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What's the best Christmas episode of The Facts of Life? The Nanny vs Mama's Family? Let's find out!
If you grew up in the 80s, tuning in to the special “Holiday” episodes of our favorite shows was a winter ritual. Susan and Sharon bring that tradition home as they dive into the “Best Holiday Episodes” of three favorite 80’s and 90s TV shows -- The Facts of Life, Mama’s Family and The Nanny. Musical numbers, mixed-up gifts, screwed-up travel plans -- and lots of hot cocoa!
80’s TV “Holiday” episodes had them all -- and we loved them for it! So grab some eggnog and fruitcake, and listen as Susan and Sharon choose their personal favorite holiday episodes of the some of our favorite 80s TV Ladies shows!
THE EPISODES
The Facts of Life:
S5, EP12 - “The Christmas Show”
S6, EP13 - “Christmas in the Big House”
S7, EP13 - “Christmas Baby”
S9, EP12 - “It’s A Wonderful Christmas”
Mama’s Family:
S3, EP13 - “Santa Mama”
S6, EP14 - “Mama Gets Goosed”
The Nanny:
S1, EP8 - “The Christmas Episode”
S3, EP14 - “Oy To The World”
S6, EP10 - “The Hannukah Story”
BONUS! The Carol Burnett Show:
S2, EP12 - Eileen Farrell, Bob Hope, and Marilyn Horne
S8, EP13 - Alan Alda
THE CONVERSATION
GO FIGURE -- Not a lot of Hanukkah or Kwanza episodes back in the 80s.Why did it take FIVE SEASONS before Facts of Life finally did a Christmas episode?S5, EP12 “The Christmas Show” - directed by Asaad Kelada.In S6, EP13 “Christmas in the Big House” -- Blair organizes a charity Christmas show for what she thinks is an orphanage -- but it turns out to be a men’s prison!Mickey Mouse Club veteran former Mousketeer Lisa Whelchel shows off her singing skills! Heck, all the ladies get to sing! NO ROOM AT THE INN? In the third Facts of Life Christmas episode, Blair’s mom gives birth -- It’s a Christmas baby episode!IS IT A WONDERFUL SHOW? Cloris Leachman gets center stage in the fourth -- and final -- Facts of Life Christmas episode, S9, EP10 “It’s A Wonderful Christmas”.Mama’s Family S6, EP14 “Mama Gets Goosed” -- The family is horrified when they meet their dinner -- a live goose that Mama plans to kill and cook for Christmas!The Nanny got a jump on Christmas episodes in S1, EP8 -- where complications from a gift Mr. Sheffield gives to Fran ends up fulfilling Gracie’s only Christmas wish!S3, EP14 “Oy To The World” -- The Nanny’s one and only ANIMATED EPISODE!S6, EP 10 “The Hanukkah Story” -- Susan and Sharon BOTH loved this Nanny episode where cultures clash when Fran tries to teach the Sheffields the importance of Hanukkah.PLUS -- BONUS HOLIDAY EPISODES from The Carol Burnett Show! - Alan Alda, star of the M*A*S*H TV show hit, sings with Carol! And plays one of Mama’s sons and Eunice’s brother in “The Family” in a hilarious, homecoming Christmas sketch.But is that a better episode than the Christmas special with incredibly famous opera stars, Eileen Farrell, Marily Horne and a surprise guest star Bob Hope?AND -- A BIG THANK YOU to our PATREON MEMBERS! We’ll tell you about NEW PERKS coming your way in 2025!So, join Susan and Sharon as they talk Ray Charles, Community, dreidels, Alan Alda, vegetarian Christmas dinners, talking dogs, opera, “Big Spender”, Bob Hope -- and confessional confessions!
AUDIO-OGRAPHY
Watch three of The Facts of Life Christmas Episodes on YouTube.
Watch “Mama Gets Goosed” on PlutoTV.
And “Santa Mama” on PlutoTV.
Watch The Nanny streaming on Peacock.
The Carol Burnett Show
S2, EP12 - Aired 12/16/1968 - Eileen Farrell, Bob Home and Marilyn Horne on YouTube.
S8, EP13 - Aired 12/21/1974 - Alan Alda Christmas episode clips:
- Nobody Does it Like Me with Carol Burnett on YouTube.
- “The Family” Christmas sketch with Alan Alda on YouTube.
LIGHT READING
Read On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder
Read the Guardian article “How To Survive The Broligarchy” by Carol Cadwalladr.
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin at Baldwin and Co Books.
Orwell’s Roses by Rebecca Solnit at Bookshop.org
SHOP
GET IN ON THE “80’s TV LADIES” HOLIDAY SALE!
15% off on all merch at the 8TL Shop.
Make sure to use promo code “Festive80s”!
CONNECT
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Get your Carter on: This year is the 45th anniversary of President Carter's Crisis of Confidence speech. Get Susan’s new play about it: Confidence (and the Speech) at Broadway Licensing. -
“I was the highest paid actor in Hollywood -- if you were counting by the word.”
- actor Eric Brown
THE CONVERSATION
TAKING THE PIPPIN BUS: Nine-year-old Eric played the lead in the original touring company of Bob Fosse’s Pippin! “It was 1974. I was the only child in a cast of adults. One-and-two-night stands. In a bus. Thirty states. Six months.”PRIVATE LESSONS: The lead got fired -- so Eric was promoted to star!15 GOING ON 30: In Private Lessons, Fifteen year-old Eric Brown, played a fifteen-year-old -- being seduced by a thirty-year-old woman! “My wife is still mad at my mother for letting me play that role!”KICKED OUT OF SCHOOL: Eric was kicked out of St. Francis Prep School for being in Private Lessons: “They said, “We think you’d do better at another school considering your career goals.” It was a very Franciscan way of saying, “Get out”.”MAMA’S FAMILY: “You know the rumors that Betty White had a dirty streak? All true.”On working with Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, Dorothy Lyman, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Harvey Korman: “Everyone was so funny -- you were always laughing. They were constantly futzing, because they knew what was funny -- and if it wasn’t, they would fix it."DIRECTOR SPLIT: Mama’s Family had TWO directors: Harvey Korman worked with the actors, while someone else blocked out the camera moves (Roger Beatty).THE METAVERSE OF MAMA'S FAMILY: Vicki Lawrence started playing the at least 63-year-old “Mama” when she was in her late 20’s!THE EPISODE THAT NEVER WAS: Eric pitched an episode where he and Ken Barry -- both tap dancers -- could dance together in a talent show. But it never happened.TAKE THE TOUPEE: Carol Burnett would do anything for a laugh -- including pulling the hairpiece off a certain co-star during taping -- when no one was expecting it!BAD NEWS, GOOD NEWS, WORSE NEWS -- Mama’s Family gets cancelled. Then it comes back! But not with Eric.LOVING LAURA HOLT: After Private Lessons, Eric did a replay on Remington Steele -- playing a kid with a crush on an “older woman”: “I was head over heels in love with Stephanie Zimbalist. In real life!”BE KIND, REWIND: After jobs dried up in Hollywood, Eric moved to Monterey and got a job in a video store: “I was renting movies to people that I WAS IN.”FIRST RULE OF COMMUNICATION: For the MacArthur Foundation or a lost chicken in Queens: Know your goal.WHAT CAN ONE PERSON DO TO HELP THE WORLD? Find what you love and offer that.So, join Susan and Sharon -- and Eric -- as they talk Listerine commercials, the Clinton campaign, Jon de Bont, Sarah Jessica Parker, Howard Hessman, Barry Williams, On Golden Pond, Ian Ziering, curfew “double standards”, working with women directors, Jerry Reed, Emmanuelle, Fred Willard -- and evil twins!
