is withholding rent money until the landlord repaints the place thanks to Jan's advice, Ginger moves in with Amy at her women's-only apartment complex. But after Ginger's boyfriend walks into the place unannounced, Amy and Ginger are both kicked out, and both now must find a place to stay. Patty Duke makes a cameo as a customer who wasn't impressed with Sonny's critique of her 1963–66 sitcom after he plays the show's theme song. |||||||
| 64 | 15 | "Ginger's Baby" | Gary Brown | Roger Garrett | January 24, 1987 (1987-01-24) | 062 |
| Ginger is left holding a baby after she agrees to babysit the child. Meanwhile, Sonny agrees to babysit a friend's car, only to take the wrong one... which belongs to a gangster. |||||||
| 65 | 16 | "Bachelor Party" | Gary Brown | Andy Guerdat & Steve Kreinberg | January 31, 1987 (1987-01-31) | 064 |
| Howard is not happy about Sonny dating his niece after she falls for him. |||||||
| 66 | 17 | "Amy's Rusty" | Gary Brown | Bob Perlow & Gene Braunstein | February 7, 1987 (1987-02-07) | 065 |
| Amy decides to reunite with an old flame after she feels guilty for not having been married. Meanwhile, Dot starts selling skin care products. |||||||
| 67 | 18 | "Dot's Priest" | Gary Brown | Roger Garrett | February 14, 1987 (1987-02-14) | 066 |
| Dot learns that her former boyfriend is about to join the priesthood and questions his commitments. |||||||
| 68 | 19 | "The Dickie Doodle Show" | Gary Brown | Tom Whedon | February 21, 1987 (1987-02-21) | 067 |
| A former children's show hosts' fan club dinner conflicts with Nancy's meeting with the restaurant chain's vice president. |||||||
| 69 | 20 | "The Howie Show" | Christine Ballard | Marc Sotkin | February 28, 1987 (1987-02-28) | 068 |
| Howard is worshiped by South Pacific natives as a supreme being. Meanwhile, Nancy holds a contest for the waitresses. |||||||
| 70 | 21 | "The Dot Quits Show" | Gary Brown | Marc Sotkin | March 7, 1987 (1987-03-07) | 073 |
| Dot quits the restaurant to become a full-time unemployed actress; Sonny decides to write a musical based on Attila the Hun; Ginger's fetish for footwear has a hypnotic effect on Amy. |||||||
| 71 | 22 | "The Two Guys Show" | J.D. Lobue | Marc Sotkin | May 2, 1987 (1987-05-02) | 070 |
| Ginger must choose between two guys based on their merits, while Howard must choose between competing restaurant who want to hire him. |||||||
| 72 | 23 | "A Romantic Comedy" | J.D. Lobue | Roger Garrett | May 9, 1987 (1987-05-09) | 071 |
| The staff are ruining what supposed to be a romantic evening alone for Jan and Richie. |||||||
| 73 | 24 | "Manhandling" | Paul Kreppel | Tom Whedon | May 16, 1987 (1987-05-16) | 069 |
| Ginger feels like she's been taken for a ride after she buys Jan's car, while Amy asks Dot to play matchmaker between her and a new male employee. |||||||
| 74 | 25 | "Nancy's Shrink" | J.D. Lobue | Marc Sotkin & Tom Whedon & Roger Garrett | May 23, 1987 (1987-05-23) | 074 |
| A psychiatrist asks Nancy to review her relationships with her staff. |||||||

### Season 5 (1987–1988)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code |
| 75 | 1 | "Till Death Do Us Part" | J.D. Lobue | Tom Whedon | September 26, 1987 (1987-09-26) | 076 |
| Sonny is hoping his fiancee will make it to their wedding. Meanwhile, Howard's high school flame visits. |||||||
| 76 | 2 | "Her Back to the Future" | J.D. Lobue | Kenny Wolin and Barry Bleach | October 3, 1987 (1987-10-03) | 078 |
| In this Back to the Future-themed episode (that pre-dates the sequel), Nancy dozes off during a wedding reception and dreams that everyone has done well for themselves ten years into the future... only to learn that its Amy who married Howard and she ended up marrying Sonny. Lyle Waggoner guest stars; Sheryl Lee Ralph performs "Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)" and Marian Mercer sings and dances to "Brazil" with members of the Chippendale Men. |||||||
