In a seminar with the Dramatist's Guild of North America in December 2003, Stephen Schwartz said that directing this television production was the lowest point in his career. He believed at the time he would never write another musical and that he was in a position where he did not know what he was doing.
The original Broadway production of "Working" opened on May 14, 1978 at the 46th Street Theater, ran for 24 performances and Stephen Schwartz was nominated for the 1978 Tony Award for the Best Book for a Musical. David Patrick Kelly, Lynne Thigpen and Matt Landers recreated their stage roles in this filmed production.