ABC's New Show: Work It

How is this for a plot?

Henry and Kip are two advertising designers who had a real problem with finding a place to live. At the beginning, the sole place they could afford was condemned, but they only found out when the wrecking ball was smashing up the place while they were sleeping. A female friend suggested they stay at her building, but the snag is that the place is for women only. In desperation, they assume the identities of the women Hildegard and Buffy in order to rent a room. Now as they pursue their dream of success in the ad business, they also struggle to keep their deception at the apartment building so they won't be evicted, but the beautiful neighbours they have are a constant temptation. 

Now how about this? 

Lee Standish is a quick-witted and likable family man. His best friend, Angel Ortiz, is a hotheaded ladies’ man with no filter. The two of them worked at Pontiac -- Lee as a top salesman and Angel as head mechanic -- until the company went out of business. Out of work for a year, their job prospects don’t look too bright. They’ve learned the hard way that the current recession is more of a "man-cession" and their skills aren’t in high demand. Then the almost-broke Lee finds out that Coreco Pharmaceuticals is looking to hire sales reps -- female sales reps. He takes a chance and goes into the interview dressed in heels, a skirt and make-up. The transformed Lee gets hired -- as a woman.

Okay, one set needs an apartment (Bosom Buddies) and another needs a job (Work It), but I have certainly seen this tale before - about 30 years ago.  I guess Hollywood doesn't need to copy Great Britain's shows if they can mine our own old shows.  ABC's premiere this evening (7:30 pm ET) of Work It will tell us whether or not the public is ready for old wine in new skins.  Take a look at the trailer and you will see all you need to know.  They make Mrs. Doubtfire look like a hottie.   

Update:   The pilot was not as horrible as I expected, though that may be because my expectations were so low.  I would not put the program on my "must watch list" or even my "watch it at all" list.  If the first episode is any guide, the cross-dressing office workers will gain greater "sensitivity" towards female issues (and fashion) by at the end of each show.  However, the writing is not very endearing toward women and seems to buy into the idea that capable men are the victims.  Will it last a season or two?  Probably not, yet Two and a Half Men is still in existence, which tells you that talent and good writing have nothing to do with success.

Of course, I am being nice in my review.  Here are a few comments from the Hollywood Reporter, which saw no merit to the pilot: 

And you know that "Work It" is heading in the "To become a better man, he had to become a woman" thematic direction. And what does Lee learn in the pilot? Women love purses and being asked about their feelings! "Work It" is all about men stealing back their jobs and placating the women around them, who are too blind, superficial or easily coddled to be worthy adversaries. See? Men won't have to become sex slaves after all! ...Yes, "Work It" is an icky show and I felt uncomfortable with nearly every line of dialogue out of the mouthes of nearly every character, but I return again to the point that having bad ideas is one thing, but having bad execution is worse.

And here is the New York Press:

If Work It had any sort of gleeful political incorrectness to its rote script, there’d be a glimmer of possibility. But this is a throwback to an era when men dressing as women was guaranteed comedy—we’re talking Milton Berle era, with the mustiness of these jokes. But we live during a time when Chaz Bono can compete on Dancing with the Stars, when women are headlining some of the best TV and films of the year. Work It feels like a last gasp of some misogynistic writers, who still think the world of women’s makeup and clothes is a comedy gold mine. You know what is actually a comedy gold mine? Cougar Town, neglected by ABC while Work It gets a promotional push. Maybe Courtney Cox and company should investigate cross-dressing to get back on the air.

 Television Blend seems to be one of the few reviews that does not tear apart the show too much: 

I could address the offensiveness of the jokes, but I’d be misrepresenting myself there. I’m really not easily offended and the nature of this series isn’t mean-spirited or hateful. Are their sexist jokes in the pilot? Yes, and there’s at least one ethnic joke, which might rub people the wrong way. I can also understand if Work It were to offend people among the transgendered community, as the topic of cross-dressing is probably not a laughing matter to them. However the pilot doesn’t really dig that deeply into the subject. Much of the focus is on Lee and Angel’s need to get jobs, apparently at all costs, even if it means putting on women’s clothing. And after that, it’s a series of jokes about them trying to pretend to be women. If anything from the series were to offend me, it’s the obvious stereotyping of men and women, which is more offensive to my sense of humor than it is to me as a woman, but I could probably make the same argument about Last Man Standing.

Second Update:   It seems ABC has had a change of heart and Work It did not work after all.  TV Guide reports that after only two showings ABC has decided to pull it from its schedule.  I suppose we should expect that with a few of the new shows, but I don't really understand how this show is more offensive than most of the sit-com line up that draw laughs from the lowest common denominators.  I guess the protest was a little more organized this time, especially from groups such as GLAAD.  Oh well, ladies, time to hang up those stockings.