80s TV Ladies copertina

80s TV Ladies

80s TV Ladies

Di: 134 West | Susan Lambert Hatem & Sharon Johnson
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4-time Podcast Awards Winner! Webby nominated for Best Indie Podcast.
80s TV Ladies is dedicated to the beloved female-driven shows of the 1980s! Do you love 80s pop culture, television and fabulous women? On our show, you’ll hear a breakdown of how these shows got made, how they were influenced by the times and, in turn, how they influenced pop-culture trends to follow. We love discussing the “two-steps forward, one-step-back” lens of media-driven feminism.

Join hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson as they talk about the fabulous ladies of television: Cagney & Lacey, Designing Women, A Different World, The Golden Girls and more.

With special guests, TV creators and stars! Do these shows we hold so dear hold up? Let's find out.

Season 1: We examine three “detective duo shows” this season, with multiple episodes and awesome guests for each TV show we cover.
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
Remington Steele
Cagney & Lacey

Season 2: Multiple episodes per TV show exploring representation and behind-the-scenes insight in science fiction, drama and sitcoms!
Queer representation in 70s and 80s
9 to 5 television show
It's a Living
Designing Women
Ladies of the 80s: A Divas Christmas
Star Trek Ladies
Moonlighting

Special guests: Eugenie Ross-Leming, Martha Smith, Robin Bernheim, Stephanie Zimbalist, Evan Ball, Debbie Evans, Barney Rosenzweig, Tyne Daly, Sharon Gless, Karen Arthur, Cynthis Beemis Abrams, Matt Baume, Jane Epsensen, Drew Greenberg, Paul Kreppel, Bryan Edward Hill, Maggie Friedman, Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, Stan Zimmerman, Mary Lou Belli, Nana Visitor, Glenn Gordon Caron, Shery Main and more!

We publish every other Wednesday.
Tell us: Who should we interview and what's your favorite 80s Ladies television show? https://www.80stvladies.comSusan Lambert and 134 West Arte Scienze sociali
Episodi
  • REWIND: Neema Barnette | Directing A Different World, Making TV History, and Strategies for Revolution

    REWIND: Neema Barnette | Directing A Different World, Making TV History, and Strategies for Revolution
    Aug 5 2026
    "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 BarnetteREWIND 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 CONVERSATIONBARBARA 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 WATCHINGWatch 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: 80STVLADIESCONNECTSign 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.
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    1 ora e 22 min
  • REWIND: Susan Fales-Hill | Showrunning A Different World, Resisting Industry Bias, and Making TV History

    REWIND: Susan Fales-Hill | Showrunning A Different World, Resisting Industry Bias, and Making TV History
    Jul 22 2026
    "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-HillREWIND 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 CONVERSATIONFROM 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 WATCHINGWatch 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."AUDIOGRAPHYWatch A Different World -- streaming on Netflix and Philo.Find out more about Susan at SusanFales-Hill.comFollow her at Instagram.com/madamefaleshillMust-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: 80STVLADIESCONNECTSign 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.
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    1 ora e 8 min
  • REWIND: A Different World | Looking Back at the 80s Hit with Writer Niceole Levy

    REWIND: A Different World | Looking Back at the 80s Hit with Writer Niceole Levy
    Jul 8 2026
    "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 LevyREWIND EPISODEThe 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 CONVERSATION80s 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!AUDIOGRAPHYWatch 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: 80STVLADIESCONNECTSign 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.
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    1 ora e 12 min
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