Advertise on podcast: 80s TV Ladies

Welcome to 80s TV Ladies, where we look back in order to leap forward! With our lovely producer Melissa out having some fun life stuff, hosts Sharon Johnson and Susan Lambert Hatem take the mic to break down the Top 10 Most Norman Lear-ish Episodes of One Day at a Time. Susan and Sharon explore how TV titan Norman Lear revolutionized the 1970s and 80s sitcom landscape, using One Day at a Time to tackle second-wave feminism, workplace harassment, teen sex, runaway youth, and mental health without losing the comedy. THE CONVERSATION The Legacy of Norman Lear: A tribute to Lear’s WWII service, 22 landmark sitcoms (including All in the Family, Maude, and The Jeffersons), and his passionate civic activism through People for the American Way and voter registration drives.What Makes an Episode "Lear-ish"? How One Day at a Time introduced the "sitcom dramedy" format—tackling taboo real-life issues with heart, humor, and authentic character conflicts.The Groundbreaking Top 10 List: Deep dives into landmark episodes and multi-part story arcs, including the unaired pilot Three to Get Ready vs. Ann's Decision (S1E1), Important conversations about teen sex in All the Way (S1E8), serialized storytelling in The Runaways (S2E1–4), workplace harassment in Ann's Out of Town Client (S3E5), teen depression in Barbara's Friend (S3E9–10), and natural childbirth in Miracle of Birth (S8E8–9).Schneider’s Evolution: How Pat Harrington Jr.’s iconic character shifted from creepy boundary-pusher to beloved family figure—plus his 1970s CB radio obsession and how he paved the way for characters like Kramer.Career Milestones & Series Arcs: Ann Romano’s journey from a newly divorced homemaker searching for independence to a successful account executive heading to London. NEXT EPISODE TEASER Stay tuned for our next episode, where the '90s TV Babies step up to give their fresh take on One Day at a Time! What will the Babies say? 📦 AUDIOGRAPHY & RECOMMENDED WATCHING Watch One Day at a Time: Stream the original series for free on Tubi or purchase episodes on Amazon and YouTube. Norman Lear Documentary: Watch Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You (2016) streaming for free on Roku or available to purchase on Amazon and Apple. Norman Lear Memoir: Read Norman Lear’s biography, Even This I Get to Experience, onhttps://www.thriftbooks.com/w/even-this-i-get-to-experience_norman-lear/3135739/item/16656275/  COMMUNITY CONNECT Connect with 80s TV Ladies: Join our mailing list, follow 8TL on Instagram (@80sTVLadies), support us on Patreon for ad-free episodes, and discover more great shows on Weirding Way Media!PROTECT THE VOTE Vote.org: Check your voter registration. Make sure you and the young adults in your life are ready to vote. Stay engaged. Let your voice be heard.DemocracyDocket.com: Learn more about protecting our right to vote.🌟 SPECIAL 8TL PROMOTIONS! COZY EARTH: Get 21% OFF awesome bamboo sheets and pajamas at CozyEarth.com using promo code: 80STVLADIES.TORRAIN BAGS: Get 15% OFF recycled bags perfect for travel and work with promo code: 80sTVLadies.All Promo Deals: See all special offers at MyDeals.Page/19wy. Visit 80sTVLadies.com for more info. Listen to 80s TV Ladies at YouTube. Subscribe and help us grow. Don’t miss out. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list! Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes, video interviews, and exclusive content on PATREON.

Welcome to 80s TV Ladies, where we hold on tight and muddle through one day at a time! In this episode, hosts Sharon Johnson and Susan Lambert Hatem kick off a multi-part deep dive into the classic 1975–1984 sitcom One Day at a Time. Susan and Sharon break down 25 of the most surprising facts about the ground-breaking series—from its real-life origins and pilot changes to backstage rock-star encounters, and the evolution of everyone's favorite - and 80s inappropriate - superintendent, Dwayne Schneider. Real-Life Origins & Creators: How co-creator Whitney Blake based the show on her own life as a divorced single mother raising three kids (including future Family Ties star Meredith Baxter). The Conversation: Pilot & Script Changes: The original pilot title Three to Get Ready, why Ann Romano was initially written as a nurse with only one daughter, and why Bonnie Franklin insisted on keeping her character’s maiden name.Schneider’s Evolution: How Pat Harrington Jr. created Schneider’s iconic look, his shift from early-season "creepy" to beloved family figure, and his late-70s CB radio obsession.Pop Culture & Rock Encounters: The time Elton John sent fan mail after Valerie Bertinelli and Mackenzie Phillips performed in full Elton drag, and how Valerie met Eddie Van Halen backstage.Behind-the-Scenes Secrets: Taping at three different studio lots, theme song history (and the Gloria Estefan reboot cover), and intriguing directors Michael Lembeck, Bonnie Franklin, and past 8TL guest, Asad Kalada.Series Finale & Backdoor Pilot: How the 1984 series finale doubled as an unsold spin-off pilot for Schneider - featuring a young Corey Feldman!Next Episode Teaser: Stay tuned for our next episode, where we rank and break down the Top 10 Most Norman Lear-ish Episodes of One Day at a Time! 📦 AUDIOGRAPHY & RECOMMENDED WATCHING Watch One Day at a Time: Stream the original series for free on Tubi or purchase episodes on Amazon and YouTube.Mackenzie Phillips Books: Read High on Arrival: A Memoir and Hopeful Healing: Essays on Managing Recovery and Surviving Addiction on bookshop.orgValerie Bertinelli Books: Find her latest book, Getting Naked: The Quiet Work of Becoming Perfectly Imperfect, along with her memoirs and cookbooks bookshop.orgFind out more about the ROAR Movement’s September 27th National Walk for Longterm Care Reform. Find a walk in your state. Go to ROAR4ltc.org   ​​🛍️ PROMO DEALS, VOTING & COMMUNITY CONNECT Connect with 80s TV Ladies: Join our mailing list, follow 8TL on Instagram (@80sTVLadies), support us on Patreon for ad-free episodes, and discover more great shows on Weirding Way Media!PROTECT THE VOTE Vote.org: Check your voter registration. Make sure you and the young adults in your life are ready to vote. Stay engaged. Let your voice be heard.DemocracyDocket.com is protecting our vote. Learn more. COMMUNITY CONNECT Los Angeles Live Theatre ONE-NIGHT-ONLY Event: See producer Susan Lambert Hatem and 90s TV Baby and Stage Manager, Sailor Franklin at the incredible one-woman show, starring Victoria Libertore: LIZA (not) at the Palace!Friday, Sept 18 at 7:30pmLos Angeles LGBT Center.Get info & tix at LALGBTCenter.org/events.🌟🛍️ SPECIAL 8TL PROMOTIONS! COZY EARTH - Best Deal - 21% OFF! At Cozy Earth.com - Get the best discount on awesome sheets and pajamas.Use promo code: 80STVLADIES TORRAIN BAGS - 15% OFF Good cause - Great bag. Perfect for travel and adventure and back to school! Get your 80s TV Ladies deal: Code: 80sTVLadies 🔗 See ALL our special deals at: https://MyDeals.Page/19wy 🎁 Promo Code: 80STVLADIES Visit 80sTVLadies.com for more info. Listen to 80s TV Ladies at YouTube. Subscribe and help us grow. Don’t miss out. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list! Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes, video interviews, and exclusive content on PATREON.

