80s TV Ladies

By: 134 West | Susan Lambert Hatem & Sharon Johnson
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  • Summary

  • 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
    Susan Lambert and 134 West
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Art Social Sciences
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Episodes
  • The Facts of Life with Director Asaad Kelada | Part 1

    The Facts of Life with Director Asaad Kelada | Part 1
    Apr 23 2025
    “There was a sense of discovery about what this series was going to be about. It was going to be about young people -- with all of their shenanigans, and the maneuvering, and all the silliness that takes place with that. But it was also going to be about growing up. These five people, and the fabric that holds them together.” -- Asaad Kelada - producer/director, The Facts of LifeSusan and Sharon welcome legendary Director Asaad Kelada. In a career spanning four decades, Asaad Kelada has directed over 340 episodes of television, including Rhoda, Phyllis, The Tony Randall Show, Benson, WKRP in Cincinnati, One Day at a Time, Night Court, Valerie, Who’s the Boss and The Office -- as well as four seasons of The Facts of Life. In Part 1 of this wide-ranging interview, we touch on Asaad’s relationship to the young actors on Facts of Life; learning to trust them -- and himself; and his beginnings as the lead singer in Egypt’s first ever Rock ‘n’ Roll Boy Band! THE CONVERSATIONWHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO IS DIRECT! - How getting accepted to the Yale School of Drama taught Asaad which side of the stage he really wanted to be on.THE 5-YEAR DIRECTING SCHOOL: Observing all the MTM shows from the bleachers, for five years, got Asaad ready for his first TV job: Directing Valerie Harper in Rhoda!DAY ONE: On his first day directing The Facts of Life, the only person he recognized that he had worked with before was… Tootie (Kim Fields)!DOUBLE STANDARD: In this early episode of The Facts of Life, Asaad realized the potential of the show: “It was just like being in the theater, like working on a play -- with substance, with humor, with intelligence -- and yet they were young girls. This was television in a new form.RUNAWAY TRAIN: Asaad describes the increasing tension and hi-stakes artistry of a show as it speeds thru its season -- and how he learned to not fall off!ON CHARLOTTE RAE: “She and I were the grownups in the room. She was the centerpiece in a show about four girls.”STORY CONFERENCE -- WITH THE CAST: “After the table read, we’d just talk -- talk about what the episode is dealing with, what it’s about, how it all ties together.”FACTS OF LIFE GOES TO PARIS: “It was a trial by fire. Every single shot, every single frame was filmed on location. We were at Notre Dame, the Champs Elysee… How can this be called a job?”So join Susan and Sharon -- and Asaad -- as they talk George Clooney, The Bob Newhart Show, Grant Tinker, Geri Jewel, speaking French, Bill Haley & the Comets, Nancy McKeon -- and being ready when your opportunity finally comes!GET READY FOR PART 2 -- NEXT EPISODE! Don't miss more Facts of Life stories, plus Family Ties and Who's The Boss!!AUDIO-OGRAPHYFind out more about Asaad Kelada at IMDB.STILL IN FLUX: Watch Season 2 and 3 of The Facts of Life for free on Tubi.Season 1 and 3 are available for sale on Amazon Prime.Buy the complete season on DVD at Ebay. Check YouTube for other episodes.VITAL READINGGet Handbook for A Post-Roe America by Robin Marty at Bookshop.org.Check out Men In Dark Times by Hannah Ahrendt at Bookshop.org.Read Democracy Awakening by Heather Cox Richardson at Bookshop.org.CONNECTVisit 80sTVLadies.com for transcripts.Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list.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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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Writing The Facts of Life and A Different World | Margie Peters -- Part 2

    Writing The Facts of Life and A Different World | Margie Peters -- Part 2
    Apr 9 2025
    Susan and Sharon continue their conversation with legendary 80s TV Lady -- and The Facts of Life writer/producer -- Margie Peters! In Part 2, the conversation turns to the challenges of making comedy out of date rape and toxic masculinity; “comedy sparring” in the Different World writer’s room with Debbie Allen, Thad Mumford and Susan Fales-Hill; the creative opportunities for “women of a certain age”; and the lasting impact of the cruel moniker “The FATS of Life”. Margie Peters has written and produced over 140 hours of television, including The Love Boat, Valerie, One Day at a Time and A Different World. But her longest and best-known gig was the six years she spent on The Facts of Life.THE CONVERSATION “YOU’VE GOT SPUNK!” -- How watching The Mary Tyler Moore Show gave Margie the chutzpah to try her hand at TV writing!Margie shows off her 1989 IMAGE Award from Planned Parenthood for the “No Means No” episode of A Different World (S2; EP20): “It’s in the living room next to my television.”The time Debbie Allen explained to Margie that Duane calling a girl “Big Butt Brenda” is a compliment -- not an insult!The joys of working with Valerie Harper on Valerie. And the charm of Jason Bateman.The Facts of Life Go To Paris -- everyone got to spend three heavenly weeks filming in France!Dinner on the Seine River Boat with Tootie, Natalie, Blair and Jo! (Blair faces down a plateful of fried sardines -- and wins!)When two busloads of French high school girls chased The Facts of Life cast down the streets of Paris! The respect and adoration Margie has for all the girls: Charlotte Rae, Lisa Whelchel, Mindy Cohn, Kim Fields and Nancy McKeon.WHAT DO YOU MISS THE MOST? “Sitting down with a team and coming up with something that is way bigger than the sum of its parts.”LEAVING LOS ANGELES: What do you do when you leave behind a life of writing in Hollywood? A lot! Reinvent your life and make it count.So, join Susan and Sharon -- and Margie -- as they talk Bonnie Franklin, A Man on the Inside, Sally Struthers, Fame, Gladys Knight, 13 Queens Blvd, Eileen Brennan, Jerry Van Dyke -- and dressing up as The Flying Nun! AUDIO-OGRAPHYFind out more about Margie Peters at IMDB.Watch Season 4 of The Facts of Life for free on Roku.Watch A Different World on Netflix.Check out Shawn Peters book: The Unforgettable Logan Foster at Harper Collins. STAY ACTIVEVisit DontGetPurged.org to make sure you are still registered to vote!Check out Americans of Conscience take action checklist.VITAL READINGGet Handbook for A Post-Roe America by Robin Marty at Bookshop.org.Check out Men In Dark Times by Hannah Ahrendt at Bookshop.org.Read Democracy Awakening by Heather Cox Richardson at Bookshop.org.CONNECTVisit 80sTVLadies.com for transcripts.Join the conversation at Facebook.com/80sTVLadies.Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list.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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    59 mins
  • "Adventurous? Unpredictable? Lawless?" The Facts Of Life with Writer-Producer Margie Peters, Part 1