AUDIO-OGRAPHY
Watch Mama’s Family for free on Pluto TV.
Listen to Eric Brown’s podcast about philanthropy, Let’s Hear it. Or on Apple.
Check out what Eric Brown is doing now at Brownbridgestrategies.com.
Enjoy Eric’s blog about traveling the world with his wife at Eat, Bicker, Love.
PLUS -- AN “80’s TV LADIES” HOLIDAY SALE!
Get 15% off on all merch at 80s TV Ladies Shop on Fourthwall.
Make sure to use promo code “Festive80s”!
CONNECT
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Support us and get ad-free episodes on PATREON.
This year is the 45th anniversary of President Carter's Crisis of Confidence speech. Get Susan’s new play about it: Confidence (and the Speech) at Broadway Licensing. -
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“The roles I’ve played on soap operas are infinitely superior to any roles I’ve played anywhere else. They are about women and women’s stories. The men are just there to screw you -- or screw you over.” -- Dorothy Lyman
Just three chicks sitting around talking...
Susan and Sharon clean house -- and air some dirty laundry -- with The Nanny director and Emmy-award winning actress Dorothy Lyman. You may know her as Opal Gardner from the long-running soap opera All My Children or as Naomi Oates Harper from Mama’s Family. But did you know she also directed an astonishing 74-episodes of the classic Fran Drescher comedy, The Nanny?
THE CONVERSATION
One-day of work a month on Search For Tomorrow was enough to keep Dorothy from “serving cheeseburgers.” The pay was $400 -- and rent in NY was only $65!COMING CLEAN ABOUT SOAPS: Soap operas addressed abuse and abortion and mental illness and many other issues long before prime time TV. “I think it helped a lot of women stuck at home feeling the same things.”ON SOAP OPERA FANS: “I couldn’t buy myself a beer anywhere in America the whole time I was on the soaps. The fans are different. They feel like they know you.”WHEN CAROL BURNETT CALLS: “Carol Burnett and Vicki Lawrence would watch me as Opal on ‘All My Children’ during their lunch hour on ‘The Carol Burnett Show’ -- that was their ritual. And that’s how I got the job on ‘Mama’s Family’.”A COUPLA WHITE CHICKS SITTING AROUND TALKING: on directing the long-running, Off-Broadway hit starring Susan Sarandon and Eileen Brennan.TRY AGAIN: Mama’s Family was completely reconceived after the first pilot. “We shot one that was really awful. I think the problem was, it was too mean. And it wasn’t funny at all.” THERE’S THE DOOR: After directing three seasons of The Nanny, Dorothy says, “I never got another job directing a single moment of television. I spent many years thinking I’d done something terribly wrong. But it was because I was over 50 -- and I was a woman.”What do you do when Hollywood directing gigs go away? You buy a chicken farm in upstate New York and start writing plays, of course!ON CHANGE: “Change is where it’s at. Nothing stays the same. And I’ve always been one of those people -- if I wanted to do something, I did it.”ON DIRECTING: “It fits my personality. I’m bossy.”
So join Susana and Sharon -- and Dorothy -- as they talk Milton Berle, Edge of Night, Celine Dion, visiting Egypt, Another World, Bette Midler, The Women’s Room, Fran Drescher, baked croutons -- and “Where do you keep your Emmys?”
AUDIO-OGRAPHY
Watch Mama’s Family for free on Pluto TV.
Follow Dorothy Lyman at Instagram.com/dorothy_lyman
Native American Heritage Month
Find out more at NativeAmericanHeritageMonth.gov
For more information about the land you live on go to Native-land.ca
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SUPPORT OTHERS
Support those seeking abortion in states where it is outlawed or restricted. Go to ARC Southeast.
This year is the 45th anniversary of President Carter's Crisis of Confidence speech. Get Susan’s new play about it: Confidence (and the Speech) at Broadway Licensing.
Credits: 80s TV Ladies™ Episode 308. Produced by 134 West and Susan Lambert Hatem. Hosted by Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson. Guest: Dorothy Lyman. Sound Engineer and Editor: Kevin Ducey. Producers: Melissa Roth. Sharon Johnson. Richard Hatem. Associate Producers: Sergio Perez. Sailor Franklin. Music by Amy Engelhardt. Copyright 2024 134 West, LLC and Susan Lambert. All Rights Reserved. -
Susan and Sharon are thrilled to sit down with award-winning singer, songwriter, actress -- and stuntwoman -- Marneen Fields. As a gymnast, swimmer and stuntwoman in the 1970s and 80s, Marneen’s career sky-rocketed with roles on Scarecrow & Mrs. King, Lou Grant, Quincy, Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, The Man from Atlantis, The Fall Guy, Murder She Wrote, Dynasty -- as well as the Clint Eastwood film The Gauntlet.
But it was only after a devastating car accident ended her career as a stuntwoman that Marneen found her way back into life by finally embracing her childhood dream of writing and singing songs. Her story is one of resilience, renewal -- and the power of persevering when life’s challenges seem overwhelming.
THE CONVERSATION
FIRST BASS: What do you do when you’re the littlest girl in school -- but end up having to playing biggest instrument -- the stringed bass?How a background in gymnastics led Marneen directly into her career as a stuntwoman.IN DEMAND: As an experienced stuntwoman in Hollywood, Marneen’s phone rang off the hook for 15 years.THE FALL GIRL: In 1976-77, Marneen was one of the top stuntwomen in the world.ROSES FROM BRUCE: One of her favorite acting jobs was playing Lee Stetson’s long-lost love “Dorothy” on Scarecrow & Mrs. King.FALLING FOR “QUINCY”: What is it like doing a high-fall off a 76-story building in puffy slippers and a negligee?!?The secret of being a successful stuntwoman? Look like a lot of famous actresses!Getting pushed out of a jet by James Garner!Getting punched off a train by Clint Eastwood!PERFECT PITCH: Marneen’s love for music survives her near total hearing loss in both ears.Just as her acting career was taking off, Marneen was involved in a car accident that nearly took her life -- and led to over a decade of operations and excruciating pain. But on the other end was a whole new life in music…
So, join Susan and Sharon -- and Marneen -- as they talk Shirley Jones, Battlestar Galactica, scuba diving, dating stuntmen, mouth-to-mouth with Patrick Duffy -- and “becoming the broken-hearted songwriter I was meant to be!”
AUDIO-OGRAPHY
Find all of Marneen’s work on Facebook.
And Instagram at Instagram.com/HeavenlyWaterfallProductions.
Find Marneen’s book The Illusive Craft of Acting at Amazon.
Get more info and help support Marneen’s film, Who’s Going To Take Care of Me? at Crowdfundr.
CONNECT
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Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list.
Support us and get ad-free episodes on PATREON.
SUPPORT YOUR NEIGHBORS
Find help or ways to help at AbortionFunds.org
Support Democracy at DemocracyDocket.com
Support freedoms at ACLU.org
REMEMBER: Make sure your vote counted. Track your ballot at Vote.org
This year is the 45th anniversary of President Carter's Crisis of Confidence speech. Get Susan’s new play about it: Confidence (and the Speech) at Broadway Licensing. -
There is no fandom like the Scarecrow & Mrs. King fandom -- passionate, dedicated and absolutely obsessed with red hats, train stations, the Q bureau, and Cream-&-Wood 1983 Ford LTD Country Squire Station Wagons.
In this episode, Susan and Sharon meet up with super-fans Taya Johnston, Jennifer Peterson and Miranda Thomas from The Mrs. King’s Chronicles, a re-watch podcast about -- what else? -- Scarecrow & Mrs. King! From Beaverton, Oregon… to Clarkston, Michigan… to Florence, Kentucky -- these three women (plus their fourth partner, Lexie Fiema who couldn’t make the recording) know their SMK! In this fast-moving and funny conversation, you’ll find out everything you ever wanted to know about podcasting, Amanda King, Lee Stetson and Firefly -- but were afraid to ask…
THE CONVERSATION
What do you do when you want to spend more time with your friends and your favorite show? The answer is easy -- you do a podcast!GETTING HOOKED ON SMK: sometimes it’s in college, sometimes it’s a commercial, sometimes… it’s your mom!IT WAS A THING: recording your favorite shows onto cassette tape so you could listen to them later.Lexie -- the “90s Baby” of the podcast -- wants to know why Lee and Amanda don’t use their cell phones more often. And what’s up with the “two Germanys” thing?PODCAST PIONEER: Miranda has also done internet radio and podcasts about Firefly and Felicity and Alias and Heroes and Chuck!Why do certain shows inspire rabid fandom? And others… not so much.SUBURBAN SPY: The compelling fantasy wish-fulfillment of “Being Mrs. King.”At the “Hollywood Show” fan meet-up: Bruce Boxleitner had his own fanboy moment when he saw TV’s “Batman” -- Adam West. But he never got to meet him because he refused to cut in line in front of other fans…THE ELECTRIC CAMPFIRE: How television -- and now podcasts -- became our place of communal story-telling and shared emotional connection.Ship of Spies? Was there really an SMK cruise? Did anyone get married? Go to a strip club?So, join Susan and Sharon -- and Taya and Jennifer and Miranda! -- as they talk 80s retro-love, podcast tangents, Dungeons & Dragons, Miami strip clubs, sweater vests, the Star Wars Christmas Special, living in the Matrix -- and throwing rocks at Cincinnati!
AUDIO-OGRAPHY
Listen to the Mrs. King’s Chronicles podcast at MKCPodcast.com
Check out Taya’s website CallMeaCab.com
Find Miranda’s Firefly podcast at Serenityfirefly.com
Find out more about Columbia Willamette River Keepers Willamette-riverkeeper.org
Get The Ultimate Fan’s Guide to Scarecrow & Mrs. King at Amazon.
CONNECT
Visit 80sTVLadies.com for transcripts.
Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list.
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VOTE
The Presidential Election is Tuesday, November 5!
Get info and find your polling place at Vote.org
This year is the 45th anniversary of President Carter's Crisis of Confidence speech. Get Susan’s new play about it: Confidence (and the Speech) at Broadway Licensing. -
“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
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 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, and 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
Follow him at Twitter.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.
We're a 2024 Podcast Award Winner! We WON for Best Film & TV. Thank you everyone who voted!
VOTE
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Make a plan to Vote. Check out Ballot Ready.
This year is the 45th anniversary of President Carter's Crisis of Confidence speech. Read Susan’s new play about the speech and the confidence it takes to be president in challenging times: Confidence (and the Speech) at Broadway Licensing. -
“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
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 S2, Ep. 21: Burn out on Tubi
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.
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VOTE
We're a 2024 Podcast Award Winner! We WON for Best Film & TV. Thank you Podcast Awards!
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Make a plan to Vote. Check out Ballot Ready.
This year is the 45th anniversary of President Carter's Crisis of Confidence speech. Read Susan’s new play about the speech and the confidence it takes to be president in challenging times: Confidence (and the Speech) at Broadway Licensing. -
‘The Princess Diaries’, ‘Romy & Michelle’, ‘10 Things I Hate About You’, ‘Clueless’… Whenever I think my work doesn’t mean anything to anyone at any time and never will… somebody says to me, ‘Those movies -- I watched them and I showed them to my kid.” -- Casting Director Marcia Ross
In Part Two of our conversation with Casting Director Marcia Ross, Susan and Sharon discuss the changing business of Hollywood, favorite finds, shrinking budgets, and going from in-person auditions -- to auditioning on tape -- to just clicking on a link…
Casting Director Marcia Ross has been instrumental in putting together amazing ensembles for classic films and TV shows since 1983. Susan and Sharon sit down this week with Ms. Ross to go behind the scenes and discover exactly how today’s “unknown” turns into tomorrow’s “big discovery” -- and who makes it happen. Among the young actors Marcia is credited with discovering: Anne Hathaway, Heath Ledger, Paul Rudd, Rachel McAdams, Jennifer Garner and Amy Poehler.
