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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
  • Television Trailblazer Marsha Posner Williams: On Golden Girls and Emmy Wins, Part 1

    Television Trailblazer Marsha Posner Williams: On Golden Girls and Emmy Wins, Part 1
    Nov 26 2025
    “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,' 'Night Court,' and 'The Golden Girls.' Dive into Marsha's fascinating career journey as she shares intriguing and hilarious anecdotes about her experiences in Hollywood, including her connection to Marlo Thomas's fan club.

    She tells us about working with Danny Thomas, Paul Junger Witt, Tony Thomas, and Susan Harris! And shares the trials and triumphs of producing controversial yet iconic TV shows alongside Danny Thomas, Paul Junger Witt, Tony Thomas and Susan Harris. From typing jokes and working as a hostess dancer to her involvement in groundbreaking, controversial and iconic TV shows, Marsha's story is one of resilience, ambition, and a keen sense of humor. Tune in to hear her insights on the evolving landscape of television and her contributions to the most memorable shows of the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Stay tuned for more in Part 2!

    AUDIOOGRAPHY
    Listen to ArtMuse Podcast at artmusepodcast.com


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    OUR 100th EPISODE is coming! What should we do to celebrate?
    Send us your ideas via: 80sTVLadies @ gmail dot com


    00:00 Welcome to 80s TV Ladies
    00:37 Introducing Marcia Posner Williams
    01:51 Marcia's Early Inspirations
    05:28 Journey to Hollywood
    08:05 Struggles and Breakthroughs
    11:05 First Big Break in Hollywood
    20:23 Working with Danny Thomas
    23:11 Unpredictability of Live TV
    23:28 First Steps in Television
    23:45 Working with Susan Harris
    25:15 Controversies of 'Soap'
    26:39 Fan Reactions and Personal Stories
    32:39 Promotion to Script Supervisor
    34:17 Transition to Producing
    38:34 Memorable Moments on Set
    46:39 From 'Benson' to 'Night Court'
    47:34 Negotiating Conditions for 'Hail to the Chief'


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    51 mins
  • 80s TV Legends: Golden Girls, Love Boat and Jim Colucci Forever

    80s TV Legends: Golden Girls, Love Boat and Jim Colucci Forever
    Nov 12 2025
    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 members to exploring themes of diversity and acceptance in 80s television, Jim provides stories about the cast Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty. The conversation explores Jim's experiences writing about other iconic shows like 'All in the Family,' 'Will and Grace,' and his upcoming book on 'The Love Boat.' Get inside these legendary 80s pop culture shows with insights, laughter, and nostalgic reflections on the power of television to shape our views.Filling in for Melissa this week is Associate Producer Sailor Franklin.And we kept talking. So many more stories about Golden Girls, The Love Boat, James Lipton, Cloris Leachman and more! Get the full supersized Jim Colucci episode at Patreon.com/80sTVLadiesAUDIOOGRAPHYYou can find Jim Colucci at JimColucci.com And on Instagram.com/JimcolucciGet Jim's book Golden Girls Forever: An Unauthorized Look Behind the Lanai at Harper Books. Get the FULL 2-Hour amazing interview with Jim at Patreon.com/80sTVLadiesThe Golden Girls Streaming: Hulu, Disney+, PhiloPurchase: Apple TV, YouTube (for rent/purchase).Hulu has the documentary ​​The World According to Allee Willis. So fun!Read more about the GG 40th Anniversary celebration at ABC. Now streaming on Hulu/Disney+Watch The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship Trailer at YouTube. JOIN THE FUNDon’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review! 5-stars means a lot.Join us for more conversations with the people who shaped TV and pop culture.Visit 80sTVLadies.com for more info.Don’t miss out. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list!Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes and exclusive content on PATREON.
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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • Stan Zimmerman: From Golden Girls to Gilmore Girls - A Writer's Journey Through 80s TV

    Stan Zimmerman: From Golden Girls to Gilmore Girls - A Writer's Journey Through 80s TV
    Oct 29 2025
    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 other legends, to addressing the challenges of being a gay writer in Hollywood, Stan's stories are both entertaining and enlightening. Tune in for a journey through 80s TV history, writing partnerships, and lessons learned along the way.

    00:00 Introduction and Host Welcome
    00:43 Introducing Stan Zimmerman
    01:51 Stan's Writing Journey
    02:37 The Personal Side of Writing
    03:36 Journaling and Reflection
    05:13 Challenges and Resilience
    10:18 Golden Girls Insights
    14:30 Writing Partnerships and Hollywood Politics
    17:27 Spec Scripts and Early Career
    25:50 Golden Girls Episodes and Legacy
    36:50 Pitching Jokes to Soap and Benson Writers
    37:39 Evolution of the Writer's Room
    39:04 Golden Girls and Changing Times
    42:23 Stories from the Book: Celebrity Encounters
    50:59 Theater and Making a Difference
    56:01 Challenges and Triumphs in Hollywood
    01:00:41 Friendship with Lily Tomlin
    01:10:45 Reflections on Writing for Golden Girls
    01:12:19 Conclusion and Podcast Shoutouts

    AUDIOOGRAPHY
    Find more about Stan at ZimmermanStan.com
    Book Recommendation: The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore by Stan Zimmerman.
    Get it at Indigo River Publishing. Or at Barnes and Noble.

    The Golden Girls Streaming: Hulu, Disney+, Philo
    Purchase: Apple TV, YouTube (for rent/purchase), on DVD, and more.

    Get Involved in Your Community
    Indivisible: Find a group near you and get involved at indivisible.org
    Contact Your Representatives: Check out Five Calls to quickly and easily call your representatives.




    Visit 80sTVLadies.com for more info.

    Don’t miss out. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list!
    Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes and exclusive content on PATREON.
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    1 hr and 15 mins
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