"Norman kept saying, 'If you don't trust yourself to know that you're good, trust me because I know you're good. This is what you're meant to be doing.'" — Adrienne Barbeau, on working with Norman Lear on Maude Welcome to 80s TV Ladies, where we look back in order to leap forward, and where we say everyone has the right to body autonomy and boundless joy! In this episode, hosts Sharon Johnson and Susan Lambert Hatem are joined by six-decade stage and screen icon Ms. Adrienne Barbeau. From her early performing days touring East Asia with the USO to her Broadway roots, Adrienne shares how she went from Fiddler on the Roof alongside Bette Midler to originating the role of Rizzo in Grease. She opens up about being selected by Norman Lear to play Carol, Bea Arthur’s independent daughter on Maude, and reflects on the cultural impact of the landmark 1972 "Maude's Dilemma" abortion episodes. Plus, Adrienne takes us behind the scenes of her legendary genre career, her love for voice and audio description work, and her second career as an author! In this episode, we discuss: Broadway Roots to Sitcom Stardom: How playing Rizzo in Grease earned her a Tony nomination and caught the attention of Norman Lear.Working on Maude: What it was like working alongside Bea Arthur and Rue McClanahan, the family culture on set, and learning comedic timing on the job."Maude’s Dilemma": The groundbreaking two-part episode about abortion, working in a healthcare clinic during hiatus, and writing her 2022 Guardian op-ed.Cult Horror & Sci-Fi Royalty: Stories from filming The Fog, Swamp Thing, Creepshow, and the secret garage shoot behind her death scene in Escape From New York.Classic 70s & 80s TV Guest Spots: Her memories from Fantasy Island (including full-face prosthetics), Murder, She Wrote, The Love Boat, Quincy, and playing a Romulan on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.Life as an Author & Voice Artist: Writing her vampire mystery novels, her memoir, and describing films for blind audiences. Next Episode Teaser: Don't miss our next episode, where we begin our deep dive into the classic 1975–1984 Norman Lear sitcom One Day at a Time, starring Bonnie Franklin, Mackenzie Phillips, and Valerie Bertinelli, featuring 25 surprising facts about the show! 📦 AUDIOGRAPHY & RECOMMENDED WATCHING Learn more about Adrienne Barbeau at abarbeau.com or on Instagram @adrienne_barbeau. Watch The Fog on Pluto, Escape From New York or Maude on Tubi  Check out the documentary Hollywood Does Abortion at hollywooddoesabortion.com. Read Adrienne’s 2022 op-ed on Maude's Dilemma in The Guardian. Pick up Adrienne's books—There Are Worse Things I Could Do on Amazon. Listen to it on Spotify or Audible   Grease: Tell Me More, Tell Me More at Bookshop.org And her Vampire Trilogy (The Vampyres of Hollywood, Love Bites, Make Me Dead)—at Amazon Watch the short film Oddities on YouTube. Oddities Short Horror Film | Screamfest Watch Alice Jacobs is Dead on YouTube. Horror Short Film "Alice Jacobs Is Dead" | ALTER Be ready for our next multi-episode primer on the classic sitcom, One Day at a Time, streaming on Tubi. ⭐️ Support the Pod: Loved this episode? Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, subscribe on Spotify, and join our Patreon community at patreon.com/80sTVLadies for bonus content! PROTECT THE VOTE Vote.org: Check your voter registration. Make sure you and the young adults in your life are ready to vote. Stay engaged. Let your voice be heard.DemocracyDocket.com is protecting our vote. Learn more. COMMUNITY CONNECT Los Angeles Live Music Event: See indie rocker Michelle Malone live at the Love Song Bar in DTLA on Friday, September 4th! Get tickets at Love Song Bar eventbrite.🌟🛍️ SPECIAL 8TL PROMOTIONS!  COZY EARTH - Best Deal - 21% OFF! At Cozy Earth.com Get the best discount on awesome sheets and pajamas.Use promo code: 80STVLADIES  TORRAIN BAGS - 15% OFFGood cause - Great bag. Perfect for travel and adventure and back to school!Get your 80s TV Ladies deal: Code: 80sTVLadies 🔗 See ALL our special deals at: https://MyDeals.Page/19wy 🎁 Promo Code: 80STVLADIES Visit 80sTVLadies.com for more info. Listen to 80s TV Ladies at YouTube. Subscribe and help us grow. Don’t miss out. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list! Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes, video interviews, and exclusive content on PATREON.

"As a TV junkie, the Fall TV Preview was the best time of the year. The network specials highlighted their new shows—they were always informative, joyful, and optimistic because everyone expected these shows to be big hits!" — Sharon Johnson NEW EPISODE! Summer is winding down, back-to-school season is here, and the 80s TV Ladies are diving into one of the absolute best pop-culture traditions of the 80s: The Network Fall TV Previews! Join hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson, along with producer Melissa Roth and Carnegie Mellon summer intern, Shannon Lee, as they look back at how it felt when fall was approaching and a brand-new season of television was about to drop. Before streaming, DVRs, or internet spoilers, catching a glimpse of upcoming shows meant waiting with bated breath for the extra-thick TV Guide Fall Preview issue and tuning into wild, star-studded prime-time network specials. Together, the ladies explore the history of TV Guide, the agonizing strategy of choosing between conflicting time slots, bizarre prime-time crossover promos, fever-dream Saturday morning cartoon previews, and the classic fall lineup shows that captured our hearts.  THE CONVERSATION THE HOLY GRAIL OF TV GUIDE: Exploring the history of TV Guide magazine, from its iconic 1953 debut cover featuring Lucille Ball’s newborn son Desi Jr. to why the annual September Fall Preview issue was every TV junkie’s holy grail.TIME-SLOT WARS & STRIKE DELAYS: How pre-DVR audiences navigated brutal schedule conflicts (sacrificing new shows for established favorites!), how the 1980 SAG actors' strike delayed fall premieres, and the wild 1980 magazine ads for hard liquor, cigarettes, and brand-new Maxwell VHS videotapes.WACKY NETWORK PROMO SPECIALS: Recapping the gloriously surreal prime-time preview specials—from the 1983 ABC Love Boat crossover where real stars boarded in-character, to Kenny Loggins singing "We've Got the Touch" on CBS, and ABC’s bizarre 1985 parody of "I Love L.A."SATURDAY MORNING CARTOON FEVER: Remembering the surreal Saturday morning cartoon preview specials hosted by 80s icons like Mr. T, Joyce DeWitt, Ted Knight, Weird Al, and the cast of The Facts of Life.FALL SHOW HITS & MISSES: Reminiscing about short-lived gems, cult classics, and massive hits from fall lineups, including WKRP in Cincinnati, Hill Street Blues, Ladies' Man, Freebie and the Bean, Breaking Away, The A-Team, and Hardcastle & McCormick.📦 AUDIOGRAPHY & RECOMMENDED WATCHING Check out the digitized 1980 TV Guide Fall Preview Issue (September 13–19, 1980) to browse the original schedules, ads, and show previews.Get Ready for our Next Guest: Watch The Fog on Pluto, Escape From New York or Maude on Tubi to get ready for upcoming dream-guest interview with the legendary Adrienne Barbeau!Be ready for our next multi-episode primer on the classic sitcom, One Day at a Time, streaming on Tubi.THE PREVIEW AND PROMO SPECIALS YouTube has a lot of the Fall TV Specials and promos.  Here is a curated playlist of many ABC Network Fall preview videos.Promo for the 1983 ABC Love Boat Special.The entire (we think) 1983 ABC Love Boat Fall Preview SpecialArticle and review of The Love Boat Special at Tune in Tonight.1980 You and Me and ABC - Fancy Dance number.CBS We've Got the Touch Kenny Rogers Promos 19851984 CBS Saturday Morning Preview Special with Ted Knight!1983 NBC You've Got to NBC Be There" Short Promo1985 ABC Fall Preview Promo "I Love LA" parody - Always Something Good to See... on ABC. PROTECT THE VOTE Vote.org: Check your voter registration. Make sure you and the young adults in your life are ready to vote. Stay engaged. Let your voice be heard.DemocracyDocket.com is protecting our vote. Learn more.  COMMUNITY CONNECT Los Angeles Live Music Event: See indie rocker Michelle Malone live at the Love Song Bar in DTLA on Friday, September 4th! Get tickets at Love Song Bar eventbrite.Connect with 80s TV Ladies: Follow along on Instagram and Facebook @80sTVLadies🌟🛍️ SPECIAL 8TL PROMOTIONS!  COZY EARTH - Best Deal - 21% OFF! At Cozy Earth.com Get the best discount on awesome sheets and pajamas.Use promo code: 80STVLADIES  TORRAIN BAGS - 15% OFFGood cause - Great bag. Perfect for travel and adventure and back to school!Get your 80s TV Ladies deal: Code: 80sTVLadies 🔗 See ALL our special deals at: https://MyDeals.Page/19wy 🎁 Promo Code: 80STVLADIES Visit 80sTVLadies.com for more info. Listen to 80s TV Ladies at YouTube. Subscribe and help us grow. Don’t miss out. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list! Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes, video interviews, and exclusive content on PATREON.