| 77 | 3 | "No, My Darling Daughter" | J.D. Lobue | Tom Whedon | October 10, 1987 (1987-10-10) | 075 |
| The waitresses start to worry about letting Jan's daughter Ellen date a senior student, while Howard asks Nancy for $900 to pay back a loan shark. |||||||
| 78 | 4 | "Sweet Charity" | Bob Sweeney | Tom Whedon | October 17, 1987 (1987-10-17) | 080 |
| When Dot's production of Little Red Riding Hood is hit with a case of chicken pox that quarantines the children in the cast, the staff step in to fill their roles. |||||||
| 79 | 5 | "The Killing of Sister Dot" | Bob Sweeney | Roger Garrett | October 24, 1987 (1987-10-24) | 081 |
| Dot lands a part in a soap opera, until she learns that her character is expected to be killed off the show. |||||||
| 80 | 6 | "The Date Show" | Bob Sweeney | Marc Sotkin | October 31, 1987 (1987-10-31) | 079 |
| Nancy demands Howard to accompany her to a square dance as a way to break him out of a mid-life crisis. |||||||
| 81 | 7 | "Search and Strike" | Steve Zuckerman | Roger Garrett | November 7, 1987 (1987-11-07) | 082 |
| When Nancy is ordered by hotel management to search her staffs' lockers, Howard draws the line on her invading her waitresses' privacy. |||||||
| 82 | 8 | "The Vegas Show (Part 1)" | Steve Zuckerman | Marc Sotkin | November 14, 1987 (1987-11-14) | 085 |
| Nancy is invited by singer Jack Jones to go with him to Las Vegas for a long weekend. |||||||
| 83 | 9 | "The Vegas Show (Part 2)" | Doug Smart | Marc Sotkin | November 21, 1987 (1987-11-21) | 086 |
| As the staff follow Nancy to Las Vegas, a jealous Howard finds Nancy at the gambling table with a lounge lizard, while a surprise event awaits the gang upon their arrival. |||||||
| 84 | 10 | "The Sonny's Mother Show" | Gil Junger | Marc Sotkin | November 28, 1987 (1987-11-28) | 084 |
| Sonny learns that his mother, who never forgiven him for not pursuing a career in classical music, is coming to visit him. |||||||
| 85 | 11 | "Strictly Personal" | Doug Smart | Roger Garrett | December 12, 1987 (1987-12-12) | 088 |
| Dot's personal ad doesn't seem to attract any potential responses from readers. |||||||
| 86 | 12 | "A Pen Pal for Your Thoughts" | J.D. Lobue | Roger Garrett | December 19, 1987 (1987-12-19) | 077 |
| Amy's prison pen pal is about to be released from prison. So guess what he plans to do – and plans to spend the rest of his life with – after his release? |||||||
| 87 | 13 | "Twelve Angry Women" | Steve Zuckerman | Alice Miller | December 26, 1987 (1987-12-26) | 083 |
| Feminists set their sights on Sonny during their visit at the restaurant. Meanwhile, Dot dates one of Amy's exes. |||||||
| 88 | 14 | "Skin Deep" | Doug Smart | Adam I. Lapidus | January 2, 1988 (1988-01-02) | 087 |
| Nancy decides to get a face lift after she notices Howard flirting with a younger woman. |||||||
| 89 | 15 | "Everyone's a Critic" | Bob Sweeney | Roger Garrett | January 16, 1988 (1988-01-16) | 092 |
| Dot gets jittery when her journalist boyfriend is assigned to review her new play. |||||||
| 90 | 16 | "Take Back Your Mink" | Paul Kreppel | Tom Whedon | January 23, 1988 (1988-01-23) | 090 |
| Thanks to newfound wealth, Richie buys Jan a mink coat. But money doesn't buy happiness, as they're about to find out. |||||||
| 91 | 17 | "The One About The Tattooed Lady" | Bob Sweeney | Alicia Marie Schudt | January 30, 1988 (1988-01-30) | 089 |
| Nancy's visiting cousin shows up with her whole body tattooed, shocking Nancy. |||||||
| 92 | 18 | "Daddy's Little Girl" | Bob Sweeney | Tom Whedon | February 6, 1988 (1988-02-06) | 091 |
