History Series / ItsALiving

* SocietyMarchesOn: In the episode "Gender Gap," Sonny dates a {{Transgender}} woman (ironically one of Nancy's ex's). The main characters all express revulsion at the concept. While in the 21st century, individual opinions might or or might not have changed, such a subject would no longer be the subject of ridicule on prime time television.

* BadJobWorseUniform: This was a recurring theme during the first season. In the pilot, both Lois and Jan are shocked that Cassie would actually wear her revealing waitress uniform while outside of the restaurant. Three episodes later, Vicki's father visited the restaurant and threw a fit when he saw what his daughter was wearing. Subverted in subsequent seasons, when the waitress uniforms became much more modest.

* SlumberParty: The 1st season's 2nd episode, ''The Intruder'', features an slumber party at Lois's house. Of course, the fun is interrupted by a burglar.

* SlumberParty: The 1st season's 2nd episode, "The Intruder", features an slumber party at Lois's house. Of course, the fun is interrupted by a burglar.

* SlumberParty: The 1st season's 2nd episode, The Intruder, features an slumber party at Lois's house. Of course, the fun is interrupted by a burglar.

* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Between the first and second seasons, waitresses Lois Adams (Susan Sullivan) and Vicki Allen (Wendy Schaal) were dropped from the cast, along with head chef Mario (Bert Remsen). Despite the fact that much of the first season had centered around Lois and Vicki, no explanation was ever given for their leaving and their characters were never again mentioned. They were replaced by waitress Maggie McBurney (Louise Lasser) and chef Dennis Hubner (Earl Boen), both of whom would fall victim to the same fate when their characters were dropped, without explanation, when the show's third season started in syndication.

* ChuckCunninghamSydrome: Between the first and second seasons, waitresses Lois Adams (Susan Sullivan) and Vicki Allen (Wendy Schaal) were dropped from the cast, along with head chef Mario (Bert Remsen). Despite the fact that much of the first season had centered around Lois and Vicki, no explanation was ever given for their leaving and their characters were never again mentioned. They were replaced by waitress Maggie McBurney (Louise Lasser) and chef Dennis Hubner (Earl Boen), both of whom would fall victim to the same fate when their characters were dropped, without explanation, when the show's third season started in syndication.

* BottleEpisode: Sort of a Bottle ''Series.'' While the show wasn't too married to the idea, the series itself rarely sees the girls outside of the restaurant, much like ''Cheers'' or ''Alice.'' We rarely even got to see the other places of the hotel, either. It gets to a point where four of the girls literally get ''married'' at the damn place [[note]]Technically, Nancy actually does get married outside of the restaurant, but an earlier episode has her get married at the restaurant in a dream sequence. For what it's worth, Sonny also has a failed marriage at the place.[[/note]] .

* BottleEpisode: Sort of a Bottle ''Series.'' While the show wasn't too married to the idea, the series itself rarely sees the girls outside of the restaurant, much like ''Cheers'' or ''Alice.'' We rarely even got to see the other places of the hotel, either. It gets to a point where four of the girls literally get ''married'' at the damn place.

* MagicalRealism: The penultimate episode features Jan dying and being visited by the Angel of Death (played by DannyThomas).

* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: Zigzagged. We never can see the girls succeed in their career goals (like Dot becoming an actress or Jan becoming a lawyer) since that would mean they leave the show. Regarding their social lives, the show did see most of the girls get married [[spoiler: All of the remaining girls, with the exception of Dot, end up getting married at the restaurant, even including Nancy.]] but still not financially secure. Even Ginger, who marries a doctor, explicitly has to keep waiting tables until he opens his practice.

* BottleEpisode: While the show wasn't too married to the idea, the series itself rarely sees the girls outside of the restaurant, much like ''Cheers'' or ''Alice.'' We rarely even got to see the other places of the hotel. It gets to a point where four of the girls literally get ''married'' at the damn place.

* BottleEpisode: While the show wasn't too married to the idea, the series itself rarely sees the girls outside of the restaurant. We rarely even got to see the other places of the hotel. It gets to a point where four of the girls literally get ''married'' at the damn place.

* LockedIn: Episode 1 of season 4. "The Roof Show", Sonny gets stuck on the roof, and as each waitress comes up to tell him to get back to work they one by one also get stuck there, leaving Nancy, Howard and Amy to handle the restaurant by themselves.

* LockedIn:Episode 1 of season 4. "The Roof Show", Sonny gets stuck on the roof, and as each waitress comes up to tell him to get back to work they one by one also get stuck there, leaving Nancy, Howard and Amy to handle the restaurant by themselves.

* LockedIn:Episode 1 of season 4

!!''It's a Living'' provides examples of the following tropes: