80s TV Ladies

The 90s TV Babies take on the 1975 - 1984 One Day at a Time! Sailor and Spenser react to Ann Romano’s single-mom independence, teen sex talks, workplace harassment, proto-Kramer Schneider, and whether this Norman Lear classic is truly feminist.

“The 80s were a time of great change... There wasn’t the internet, there wasn’t TikTok, there wasn’t YouTube. There was television, and television was how new ideas got spread around.” – Susan Lambert Hatem

Welcome to 80s TV Ladies, where we look back in order to leap forward! This week, one of our very favorite segments is back: The 90s TV Babies Take on 70s and 80s TV! Hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson hand a 1975 - 1984 sitcom to two fresh-faced viewers who have never seen it, and then sit back to hear what lands, what shocks, and what still feels radical today.

Our subject is the groundbreaking Norman Lear-produced sitcom One Day at a Time (1975–1984), created by Whitney Blake and Allan Manings. Bonnie Franklin stars as newly divorced Ann Romano, who moves to Indianapolis with her teenage daughters Julie (Mackenzie Phillips) and Barbara (Valerie Bertinelli), with plenty of unsolicited “help” from tool-belt-wearing building superintendent Dwayne Schneider (Pat Harrington Jr.).

Returning 90s TV Baby Sailor and brand-new panelist Spenser Gerber Hatem (Susan’s stepson!) watched a hand-picked list of episodes and are now reporting back on single motherhood, teen sexuality, workplace harassment, disability representation, and the world’s most creepy (and eventually course-corrected) building super. Along the way, our Hoosier baby geeks out over Indiana shout-outs, everyone debates whether the show is feminist or merely progressive, and we all learn why you should never trust a man who announces he’s going to win back his ex… and then just sits there.

THE CONVERSATION

• The Assignment: The episodes our babies watched: Ann’s Decision (S1E1), All the Way (S1E8), Father David (S1E13), Ann’s Out of Town Client (S3E5), Schneider’s Helper (S4E5), Yes Sir, That’s My Baby (S4E6), plus extra credit episodes: The Runaways (S2E1), Schneider’s Pride and Joy (S2E9, with a pre-Star Wars Mark Hamill), The Older Man (S3E1), Miracle of Birth (S8E8–9), and the bonus-bonus Indianapolis Story (S6E21). Bonus clip: Julie and Barbara spoofing Elton John and Kiki Dee’s “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.”
•  Meet the Babies: Sailor and Spenser introduce themselves, plus Susan on how Smokey and the Bandit and the 1970s CB radio craze led straight to Schneider’s “Super Stud” handle.
• A Hoosier Reacts: Kokomo, Logansport, Fort Wayne, and a lawnmower CEO who says “Terry Hot” (it’s Terre Haute, and Sailor will defend it!), plus driving I-65 from the couch. Sharon shares the Lyft driver who waxed poetic about the Indianapolis sitcom, and the ladies explain why a show set in Indiana was filmed in Hollywood.
•  Wait, There Was a Reboot? The 2017–2020 One Day at a Time reboot starring Justina Machado and Rita Moreno with a Latina cast, and why neither baby knew it existed.
• First Impressions: The very 70s live studio audience, the fabulous costumes and bell bottoms, Julie’s sharp wit, Bonnie Franklin’s ever-present smile, and why they had to remind themselves that this was “the blueprint” of a sitcom, not a parody of one.
• David the Lawyer & the Age Gap: Ann’s younger boyfriend (who was also her divorce lawyer!), why he’s the nicest man on the show by a mile, and why actor Richard Masur left the show early in season two.
•  Schneider’s Evolution: From creepy boundary-pusher (aka stalker?) in the early seasons to beloved goofball with a heart. The ladies and babies agree he’s a proto-Kramer, and Susan reminds us: no Schneider, no Kramer.
• Ann Romano’s Feminism: One of TV’s first leading divorced moms, a woman who kept her last name in 1975, and Susan’s personal story of seeing her own divorced mom and two daughters reflected on screen in Georgia circa 1977.
• How TV Reflected (and Led) Culture: Divorce, single parenting, and women in the workforce were changing American life, and television was the way new ideas spread. Sailor connects it to the kids she works with today.
• Teen Sex, Consent & Saying No: All the Way Julie’s getting pressured by boyfriend Chuck. The Babies on the great sex talk Ann gave her girls, why it’s frustrating that it takes David to get through to Chuck, and why Julie’s final “no” is the right message.
• Workplace Harassment, with Laughs: Ann’s Out of Town Client and how a very funny episode delivered a serious message. Ann wins by standing up for her value, though the group debates how realistic that ending was in 1977.
• Disability, Language & Representation: Schneider’s Helper and Jackie’s powerful line about never being allowed to try, plus the group’s honest take on outdated language and what the show missed on race.
• Lightning Round: Favorite characters, which character each baby is most like, favorite scenes (hello, beer bucket brigade!), and Sailor’s most-disappointing-episode rant about Indianapolis Story.
• Why So Many Cast Changes? Characters who come and go, Mackenzie Phillips’s absences during her struggles with addiction, and a series that spans nine seasons and a Carter-to-Reagan transition.
• Sibling Rivalry Done Right: Barbara and Julie’s fighting-while-helping dynamic, and why the sisters felt true to life even for both Babies who grew up without sisters!
• Last Thoughts: The hair, the applauding live audience that left Spenser confused, one very persistent audience cougher, and Sharon and Susan on why Norman Lear’s “very special episode” approach was a signature of his shows, not every 70s and 80s sitcom.

NEXT EPISODE TEASER
Don’t miss our next episode, when the ladies are back with our favorite Halloween and spooky episodes of 80s television! Grab your candy, your Punky Brester blanket, and your remote. It’s boooooo-tiful fun.

📦 AUDIOGRAPHY & RECOMMENDED WATCHING

• Watch One Day at a Time (1975–1984): Stream the original series for free on Tubi or purchase episodes on Apple TV and Amazon.
•  Episodes discussed: Ann’s Decision (S1E1), All the Way (S1E8), Father David (S1E13), Ann’s Out of Town Client (S3E5), Schneider’s Helper (S4E5), Yes Sir, That’s My Baby (S4E6), The Runaways (S2E1), Schneider’s Pride and Joy (S2E9), The Older Man (S3E1), Indianapolis Story (S6E21), Miracle of Birth (S8E8–9).
•  Watch “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”: Check out this clip from “Happy New Year” S2, Ep12. Julie and Barbara spoofing Elton John and Kiki Dees. On YouTube.  
• Norman Lear Documentary: Watch Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You (2016) streaming free on Roku or available to purchase on Amazon and Apple.
• Catch Up on Our One Day at a Time Series: Episode 423, One Day at a Time: The Top 10 Most Norman Lear Episodes, and Episode 421, our interview with Maude star Adrienne Barbeau, at   80sTVLadies.com.
• Smokey and the Bandit (1977): The CB radio craze that sparked Schneider’s “Super Stud” handle. Currently FREE on YouTube.

 COMMUNITY CONNECT
Connect with 80s TV Ladies: Join our mailing list, follow 8TL on Instagram (@80sTVLadies), support us on Patreon for ad-free episodes, and discover more great shows on Weirding Way Media!

PROTECT THE VOTE

• Vote.org: Check your voter registration. Make sure you and the young adults in your life are ready to vote. Stay engaged. Let your voice be heard.
• DemocracyDocket.com: Learn more about protecting our right to vote.

🌟 SPECIAL 8TL PROMOTIONS!

• COZY EARTH: Get 21% OFF awesome bamboo sheets and pajamas at CozyEarth.com using promo code: 80STVLADIES.

• TORRAIN BAGS: Get 15% OFF recycled bags perfect for travel and work with promo code: 80sTVLadies.
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Welcome to 80s TV Ladies, where we look back in order to leap forward! With our lovely producer Melissa out having some fun life stuff, hosts Sharon Johnson and Susan Lambert Hatem take the mic to break down the Top 10 Most Norman Lear-ish Episodes of One Day at a Time.

Susan and Sharon explore how TV titan Norman Lear revolutionized the 1970s and 80s sitcom landscape, using One Day at a Time to tackle second-wave feminism, workplace harassment, teen sex, runaway youth, and mental health without losing the comedy.