"A lot of production companies who decide to do stories about people of color are not used to having the people of color they hire coming in with an opinion. Coming in contradicting them on certain things." — Neema Barnette REWIND EPISODE: Happy Summer! We made it to August. This is our last rerun episode of the summer. In a few weeks we’ll be bringing you brand new episodes! We loved rewatching A Different World and learning about the show from our incredible guests. We think this interview with legendary producer and director Neema Barnette is so powerful and timely. We hope you enjoy it, too! Sharon and Susan welcome legendary producer-director Neema Barnette to talk about her incredible journey from Harlem to Hollywood. Ms. Barnette made television history in 1986 when she became the first African American woman to direct a prime-time sitcom (What’s Happening Now?). She followed this historic milestone with episodes of Frank’s Place, It’s A Living, and The Cosby Show before directing seven iconic episodes of A Different World. With over 50 film and TV directing credits to her name, she was also the first African American woman to sign a three-picture deal with Sony Pictures. Neema also served as producer-director for Season 1 of Ava DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey’s Queen Sugar. In this episode, she shares stories of making the transition from New York theater to Hollywood sets, fighting for creative integrity, inspiring new generations with the truth, and applying actual "strategies for revolution" to transform the entertainment industry. 🗣️ THE CONVERSATION BARBARA CORDAY’S INSTANT YES: How one look at Neema’s directing reel prompted the head of Columbia Pictures to demand, "Get this woman a job!"STRATEGIES FOR REVOLUTION: Taking a college course on revolutionary strategy and directly applying those lessons to navigate, challenge, and disrupt Hollywood's power structures.MAKING SITCOM HISTORY: Directing the groundbreaking episode of What’s Happening Now? with support from Shirley Hemphill, and helming The Cosby Show episode where Bill gets pregnant.FROM HARLEM TO THE APOLLO: Growing up in the 1960s, grabbing Sherman’s BBQ, spending 12-hour days at the Apollo Theater watching Aretha Franklin, and bringing authentic New York theater sensibilities to West Coast sets.THE QUEEN SUGAR LEGACY: Being called away from teaching to produce and direct Queen Sugar, and how Ava DuVernay permanently shifted the industry landscape by hiring only female directors.📦 AUDIOGRAPHY & RECOMMENDED WATCHING Watch A Different World -- streaming on Netflix and Philo.Follow Neema Barnette on Instagram.com/neemafilms Black History Mini-Docs: Explore Neema’s educational micro-documentaries celebrating Black heritage at BlackHistoryMiniDocs.com.🛍️ FAMOUS LAKE PARK FREE SCREENING! See Susan at the NYC Film premiere of Famous Lake Park - the wild and hilarious puppet animation comedy short. Premiering at the International Puppet Fringe Festival in the Lower East Side!  Get your FREE Tickets at PuppetFringeNYC.comSaturday & Sunday, August 15 and 16.🛍️ PROMO DEALS - SPECIAL COZY EARTH PROMOTION!   Get 21% OFF at CozyEarth.com - or the BEST DEAL they have going. Great deals on awesome cozy sheets and pajamas at COZY EARTH. Be sure to use the promo code: 80STVLADIES for the best deal they’re offering.  Happy Shopping! 🔗 Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/19wy 🎁 Code: 80STVLADIES CONNECT Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list. Follow 8TL on Facebook or  Instagram/80sTVLadies. Get ad-free episodes and exclusive videos on PATREON. Find more cool podcasts at our host sight, Weirding Way Media.  Visit 80sTVLadies.com for more info. Listen to 80s TV Ladies at YouTube. Subscribe and help us grow. Don’t miss out. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list! Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes, video interviews, and exclusive content on PATREON.

"We have to look back, not in anger, but in amazement and in hope over how much had changed... We're sending the message that all of our blackness is good." — Susan Fales-Hill REWIND EPISODE! The 80s TV Ladies are almost done moving! A few more Bonus episodes to rerun, and we’ll be settled in and bringing you brand new episodes! We loved rewatching A Different World and learning about the show from our incredible guests. We think this interview with legendary showrunner, writer, and author Susan Fales-Hill is so insightful. We hope you enjoy it, too! Content Warning: At approximately 53:00-58:00, this episode includes a short discussion of date rape and child sexual assault. Susan shares what it was like rising from writer’s apprentice to showrunner on A Different World, working alongside Debbie Allen, writing for icons like Diahann Carroll and Patti LaBelle, and battling network executives to tell real, impactful stories about Black culture, college life, and social change. Sharon and Susan continue their look at the groundbreaking 80s sitcom A Different World (1987–1993). In this episode, they sit down with award-winning television writer, producer, and author Susan Fales-Hill. Susan started her career on The Cosby Show before joining A Different World, where she rose from story editor to showrunner—making her one of the youngest and few Black female showrunners in Hollywood at the time. Together, they dive deep into the behind-the-scenes realities of taking over the show alongside Debbie Allen, fighting network pushback to tackle heavy topics like AIDS and date rape, and using comedy as a powerful form of cultural resilience. 🗣️ THE CONVERSATION FROM WRITER'S APPRENTICE TO SHOWRUNNER: How Susan navigated pitching directly to Bill Cosby, "re-potting" her voice in the writers' room, and rising to executive producer at a record age.THE DEBBIE ALLEN RESET: How bringing in Debbie Allen transformed the tone of the show, allowing the cast to explore authentic college experiences, topical issues, and integrated dance sequences.LEGENDS ON SET: Writing iconic comedic moments for Diahann Carroll and Patti LaBelle, and the deeply moving moment Diahann Carroll shared with the young cast about Black representation in Hollywood.PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE NETWORK: Battles over covering real-world issues like The Amistad, the LA Uprisings, HIV/AIDS, and date rape, and how the show shifted public perception and inspired generations to attend college.THE POWER OF COMEDIC RESILIENCE: How growing up surrounded by theatrical legends shaped her approach to comedy, and how humor acts as a vital tool for survival and storytelling.📦 AUDIOGRAPHY & RECOMMENDED WATCHING Watch A Different World: Stream the series on Max, or catch Seasons 1 and 2 via Hoopla through your local library (also available for purchase on Amazon Prime).Must-Watch Episode: Check out the Season 4 Thanksgiving episode "Faith, Hope, and Charity," featuring the legendary pairing of Diahann Carroll and Patti LaBelle.Discover Susan’s Books: Explore Susan Fales-Hill’s memoir Always Wear Joy and her four other published books at your favorite local bookstore or Bookshop.org.Met Museum Feature: Watch Susan's Met Museum video discussing her life, biracial identity, and creative journey "in the in-between." AUDIOGRAPHY Watch A Different World -- streaming on Netflix and Philo. Find out more about Susan at SusanFales-Hill.com Follow her at Instagram.com/madamefaleshill Must-Watch Episode: Check out the Season 4 Thanksgiving episode "Faith, Hope, and Charity," featuring the legendary pairing of Diahann Carroll and Patti LaBelle. Explore Susan Fales-Hill’s memoir Always Wear Joy and her four other published books at Barnes and Noble. Get Susan’s President Carter play, Confidence (and the Speech) at Broadway Licensing. Help Abortion Access at Abortionfinder.org. 🛍️ PROMO DEALS - SPECIAL COZY EARTH PROMOTION!   Get 21% OFF at CozyEarth.com - or the BEST DEAL they have going. Get awesome cozy sheets and pajamas at COZY EARTH. Be sure to use the promo code: 80STVLADIES for the best deal they’re offering.  Happy Shopping! 🔗 Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/19wy 🎁 Code: 80STVLADIES CONNECT Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list. Follow 8TL on Facebook or  Instagram/80sTVLadies. Get ad-free episodes and exclusive videos on PATREON. Find more cool podcasts at our host sight, Weirding Way Media.  Visit 80sTVLadies.com for more info. Listen to 80s TV Ladies at YouTube. Subscribe and help us grow. Don’t miss out. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list! Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes, video interviews, and exclusive content on PATREON.

"It was the first time that the idea of an HBCU was even a thought to me of a thing I could do... it was so eye-opening to me that there was this whole other part of life in Black culture that I just didn't know anything about... we're sending the message that all of our blackness is good." - Niceole Levy REWIND EPISODE The 80s TV Ladies are almost done moving! A few more bonus episodes to rerun, and we’ll be settled in and bringing you brand new episodes! We loved rewatching A Different World and learning about the show from our incredible guests. We think this interview with TV writer/producer Niceole Levy is so fun. We hope you enjoy it, too!  Sharon and Susan begin an all-new series of episodes looking at the groundbreaking 80s sitcom A Different World (1987-1993). This Cosby Show spin-off starred Lisa Bonet, Kadeem Hardison, Jasmine Guy, Charnele Brown, Dawn Lewis and Marissa Tomei. It explored the lives of students at Hillman College, a fictional HBCU, and addressed issues such as race, sexual assault, HIV/AIDS and equal rights while still keeping the laughs coming. In 1988, Lisa Bonet and Marissa Tomei left the show and a new showrunner was brought on -- the legendary actress, producer, director and choreographer Debbie Allen. To help kick off this in-depth look at A Different World, we welcome A Different World fan and amazing “2020s TV Lady” -- writer, producer, and author Niceole Levy.  Niceole’s numerous TV writing/producing credits include Cloak and Dagger, Shades of Blue, SWAT, The Recruit and Found. She is the co-writer, along with George Nolfi, of the 2020 feature film The Banker. She has also written a book for aspiring TV writers called "The Writer’s Room Survival Guide." THE CONVERSATION 80s TV made marriage look easy and fun -- cuz the couples were usually crime-solving millionaires!How watching every syndicated show on TV -- Perry Mason, I Love Lucy, Marcus Welby, Dick Van Dyke Show, Ironside -- prepares you for a life of TV writing.Everything retro is new again: Getting that first gig -- with Blair Underwood -- on the 2013 re-boot of Ironside!Niceole’s advice for getting into TV and film -- DON’T GO TO FILM SCHOOL!For Niceole -- and so many others -- A Different World’s Hillman College was her first exposure to an HBCU.RUN THE NUMBERS: 20 of the 47 writers on ADW were women!SEASON 2 RE-SET: How the addition of show-runner Debbie Allen re-ignited the series with a new sense of excitement and vitality.A DIFFERENT LOOK -- How A Different World achieved a bigger, more expansive look than other sitcoms of the time.So, join Susan, Sharon -- and Niceole -- as they talk Miami Vice, watching 1,000 television shows, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,keeping a TV journal, Boyz II Men, dancing with Kamala Harris, scheduling your life around a TV show -- and the importance of not messing up the lunch order! AUDIOGRAPHY Watch A Different World -- streaming on Netflix and Philo. Find out more about Niceole Levy at niceolelevy.com. Read her article “What I Learned Watching 1,000 Television Shows” here.  Buy Niceole Levy’s book "The Writer’s Room Survival Guide" at Bookshop.org. Get Susan’s President Carter play, Confidence (and the Speech) at Broadway Licensing. Help Abortion Access at Abortionfinder.org. PROMO DEALS - SPECIAL COZY EARTH PROMOTION!  NOW Thru July 16th! Get 30% OFF at CozyEarth.com - After July 16, you can still get 21% OFF - or the BEST DEAL they have going - on awesome sheets and pajamas at COZY EARTH. Be sure to use the promo code: 80STVLADIES for the best deal they’re offering. Happy Shopping! 🔗 Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/19wy 🎁 Code: 80STVLADIES CONNECT Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list. Follow 8TL on Facebook or  Instagram/80sTVLadies. Get ad-free episodes and exclusive videos on PATREON. Find more cool podcasts at our host sight, Weirding Way Media.  Visit 80sTVLadies.com for more info. Listen to 80s TV Ladies at YouTube. Subscribe and help us grow. Don’t miss out. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list! Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes, video interviews, and exclusive content on PATREON.

"When someone came at me or was very mean to me or made it clear that I was not welcome on the line, I still had my love for dance. I leaned into my dream as a child, and I was living it wholeheartedly, and they weren't allowed to take it away." — Jennifer Jones For a century, the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes have represented the gold standard of precision dance, synchronized routines, and eye-high kicks. But for the first 63 years, that famous line failed to reflect the diversity of the audiences watching them, and the demographics of America herself. In 1987, that history changed forever when professional dancer Jennifer Jones was hired as the very first African American Rockette, making her unforgettable debut on television screens across the nation during the 1988 Super Bowl XXII halftime show! In this episode, Sharon and Susan sit down with this groundbreaking icon to talk about what it was really like to break through a decades-old institutional barrier at just 20 years old. Jennifer shares the stage with us to discuss her incredible 15-year tenure on the line, her full-circle Tony Award-winning run on Broadway in 42nd Street, and her deeply personal, triumphant battle surviving Stage III colorectal cancer with that signature Rockette resilience. 🗣️ THE CONVERSATION STEPPING ONTO THE FIELD AT SUPER BOWL XXII: Overcoming intense nerves in a massive football stadium, learning complex precision terminology on the fly, and feeling the ultimate validation that she was exactly where she was supposed to be.NAVIGATING INSTITUTIONAL RESISTANCE: Dealing with antiquated industry mindsets regarding "uniformity," handling behind-the-scenes pushback from PR and management, and the crucial, historic knock on the door from the NAACP that forced Radio City to change.THE ART OF PRECISION DANCE: Moving your limbs "through peanut butter" to seamlessly look like a single dancer, and how the mental discipline of a professional athlete shapes a lifetime of character.FROM THE WIZ TO THE TONY AWARDS: How seeing vital Black representation on stage as a child inspired her dreams, and her breathtaking full-circle moment performing at the Tony Awards inside Radio City Music Hall.THE RHYTHM OF RESILIENCE: Her sudden diagnosis with Stage III colorectal cancer at age 50, learning to fiercely advocate for her own health when doctors brushed her symptoms aside, and her vital mission to spread awareness about early cancer screenings. 📦 AUDIOOGRAHY  - WHERE TO FIND JENNIFER'S WORK Official Website & Socials: Connect with Jennifer at theofficialjenniferjones.com or on Instagram  and Facebook.com/RocketteJenn.The Books: Grab your copy of her powerful memoir, Becoming Spectacular: The Rhythm of Resilience from the First African American Rockette, or her beautiful children’s book, On the Line, online via HarperCollins and Bookshop.org or at your local bookstore.The Dancing Jen Doll! Check out the beautiful "Christmas Spectacular Dancing Jen" doll designed to accompany her children's book, available now at Walmart Marketplace.🩺 HEALTH RESOURCES & VITAL ADVOCACY Get Screened Early: Colon cancer is being diagnosed in younger adults more than ever before. The routine screening age has officially dropped from 50 to 45. Listen to your body, advocate for your health, and learn more at coloncancercoalition.orgYour Vote is Your Voice: Don't let your voice be silenced. Head over to Vote.org to check your registration status or register to vote today. 📻 CONNECT WITH 80s TV LADIES Support Us on Patreon: Want to see videos of our incredible interviews? Join our Patreon community for exclusive video drops, special merch, and behind-the-scenes extras!Rate and Review: If the 80s TV Ladies bring you joy and laughter, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts to help other amazing ladies of the 21st century find the show! Visit 80sTVLadies.com for more info. Listen to 80s TV Ladies at YouTube. Subscribe and help us grow. Don’t miss out. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list! Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes, video interviews, and exclusive content on PATREON.

"Music videos were an avenue for women to break into directing, which was really important at the time. A lot of women basically got their start directing music videos because nobody wanted to do them... until they became super popular." — Susan Lambert Hatem The great mid-season packing and moving marathon continues! In the second half of this double-header special, hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson return to count down the remaining legendary music videos that defined the MTV golden era. As they sort through decades of personal boxes, memorabilia, and old memories, they track the evolution of 1980s visual storytelling—from simple performance videos to cinematic masterpieces. Along the way, they highlight the unsung female directing pioneers who shaped the medium and share unforgettable insider Hollywood stories involving space shuttles, Aerosmith rehearsals, and the infinite grace of Whitney Houston. Grab your headphones and join the ladies for the final leg of this high-energy, nostalgic tour down memory lane! THE CONVERSATION The Mid-Season Packing Hiatus: Susan and Sharon share an update on their respective moves, navigating the emotional and physical heavy lifting of downsizing and uncovering hidden historical gems in old storage boxes.Female Directing Pioneers: The ladies discuss how music videos served as a vital gateway for groundbreaking female filmmakers like Mary Lambert and Penelope Spheeris at a time when traditional Hollywood doors were shut.Choreographers Step Out Front: Sharon breaks down Paula Abdul's iconic black-and-white debut for "Straight Up" (directed by David Fincher), mapping her legendary transition from behind-the-scenes Laker Girl choreographer to a front-and-center music superstar.Classic 80s Cameos & Cameo’s Word Up: A celebration of Cameo's "Word Up" featuring a remarkably baby-faced LeVar Burton as an overwhelmed police officer, alongside a dive into the origins of the phrase "wave your hands in the air like you don't care."The Reality of the Road: A look at Bon Jovi's cowboy-tinged "Wanted Dead or Alive" leads to a touching tribute to the grueling, marathon work ethic required of touring bands traveling from city to city.Sepia Tones & Lake Pedal Boats: Susan explores the Americana aesthetic of Rod Stewart & Jeff Beck's "People Get Ready" cover, pulling back the curtain on a rare 1965 pre-MTV performance by The Impressions filmed on pedal boats with the young stars of Dick Clark’s Where The Action Is.Susan's Disney & Cape Canaveral Tales: Susan shares an extraordinary behind-the-scenes story from her time in Disney broadcast publicity, recounting the legendary, high-budget Armageddon premiere launch party where Aerosmith played a private rehearsal concert directly in front of a lit-up space shuttle.Sharon's Oscar Rehearsal Memories: Sharon looks back on attending Academy Award rehearsals, offering a beautiful memory of Whitney Houston's profound kindness and grace toward a young fan while at the rehearsal for her iconic duet with Mariah Carey.The Welder with a Dream: The ladies champion Irene Cara's "Flashdance... What a Feeling" as an essential piece of 1980s feminist representation, reflecting on the film's rousing choreography and the publicity crew's spontaneous cubicle performances of "Armageddon: The Musical." But Susan wonders if the movie holds up on a rewatch?Fan Favorite Reruns Coming Up! To give the hosts time to complete their big moves, 80s TV Ladies announces an exciting lineup of fan-favorite rebroadcasts featuring insightful interviews with writer Nicole Levy and legendary showrunner Susan Fales-Hill exploring the legacy of A Different World.AUDIO-OGRAPHY 📹 REVOLUTIONARY 80s MUSIC VIDEOS PLAYLIST - PART 2 Artist | Song Title | Release | Picked By | Link Paula Abdul | Straight Up | 1988 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube  Pat Benatar | Hit Me With Your Best Shot | 1980 | Susan | Watch on YouTube Eurythmics | Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) | 1983 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube  Cyndi Lauper | Girls Just Want to Have Fun | 1983 | Susan | Watch on YouTube  Cameo | Word Up | 1986 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube  Bon Jovi | Wanted Dead or Alive | 1987 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube  Rod Stewart & Jeff Beck | People Get Ready | 1985 | Susan | Watch on YouTube The Impressions | People Get Ready | 1965 | Watch on YouTube Genesis | Invisible Touch | 1986 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube Van Halen | Jump | 1984 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube  Irene Cara | Flashdance... What a Feeling | 1983 | Susan | Watch on YouTube  Whitney Houston | I Wanna Dance with Somebody  | 1987 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube PROTECT THE VOTE Vote.org: Check your registration. Stay engaged, make your voice heard.NoKings.org: June 13. Get ready for the real 250 Anniversary. Rise Up. Sing out. Keep organizing!DemocracyDocket.com is protecting our vote. Learn more.  SPECIAL 8TL PROMOTIONS!  COZY EARTH - Best Deal 21% OFF! At Cozy Earth.com -  Get the best discount on awesome sheets and pajamas. Use promo code: 80STVLADIES  TORRAIN BAGS - 15% OFF Good cause - Great bag. Perfect for travel and adventure and back to school! Get your 80s TV Ladies deal: Code: 80sTVLadies 🔗 See ALL our special deals at: https://MyDeals.Page/19wy 🎁 Code: 80STVLADIES 📻 CONNECT WITH 80s TV LADIES Website: 80sTVLadies.comPatreon: Support the production of our podcast and access exclusive bonus content at patreon.com/80sTVLadies. Visit 80sTVLadies.com for more info. Listen to 80s TV Ladies at YouTube. Subscribe and help us grow. Don’t miss out. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list! Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes, video interviews, and exclusive content on PATREON.