THE CONVERSATION
To cast the pilot of Models Inc. , they auditioned “one thousand women” -- including Carrie Anne Moss!Angelina Jolie didn’t get cast -- because she “didn’t have the right look” according to Aaron Spelling.8TL's own producer Melissa Roth worked on Models Inc, too -- as a camera assistant!Casting Princess Diaries: Anne Hathaway was perfect because “you had to believe she could be both things. (a real person and a princess)”Chris Pine in Princess Diaries 2: “He read for me and I was like, “Can you come back this afternoon?” He was an unknown, but within a day he had the part.The challenge of casting sequels -- how are you gonna get everyone back?BURNING BRIDGES: How do you tell your star Jeff Bridges that the actress he wants you to cast… just isn’t right?Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion -- Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino got the lead roles … but SNL's Will Ferrel and Chris Kattan ended up on the cutting room floor.“It’s a hard business. And it’s hard to have longevity because people always want the next new thing.”So, join Susan and Sharon -- and Marcia -- as they talk Jean Smart, Jeremy Renner, Lizzie McGuire, Julie Andrews, Johnny Depp, Scarecrow & Mrs. King -- and watching The Flintstones Friday nights at 7:30!
AUDIO-OGRAPHY
Find out more about Marcia Ross and Jeff Kaufman’s documentary film work at FloatingWorldPictures.com.
To see Nasrin, go to NasrinFilm.com
Watch the Terrence McNally documentary Every Act of Life on YouTube, Amazon, or Apple.
or search on Roku.
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Happy 100th Birthday to President Jimmy Carter! Get Susan’s new play about Carter's White House in 1979: Confidence (and the Speech) at Broadway Licensing. -
“An actor is either compelling -- or they are NOT compelling. Doesn’t matter if they’re green. You want to watch them. That’s what makes them a star. How do I know? I just feel it.” -- Marcia Ross, Casting Director
How did “Clueless” and “Princess Diaries” and “Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion” find their leads? Casting Director Marcia Ross has been instrumental in putting together amazing ensembles for classic films and TV shows since 1983.
Susan and Sharon sit down this week with Ms. Ross to go behind the scenes and discover exactly how today’s “unknown” turns into tomorrow’s “big discovery” -- and who makes it happen. Among the young actors Marcia is credited with discovering: Anne Hathaway, Heath Ledger, Paul Rudd, Rachel McAdams, Jennifer Garner and Amy Poehler.
THE CONVERSATION
Channing Tatum’s first audition! He didn’t get the part. But the next time Marcia saw him, it worked out better: Step Up.Casting Andre Braugher -- and how a single note changed the audition from flat, to making a roomful of people cry.10 Things I Hate About You -- Gabrielle Union was the only person who auditioned for her role.HEATH LEDGER GETS A SECOND CHANCE: The first time around he just didn’t have it. Marcia gave him one more chance: “Be prepared!” It made all the difference.DARE TO PIVOT: How she made the transition to producing documentaries: meeting Terrance McNally -- and then filming him…THE SCIENCE OF THE ENSEMBLE: thirtysomething -- it started with Ken Olin. But it when Mel Harris came in, it was all about chemistry…So, join Susan and Sharon -- and Marcia -- as they talk Chita Rivera, Cujo, Angela Lansbury, same-sex marriage, Paul Rudd, Nathan Lane, human rights in Iran -- and finally getting a casting director academy award category!!
And stay tuned for PART 2. Casting in the 80s, Jeff Bridges and more!
AUDIO-OGRAPHY
Find out more about Marcia Ross and Jeff Kaufman’s documentary film work at https://www.floatingworldpictures.com/about-us
Need some 80s TV Ladies merch?!? Check out our GRAND OPENING SALE.
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BREAKING NEWS
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Happy 100th Birthday to President Jimmy Carter! Get Susan’s new play about Carter's White House in 1979: Confidence (and the Speech) at Broadway Licensing. -
Welcome to Season 3!
Sharon and Susan kick off a new season with Jennifer Keishan Armstrong, the New York Times bestselling author of Seinfeldia: How a Show about Nothing Changed Everything, When Women Invented Television, Sex and the City and Us, and Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted.
Jennifer writes about entertainment and pop culture for the New York Times Book Review, Fast Company, Vulture, BBC Culture, and Entertainment Weekly. Her latest book So Fetch: The Making of Mean Girls (And Why We're Still So Obsessed with It) was published this year.
In this fascinating interview, Jennifer takes us behind the scenes with four different women who, in their own ways, invented television: Irma Phillips, Hazel Scott, Gertrude Berg -- and Betty White. Each of them faced sexism -- and racism -- but triumphed during a time when opportunities for women in television were limited -- but strangely also more open than you may think….
THE CONVERSATION
How The Mary Tyler Moore Show gave a voice to women everywhere when they gave a voice to a host of female TV writers.The Oprah of the 1950’s was… Gertrude Berg?The Beyoncé of the 1940s was... reknowned Black jazz pianist, Hazel Scott.Find out how Scott became the first Black person to host a national primetime television show -- in 1950.The character of Suanne Nivens that Betty White played on The Mary Tyler Moore Show was based on a woman who did a LIVE Homemaking Show played by… Betty White!Irma Phillips was asked to make something that would appeal to women -- so she invented the Soap Opera.Phillips created As The World Turns -- AND the longest running show of all time, The Guiding Light.Gertrude Berg’s ground-breaking sitcom about a Jewish family -- The Goldbergs -- was so successful that it was considered to be the lead-in for a new, untested show that might need some help -- I Love Lucy.Why was 1955 the death knell of women working in television -- both in front of AND behind the camera?According to network executives in 1969, what were the THREE THINGS Americans didn’t want to see on television?How The Mary Tyler Moore Show made Ed Asner a feminist.So join Susan and Sharon -- and Jennifer -- as they talk “fat farms”, Mean Girls, the Black List, Seinfeld, Tina Fey, Shonda Rhimes, Father Knows Best -- and “On Wednesdays we wear pink”!
AUDIO-OGRAPHY
Find Jennifer Keishan Armstrong at her website, jenniferkarmstrong.com.
Buy The Women Who Invented Television (and all Jennifer’s books) at Bookshop.org.
Find Jennifer on Instagram.
Find Women Who Invented Television at YouTube:
Watch The Betty White Show (1954)
Watch Betty White in her sitcom, Life with Elizabeth.
Learn more about Hazel Scott.
The Goldbergs with Gertrude Berg, Episode: “A Sad Day”
Check out an Irma Phillips episode of The Guiding Light (1952).
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
We're NOMINATED for Best Film & TV Podcast.
Please VOTE for 80s TV Ladies at Women in Podcasting Awards.
REMEMBER: Register or Check your US Election Registration at Vote.org
This year is the 45th anniversary of President Carter's Crisis of Confidence speech. Get Susan’s new play about it: Confidence (and the Speech) at Broadway Licensing. -
In this special bonus episode, Susan, Sharon and Melissa spill a few secrets about our upcoming season and fun guests coming soon to 80s TV Ladies. Can you guess what female-driven television shows from the 1980s we’ll be covering in our upcoming season?
THE CONVERSATION
Do we know what we did this summer? How was your summer?What is that feeling in the air? Is it hope?!! Are you ready to Vote?Does Melissa even want to talk about her summer?Okay, for real: what shows are we gonna cover in Season THREE?!Can you guess the shows?The Vickie Lawrence-starring, Carol Burnett Show spin-off sitcom, Mama’s Family.You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have… The Facts of Life.Yes! And finally yes: The Golden Girls!What are the recurring themes we are discovering through Season 1 and 2 interviews?Yes, there will be more special series guests this season: More Director Ladies, Star Trek Ladies, Stunt Ladies and more surprises!So join us as we spill Season Three secrets about what guests we will for sure be talking to: like Mama’s Family’s Dorothy Lyman and Eric Brown, women in television expert and pop-culture author, Jennifer Keishan Armstrong. And can you guess who will be our very special guest from The Golden Girls?
AUDIO-OGRAPHY
Read about our first guest for Season 3: Jennifer Keishan Armstrong at jenniferkarmstrong.com
Get info on Jennifer’s books and prep for episode 301:
Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted: And all the Brilliant Minds Who Made The Mary Tyler Moore Show a Classic at Jennifer's website. When Women Invented Television by Jennifer Keishan Armstrong at Bookshop. At Barnes & Noble. At Amazon.CONNECT
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We're NOMINATED for Best Entertainment Podcast. Please VOTE for 80s TV Ladies in the Entertainment category at Women in Podcasting Awards.
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This year is the 45th anniversary of President Carter's Crisis of Confidence speech. Get Susan’s new play about it: Confidence (and the Speech) at Broadway Licensing. -
BONUS: Check out this exciting encore episode from Season 1: Part TWO of our interview with true show business icon and classic 8os TV Lady -- “Remington Steele’s” one-and-only Laura Holt -- Stephanie Zimbalist.
In a career spanning six decades, Stephanie has performed on stage and screen with everyone: Alec Baldwin, Walter Matthau, Jessica Tandy, Anthony Hopkins, John Goodman, Patricia Neal, Alfred Molina, Tommy Tune, Jimmy Stewart AND her own father, the legendary Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
Steele Talking: Susan and Sharon continue their interview with the award-winning stage, TV and film actress…
THE CONVERSATION
- Working with her real-life dad – showbiz legend Efrem Zimbalist Jr – How he became a father figure for co-star Pierce Brosnan. (And how he taught Stephanie the secret to “playing drunk”…!)
- Her decades-long friendship with Alec Baldwin.
- When James Stewart was almost on Remington!
- The Amazing Remington Steele Guest Stars, including…
- Paul Reiser – and how Pierce broke up every time he said a line.
- Louie Anderson – and that horse…
- And Beverly Garland – Laura’s mom! (Wait -- were Laura Holt and Amanda King sisters??)
- How she was cast in – but had to quit – ROBOCOP.
- Why she has never gone back to rewatch “Remington Steele.”
- Why “the blood isn’t real on “Remington Steele” -- and how humor on TV has changed…
- How curiosity leads to love.
- New York, noodles – and a “rude awakening” in the theater…
Listen in as Susan, Sharon and Stephanie talk “Moonlighting”, memories and Mary Tyler Moore!
AUDIO-OGRAPHY
Stephanie Zimbalist on Facebook/StephanieZimbalistFanPage.
Steele Watching Podcast w/ Kerry Carlock.
CONNECT
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We're NOMINATED for Best Film & TV Podcast.
Please VOTE for 80s TV Ladies at Women in Podcasting Awards.
Register or Check your Registration at Vote.org
This is the 45th anniversary of President Carter's Crisis of Confidence speech. Get Susan’s new play about it: Confidence (and the Speech) at Broadway Licensing. -
It's more Summer Reruns. Check out this cool encore episode from Season 1:
Susan and Sharon sit down with a true show business icon and classic 8os TV Lady -- “Remington Steele’s” one-and-only Laura Holt -- Stephanie Zimbalist.
In a career spanning six decades, Stephanie has performed on stage and screen with everyone: Alec Baldwin, Walter Matthau, Jessica Tandy, Anthony Hopkins, John Goodman, Patricia Neal, Alfred Molina, Tommy Tune, Jimmy Stewart AND her own father, the legendary Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
THE CONVERSATION
Growing up Zimbalist: what it’s like to be born into a true show business dynasty.How Stephanie started writing, directing and producing – at the age of seven. How she attended Julliard with friends and classmates Robin Williams and Christopher Reeve -- and then got kicked out!Winning – or not winning – an “Enema” (oh wait -- “Emmy”)A Life in the Theater: performing award-winning roles in classic plays by Shakespeare, Chekhov, Tennessee Williams and more.The gift of making “big choices” on stage – and screen. And the pleasure of refining and reinventing a performance over a long run.Playing Katherine Hepburn in “Tea at Five” – and how she discovered they’re cousins!Turning down the role of Laura Holt three times before finally taking it on.“Backwards and in High Heels” – on water skis! Stephanie takes us through doing her own stunts on “Remington Steele” -- and working with legendary stuntwoman Debbie Evans. Join Susan and Sharon (and Stephanie) as we talk fame, fedoras – and wet-biking in France with Pierce. PLUS -- MORE listener mail!!