| Jan's hope to reconciling her divorced parents is dashed when her father tells her that he is newly engaged to another woman. |||||||
| 93 | 19 | "Ginger's Grandmother Show" | Gil Junger | Marc Sotkin | February 13, 1988 (1988-02-13) | 093 |
| Ginger's grandmother shows up to tell Ginger that her son won't let her drive anymore. Meanwhile, Sonny makes a music video at the restaurant. |||||||
| 94 | 20 | "Dot's Hope" | Steve Zuckerman | Tom Whedon | February 20, 1988 (1988-02-20) | 095 |
| Dot gets her visiting friend, who came to Los Angeles to seek fame and fortune, a job as a dishwasher at the restaurant. |||||||
| 95 | 21 | "The Amy and Louie Show" | Marc Sotkin | Story by : Marc Sotkin, Kenny Wolin and Barry Bleach Teleplay by : Marc Sotkin | February 27, 1988 (1988-02-27) | 097 |
| Sonny becomes jealous when Amy asks his friend Louie out on a date. Meanwhile, Ginger feels more like french toast when she goes on a blind date with an egg salesman. |||||||
| 96 | 22 | "Ginger and the Senator" | Paul Kreppel | Gene Braunstein and Bob Perlow | April 23, 1988 (1988-04-23) | 100 |
| Ginger makes front page news when she is caught in a Gary Hart-Donna Rice-style situation after she is pictured sitting on the lap of a senator who is up for election. |||||||
| 97 | 23 | "Healings, Nothing More Than Healings" | Christine Ballard | Barry Vigon | April 30, 1988 (1988-04-30) | 096 |
| Sonny becomes a hero after he uses the Heimlich maneuver to save a choking victim. Meanwhile, Nancy and Howard decide whether to take separate vacations. |||||||
| 98 | 24 | "The No Guys Show" | Christine Ballard | Roger Garrett | May 7, 1988 (1988-05-07) | 098 |
| Ginger's boyfriend wants to tie the knot with her, but she doesn't want to settle down yet. |||||||
| 99 | 25 | "The Waiting Game" | Gil Junger | Roger Garrett, Marc Sotkin and Tom Whedon | May 14, 1988 (1988-05-14) | 099 |
| What was supposed to be an interview with a journalist about the pro and cons about their careers turns into a trip down memory lane for the waitresses in this flashback episode. |||||||
| 100 | 26 | "Tune In, Tune Out" | Steve Zuckerman | Kevin Abbott | May 28, 1988 (1988-05-28) | 094 |
| Jan's attempt to spice up her marriage to Richie is about to turn sour. Meanwhile, a new TV set in the staff lounge draws the waitresses' attention when they become addicted to a miniseries. |||||||

### Season 6 (1988–1989)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code |
| 101 | 1 | "Pistol Packin' Mama" | Steve Zuckerman | Tom Whedon | October 15, 1988 (1988-10-15) | 101 |
| Ginger is considering kicking Amy out of the apartment after Ginger learns that Amy keeps a gun with her. |||||||
| 102 | 2 | "The Nancy and Roscoe Show" | Steve Zuckerman | Marc Sotkin | October 22, 1988 (1988-10-22) | 102 |
| Nancy and Howard's marriage is about to be put to the test when Howard's Navy buddy Roscoe shows up and Nancy falls for him. |||||||
| 103 | 3 | "The Jan's Pregnant Show" | Steve Zuckerman | Marc Sotkin | October 29, 1988 (1988-10-29) | 103 |
| The news of Jan's pregnancy is about to put Richie's plans to move to North Dakota on hold. |||||||
| 104 | 4 | "Never Trust Anyone Under 40" | Steve Zuckerman | Tom Whedon | November 5, 1988 (1988-11-05) | 104 |
| Louie throws a surprise 40th birthday party that even has Howard feeling 40 again. |||||||
| 105 | 5 | "The New Guy Show" | Steve Zuckerman | Roger Garrett | November 12, 1988 (1988-11-12) | 105 |
| Ginger telephones a wedding photographer for a date. Meanwhile, Sonny's agent (Willie Garson) lands him an hour-long TV time slot. |||||||
| 106 | 6 | "Rear Window" | Gil Junger | Roger Garrett | November 19, 1988 (1988-11-19) | 106 |
| Dot's voyerism of watching her neighbors through her window is about to take a suspicious turn when she witnesses what she thinks is a murder of a woman. |||||||
| 107 | 7 | "You Do Voodoo" | Steve Zuckerman | Julie Fleischer | November 26, 1988 (1988-11-26) | 107 |
| Jan wants to stop a developer from building a new mini-mall in her neighborhood. Meanwhile, Ginger uses a book of voodoo spells to attract a date. |||||||
| 108 | 8 | "The Amy and Bobby Show" | Jules Lichtman | Marc Sotkin | December 3, 1988 (1988-12-03) | 108 |
| Amy dates a guy who has pentecostal ambitions to change her lifestyle. Meanwhile, Howard is unaware that he just gave Nancy merchandise that was recently stolen. |||||||
| 109 | 9 | "Dot Casts Off" | Neema Barnette | Roger Garrett | December 10, 1988 (1988-12-10) | 109 |
| Dot lands a job as a casting assistant and is given the task to audition her friend for an acting job. |||||||
| 110 | 10 | "A Very Scary It's a Living" | Marc Sotkin | Roger Garrett | January 7, 1989 (1989-01-07) | 110 |
| After Dot lands a major movie role in a slasher film, she decides to learn more about her role by watching horror flicks, only to fall asleep and end up in a dream, which really turns into a nightmare at the restaurant. |||||||
| 111 | 11 | "The Ginger's Mother Show" | Paul Kreppel | Marc Sotkin | January 14, 1989 (1989-01-14) | 111 |
| Ginger decides not to talk about her career as a waitress when her successful career-oriented mother pays her daughter a visit. |||||||
| 112 | 12 | "Mike Fright" | Steve Zuckerman | Tom Whedon | January 21, 1989 (1989-01-21) | 113 |
| Sonny learns that his temporary replacement is more successful than he is. |||||||
| 113 | 13 | "I Never Sang For My Father" | Gil Junger | Tom Whedon | January 28, 1989 (1989-01-28) | 112 |
| Sonny is excited when his hairdresser (Jane Leeves) decides to move in with him. But his plan to romance her is blocked by a surprise visit from his father. Meanwhile, Jan wants know who has been using the home phone to dial 1-900 numbers. |||||||
| 114 | 14 | "Just Say Yes" | Neema Barnette | Tom Whedon | February 11, 1989 (1989-02-11) | 114 |
| Amy isn't sure of what to do after she receives a Valentine's Day gift from her boyfriend Bobby Lee, which happens to be a key to his hotel room. |||||||
| 115 | 15 | "Wedding, Wedding" | Steve Zuckerman | Roger Garrett | February 18, 1989 (1989-02-18) | 115 |
| Amy and Ginger decide to hold a double wedding at the restaurant. |||||||
| 116 | 16 | "It's Dark at the Top of the Top" | Paul Kreppel | Tom Whedon | February 25, 1989 (1989-02-25) | 117 |
| Nancy learns that favoring a new hotel manager's ideas can even cost you a job—so the manager replaces her with Dot. |||||||
| 117 | 17 | "My Little Red Book" | Steve Zuckerman | Roger Garrett | March 4, 1989 (1989-03-04) | 116 |
| Sonny discovers a little black book that leads to a smokin' hot catch for the pianist-who turns out to be a Russian spy. |||||||
| 118 | 18 | "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" | Gil Junger | Alicia Marie Schudt | March 11, 1989 (1989-03-11) | 118 |
| Sonny is set up with a new singing partner, while Dot decides to enlists a marriage broker. |||||||
| 119 | 19 | "A Very Special It's a Living" | Marc Sotkin | Marc Sotkin | March 18, 1989 (1989-03-18) | 120 |
| As Jan suddenly goes into premature labor, her life and her baby's hang in the balance. While she is in the hospital, Jan has a strange dream that she is being visited by the angel of death (played by Danny Thomas). |||||||
| 120 | 20 | "The Sonny and Dot Show" | Steve Zuckerman, Gil Junger, Paul Kreppel and Neema Barnette | Roger Garrett, Marc Sotkin and Tom Whedon | April 8, 1989 (1989-04-08) | 119 |
| Dot and Sonny decide to cry on each other's shoulders as they both feel a sense of loneliness in their lives. |||||||