"The more that things change, the more they stay the same... Nevertheless, we have to keep pushing forward. We have to keep moving that line forward in order to make a better tomorrow for all of us." - Sharon Johnson Welcome to 80s TV Ladies The Winds of Ch-ch-ch-change! In this special episode—the first half of an epic two-part spectacular—hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson are joined by their fabulous producer Melissa to talk about the massive personal transitions currently unfolding in all of their lives. With both Susan and Sharon in the middle of major moves, the ladies take a heartwarming, funny, and deeply honest look at packing up decades of memories, downsizing, and the emotional weight of nostalgia. But a season of change wouldn't be complete without the ultimate 1980s soundtrack! The ladies kick off Part 1 of their definitive countdown of the 20 Most Revolutionary 80s Music Videos, diving into the first 13 incredible videos on their list. They explore how the golden era of MTV transformed visual storytelling, artist autonomy, and pop culture forever. From groundbreaking feminist rap anthems and synth-pop milestones to a full-blown Madonna masterclass and jaw-dropping stop-motion animation, this conversation is a sparkling, nostalgic reflection on turning the page to the next chapter. THE CONVERSATION - THE WINDS OF CHANGE: Sharon, Susan and Melissa discuss the nature of personal and professional transitions—navigating the "two steps forward, one step back" rhythm of life and why we must keep pushing forward for a better tomorrow. - THE FOREIGN COUNTRY OF THE PAST: Susan opens up about packing up her home after 19 years, three kids, a house full of pets, and how digging into old boxes feels like visiting a foreign country where “they do things differently there.” - MOVING ACROSS THE U.S.A.: Sharon shares the bittersweet reality of leaving Southern California after 42 and a half years to move back to the Midwest, explaining how she is judiciously sorting through her life to downsize into her mother's home in Indianapolis. - CUE THE ROBIN, DEER, AND EAGLE: Producer Melissa shares an incredibly moving, cinematic story about losing her mother and brother Dougie, and a persistent red robin that visited her window in Pennsylvania alongside a herd of deer and a majestic bald eagle overhead. - LOVELY PARTING GIFTS & PRECIOUS VHS TAPES: The ladies talk about finding new homes for nostalgia, including Sharon giving away her classic Mark and Brian radio memorabilia on Facebook and her absolute refusal to let go of her original Star Wars trilogy on VHS—because the prequels simply do not exist! - FRESHMAN YEAR AT THE COLISEUM: Susan reminisces about discovering her oversized 1984 Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. concert souvenir tour program from her freshman year at USC, back when legendary stadium tickets were only $25. (Actually, according to the internet, the tickets cost $17.50!) - CH-CH-CH-CHANGES (PART 1): The main event kicks off as the ladies begin their countdown of the most revolutionary music videos of the decade, highlighting how the rise of MTV reshaped the cultural landscape. - THRILLER (Sharon’s Pick): Sharon kicks it off with the music video credited with transforming music videos into the stratosphere - and into short, storytelling films. She also talks about learning the zombie dance and how it transformed her exercise routine! - TAKING CONTROL (Susan's Pick): Susan spotlights Janet Jackson's seminal "Control" music video, directed by Mary Lambert (no relation, though Susan wishes she had pretended otherwise!). This was quite literally the album and song when Ms. Jackson declared her independence over her career after leaving her new husband, James DeBarge, and firing her manager (and father) Joseph Jackson. A revolutionary move and every song speaks to finding her voice. - I'M STILL STANDING (Susan's Pick): A deep dive into Elton John's ultimate comeback anthem, exploring his personal resilience and the hilarious realization by the ladies that Dancing with the Stars judge Bruno Tonioli is one of the featured neon dancers in the video. - LOVE SHACK (Sharon's Pick): Sharon and Susan takes a trip down the Atlanta highway looking for the B-52s' legendary "Love Shack" and celebrating its pure, joyful energy. - LADIES FIRST (Susan's Pick): Susan pays tribute to Queen Latifah’s revolutionary 1989 feminist rap anthem "Ladies First" (featuring Monie Love) from her debut album, All Hail the Queen. - THE MADONNA TWO-FER (Sharon's Picks): Sharon talk about her favorite two Madonna songs and music videos,  "Crazy for You" and "Express Yourself" and the groundbreaking visual style of the 80s Pop Queen. - STUNNING ANIMATION (Sharon's Pick): The ladies marvel at Peter Gabriel's award-winning stop-motion animation masterpiece "Sledgehammer" created by Aardman Animation. - PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER (Susan's Pick): Susan closes out Part 1 by honoring Patti Smith's powerful, timeless 1988 anthem "People Have the Power." AUDIO-OGRAPHY 📹 REVOLUTIONARY 80s MUSIC VIDEOS PLAYLIST (PART 1) Artist | Song Title | Release | Picked By | Link Michael Jackson |  Thriller  | 1983  |  Sharon | Watch on YouTube Janet Jackson | Control | 1986  | Susan  | Watch on YouTube  Janet Jackson | Rhythm Nation | 1989 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube Elton John |  I'm Still Standing | 1983 | Susan  | Watch on YouTube The B-52's |  Love Shack | 1989 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube Queen Latifah | Ladies First (w/ Monie Love) | 1989 | Susan  | Watch on YouTube Madonna  |  Crazy For You | 1985 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube Madonna  |  Express Yourself | 1989|  Sharon | Watch on YouTube Public Enemy | Fight The Power | 1989 | Susan  | Watch on YouTube Watch Do The Right Thing Opening Credits on YouTube Tracy Chapman | Fast Car | 1988 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube Tracy Chapman | Talking About A Revolution | 1988 | Susan | Watch on YouTube Peter Gabriel | Sledgehammer | 1986 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube Patti Smith  | People Have The Power  | 1988 | Susan  | Watch on YouTube Watch the 2019 Patti Smith at the Public Theatre with 250 singers on YouTube (See Stewart Copeland play the frying pan!) - Watch the 1971 film adaptation of The Go-Between. Find it on https://www.netflix.com/title/60011150. Or https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/the-go-between/umc.cmc.85tbxz7spm4ahwfo6qcfxue9. - Dust off your VCR and watch the original Star Wars trilogy on VHS. Find it on https://ebay.us/m/OtvLP0.  PROTECT THE VOTE - Check out Democracy Docket https://www.democracydocket.com/case-status/filed/. - Learn more about the ACLU https://www.aclu.org. - Make sure you're registered to VOTE at http://vote.org/ PROMO DEALS SPECIAL PROMOTION! NOW Thru June 1st: Get 30% OFF at Cozy Earth. - After June 1st, you can still get 21% OFF on awesome sheets and pajamas at https://cozyearth.com. Be sure to use the promo code: 80STVLADIES for the best deal they’re offering. Happy Shopping! 🔗 Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/19wy 🎁 Code: 80STVLADIES 📻 CONNECT WITH 80s TV LADIES Visit http://80stvladies.com/ for transcripts. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list. Visit 80sTVLadies.com for more info. Listen to 80s TV Ladies at YouTube. Subscribe and help us grow. Don’t miss out. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list! Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes, video interviews, and exclusive content on PATREON.

“Katie and I, our relationship could be a little exciting -- I had to watch my step, I had to toe the line. I had to behave myself or I’d get taken to the principal’s office... And she was the principal.” -- Bruce Boxleitner REWIND EPISODE: The 80s TV Ladies - Sharon and Susan - are both moving! More details in our next episode. Meanwhile, please enjoy a few of our favorite episodes on repeat - consider it early summer rerun season. Let us know what you think about Bruce, Lee Stetson, and Scarecrow and Mrs. King. We think it's one of the most adorable interviews with Bruce Boxleitner ever. :) In Part Two of their conversation, Bruce reflects on the differences between doing TV then and now, his relationship with Kate Jackson -- and how the long hours can sometimes turn your co-stars into your family… Bruce Boxleitner’s television career started way back in 1973 with an appearance on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and he has since appeared in over 100 films and TV shows including Gunsmoke, Baretta, Police Woman, Hawaii 5-0, Babylon 5, Crossing Jordan, Commander in Chief, American Dad, Cold Case, Heroes, Chuck, NCIS, Supergirl, The Orville, When Calls The Heart, How The West Was Won, Bring ‘Em Back Alive, The Gambler and Tron. THE PART 2 CONVERSATION THE UGLY SIDE OF LEE STETSON: When Lee slaps Amanda in “Burn Out” (S2; EP.21) What was going on? --  “Kate said, “Hit me.” It was no fun. I didn’t enjoy doing it at all.”ON THE JAZZ: In Europe, Mel Stuart -- a saxophonist -- fell in with some local jazz musicians and ended up sitting-in in clubs all over Munich.DOUBLE TROUBLE: Bruce finds out the strange reason his stunt double Gary Davis did the pilot’s helicopter stunts with no safety cable!On doing network TV: “This is where I come off sounding like a grumpy old man, but in my day, we had fun. Nobody is having fun anymore. Because we have cell phones on the set, everyone’s on their cell phone. No one’s talking.”WHO CAN TURN THE WORLD ON WITH HIS SMILE? Bruce got his first gig on The Mary Tyler Moore Show because the producer owed his agent a favor.On doing a streaming series: “I’m doing a series now -- six episodes. They call that a series? I call it a two-parter.”Bruce gets a surprise walking onto the Gunsmoke set when he discovers the entire town is built inside a soundstage.On filming pilots: “George Clooney says he’s the king of the unsold pilots. Well, buddy, I’m the runner-up!”While shooting The Orville, Bruce finds out that the biggest SMK fan… is Seth McFarlane!How do you marry Lee and Amanda? Should you marry Lee and Amanda?So, join Susan and Sharon -- and Bruce -- as they talk How The West Was Won, Ted Knight, Tron, Juanita Bartlett, Susan Diol, Police Woman. Plus pranking Martha Smith -- and Kate Jackson -- AND Beverly Garland… and the sad, tragic life of “Dean, the Boyfriend”! AUDIO-OGRAPHY Find out more about Bruce Boxleitner at Facebook.com Follow him at Instagram.com/BoxleitnerBruce Catch him on Cameo at Cameo.com/BoxleitnerBruce Watch S2, Ep. 21: Burn out on Tubi Get The Ultimate Fan’s Guide to Scarecrow & Mrs. King by David Johnson, Taya Johnston and Sabine Ludewig at Amazon.  CONNECT Visit 80sTVLadies.com for transcripts. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list. Support us and get ad-free episodes on PATREON. AUDIO-OGRAPHY Find out more about Bruce Boxleitner at Facebook.com  Follow him at Instagram.com/BoxleitnerBruce Catch him on Cameo at Cameo.com/BoxleitnerBruce Watch SMK for free at Internet Archive. Watch S2, Ep. 21: Burn out on Internet Archive here.  Read the NY Times review of Bruce’s 1973 Broadway play debut, Status Quo Vadis. And guess who else was in the cast? (Hint: Sam from Cheers!)    CONNECT Visit 80sTVLadies.com for transcripts. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list. Support us and get ad-free episodes on PATREON. VOTE REMEMBER: Make sure you're ready. Register or Check your US Election Registration at Vote.org Be sure to vote in your primaries.  Find out what's on your ballot at BallotReady.org July 15th this year is the 47th anniversary of President Carter's Crisis of Confidence speech. Read Susan’s play about the speech and the confidence it takes to be president in challenging times: Confidence (and the Speech) at Conchord Publishing DPS.  Credits: 80s TV Ladies™ Episode RERUN 305: Produced by 134 West and Susan Lambert Hatem. Hosted by Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson. Guest: Bruce Boxleitner. Sound Engineer and Editor: Kevin Ducey. Producers: Melissa Roth, Richard Hatem, Sharon Johnson. Associate Producers: Sergio Perez, Sailor Franklin. Music by Amy Engelhardt. Copyright 2024 2026 134 West, LLC and Susan Lambert. All Rights Reserved.  Visit 80sTVLadies.com for more info. Listen to 80s TV Ladies at YouTube. Subscribe and help us grow. Don’t miss out. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list! Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes, video interviews, and exclusive content on PATREON.