AUDIO-OGRAPHY
Stephanie Zimbalist on Facebook/StephanieZimbalistFanPage.
Steele Watching Podcast w/ Kerry Carlock.
Native Land Digital at Native-Land.ca
Read about Land Acknowledgment at LAist.
CONNECT
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We're NOMINATED for Best Film & TV Podcast. Please VOTE for 80s TV Ladies at Women in Podcasting Awards.
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This is the 45th anniversary of President Carter's Crisis of Confidence speech. Get Susan’s new play about it: Confidence (and the Speech) at Broadway Licensing. -
Encore! Encore! For the summer break, Sharon and Susan take you back to the 80s with reruns, and back to Season 1 with a very special encore presentation of Ep. 119.
Meet the woman behind Mary Beth Lacey. Sharon and Susan are excited and honored to talk with Emmy and Tony Award winning actress and the star of Cagney & Lacey, Tyne Daly. In a career spanning eight decades, Tyne Daly has appeared on stage and screen in over 100 roles in everything from “The Mod Squad” and “Judging Amy” to co-starring with Clint Eastwood in the Dirty Harry film “The Enforcer”.
She has received six Emmy awards – four of them for her outstanding portrayal of Mary Beth Lacey on “Cagney & Lacey.” In this intimate interview, Tyne Daly shares stories of her childhood, barely finishing high school, her early days acting in New York, her eventual move to Los Angeles with then-husband actor/director Georg Stanford Brown -- and a lifetime of acting, politics and poetry.
THE CONVERSATION
How Dustin Hoffman opened the door for “non-perfect” people on film and TV.Coming to California -- and being “done at 21”!How the internet is the death of conversation.The power of words. Doing her early pilots – and hoping they didn’t go!“I Did My Cop” - How Dirty Harry almost kept Tyne from doing “Cagney & Lacey”How Tyne went to the mat for Meg Foster at the end of season one – and almost lost her job for it.What it was like to read with the (many) actresses auditioning to play the third Cagney – and how it felt to hear what the producers said about them when they left the room.Why Tyne hasn’t re-watched the show – and doesn’t want to.Tyne’s idea for a new holiday: Interdependence Day – a day celebrating everything we have in common as a people.Tyne reads the poem “Life While You Wait” by Wisława SzymborskaHow after a lifetime of striving and struggling – as an actress and woman – Tyne sees that certain battles are never over…What's Tyne's one word to explain the 21st century? And what's yours?So join Susan, Sharon – and Tyne -- as they talk Bette Davis, Angela Lansbury, Jimmy Stewart, “Colleagues with penises” and “Lining up with the pigs”!
AUDIOGRAPHY
Keep up with Tyne Daly at Tynedalyonline.com
Visit the Official Cagney & Lacey Facebook page.
Tyne Daly’s Official Facebook page.
WHERE TO WATCH
Cagney & Lacey on Roku.
The Bread Factory, Part 1 and Part 2 - Stream it for free using your library card or university log-in at Kanopy.com
On Apple TV.
BOOKS
Remembering Cagney & Lacey with Sharon Gless & Tyne Daly by Brian McFadden
Poems New and Collected by Wisława Szymborska
The New Handbook for a Post Roe America by Robin Marty
CONNECT
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Support us and get ad-free episodes on PATREON.
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VOTE for us at the PodcastAwards.com
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It's the 45th anniversary of President Carter's Crisis of Confidence speech. Get Susan’s new play about it: Confidence (and the Speech) at Broadway Licensing. -
"One of the things I love about looking back at 80s television is you get to see some early and amazing young stars and very exciting stunt casting."
It's Guest Stars Galore on 80s TV Ladies! We're taking a nostalgic trip back to the iconic 80s sitcom "A Different World." Susan and Sharon debate -- and celebrate -- the amazing roster of guest stars that walked the halls of Hillman College during the six seasons of A Different World. As one of the only black-centered shows of its time, A Different World was in many ways “the only game in town” for a certain generation of black performers, and under show-runner Debbie Allen it became a real showcase for black celebrities who -- even in the 80’s and 90’s -- didn’t have as many opportunities when it came to network television exposure.
Legendary performers—such as Lena Horne, Josephine Premice, Patti LaBelle, Diahann Carroll, Robert Guillaume, Gladys Knight—and modern stars like Whoopi Goldberg, Raven Symone, Halle Berry… and Tupac Shakur—found a spotlight. Susan and Sharon get out their red pens and grade books and fight it out, narrowing down who will finally be “Best in Class” -- The Top Ten Guest Stars of A Different World!
THE CONVERSATION
THE TOP TWO: How Patti LaBelle and Diahann Carroll are so hilarious -- and perfectly cast -- as the moms of Dwayne and Whitley: two parents from very “different worlds”.Whoopi Goldberg was the secret weapon that allowed the show to do an “AIDS Episode” (“If I Should Die Before I Wake” S4; EP23). Once she signed on, the network couldn’t say no. It became the highest rated episode of the season.Josephine Premice played the art dealer that Whitley works for in S4 -- and is the mother of writer/showrunner Susan Fales-Hill! (She later plays Dwayne and Whitley’s landlord in S6!)The beautiful Billy Dee Williams plays a former baseball player (S6; EP23) who decides to finish college -- and ends up in the classroom of his old flame: Leslie Uggams!But is it a true 80s TV Ladies show? Sharon calls out showrunner Debbie Allen. She directed 83 episodes of the show (104 were directed by women) and steered it through most of its run.Jennifer Lewis -- as Dean Dorothy Dandridge Davidson -- hits the heights in the Lena Horne Episode -- “A Rock, A River, A Lena” (S6; E22)Susan calls out Gladys Knight in “Three Girls Three” (S2; EP5) -- a classic 80’s stunt casting coup that is everything you want it to be!Can you believe it? Susan also loves a very “guy-centric” episode: “Citizen Wayne” (S2; EP21) -- starring Jesse Jackson. But this isn’t on Sharon’s list for reasons…Who are the TWO GUEST STARS who get cut from the list? One is a guy… And one is… ALSO A GUY!So -- join Susan and Sharon as they talk Brian’s Song, Kris Kross, Tisha Campbell, high-kicks, the “Evolution of Whitley,” Gilbert Gottfried, “checking the gate” -- and showering with Blair Underwear (we mean Under-wood!).
AUDIOGRAPHY
Find out more about “A Different World College Tour 2024” at adwtour.com.
Read about Whoopi Goldberg and the A Different World AIDS episode at Hollywood Reporter.
Read an oral history of A Different World in Vanity Fair.
Watch A Different World -- streaming on MAX.
Find out more about A Different World at the official Facebook page.
Check out Tammy at the true-crime podcast: Grits with a Side of Murder.
Sign up to nominate 80s TV Ladies for a Podcast Award! Go here to sign up & nominate us.We're in the running for Best TV & Film and Best Female Hosted podcast!
PS - You can also vote in other categories for our pals at Richard Hatem's Paranormal Bookshelf, SoCal Voices and Grits With a Side of Murder!
CONNECT
Visit 80sTVLadies.com for transcripts.
Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list.Check out Instagram/80sTVLadies.
Support us and get ad-free episodes on PATREON.
Find more cool podcasts on our host sight, Weirding Way Media.
It's the 45th anniversary of President Carter's Crisis of Confidence speech. Get Susan’s new play about it: Confidence (and the Speech) at Broadway Licensing. -
The 90s TV Babies are back to examine the 80s sensation A Different World!
Serita Fontanesi, Sergio Perez and Megan Ruble signed up for classes at Hillman College TV. But now it’s time for finals. This will ALL be on the test. Professors Lambert and Johnson assigned these episodes to watch:
S1: E1 -- “Pilot”
S2: E1 -- “Dr. War Is Hell”
S2: E20 -- “No Means No”
S6: E9 & 10 -- “Faith, Hope and Charity: Part One and Two”
So -- will the Babies return for another semester at Hillman College? Or will they drop out? Find out -- right now!
THE CONVERSATION
PREGNANCY ROULETTE: Serita is stunned by how much “pee” is involved in getting pregnant.Megan knew nothing about A Different World -- had never seen a single episode.Sergio has binged all of Seasons 1 & 2 - and helped Susan and Sharon create social media for the podcast.For Serita, A Different World has been a part of her TV life pretty much since she was born. She’s seen the whole series, front to back, multiple times.The Babies know OF “The Cosby Show” -- but none of them ever watched it!SERGIO THE RULE-BREAKER: As a little kid he watched Nick-at-Night even though he wasn’t supposed to.Megan LOVED A Different World -- and was surprised by how much the show CHANGED every season…SERITA’S HOT TAKE: You can skip Season One -- the “Lisa Bonet” Season. Sergio disagrees.Serita calls out how grounded the show is -- while still having “wacky” episodes tossed in for spice!Sergio: “Can we please go back to TV shows with 23 episodes a season -- not 8?!?”Do Megan and Sergio agree about Jaleesa and her storyline?Serita’s favorite character is Whitley -- but she relates the most to Kim.Does this show need a reboot?NO MEANS NO: Megan thought the episode about sexual assault was excellent and totally on-point -- except for one key moment…So, join Susan, Sharon -- and Serita, Sergio and Megan -- as they talk Patti LaBelle, Diahann Carroll, AIDS, is it feminist and is it progressive? -- and all the ways to say “Shut Up!
AUDIOGRAPHY
Watch A Different World -- streaming on MAX.
Check out Tammy at the true-crime podcast: Grits with a Side of Murder.
Check out Serita’s podcast “Not Ugly Pod”.
Find out about Megan’s “Shakespeare By The Sea” at Shakespearebythesea.org
Find out about Sergio’s production of “CinderAlice” at tinyurl.com/cinderalice.
NOMINATE US FOR A PODCAST AWARD 2024
You can help us win. We need your vote. Nominate 80s TV Ladies for a Podcast Award! Go here to register & nominate us. We're in the running for Best TV & Film and Best Female Hosted podcast!
PS - You can also vote in other categories for our pals at Richard Hatem's Paranormal Bookshelf, SoCal Voices and Grits With a Side of Murder!
CONNECT
Visit 80sTVLadies.com for transcripts and more.
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Support us and get ad-free episodes on PATREON.
Find more cool podcasts at our host sight, Weirding Way Media. -
“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, director, A Different World
Susan and Sharon welcome legendary producer-director Neema Barnette to talk about her journey from Harlem to Hollywood. Ms. Barnette made history in 1986 when she became the first African-American woman to direct a prime-time sitcom (What’s Happening Now?). She followed this up with episodes of Frank’s Place, It’s A Living and The Cosby Show before directing seven episodes of A Different World. She has directed over 50 movies and television shows and was also the first African-American woman to get a three-picture deal with Sony Pictures.
Neema was also the producer-director of Season One of Ava DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey’s Queen Sugar. She shares stories of making the transition from New York theater to Hollywood films and television, fighting the good fight for herself and others, and inspiring a new generation -- with the truth.
THE CONVERSATION
Head of Columbia Pictures Barbara Corday took one look at Neema’s reel and said “Get this woman a job!”“I’ve had two jobs in my life. Directing and teaching. And they have a lot of similarities. ‘Sit down. Shut up. Move over.’Supportive words from the great Shirley Hemphill on the ground-breaking episode of What’s Happening Now?: “We’ve got your back.”IN THE 60s: Getting Sherman’s BBQ and going to the Apollo from noon to midnight to see everyone -- especially Aretha Franklin.The troubles and battles with Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and National Geographic during the making of Genius: Aretha.“When I was in college, I took a course called ‘Strategies For Revolution’. I took that course and I applied it when I came to Hollywood.”Directing The Cosby Show -- in the episode where Bill gets pregnant!Working with Tyra Ferrell, Mare Winningham, Rosilyn Heller and Gloria Steinem on Better Off Dead.Getting pulled away from teaching to do Queen Sugar. “The ratings came out and I started getting calls.”How Ava DuVernay changed the landscape of television by hiring only women directors on Queen Sugar -- and supporting their careers ongoing.So, join Susan, Sharon -- and Neema -- as they talk Michael B. Jordan, Superfly, The Young Lords, Queen Latifah, Seventh Heaven, Pam Grier -- and “Cut--print that sucker!”
AUDIOGRAPHY
Watch A Different World -- streaming on MAX.
Find Neema Barnette at instagram.com/neemafilms. On Twitter https://x.com/neemrick
Watch Neema’s mini-docs on BlackHistoryMiniDocs.com.
Check out Tammy at the true-crime podcast: Grits with a Side of Murder.
Get & read Susan’s new play Confidence (and the Speech) at Broadway Licensing.
Abortion access in America is severely limited – Help or Get Help at AbortionFinder.org.
