Seasons 1–2 The first two seasons' opening credits featured clips from the 1980
movie trailer, of various office duties being performed. Cast changes were constant early on, as the show tried to find the right ensemble combination.
Jeffrey Tambor was the original Franklin Hart (
Dabney Coleman's character from the film) during the spring 1982 run, but that fall
Peter Bonerz replaced him in that role. He would remain throughout the rest of
9 to 5's ABC run. In another key element straight from the movie, resident flunky to Mr. Hart, office snoop Roz Keith (portrayed in the original film by
Elizabeth Wilson), was played by British actress
Jean Marsh (of
Upstairs, Downstairs fame). Roz was responsible for digging up the personal dirt on the secretaries and to help Hart scheme his way to the very top. Season 2 also saw the addition of
Herb Edelman as fatherly salesman Harry Nussbaum, who became an ally to Violet, Judy and Doralee in their schemes against Mr. Hart. Another co-worker, Clair (Ann Weldon), became a regular. The sitcom proved to be very popular, ranking at #15 for its first season.
Season 3 Jane Fonda, who also developed the film version, acted as executive producer during the show's first two seasons. However, she disassociated herself after a dispute over the direction of the show. Her co-producer Bruce Gilbert went with her. Prior to the start of Season 3, veteran TV actor and producer
James Komack stepped in to helm the show in their stead. His vision for the show included many changes, which tried to add a new angle without taking the premise away from the original movie and TV format. The Fonda character of Judy Bernly, portrayed by Valerie Curtin, was written out for the purposes of replacing her with a younger, 20-something secretary, Linda Bowman (
Leah Ayres). She instantly became friends with Violet and Doralee, so much that she subsequently became a roommate of theirs in Violet's apartment. Also inhabiting this living arrangement was Violet's 12-year-old son Tommy (played by Tony La Torre, in between his stints on
CBS' oft-cancelled
Cagney & Lacey). Salesman Nussbaum was also replaced, by Michael Henderson (
George Deloy), and Komack also dropped office snoop Roz. Additionally, the company setting changed from Consolidated Companies to American House. The revamp caused an instant decline in the ratings, falling to 75th out of 76 shows, and the series was cancelled five episodes into the new season. As ABC decided to pull the plug on
9 to 5 just a month into the season, only five episodes were broadcast in the 1983–84 season, with two episodes remaining unaired. ==First-run syndication==