“Kate was able to go off script. Then I found I could go with her. Pretty soon we’re doing stuff that is not on the written page. That’s where we found the little ‘in-between’ moments.”  - Bruce Boxleitner REWIND EPISODE: The 80s TV Ladies are both moving! More details in a later episode, so please enjoy a few of our favorite episodes on repeat - consider it early rerun season. Let us know what you think about Bruce, Lee Stetson, and Scarecrow and Mrs. King. We think it's one of the most adorable interviews with Bruce Boxleitner ever. :) Susan and Sharon are so excited to talk with the star of one of their favorite 80s TV shows of all time -- Bruce Boxleitner from Scarecrow & Mrs. King!  Bruce’s television career started way back in 1973 with an appearance on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He has since appeared in over 100 films and TV shows including Gunsmoke, Baretta, Police Woman, Hawaii 5-0, Babylon 5, Crossing Jordan, Commander in Chief, American Dad, Cold Case, Heroes, Chuck, NCIS, Supergirl, The Orville, When Calls The Heart, How The West Was Won, Bring ‘Em Back Alive, The Gambler and Tron. In Part One of this two-part interview, Bruce reflects on getting the role of Lee Stetson, working with Kate Jackson and the cast of Scarecrow & Mrs. King and filming some of the show’s most memorable episodes during the summer of 1984 in Europe. THE CONVERSATION GETTING THE SHOW: "I was in a daze. I ended up on the roof... The security guard down below: 'What are you doing up there?' 'I don't know!'"UN-“HAPPY DAYS”: How Bring ‘Em Back Alive fought a losing battle on Tuesday nights against Richie Cunningham and the Fonz… But how it led to Bruce’s most famous TV role of all time!CALLING ALL SPIES: What was it like auditioning with Kate Jackson -- in front of the same executives that just cancelled his last show?On Mel Stuart: “He was the best. I miss him so much. He made me laugh more than anyone I’ve ever worked with.”THE OLD CAR: Driving that ’63 Porsche Speedster around Washington, D.C. during the pilot: “It died after every take.”THE NEW CAR: a 1984 Corvette: “It fit me like a pair of fiberglass pants.”Gary Davis -- Bruce’s secret stunt double -- did all Lee Stetson’s stunts, and doubled for Bruce more times than you might think.NOT TOO MANY GUNFIGHTS AT 8PM: The Scarecrow editors assembled a gag reel of all the times top agent Lee Stetson lost his gun.SAVING MS. SMITH: While filming in Munich, Bruce and Martha Smith walked into the wrong punk bar. Bruce got her out -- but only after throwing some Stetson-style punches!Working in the Alps and in Amanda's house with Jean Stapleton -- “I wish she could have done more episodes.”One of Bruce’s favorite episodes? S2; EP1 “To Catch a Mongoose”S2; EP21: “Burn Out” -- and the scene where Lee slaps Amanda. How did that feel for Kate -- and Bruce?So, join Susan and Sharon -- and Bruce -- as they talk Beverly Garland, James Garner, quirky humor, Scotland Yard, Lee Stetson’s wardrobe, “When should we kiss?”  -- and what happened the day Moonlighting premiered! Make sure to join us NEXT EPISODE for Part Two of our conversation with Bruce Boxleitner! AUDIO-OGRAPHY Find out more about Bruce Boxleitner at Facebook.com  Follow him at Instagram.com/BoxleitnerBruce Catch him on Cameo at Cameo.com/BoxleitnerBruce Watch SMK for free at Internet Archive. Watch S2, Ep. 21: Burn out on Internet Archive here.  Read the NY Times review of Bruce’s 1973 Broadway play debut, Status Quo Vadis. And guess who else was in the cast? (Hint: Sam from Cheers!)    CONNECT Visit 80sTVLadies.com for transcripts. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list. Support us and get ad-free episodes on PATREON. VOTE REMEMBER: Make sure you're ready. Register or Check your US Election Registration at Vote.org Be sure to vote in your primarys. Find out what's on your ballot at BallotReady.org July 15th this year is the 47th anniversary of President Carter's Crisis of Confidence speech. Read Susan’s play about the speech and the confidence it takes to be president in challenging times: Confidence (and the Speech) at Conchord Publishing DPS.  Visit 80sTVLadies.com for more info. Listen to 80s TV Ladies at YouTube. Subscribe and help us grow. Don’t miss out. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list! Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes, video interviews, and exclusive content on PATREON.

"It was very dangerous to be a friend of the Harts because... yes, they were always getting killed." -- Stefanie Powers Get ready for a masterclass in sophisticated glamour! In this episode of 80s TV Ladies, hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson sit down with the incomparable Stefanie Powers. Known to millions as the elegant and erudite Jennifer Hart from the smash-hit series Hart to Hart, Stefanie redefined what a TV marriage could look like alongside co-star Robert Wagner—showing us a partnership that was sexy, equal, and genuinely fun. But Stefanie’s legacy goes far beyond the "chauffeur and limousines" of the 80s. We dive into her history as a true television pioneer, including her groundbreaking role as the first woman to lead an hour-long series in the 1966 spinoff The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. Whether you're a die-hard fan of the Harts or a lover of television history, this conversation is a sparkling look back at one of the most iconic eras of TV. THE CONVERSATION THE FIRST LADY OF ACTION: Exploring Stefanie’s groundbreaking role in The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. as the first woman to headline her own hour-long action series.THE LOVE OF HER LIFE: Led her to her 45-year lifetime legacy of conservation. Creating the William Holden Wildlife Foundation to honor and expand the work of William Holden.THE GREATEST STRIKE EVER: Getting the call from Aaron Spelling, writer Tom Mankiewicz, and Robert Wagner – and the lucky newspaper strike that led to her starring in Hart to Hart, instead of going to Broadway with Stacy Keach.HART TO HART: Diving into the "tennis match" rapport with Robert Wagner and the creation of a TV marriage built on equality, sexy banter, and high-stakes mystery.SOFTBALL COACH TO SHOWRUNNER: Stories of Sidney Sheldon, Leonard Goldberg, and how Aaron Spelling was Stefanie’s softball coach before he became the legendary showrunner and creator of so many hit shows, they often called ABC, Aaron’s Broadcasting Company.THE LA SCALA “THREE ROOMS: A look at the old Hollywood social hierarchy when Hollywood was a very small town.KIDDIES BALLET CLASS: The surprising shared history between Stefanie, Natalie Wood, and Jill St. John.STUDIO SYSTEM SURVIVOR: Stefanie reflects on her early days at MGM, being one of the last contract players, and working under the rigorous eye of brilliant - and monstrous - Jerome Robbins in West Side Story.WORKING WITH “FREEWAY”: Behind-the-scenes secrets of their canine co-star, including the hilarious truth about how they made such a friendly dog look like a fierce protector.A GLOBAL LEGACY: Stefanie discusses her 45-year journey as Founder and President of the William Holden Wildlife Foundation and her hands-on work in conservation and education in Kenya.SUCCESS VS. FAILURE: A candid look at why the industry prepares artists for failure, but rarely gives them the tools to navigate massive, life-changing success.WILLIAM HOLDEN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION: Why Stefanie believes that if you have a passion for a cause, you can’t wait for others—you have to be the one to step up. “Participation is not just asked for, it is required.”AUDIO-OGRAPHY Watch episodes of Hart to Hart on Tubi or Roku.Catch The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. on DVD at Ebay.  Or find it at Internet Archive.Learn more about the work of the William Holden Wildlife Foundation at WHWF.orgGo directly to the WHWF DONATE page. Check out her official website: StefaniePowersOnline.comFollow Ms. Powers on Facebook and Instagram.Watch Stefanie guest star in The Rockford Files episode, The Real Easy Red Dog at Apple TV.VITAL READING Check out Democracy Docket here.Learn more about the ACLU here.Make sure you're registered to VOTE at Vote.orgPROMO DEALS Get 21% OFF on awesome sheets and pajamas at COZY EARTH. Be sure to use the promo code: 80STVLADIES. Happy Shopping! MARCH 8TL DEALS BLOCK: 80s TV Ladies deals and discounts: Cozy Earth (21% Off) 🔗 Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/19wy 🎁 Code: 80STVLADIES 📻 CONNECT WITH 80s TV LADIES Official Website: 80sTVLadies.com Email Us: [email protected] the Show: Get ad-free episodes and bonus content | Support on Patreon 🎭 SUSAN'S NEW VENTUREArts A La Carte – A non-profit dedicated to helping develop new works in theater. Website: ArtsALaCarte.orgInstagram: @ArtsALaCarteLA"Playing tennis you have to have a kind of rhythm and you have to hit the ball back. And good acting partners are good tennis players. They hit the ball back to you." -- Stefanie Powers Visit 80sTVLadies.com for more info. Listen to 80s TV Ladies at YouTube. Subscribe and help us grow. Don’t miss out. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list! Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes, video interviews, and exclusive content on PATREON.

