Transcript from WWW.NBC.COM and "Working" Press Release

(received July 1997)

Fred Savage (The Wonder Years) stars in this half-hour comedy as an idealistic young man determined to ascend the slippery corporate ladder at a monolithic, multinational company buzzing with a colorful bunch of worker bees.

Young college graduate Matt Peyser (Savage) surreal corporate education kicks into overdrive at Upton/Webber (the nature of the company's business remains a mystery), where he is sucked into the white-collar vortex of global E-mail, paper shuffling and non-accountability. Despite the style-over-substance shorcuts favored by the top-dog executives, Matt is determined to get ahead the old-fashioned way--by actually doing work.

Peering out of his standard-issue cubicle, Matt must grapple with Tim Deale (Maurice Godin, Life with Roger), his charming, if unethical, boss whose utter lack of common sense and business acumen haven't impeded his heady ranking on the corporate totem pole. However, among his fellow office bottom-feeders, Matt learns fast from Hal (Sarah Knowlton, Object of My Affection), an overqualified Yale graduate-cum-secretary; Abby (Arden Myrin, The Royale), the perky, wanna-please social chairperson; and Evelyn Smalley (Yvette Freeman, ER), the dreaded, no-nonsense operations manager.

"We know what it is like to walk into a new job and learn the game of office politics," says executive producer Bill Rosenthal (The John Larroquette Show). "You know, where the boss asks for your honest opinion--and never forgives you for giving it."

Working is a production of NBC Studios. Michael Davidoff (The John Larroquette Show) and Rosenthal are the executive producers and creators.

CAST

Fred Savage: Matt Peyser
Sarah Knowlton: Hal
Arden Myrin: Abby
Maurice Godin: Tim
Yvette Freeman: Evelyn
Production Company: NBC Studios

Executive Producers/Writers: Michael Davidoff, Bill Rosenthal
Directors: Andrew Tsao, James Widdoes

NBC-Host1:
Fred Savage is now with us! He'll be starring in "Working."

NBC-Host1:
Be sure to continue sending us questions for Royale Watkins.

ROYALE WATKINS:
YADA YADA YADA YADA!

NBC-Host2:
FRED: Are you really a quarterback?

FRED SAVAGE:
No, for senior year in high school they let me play fullback during those crucial moments of the game when we were up by 30 points. And there was a minute and one-half left.

NBC-Host2:
From: Kelly, In Albuquerque, New Mexico: Fred, are you excited to be back working in television?

FRED SAVAGE:
Absolutely.

NBC-Host1:
Back to the cybercast.... we're now on THURSDAY NIGHT!!

NBC-Host1:
Warren Littlefield began to speak about the Thursday Night line-up but Matthew Perry from "Friends" is now on center stage.

MATTHEW PERRY:
You've seen the schedule so far and this night is the comedy Cape Canaveral of network television. Hey, it's Thursday and how cool is that?! We lead off the night with "FRIENDS," or as it will now be called "CHANDLER'S FRIENDS." It stars super sexy Matthew Perry and some other people.

WARREN LITTLEFIELD:
"UNION SQUARE" (at 8:30pm)

WARREN LITTLEFIELD:
Let me do this one, Matt.

WARREN LITTLEFIELD:
"SEINFELD" (at 9pm)

NBC-Host1:
Well, we're listening to the music cue (Hallelujah chorus).

WARREN LITTLEFIELD:
We were all pretty happy to get this deal closed but perhaps my 12-year-old son summed it up best when he called and said: "Dad, is it done? Is "Seinfeld" coming back?" and I replied "yes, Graham, it is", his response was, "good - now I won't get beat up at school."

WARREN LITTLEFIELD:
As you've read we have a 2 year deal with the cast. If Jerry gives the go ahead after next season we'll have Seinfeld back yet again.

WARREN LITTLEFIELD:
Praise the Lord! Yada - Yada - Yada.

NBC-Host1:
Now back to the chat.

NBC-Host1:
Fred, I assume you've never actually had a day job, so what do you bring to the character?

FRED SAVAGE:
The character I play is an innocent idealistic kid who enters the workforce only to realize that all that he expected is entirely the opposite of what actually happens and while it's true that I've never had a corporate job I can relate very much to what he is going through as I remember my own disillusionment when I entered my freshman year of college. Maybe due to the fact that they both take place in an office, but I find real human beings a little more interesting.

NBC-Host-1:
Where are you originally from and you're going to be unbelievable next season.

ROYALE WATKINS:
I am originally from Washington, D.C. Thanks a lot.

ROYALE WATKINS:
I look forward to dinner :)

ROYALE WATKINS:
Thank you, guys, for the chat session. I wish I had my net address but I will on pretty soon and we will be able to chat!

NBC-Host2:
Michael, in Madison, WI: Fred - my friend tells me that you were born in the same room as my sister, at the same time, in Highland Park Hospital in Illinois.

FRED SAVAGE:
I was born in Highland Park Hospital July 9, 1976, at 10:35 am I don't know about your sister but see if they match up

NBC-Host2:
Jim, in College Park, MD: Fred Savage, I always enjoyed "The Wonder Years," but thought it was odd that they ended the show the year before Kevin graduated. Was that your decision or the networks?

FRED SAVAGE:
I always felt that the most natural ending would be to have Kevin graduate from High School as you did, but it seems the powers that be had other plans.

NBC-Host2:
Jol Padgett, in Washington DC: Fred, any sibling Cross-network rivalry between Ben and Yourself?

FRED SAVAGE:
No, no we're both very supportive of each other but I am glad that the show got picked up as my big brother pride might not have held up because his show got picked up as well.

NBC-Host2:
Fred, after seeing your picture on the net, I think you are much cuter now than on "The Wonder Years." What's the feeling about being on the best sitcom network on TV today?

NBC-Host2:
HI FRED!!! Who are your other cast mates? And what can you tell us about them?

FRED SAVAGE:
It's very exciting for me to be part of such a great network and to have such great actors now as my peers. They are great actors, several of them from NY, one from Canada. But I don't think that you would recognize them by name, but that will all change soon.

NBC-Host2:
Fred Savage, do you watch any tv at all? If so, what are your favorites?

FRED SAVAGE:
At school it is difficult to take time off and actually watch TV but I'm a big fan of Conan O'Brien and I'm convinced that Sports Center is the best show on TV. There is nothing definite but judging by the backdrops they have behind the set it looks like NY.

NBC-Host2:
How is Warren Littlefield treating you folks? Is he as nice as people say he is, or is he a stereotypical network exec.?

FRED SAVAGE:
No, no he is very nice. And I've never seen an executive take such an active and interested role in the development of a new pilot.

NBC-Host2:
How did you prepare for this role? Aren't you still in school, or have you graduated yet? How do you play a corporate worker?

FRED SAVAGE:
I am still in school as I'm finishing my junior year at Stanford but I think we've all been through times during which reality and our expectations are at odds and I can take from those moments and apply to the show.

NBC-Host2:
Thanks for chatting with us, FRED SAVAGE and we're all looking forward to your new show, "Working"!

FRED SAVAGE:
Thanks.
 

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