THE CONVERSATION

• The Legacy of Norman Lear: A tribute to Lear’s WWII service, 22 landmark sitcoms (including All in the Family, Maude, and The Jeffersons), and his passionate civic activism through People for the American Way and voter registration drives.
• What Makes an Episode "Lear-ish"? How One Day at a Time introduced the "sitcom dramedy" format—tackling taboo real-life issues with heart, humor, and authentic character conflicts.
• The Groundbreaking Top 10 List: Deep dives into landmark episodes and multi-part story arcs, including the unaired pilot Three to Get Ready vs. Ann's Decision (S1E1), Important conversations about teen sex in All the Way (S1E8), serialized storytelling in The Runaways (S2E1–4), workplace harassment in Ann's Out of Town Client (S3E5), teen depression in Barbara's Friend (S3E9–10), and natural childbirth in Miracle of Birth (S8E8–9).
• Schneider’s Evolution: How Pat Harrington Jr.’s iconic character shifted from creepy boundary-pusher to beloved family figure—plus his 1970s CB radio obsession and how he paved the way for characters like Kramer.
• Career Milestones & Series Arcs: Ann Romano’s journey from a newly divorced homemaker searching for independence to a successful account executive heading to London.

NEXT EPISODE TEASER
Stay tuned for our next episode, where the '90s TV Babies step up to give their fresh take on One Day at a Time! What will the Babies say?

📦 AUDIOGRAPHY & RECOMMENDED WATCHING
Watch One Day at a Time: Stream the original series for free on Tubi or purchase episodes on Amazon and YouTube.

Norman Lear Documentary: Watch Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You (2016) streaming for free on Roku or available to purchase on Amazon and Apple.

Norman Lear Memoir: Read Norman Lear’s biography, Even This I Get to Experience, onhttps://www.thriftbooks.com/w/even-this-i-get-to-experience_norman-lear/3135739/item/16656275/


 COMMUNITY CONNECT

• Connect with 80s TV Ladies: Join our mailing list, follow 8TL on Instagram (@80sTVLadies), support us on Patreon for ad-free episodes, and discover more great shows on Weirding Way Media!

PROTECT THE VOTE

• Vote.org: Check your voter registration. Make sure you and the young adults in your life are ready to vote. Stay engaged. Let your voice be heard.
• DemocracyDocket.com: Learn more about protecting our right to vote.

🌟 SPECIAL 8TL PROMOTIONS!

• COZY EARTH: Get 21% OFF awesome bamboo sheets and pajamas at CozyEarth.com using promo code: 80STVLADIES.

• TORRAIN BAGS: Get 15% OFF recycled bags perfect for travel and work with promo code: 80sTVLadies.

• All Promo Deals: See all special offers at MyDeals.Page/19wy.

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Welcome to 80s TV Ladies, where we hold on tight and muddle through one day at a time! In this episode, hosts Sharon Johnson and Susan Lambert Hatem kick off a multi-part deep dive into the classic 1975–1984 sitcom One Day at a Time.

Susan and Sharon break down 25 of the most surprising facts about the ground-breaking series—from its real-life origins and pilot changes to backstage rock-star encounters, and the evolution of everyone's favorite - and 80s inappropriate - superintendent, Dwayne Schneider.
Real-Life Origins & Creators: How co-creator Whitney Blake based the show on her own life as a divorced single mother raising three kids (including future Family Ties star Meredith Baxter).

The Conversation:

• Pilot & Script Changes: The original pilot title Three to Get Ready, why Ann Romano was initially written as a nurse with only one daughter, and why Bonnie Franklin insisted on keeping her character’s maiden name.
• Schneider’s Evolution: How Pat Harrington Jr. created Schneider’s iconic look, his shift from early-season "creepy" to beloved family figure, and his late-70s CB radio obsession.
• Pop Culture & Rock Encounters: The time Elton John sent fan mail after Valerie Bertinelli and Mackenzie Phillips performed in full Elton drag, and how Valerie met Eddie Van Halen backstage.
• Behind-the-Scenes Secrets: Taping at three different studio lots, theme song history (and the Gloria Estefan reboot cover), and intriguing directors Michael Lembeck, Bonnie Franklin, and past 8TL guest, Asad Kalada.
• Series Finale & Backdoor Pilot: How the 1984 series finale doubled as an unsold spin-off pilot for Schneider - featuring a young Corey Feldman!

