80s TV Ladies

80s TV Ladies

80s TV Ladies is dedicated to the beloved female-driven shows of the 1980s! Join hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson as they talk about the ladies of 80s television, from Laura Holt of Remington Steele to the Golden Girls. We interview special guests, TV makers, creators and stars! Do these shows we hold so dear hold up? Are they truly feminist? Let's find out. This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5585115/advertisement

Episodes

December 1, 2023 73 mins
On this special Bonus Holiday-themed episode, Susan and Sharon welcome Stan Zimmerman, co-writer of Ladies of the ’80s: A Divas Christmas.

Stan Zimmerman is a prolific producer and director but is perhaps best known for his work with writing partner James Berg on A Very Brady Sequel and on the classic television as Roseanne, Gilmore Girls and The Golden Girls. In Ladies of the 80’s: A Divas Christmas, Loni Anderson, Morgan Fairchild...
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Susan and Sharon continue their discussion with the creator of Designing Women, Linda Bloodworth-Thomason (also Evening Shade, Hearts Afire, Filthy Rich, and more!).

In Part Two of their conversation, Linda touches on the challenges of television production, her experiences with Dixie Carter, Delta Burke’s struggles on the show -- and the differences between the north and south.

THE CONVERSATION
  • LOVE IS IN THE AIR: We get the insi...
Susan and Sharon are honored to speak with the creator and writer of Designing Women, Linda Bloodworth Thomason. Novelist, playwright, documentary filmmaker and philanthropist, Linda is a five-time Emmy Award nominee who has created, written and produced such signature hits as "Evening Shade", "Hearts Afire", "Women of the House" and "Filthy Rich".

Her TV writing career began with episodes of classic shows including "Rhoda", "Paper ...
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November 15, 2023 56 mins
“She didn't twirl just a baton. That baton was on fire. And when she threw that baton into the air, it flew higher, further, faster than any baton has ever flown before, hitting a transformer and showering the darkened arena with sparks!” - Julia Sugarbaker

Susan and Sharon continue “‘Designing Women’ November” with an episode devoted to the actresses – all seven of them – who played all those outspoken Southern Women! We’re talking...
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November 1, 2023 70 mins
Susan and Sharon get to sit down with writer/producer/show-runner Maggie Friedman to talk about the show that inspired her to embark on a career in television: Designing Women.

Designing Women (1986-1993) was created by the legendary Linda Bloodworth-Thomason and starred Dixie Carter, Delta Burke, Jean Smart, Annie Potts and Meshach Taylor as the owners and staff of the Atlanta-based interior design firm “Sugarbaker & Associates...
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Our ethical language lives in our popular culture.” – Bryan Edward Hill

Susan and Sharon welcome writer, producer, filmmaker, pop-culture philosopher and good friend Bryan Edward Hill. Bryan has spent the better part of the last 40 years processing the hundreds of TV shows and movies he watched as an only child – then later, creating his own work –- and then reflecting on how the two experiences speak to each other. Along with Sus...
“When you’re doing the right thing, the right things happen” – Lynda Carter to David Johnson about creating “The Ultimate Fan’s Guide to Scarecrow and Mrs. King”.

Susan and Sharon geek out with SMK experts David R. Johnson, Taya Johnston and Sabine Ludewig – the authors of “The Ultimate Fan’s Guide to Scarecrow and Mrs. King” - a #1 Bestseller in TV and Film on Amazon Books!

How do three people from far-flung parts of the world com...
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September 27, 2023 58 mins
“The key to good women-driven stories is… Sheryl Lee Ralph” – 90’s TV Babies

Susan and Sharon welcome back the 90’s TV Babies! It’s been a while since we’ve seen them, but they’re back and ready for action. Serita Fontanesi, Sergio Perez and Megan Ruble take a look at “It’s A Living” – and they do not hold back!

THE CONVERSATION
  • Too many characters in Season One? The Babies don’t think so.
  • Was Season One too sexy – or too sex-posit...
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What’s your favorite 80s television theme songs?
Susan and Sharon were invited to be on Dave Sloan and Holly Cantos podcast “What Difference Does It Make?” to talk 80s TV theme songs and retro music -- and they all had so much fun they’re bringing Part Two of the conversation here!

If you want to hear Part One, here’s the link to the 80s TV Ladies episode of “What Difference Does It Make?” And get ready to relive – and rehear -- som...
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“It seemed possible in the ‘80s that someone would walk up to you at a train station and hand you a package – and you would take it!” -- Jeanette Valliere

Welcome to Susan and Sharon’s very first “Fanbar” event – where we talk with outstanding fans of 80s shows. We’re starting off with a big one! Jeanette Valliere has been organizing the "Scarecrow and Mrs. King" Anniversary events since 2003, and she’s got lots of stories – includ...
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August 30, 2023 55 mins
“Life’s not the French Riviera; life’s not a charity ball…” – theme song by George Tipton & Leslie Bricusse

Susan and Sharon wrap up their thoughts on “It’s A Living” with a global look at everything “IAL” -- from their top favorite episodes, to the amazing careers of the stars – and don't forget that unforgettable theme song! So, if you’ve ever wanted to hear Sharon sing “You Only Live Twice” – this is the episode for you!

Plus ...
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August 16, 2023 67 mins
“Sonny Mann is a guy with great talent -- but no taste” – Paul Kreppel

Continuing their deep dive into “It’s A Living”, Susan and Sharon sit down with beloved Tony award-winner, actor and director Paul Kreppel, known to 80s TV lovers as the “always on the make” singer and piano player ‘Sonny Mann’ on “It’s A Living”.

Paul’s stage career began in 1968 with the Boston Improvisational theater group “The Proposition” where he performed w...
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"You could tell that they were afraid the show was too sexy..." - Jane Espensen

Susan and Sharon start their look back at the under-the-radar 1980’s comedy “It’s A Living” with modern-day TV writer/producers Jane Espenson and Drew Z. Greenberg. Jane Espenson has written for shows such as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, “Once Upon A Time”, “Gilmore Girls”, “Jessica Jones”, “Battlestar Galactica” and “Game of Thrones”. Drew Greenberg’s cr...
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“On Sundays, I couldn’t wait for Monday.”
– Eilish Zebrasky, Head of Wardrobe for Aaron Spelling.

Susan and Sharon get all dressed up and strut their stuff with legendary 80s TV and Film costume designer Eilish Zebrasky. For over 25 years, Eilish Zebrasky was the Costume Department Head for Aaron Spelling Productions, responsible for all the amazing clothes you saw on classic shows like “Murder, She Wrote”, “Dynasty”, “The...
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Tumble out of bed/and stumble to the kitchen/pour yourself a cup of ambition
And yawn and stretch and listen in as Susan and Sharon talk "Nine to Five": The TV Series with podcaster and founder of Weirding Way Media, Chris Stachiw.

On this special cross-over episode with The Kulturecast, we dig into one of the strangest, funniest and least-known film-to-TV transplants: Nine To Five. The film “9 to 5” debuted on December 19th, 1980 st...
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“What do we want? Fair Pay! When do we want it? NOW!”

The 80’s TV Ladies fast-forward from the 1980s to the RIGHT NOW – for a special "breaking news" episode about the ongoing 2023 WGA Writer’s Strike that is having a major impact on television production – and the future of entertainment as we know it. As the strike enters its third month writers and other guilds are calling out for “transformative change” and insisting “now is not...
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“To be able to see it represented on TV means so much to a young mind."
Susan and Sharon continue their celebration of Pride Month by welcoming JD and Denise, hosts of "The Rainbow Remix", a podcast featuring LGBTQ lifestyle news, music, arts, media -- and mixology!

Denise Warner is an out lesbian and veteran podcaster going all the way back to 2006 with “The Lesbian Lounge". JD Danner is a musician and songwriter who came out afte...
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What did Queer representation look like in 70s, 80s and 90s television? Could you say gay?

Susan and Sharon kick off their Pride Month celebration with author, podcaster and video maker Matt Baume. His latest book, “Hi Homey, I’m Homo!” traces the evolution of LGBTQ+ characters on American sitcoms. His previous book - “Defining Marriage” - chronicles the personal stories of people who fought for marriage equality over the last forty...
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In Part Two of our conversation with Cynthia Bemis Abrams, host of the “Advanced TV Herstory” podcast, we continue our discussion of feminism in American culture and its effect on television as we delve into sports, politics, female stereotypes – and the unsung feminist heroes of Hollywood’s mysterious “Secret Sisterhood”.

THE CONVERSATION
  • WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE: What stereotypes were women assigned when they made their way into...
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Welcome to 80’s TV Ladies: Season Two!
Susan and Sharon kick-off the new season with Cynthia Bemis-Abrams, the host of sister podcast “Advanced TV Herstory” -- a fascinating deep dive into the backstory of women in television, that connects the dots between TV, feminism, American culture and politics.

In Part One of a two-part conversation, we’ll talk about the shows, actresses and characters that stood out as landmarks for women ove...
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