80s TV Ladies cover art

80s TV Ladies

80s TV Ladies

By: 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 Art Social Sciences
Episodes
  • 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.
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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • Jennifer Jones: Precision, Resilience, and Breaking Barriers on the Line

    Jennifer Jones: Precision, Resilience, and Breaking Barriers on the Line
    Jun 24 2026
    "When someone came at me or was very mean to me or made it clear that I was not welcome on the line, I still had my love for dance. I leaned into my dream as a child, and I was living it wholeheartedly, and they weren't allowed to take it away." — Jennifer JonesFor a century, the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes have represented the gold standard of precision dance, synchronized routines, and eye-high kicks. But for the first 63 years, that famous line failed to reflect the diversity of the audiences watching them, and the demographics of America herself. In 1987, that history changed forever when professional dancer Jennifer Jones was hired as the very first African American Rockette, making her unforgettable debut on television screens across the nation during the 1988 Super Bowl XXII halftime show!In this episode, Sharon and Susan sit down with this groundbreaking icon to talk about what it was really like to break through a decades-old institutional barrier at just 20 years old. Jennifer shares the stage with us to discuss her incredible 15-year tenure on the line, her full-circle Tony Award-winning run on Broadway in 42nd Street, and her deeply personal, triumphant battle surviving Stage III colorectal cancer with that signature Rockette resilience.🗣️ THE CONVERSATIONSTEPPING ONTO THE FIELD AT SUPER BOWL XXII: Overcoming intense nerves in a massive football stadium, learning complex precision terminology on the fly, and feeling the ultimate validation that she was exactly where she was supposed to be.NAVIGATING INSTITUTIONAL RESISTANCE: Dealing with antiquated industry mindsets regarding "uniformity," handling behind-the-scenes pushback from PR and management, and the crucial, historic knock on the door from the NAACP that forced Radio City to change.THE ART OF PRECISION DANCE: Moving your limbs "through peanut butter" to seamlessly look like a single dancer, and how the mental discipline of a professional athlete shapes a lifetime of character.FROM THE WIZ TO THE TONY AWARDS: How seeing vital Black representation on stage as a child inspired her dreams, and her breathtaking full-circle moment performing at the Tony Awards inside Radio City Music Hall.THE RHYTHM OF RESILIENCE: Her sudden diagnosis with Stage III colorectal cancer at age 50, learning to fiercely advocate for her own health when doctors brushed her symptoms aside, and her vital mission to spread awareness about early cancer screenings.📦 AUDIOOGRAHY - WHERE TO FIND JENNIFER'S WORKOfficial Website & Socials: Connect with Jennifer at theofficialjenniferjones.com or on Instagram and Facebook.com/RocketteJenn.The Books: Grab your copy of her powerful memoir, Becoming Spectacular: The Rhythm of Resilience from the First African American Rockette, or her beautiful children’s book, On the Line, online via HarperCollins and Bookshop.org or at your local bookstore.The Dancing Jen Doll! Check out the beautiful "Christmas Spectacular Dancing Jen" doll designed to accompany her children's book, available now at Walmart Marketplace.🩺 HEALTH RESOURCES & VITAL ADVOCACYGet Screened Early: Colon cancer is being diagnosed in younger adults more than ever before. The routine screening age has officially dropped from 50 to 45. Listen to your body, advocate for your health, and learn more at coloncancercoalition.orgYour Vote is Your Voice: Don't let your voice be silenced. Head over to Vote.org to check your registration status or register to vote today.📻 CONNECT WITH 80s TV LADIESSupport Us on Patreon: Want to see videos of our incredible interviews? Join our Patreon community for exclusive video drops, special merch, and behind-the-scenes extras!Rate and Review: If the 80s TV Ladies bring you joy and laughter, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts to help other amazing ladies of the 21st century find the show!Visit 80sTVLadies.com for more info.Listen to 80s TV Ladies at YouTube. Subscribe and help us grow.Don’t miss out. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list!Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes, video interviews, and exclusive content on PATREON.
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    56 mins
  • Ch-ch-ch-changes: The 20 Most Revolutionary 80s Music Videos, Part 2

