ABC's WORK IT to Premiere 1/3

From "Friends" producers Andrew Reich & Ted Cohen comes "Work It," a high-concept comedy about two unrepentant guy's guys, Lee and Angel, who are unable to find work in a tough economy and dress as women to get jobs. Not only do they pull it off, but learn that to be a better man may mean having to be a better woman. "Work It" premieres TUESDAY, JANUARY 3 (8:30-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

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.

In the premiere episode, "Pilot," the almost-broke and unemployed 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 makeup. The transformed Lee gets hired -- as a woman. Lee wants to stay true to his agreement with Angel that, if one of them is working, then the other will be too, so he tells Angel what he has to do if he wants a job at Coreco. Angel, who is miserable working at a fast-food dump, is desperate to make a change; he decides to swallow his pride and go for it. Unfortunately he tanks his interview, but when he fixes the boss's car, he too is hired - also as a woman.

To stay employed, Lee and Angel quickly realize how much they have to learn to get by in their new environment. They must put aside their alpha male selves and learn to navigate their all-female workplace. Their presence at Coreco with their new female coworkers initially raises a few eyebrows, but the company's two newest sales reps find ways to put almost everyone at ease: Enthusiastic and sometimes naive Kristin is excited when the female Lee tells her that she, too, is a single mom. Kelly, the office party girl, is thrilled to have two more friends to hit the town with. Only Grace, the somewhat icy regional sales leader, keeps a suspicious eye on Lee and Angel, convinced that there's something seriously wrong with them. To complicate matters, when Angel meets their new boss, Vanessa, he is immediately smitten with her. But there are some serious obstacles in the way of their romance: She's his boss, and -- no small detail -- she thinks he's a woman.

For his part, Lee can't disclose his feminine secret to his wife, Connie, or to their 14-year-old daughter, Kat, so he tells them he got a job at a drug company - as himself. Connie notices that, since Lee has begun working at Coreco, he seems to be more understanding and sensitive to her needs. The opposite is true of Connie's unemployed brother, Brian, who is also Lee and Angel's drinking buddy. Sensitive and understanding he is not, so they definitely can't reveal their secret to him.

"Work It" stars Ben Koldyke as Lee, Amaury Nolasco as Angel, Rochelle Aytes as Vanessa, John Caparulo as Brian, Kirstin Eggers as Kristin, Beth Lacke as Connie, Rebecca Mader as Grace, Kate Reinders as Kelly, and Hannah Sullivan as Kat Standish.

Guest starring in "Pilot" are Josh McDermitt as manager, Julia Cho as receptionist, Mylinda Royer as secretary, Garz Chan as make-up artist and Kristen Henry King as woman. The episode was written by Ted Cohen & Andrew Reich and directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller.

Photo credit: Eric McCandless/ABC

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