“We asked her daughter, our friend Karin, to come on and talk with us about her mom, Linda, and what it was like to grow up the daughter of an eighties TV lady.” - Susan Lambert Hatem Susan and Sharon welcome Karin Elstad — a modern TV powerhouse and Vice President at HBO — to celebrate the incredible life and legacy of her mother, the legendary television writer Linda Elstad. From the high stakes of Dallas, to family comedy One Day at a Time, to the hallowed halls of Fame, Linda was a prolific voice who helped shape the landscape of 80s television. THE CONVERSATION A PROLIFIC LEGACY: Linda’s impressive career spanning over 20 television shows, including her work on iconic hits like Dallas, Fame, and The Facts of Life.ONE DAY AT A TIME: Diving into Linda’s time as a staff writer from 1983 to 1984 on the beloved series that defined a generation.AWARD-WINNING WRITING: Remembering Linda’s 1982 Humanitas Prize win for the television movie Divorce Wars: A Love Story, starring Tom Selleck and Jane Curtin, and her nomination for her work on Fame.SERVING THE GUILD: Linda’s impactful leadership serving on the Writer’s Guild Board of Directors from 1986 to 1990. And a ground-breaking cultural exchange between Award-winning United States and USSR screenwriters.MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS: Karin shares personal stories of growing up in the heart of the television industry and how her mother’s trailblazing career influenced her own journey to becoming a top executive at HBO.THE SCINTILLATING LADIES OF THE 80s: A look back at the shows that featured the complex mother-daughter dynamics we love, from The Golden Girls and Mama’s Family to Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Roseanne, and Kate & Allie.GREEN ENVELOPE DAYS: How much is the green envelope residual check Linda’s daughter receives for her mom’s 1980s television shows being rerun and streamed? Can you guess before the check is opened on-air?AUDIO-OGRAPHY Watch episodes of Fame on Peacock and Dallas at YouTube or Amazon Prime.Catch One Day at a Time streaming on Tubi.Find Divorce Wars: A Love Story and other classic TV movies on DVD via Amazon or eBay.VITAL READING Check out Democracy Docket here.Learn more about the ACLU here.PROMO DEALS Get 21% OFF on awesome sheets and pajamas at COZY EARTH. Be sure to use the promo code: 80STVLADIES. Happy Shopping! MARCH 8TL DEALS BLOCK: 80s TV Ladies deals and discounts: Cozy Earth (21% Off) 🔗 Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/19wy 🎁 Code: 80STVLADIES 📻 CONNECT WITH 80s TV LADIES Official Website: 80sTVLadies.com Email Us: [email protected] the Show: Get ad-free episodes and bonus content | Support on Patreon 🎭 SUSAN'S NEW VENTUREArts A La Carte – A non-profit dedicated to helping develop new works in theater. Website: ArtsALaCarte.orgInstagram: @ArtsALaCarteLA Visit 80sTVLadies.com for more info. Listen to 80s TV Ladies at YouTube. Subscribe and help us grow. Don’t miss out. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list! Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes, video interviews, and exclusive content on PATREON.

"I said, John, you know, it's a visual art. You don't give me something to do, at least I'm gonna be something to look at." - Morgan Fairchild  To celebrate the 100th episode of our podcast 80s TV Ladies, hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson welcome actress, activist, and podcaster Morgan Fairchild to discuss her decades-spanning career and how television and auditioning have changed from in-person meetings to self-tapes and fragmented audiences.  Fairchild recounts moving from Texas to New York after a young divorce, breaking in through open calls, landing Search for Tomorrow, then relocating to Los Angeles and getting an early role on Rafferty with Patrick McGoohan. She explains shaping layered “bad guy” roles with comedy, including Initiation of Sarah, Flamingo Road (and being labeled “too sexy for TV” by the Moral Majority), and Falcon Crest, where she pushed for a promised incest-repercussions storyline and used fashion as a visual hook. She shares behind-the-scenes stories from Pee-wee’s Big Adventure with Paul Reubens, friendships with classic Hollywood stars, her AIDS activism and COVID education, and her new podcast with sister Catherine Hart, Two Bitches from Texas. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 02:48 How TV Has Changed 04:46 Texas to New York Breakthrough 07:21 First Hollywood Job Story 11:43 Making Characters Pop 13:21 Becoming the Power Bitch 16:25 Too Sexy for TV 18:03 Falcon Crest Storyline Fight 21:38 Pee Wee Movie Chaos 26:27 Old Hollywood Friendships 31:53 Doubts and Survival 33:25 Career Doubts Persist 34:06 Divas Christmas Set 36:20 Sequel Push Lifetime 36:55 AIDS Activism Costs 39:17 Staying Engaged Today 44:29 Podcast With Sister 48:08 Guests And Format 49:33 Naming The Show 53:14 Bonnie And Clyde Double 55:28 Finding The Set and Meeting Warren Beatty 01:00:15 Podcast Plugs Farewell 01:01:55 Call Your Reps 01:02:23 Next Series Tease AUDIOOGRAPHY Find Morgan Fairchild at Morganfairchild.com Listen to Morgan Fairchild and Catherine Hart at their website Two Bitches from Texas or wherever you find your podcasts. Check out Morgan Fairchild's book, Morgan Fairchild Super Looks, at eBay Find out more about Catherine Hart's acting classes at her website Heart and Soul Connect with 80s TV Ladies at 80sTVLadies.com Take action at 5Calls.org   PROMO DEALS Get awesome sheets and pajamas at COZY EARTH. Be sure to use the promo code: 80STVLADIES. Happy Shopping! MARCH DEALS BLOCK 80s TV Ladies deals and discounts: Cozy Earth (21% Off) 🔗 Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/19wy 🎁 Code: 80STVLADIES NEW DEALS - Just added! Bear Knuckles premium leather work gloves (15% Off) Afuera Coffee sustainable coffee (15% Off) 🔗 Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/19wy 🎁Code: 80STVLADIES 📻 CONNECT WITH 80s TV LADIES Official Website: 80sTVLadies.com  Email Us: [email protected] Support the Show: Get ad-free episodes and bonus content | Support on Patreon 🎭 SUSAN'S NEW VENTURE Arts A La Carte – A non-profit dedicated to helping develop new works in theater. You can help us. Support the Arts! DONATE at ArtsALaCarte.org Instagram: @ArtsALaCarteLA Visit 80sTVLadies.com for more info. Listen to 80s TV Ladies at YouTube. Subscribe and help us grow. Don’t miss out. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list! Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes, video interviews, and exclusive content on PATREON.