    "Adventurous? Unpredictable? Lawless?" The Facts Of Life with Writer-Producer Margie Peters, Part 1
    Mar 26 2025
    "We're thinking of doing this show with all women. Becasue women are becoming this big thing, ya know. And the leads of the show would all be women!"Susan and Sharon are excited to talk with legendary 80s TV Lady -- and writer/producer of 80 episodes of The Facts of Life -- Margie Peters! Margie Peters has written and produced over 140 hours of television, including The Love Boat, Valerie, One Day at a Time and A Different World. But her best-known gig was the six years she spent on The Facts of Life. From her first meeting to the final day, Margie relates how writing The Facts of Life taught her everything about “the facts” of making Hollywood television in the 80s!THE CONVERSATIONSECRET SITCOM WRITER: How Margie wrote a sitcom pilot "Under One Roof" based on her life at night -- while spending her days being a mother, a housewife, AND a journalist! Hollywood writer/producer Bernie Orenstien (That Girl!, Sanford & Son) reads it and calls her with these magical words: “I think you could have a career out here.” Two weeks later she’s on a plane to Hollywood!INSTANT CHEMISTRY: Actress Linda Marsh teams with Margie and a writing partnership begins…SPEAK YOUR TRUTH: Their first meeting at Facts of Life: “Why are the girls wearing hot pants and cut-off tops -- in New England? In winter?!? It’s kiddie porn!” Margie & Linda stay on Facts of Life from Season 2 through Season 6 -- working their way up from Staff Writers to Show Runners!THE ONE THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING: Margie & Linda write S2:EP3 “Double Standard” -- showrunners Jerry Mayer and Jack Elinson tell them: “You have found the soul of the show”.THE ONE WHERE NATALIE’S FATHER HAS AN AFFAIR: “We loved the actor but we hated the character. So we killed him.”WORKING WITH THE GIRLS: Working with Charlotte Rae, Lisa Whelchel, Mindy Cohn, Kim Fields, Nancy McKeon and Geri Jewell.Lisa Whelchel balked when the writers pitched Blair losing her virginity. So Mindy Cohn said: “I’ll do it!”WHAT'S NEXT? The day came when Linda Marsh said, “I’m done.” But Margie kept going…Then Marcy Carsey called: “We’d like to bring you on ‘A Different World’”!THINKING IN THE CAR: How the award-winning “No Means No” episode came to be -- and almost didn’t happen at all!"MAKE DWAYNE THE HERO" - How to solve the producer notes when tackling a story on campus rape in "No Means No" So join Susan and Sharon -- and Margie -- as they talk Mary Tyler Moore, Terri Hatcher, Jason Bateman, Asaad Kelada, Susan Fales Hill, Neema Barnette, HBCs, Cagney & Lacey, working for diversity… and saying “No” to Norman Lear! STAY TUNED IN TWO WEEKS FOR THE FACTS OF LIFE WITH MARGIE PETERS - PART 2! AUDIO-OGRAPHYWatch The Facts of Life: IN FLUX! Currently watch Seasons 4, 5, and 6 of The Facts of Life for free on ROKU channel. Season 3 is available on Amazon Prime and for sale on Apple TV. Check YouTube for other episdoes.THE AMBIES AWARDS ARE MARCH 31FINGERS CROSSED! 80s TV Ladies is nominited! We're up for an Ambies Award by The Podcast Academy for Best Indie Podcast Hosts. Visit Ambies.com and watch the Awards show LIVE on Twitch March 31st at 6pm CT.VITAL READINGGet Handbook for A Post-Roe America by Robin Marty at Bookshop.org.Check out Men In Dark Times by Hannah Ahrendt at Bookshop.org.Read Democracy Awakening by Heather Cox Richardson at Bookshop.org.You can also follow Richardson’s substack.CONNECTGet transcripts and more at 80sTVLadies.comRate and review us at Apple Podcast.Join the conversation at Facebook.com/80sTVLadies.Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list.Support us and get ad-free episodes on PATREON.
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    57 mins

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