Last night when I watched the Dallas Cowboys host the Washington football club on American Thanksgiving, the halftime show was being done by Dolly Parton.
What else would she be singing but “9 to 5”.
That brought back memories of the song and the movie that became a TV series.
The song
Dolly Parton recorded “9 to 5” in 1980 for the movie “9 to 5”. Wikipedia reveals the song and movie were inspired by 9to5, an organization created in 1973 to bring about fair pay and equal treatment for women in the workplace.
Dolly Parton recorded “9 to 5” in 1980 for the movie “9 to 5”. Wikipedia reveals the song and movie were inspired by 9to5, an organization created in 1973 to bring about fair pay and equal treatment for women in the workplace.
In 1981, the song went all the way to number one on the Billboard Country chart in January; then in February went all the way to number one on Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and the Billboard Hot 100.
Parton was nominated for four Grammys for the song in 1982. She won for Best Country Song, and Best Country Vocal Performance, Female. She was also nominated for Best Album or Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special; and for Song of the Year.
“9 to 5” was nominated for an Oscar in 1981 for Best Original Song as well.
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The main cast from the movie "9 to 5". Standing from left are Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton, while sitting is Dabney Coleman. Source: https://www.ifccenter.com/films/9-to-5/ (May be subject to copyright) |
“9 to 5” is a comedy that appealed to anyone who ever had a terrible boss they wanted to show him or her the error of their ways.
It starred Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton as three secretaries working for an awful boss. One day, they have had enough. They kidnap and hold him hostage, while keeping it all a secret and acting like things are business as usual at the office. Dabney Coleman does a great job as the mean old sexist, autocratic boss.
I recall watching this movie on TV, Channel 13 on the peasant vision dial to be precise. As always, it was cut up by commercial breaks.
One of the things I recall was laughing at the ways the three secretaries tormented their boss, including put him in a dog collar and dangling him from the ceiling with the simple push of a button.
The TV show
Like so many popular movies, “9 to 5” spawned a TV series. It aired on Channel 7 in the peasant vision universe from 1982 to 1983. Rachel Dennison, who is Dolly Parton’s sister, played the role Parton had, while Rita Moreno took over for Lily Tomlin and Valerie Curtin took over for Jane Fonda. Leah Ayres would join the cast in its third season with a character that replaced Curtin’s. Jeffrey Tambor played the original sexist boss, but was replaced by Peter Bonerz for the rest of the run of the show.
Like so many popular movies, “9 to 5” spawned a TV series. It aired on Channel 7 in the peasant vision universe from 1982 to 1983. Rachel Dennison, who is Dolly Parton’s sister, played the role Parton had, while Rita Moreno took over for Lily Tomlin and Valerie Curtin took over for Jane Fonda. Leah Ayres would join the cast in its third season with a character that replaced Curtin’s. Jeffrey Tambor played the original sexist boss, but was replaced by Peter Bonerz for the rest of the run of the show.
Wikipedia reveals “9 to 5” also aired in first-run syndication from 1986 to 1988. Sally Struthers replaced Rita Moreno, while Valerie Curtin returned with her original character. I never saw a single episode of this quasi-re-boot. I suspect either it was on when I stopped watching a lot of TV in Grade 12, when I was at university, or it never aired on peasant vision. A lot of these first-run syndicated series never made it to the farm. A total of 85 episodes were made.
My best recollection was reading in “TV Guide” I believe, and seeing on “Entertainment Tonight” that Jane Fonda was going to make a guest appearance. She ended up appearing as a security guard on the TV series, for one episode.
Parting thoughts
I have read “9 to 5” described as an anthem for working women, and it certainly carries a strong message. In fact, it helped make the phrase “9 to 5” part of the vernacular. The song still resonates because of its message and its powerful, energetic, upbeat performance by Dolly Parton.
I have read “9 to 5” described as an anthem for working women, and it certainly carries a strong message. In fact, it helped make the phrase “9 to 5” part of the vernacular. The song still resonates because of its message and its powerful, energetic, upbeat performance by Dolly Parton.
The movie was funny too and the television series had its moments.
However, I guarantee you, if you ask the average person what “9 to 5” means to them, they’ll tell you it’s the song.
That’s having an impact.
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