    Ch-ch-ch-changes: The 20 Most Revolutionary 80s Music Videos, Part 2
    Jun 10 2026
    "Music videos were an avenue for women to break into directing, which was really important at the time. A lot of women basically got their start directing music videos because nobody wanted to do them... until they became super popular." — Susan Lambert HatemThe great mid-season packing and moving marathon continues! In the second half of this double-header special, hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson return to count down the remaining legendary music videos that defined the MTV golden era. As they sort through decades of personal boxes, memorabilia, and old memories, they track the evolution of 1980s visual storytelling—from simple performance videos to cinematic masterpieces.Along the way, they highlight the unsung female directing pioneers who shaped the medium and share unforgettable insider Hollywood stories involving space shuttles, Aerosmith rehearsals, and the infinite grace of Whitney Houston. Grab your headphones and join the ladies for the final leg of this high-energy, nostalgic tour down memory lane!THE CONVERSATIONThe Mid-Season Packing Hiatus: Susan and Sharon share an update on their respective moves, navigating the emotional and physical heavy lifting of downsizing and uncovering hidden historical gems in old storage boxes.Female Directing Pioneers: The ladies discuss how music videos served as a vital gateway for groundbreaking female filmmakers like Mary Lambert and Penelope Spheeris at a time when traditional Hollywood doors were shut.Choreographers Step Out Front: Sharon breaks down Paula Abdul's iconic black-and-white debut for "Straight Up" (directed by David Fincher), mapping her legendary transition from behind-the-scenes Laker Girl choreographer to a front-and-center music superstar.Classic 80s Cameos & Cameo’s Word Up: A celebration of Cameo's "Word Up" featuring a remarkably baby-faced LeVar Burton as an overwhelmed police officer, alongside a dive into the origins of the phrase "wave your hands in the air like you don't care."The Reality of the Road: A look at Bon Jovi's cowboy-tinged "Wanted Dead or Alive" leads to a touching tribute to the grueling, marathon work ethic required of touring bands traveling from city to city.Sepia Tones & Lake Pedal Boats: Susan explores the Americana aesthetic of Rod Stewart & Jeff Beck's "People Get Ready" cover, pulling back the curtain on a rare 1965 pre-MTV performance by The Impressions filmed on pedal boats with the young stars of Dick Clark’s Where The Action Is.Susan's Disney & Cape Canaveral Tales: Susan shares an extraordinary behind-the-scenes story from her time in Disney broadcast publicity, recounting the legendary, high-budget Armageddon premiere launch party where Aerosmith played a private rehearsal concert directly in front of a lit-up space shuttle.Sharon's Oscar Rehearsal Memories: Sharon looks back on attending Academy Award rehearsals, offering a beautiful memory of Whitney Houston's profound kindness and grace toward a young fan while at the rehearsal for her iconic duet with Mariah Carey.The Welder with a Dream: The ladies champion Irene Cara's "Flashdance... What a Feeling" as an essential piece of 1980s feminist representation, reflecting on the film's rousing choreography and the publicity crew's spontaneous cubicle performances of "Armageddon: The Musical." But Susan wonders if the movie holds up on a rewatch?Fan Favorite Reruns Coming Up! To give the hosts time to complete their big moves, 80s TV Ladies announces an exciting lineup of fan-favorite rebroadcasts featuring insightful interviews with writer Nicole Levy and legendary showrunner Susan Fales-Hill exploring the legacy of A Different World.AUDIO-OGRAPHY📹 REVOLUTIONARY 80s MUSIC VIDEOS PLAYLIST - PART 2Artist | Song Title | Release | Picked By | LinkPaula Abdul | Straight Up | 1988 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube Pat Benatar | Hit Me With Your Best Shot | 1980 | Susan | Watch on YouTubeEurythmics | Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) | 1983 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube Cyndi Lauper | Girls Just Want to Have Fun | 1983 | Susan | Watch on YouTube Cameo | Word Up | 1986 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube Bon Jovi | Wanted Dead or Alive | 1987 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube Rod Stewart & Jeff Beck | People Get Ready | 1985 | Susan | Watch on YouTubeThe Impressions | People Get Ready | 1965 | Watch on YouTubeGenesis | Invisible Touch | 1986 | Sharon | Watch on YouTubeVan Halen | Jump | 1984 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube Irene Cara | Flashdance... What a Feeling | 1983 | Susan | Watch on YouTube Whitney Houston | I Wanna Dance with Somebody | 1987 | Sharon | Watch on YouTubePROTECT THE VOTEVote.org: Check your registration. Stay engaged, make your voice heard.NoKings.org: June 13. Get ready for the real 250 Anniversary. Rise Up. Sing out. Keep organizing!DemocracyDocket.com is protecting our vote. Learn more. SPECIAL 8TL PROMOTIONS! COZY EARTH - Best Deal21% OFF! At Cozy Earth.com - Get the best discount on awesome sheets and pajamas.Use promo ...
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    53 mins
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