CONNECT
Visit 80sTVLadies.com for more.
Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list.
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Support us and get ad-free episodes on PATREON.
Find more cool podcasts at our host sight, Weirding Way Media. -
“You can be anything you want in this world, darling. But if you become an actress or a nun, I’ll kill myself.” -- legendary actress Josephine Premice to her daughter, writer/producer Susan Fales-Hill.
Susan and Sharon welcome writer and showrunner Susan Fales-Hill as they continue their look back at the classic 80’s comedy series A Different World. Ms. Fales-Hill’s writing career began on The Cosby Show and continued on A Different World where she rose from story editor all the way to executive producer during the course of the show’s seven-year run. Content Warning: Sexual Assault/Child Sexual Abuse. At approx. 53:00 - 58:00 short discussion of date rape and child sexual assault.
Susan Fales-Hill is currently writer/executive producer on HBO’s Sex And The City sequel series And Just Like That. She is also the author of four books including her memoir "Always Wear Joy." Susan shares stories of growing up bi-racial in a show biz legacy family, how comedy comes from pain, and the help (and hinderances) she got from men, women and people of color along the way…
THE CONVERSATION
Being Whitley Gilbert’s alter ego: “She said a lot of the things I wanted to say -- but was too polite!"FINDING YOUR VOICE: Susan reflects on learning how to speak up in a writer’s room even though she was the youngest, newest writer -- and a woman.GO WEST YOUNG WOMAN: The “Big Move” from The Cosby Show in New York to A Different World in Los Angeles.THE IMPORTANCE OF A NEW POT: Sometimes you have to "re-plant" yourself to grow.HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE MARISA? The challenge of featuring a white character attending an HBCU.JUST A TIME SLOT SUCCESS? Some people grumbled that ADW only succeeded because it followed the massive hit The Cosby Show.How Debbie Allen insisted the show be topical -- and the surprise when Bill Cosby agreed.The story of how Susan personally got Diahann Carroll to be on the show.Being told by her agents after running a Top Ten show: “We can’t get you on a white show.”On the joy of casting your own mom -- singer, dancer, actress Josephine Premice.Susan reflects on which “issue” episodes worked -- and which ones maybe missed the mark (looking at you, Los Angeles Uprising…)The network was adamantly opposed to the “Los Angeles Uprising” episodes -- and some believe it signed the shows death warrant.So, join Susan, Sharon -- and Susan -- as they talk pig noses, possible spin-offs, Billy Dee Williams, The Amistad, “Benevolent Karens”, Jennifer Lewis… and the danger of saying “shut up” to your mom!
AUDIOGRAPHY
Watch A Different World -- streaming on MAX.
Watch the classic 2-part Thanksgiving Episode “Faith, Hope & Charity” (S6; EP 9 & 10) -- with Diahann Carroll AND Patti LaBelle! on HBO Max.
Get Susan Fales-Hill’s books and find out about all her projects at SusanFales-Hill.com.
Watch Susan Fales-Hill “In Praise of Complexity” at the Met Museum "Met Speaks".
CONNECT
Visit 80sTVLadies.com for transcripts and more.
Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list.
Check out Instagram/80sTVLadies.
Support our show and get ad-free episodes on PATREON.
Find more cool podcasts at our host sight, Weirding Way Media. -
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 MAX.
Find out about Niceole at niceolelevy.com.
Read her “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.
CONNECT
Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list.
Follow 8TL on Facebook.Check out Instagram/80sTVLadies.
Get ad-free episodes and exclusive videos on PATREON.
Find more cool podcasts at our host sight, Weirding Way Media. -
“I was quite set on theater. I was going to go out to Los Angeles for one year -- and that was it. Then I was going to go back to New York and devote myself to the theater. It didn’t work out that way.” -- Jan Eliasberg
80s TV Ladies "Director Ladies" series continues as Susan and Sharon welcome legendary director Jan Eliasberg. Jan began her television director career in the 1980s with an episode of Cagney & Lacey -- and she went on to be the first female director ever on Miami Vice, Crime Story and 21 Jump Street. She has also directed episodes of Dirty Dancing, L.A. Law, Dawson’s Creek, Party of Five, Sisters, Parenthood, Nashville, Supernatural, Bull and NCIS: Los Angeles. Jan recently published her first novel, Hannah’s War.
In this enlightening conversation, Jan discusses how the American Film Institute (AFI) and “The Original Six” opened up opportunities for her and other female directors; how to navigate directing a network television show for the first time -- and how courage, tenacity and little guile can make all the difference …
THE CONVERSATION
How do you get 10,000 hours of experience when directing requires so much time, money and people: Europe or Yale?What can Shakespeare and Ibsen teach you about directing TV? Everything…Frances McDormand, Angela Bassett, John Turturo, Tony Shalhoub and Courtney Vance -- how do you quickly figure out what different actors need to create great performances?What happens when you direct a play about South African apartheid in St. Louis in the early 1980s?On shadowing directors: “I’m already a director -- what am I doing watching these people? I mean, they’re good, but I’m good, too. And that was the kind of confidence -- or maybe you could say arrogance, fearlessness - -that it takes to go into a field that is predominantly male and actually make a dent and get a job.”How a twisty game of cat-and-mouse with Barney Rosensweig led to Jan’s first directing gig -- on Cagney & Lacey. (S5, EP13 -- “Act of Conscience”).Directing L.A. Law -- and David Kelly’s very first script!How asking others for advice is a gift that goes both ways.Directing two classic, fan-favorite episodes of Miami Vice.Jan gets her first feature film in 1988: How I Got Into College -- but you won’t believe what happened to her on Day Two of filming…Past Midnight -- working with the great Rutger Hauer and Natasha Richardson.Is the window for women directors opening or closing? Jan gives us her take.So, join Susan, Sharon -- and Jan -- as they talk Dennis Farina, Michael Moriarty, Rutger Hauer, Paul Giamatti, Daniel Craig, Meg Foster, Sela Ward, Swoosie Kurtz, Kirsten Dunst, George Clooney, Patricia Arquette, Stanley Tucci -- and creamsicles!
AUDIOGRAPHY
Find out more about Jan at JanEliasberg.com.
Buy Jan’s new novel Hannah’s War at Bookshop.
Read Michael Cieply's 1988 article on Jan and other fired women directors at LA Times.
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Catch 90s TV Baby Serita Fontanesi’s “Not Ugly” podcast at Apple.
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