80s TV Ladies

80s TV Ladies

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.com

Episodes

April 1, 2026 69 mins
“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...
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"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...
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“ Barney and I were interviewed about that episode on Entertainment Tonight because the word “condom” had never been used on television before.” - Georgia Jeffries, Cagney & Lacey writer

Hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson welcome writer-producer-professor Georgia Jeffries, an Award-winning writer known for Cagney & Lacey, China Beach, and Sisters. Jeffries recounts growing up as an only child, loving The Twilight Z...
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    90s TV Babies Meet The Golden Girls: Uncovering Timeless Comedy | 80s TV Podcast

    Join co-hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson as they welcome back the “’90s TV Babies”—Sergio Perez, Sailor Franklin, and Serita Fontanesi—plus first-time (almost silent) guest: the 20s² TV Baby Theo —for a 2026 discussion of The Golden Girls.

    The group is assigned a lineup of key episodes across Seasons 1, 2, 4, 6, and the two-part series finale...
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    "Golden Girls is just so good. It's been with me my entire life, and there were opportunities to do more than just a rewatch podcast. We could bring in historical stuff and the history of the show." - Patrick Hinds, Golden Girls Deep Dive podcast

    Join hosts Sharon Johnson and Susan Lambert Hatem on 80s TV Ladies as they chat with the award-winning podcaster Patrick Hinds. Known for his work on Theatre People, Broadway Backstory, Tru...
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    "It's interesting how relevant these conversations remain today." - Jennie Wetter

    Join 80s TV Ladies hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson with guest Jennie Wetter, director of the RePros Fight Back Initiative at the Population Institute, as they explore the groundbreaking two-part 'Maude' episodes addressing abortion - Maude's Dilemma, Part 1 and 2.

    They discuss the historical context of reproductive rights in America, the im...
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    SPECIAL PRESENTATION: The Love Boat Podcast with Loretta Swit

    80s TV Ladies is thrilled to introduce you to The Love Boat Podcast with this exclusive Feed Drop from The Love Boat Podcast. 

    Before we set sail, we pause to honor the remarkable Loretta Swit.

    Emmy-winning star of MASH, beloved guest on The Love Boat, and an icon of television’s golden age. In what would become her final recorded interview, Loretta joins Fred, Ted, Jill (a...
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     ”Dorothy's tale of how she and her husband ended up together implies that he slipped her something and had sex with her. Without protection… Yeah…” - Susan Lambert Hatem

    Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson dive deep in this episode into the beloved TV show 'The Golden Girls,' discussing its groundbreaking impact and the not-so-great aspects. While celebrating its progressive approach to hot-button topics and its iconic cast, the...
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    "Achieving this milestone was a dream come true. It made all the hard work and sacrifices worth it."  - Marsha Posner Williams

    In this 80s TV Ladies episode, hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson continue their interview with Emmy-winning producer Marsha Posner Williams, exploring further chapters of her illustrious career in television. Marsha discusses her work on the short-lived yet memorable show 'Hail to the Chief,' incl...
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    “Even more so than All in the Family, we had protesters outside our office... We used to keep our curtains closed because we were afraid someone was gonna throw a brick through the window.” - Marsha Posner Williams on 'Soap'

    In this episode of 80s TV Ladies, hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson interview Marsha Posner Williams, an Emmy and Golden Globe-winning producer known for her work on hit shows such as ‘Soap,’ 'Benson,...
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    Join hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson on 80s TV Ladies, where they chat with Jim Colucci, TV writer, author, and entertainment journalist, known for his deep dive into the cultural impact of the Golden Girls. In this episode, Jim discusses his unauthorized retrospective book, 'Golden Girls Forever,' sharing behind-the-scenes stories and the show's lasting cultural influence. From interviews with Golden Girls cast member...
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    Join hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson as they welcome back prolific writer, director, producer, and actor Stan Zimmerman. Known for his work on iconic female-driven comedies like 'The Golden Girls,' 'Roseanne,' and 'Gilmore Girls,' Stan shares insights from his illustrious career and discusses his new book, The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore. 

    From recounting behind-the-scenes moments with Betty White, Bea Arthur, and oth...
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    In this captivating episode of 80s TV Ladies, hosts Sharon Johnson and Susan Lambert Hatem interview the legendary Cindy Fee, best known for singing the iconic theme song for 'The Golden Girls'. The conversation covers Cindy's extensive career, beginning with her professional singing at a young age, and her work with notable artists such as Kenny Rogers, Lionel Richie, and Dolly Parton.

    Cindy shares behind-the-scenes stories from he...
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    Hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson dive deep into the beloved 'The Golden Girls' with a delightful overview and 50 fun facts about the show. Discover fascinating show details, cast secrets, and notable legacy moments as they share their passion for this iconic series. 

    Learn about the iconic characters played by Bea Arthur (Dorothy Zbornak), Betty White (Rose Nylund), Rue McClanahan (Blanche Devereaux), and Estelle Getty (...
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    Join hosts Sharon Johnson and Susan Lambert Hatem for an exciting episode as they take an in-depth look at the legendary 90s TV show, Xena: Warrior Princess. This episode features special guests RJ Stewart, head writer and co-creator of the series, and Anna Schekel, an artist and lifelong Xena fan. The discussion covers the evolution and impact of 'Xena: Warrior Princess,' the chemistry between Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor, and ...
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    "Listeners, what would be the answer for you? Is it Buffy or Xena?”

    Welcome to Season Four of 80s TV Ladies with hosts Sharon Johnson and Susan Lambert Hatem. In this episode, we dive into a nostalgic showdown between two iconic 90s TV heroines: Xena, the Warrior Princess, and Buffy, the Vampire Slayer.

    Susan and Sharon discuss the origins, cultural impact, and strengths of both shows, debating who would win in a head-to-head fight,...
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    “It’s not just because it’s a masterclass in comedy or because it has one of the greatest television theme songs of all time, I think it’s because it’s about friendship.”

    Get ready for a brand new season of 80s TV Ladies! In this special sneak peek, hosts Sharon Johnson and Susan Lambert Hatem dish out all the details on what’s coming up in Season Four.

    What's next for 8TL: Golden Girls, Kate & Allie, and One Day at a Time!

    From t...
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    Dive into the fascinating world of LGBTQ representation in 70s, 80s, and 90s television with hosts Sharon Johnson and Susan Lambert Hatem on '80s TV Ladies.' This special summer rerun, featuring expert Matt Baume, highlights iconic queer moments and characters. Originally aired on June 7th, 2023, the episode covers groundbreaking shows like 'Bewitched,' 'All in the Family,' 'Golden Girls,' and more. Matt discusses his unique journe...
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    In this episode, hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson revisit season one, episode six of 'Scarecrow and Mrs. King,' originally launched on September 28, 2022. The rerun features actress Martha Smith, the first actress/celebrity guest on 80s TV Ladies. They dive into Smith's experiences and roles, from her motion picture debut in 'Animal House' to her portrayal of Agent Francine Desmond in 'Scarecrow and Mrs. King.' The conv...
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    Join hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson as they revisit a beloved episode featuring the co-creator of 'Scarecrow and Mrs. King,' Eugenie Ross-Leming. Originally aired on August 31, 2022, this rerun dives into Ross-Leming's storied career, from her early days at Second City to creating the iconic 80s TV series. Delve into the casting choices, character dynamics, and behind-the-scenes challenges that shaped this female-driv...
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