Podcast 120: “CAGNEY & LACEY: CREATING CHRISTINE CAGNEY WITH SHARON GLESS”

Listen to "Cagney & Lacey: Creating Christine Cagney with Sharon Gless" on Spreaker.

Susan and Sharon are thrilled to sit down with show business legend Sharon Gless. Multi-Emmy and Golden Globe winner, Sharon Gless has appeared in dozens of television shows such as “Nip/Tuck”, “Rizzoli & Isles”, “The Rockford Files”, “House Calls,”The Bob Newhart Show”, “Station 19” and “The Exorcist.” She has created iconic and ground-breaking characters in the shows “Burn Notice”, “Queer as Folk”, “The Trials of Rosie O’Neill” and of course “Cagney & Lacey”.

In 2021 she published her bestselling, no-holds-barred autobiography “Apparently There Were Complaints”. In this in-depth interview, Sharon Gless talks frankly about feminism, her ongoing friendship with Tyne Daly, her affair, marriage and almost-divorce from Barney Rosenzweig, her struggles with substance abuse and recovery -- and the lasting legacy of the characters she’s played.

The Conversation

The moment Sharon Gless knew she wanted to be an actress – and knew she would not fail
“The first feminist I ever met…” -- Barney Rosenzweig??
How Cagney and Lacey we’re NEVER friends.
How Sharon was actually the VERY FIRST person approached to play Christine Cagney – and why she turned it down.
Earning $186 a week as the last contract player at Universal.
“The Woman Behind the Woman”: how talent manager Monique James left her position as VP at MCA/Universal to become Sharon’s personal manager – and changed her life.
Being forced to watch herself on film to learn what she was doing right -- and wrong.
Hashing out billing, and rehearsing her first table read as Cagney, with Tyne Daly over a bottle of champagne.
Why Christine Cagney wanted to be first through the door with a gun.
Improvising and window shopping for the Cagney & Lacey main titles.
Participating with Tyne Daly and Gloria Steinem in the 2004 Women’s March on Washington –- and seeing the true impact of “Cagney & Lacey” for the first time.
Being Stephen J. Cannell’s “good luck charm!”
Falling in love with Debbie Novotny on “Queer as Folk”.
How she’s starred in NINE TV shows, and why she’s ready for one more!

So join Susan, Sharon – and Sharon Gless -- as they talk poker nights with Tyne, the “C”-word, the other “C”-word -- and what did she really say to that flasher??

Our Audio-ography

Official website: SharonGless.com

Sharon Gless Facebook page.

Sharon Gless’ autobiography “Apparently There Were Complaints” at Bookshop.

Watch the trailer for Sharon’s upcoming Documentary - Show Her The Money

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WHERE TO WATCH

Cagney & Lacey on ROKU. On PLUTO. On Apple TV.

Trials of Rosie O’Neill on Roku. On Amazon Prime.

Queer as Folk on Amazon. On Apple TV.

Burn Notice on HULU. On Apple TV.

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CREDITS

80s TV Ladies™ Episode 120 – “Cagney & Lacey: Creating Christine Cagney with Sharon Gless”
Produced by 134 West and Susan Lambert Hatem.
Hosted by Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson.
Guests: Sharon Gless.
Sound Engineer and Editor: Kevin Ducey.
Producers: Richard Hatem. Melissa Roth.
Associate Producer: Sergio Perez.
Music by Amy Engelhardt.
Copyright 2023 134 West, LLC and Susan Lambert. All Rights Reserved.