Next Episode Teaser: Stay tuned for our next episode, where we rank and break down the Top 10 Most Norman Lear-ish Episodes of One Day at a Time!


📦 AUDIOGRAPHY & RECOMMENDED WATCHING

• Watch One Day at a Time: Stream the original series for free on Tubi or purchase episodes on Amazon and YouTube.
• Mackenzie Phillips Books: Read High on Arrival: A Memoir and Hopeful Healing: Essays on Managing Recovery and Surviving Addiction on bookshop.org
• Valerie Bertinelli Books: Find her latest book, Getting Naked: The Quiet Work of Becoming Perfectly Imperfect, along with her memoirs and cookbooks bookshop.org
• Find out more about the ROAR Movement’s September 27th National Walk for Longterm Care Reform. Find a walk in your state. Go to ROAR4ltc.org   ​​

🛍️ PROMO DEALS, VOTING & COMMUNITY CONNECT

• Connect with 80s TV Ladies: Join our mailing list, follow 8TL on Instagram (@80sTVLadies), support us on Patreon for ad-free episodes, and discover more great shows on Weirding Way Media!

PROTECT THE VOTE

• Vote.org: Check your voter registration. Make sure you and the young adults in your life are ready to vote. Stay engaged. Let your voice be heard.
• DemocracyDocket.com is protecting our vote. Learn more. 

COMMUNITY CONNECT

• Los Angeles Live Theatre ONE-NIGHT-ONLY Event: See producer Susan Lambert Hatem and 90s TV Baby and Stage Manager, Sailor Franklin at the incredible one-woman show, starring Victoria Libertore: 
  • LIZA (not) at the Palace!
  • Friday, Sept 18 at 7:30pm
  • Los Angeles LGBT Center.
  • Get info & tix at LALGBTCenter.org/events.

🌟🛍️ SPECIAL 8TL PROMOTIONS! COZY EARTH - Best Deal - 21% OFF!
At Cozy Earth.com - Get the best discount on awesome sheets and pajamas.Use promo code: 80STVLADIES

TORRAIN BAGS - 15% OFF
Good cause - Great bag. Perfect for travel and adventure and back to school!
Get your 80s TV Ladies deal: Code: 80sTVLadies

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"Norman kept saying, 'If you don't trust yourself to know that you're good, trust me because I know you're good. This is what you're meant to be doing.'" — Adrienne Barbeau, on working with Norman Lear on Maude

Welcome to 80s TV Ladies, where we look back in order to leap forward, and where we say everyone has the right to body autonomy and boundless joy! In this episode, hosts Sharon Johnson and Susan Lambert Hatem are joined by six-decade stage and screen icon Ms. Adrienne Barbeau.

From her early performing days touring East Asia with the USO to her Broadway roots, Adrienne shares how she went from Fiddler on the Roof alongside Bette Midler to originating the role of Rizzo in Grease. She opens up about being selected by Norman Lear to play Carol, Bea Arthur’s independent daughter on Maude, and reflects on the cultural impact of the landmark 1972 "Maude's Dilemma" abortion episodes.

Plus, Adrienne takes us behind the scenes of her legendary genre career, her love for voice and audio description work, and her second career as an author!

In this episode, we discuss:

• Broadway Roots to Sitcom Stardom: How playing Rizzo in Grease earned her a Tony nomination and caught the attention of Norman Lear.
• Working on Maude: What it was like working alongside Bea Arthur and Rue McClanahan, the family culture on set, and learning comedic timing on the job.
• "Maude’s Dilemma": The groundbreaking two-part episode about abortion, working in a healthcare clinic during hiatus, and writing her 2022 Guardian op-ed.
• Cult Horror & Sci-Fi Royalty: Stories from filming The Fog, Swamp Thing, Creepshow, and the secret garage shoot behind her death scene in Escape From New York.
• Classic 70s & 80s TV Guest Spots: Her memories from Fantasy Island (including full-face prosthetics), Murder, She Wrote, The Love Boat, Quincy, and playing a Romulan on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
• Life as an Author & Voice Artist: Writing her vampire mystery novels, her memoir, and describing films for blind audiences.

Next Episode Teaser:
Don't miss our next episode, where we begin our deep dive into the classic 1975–1984 Norman Lear sitcom One Day at a Time, starring Bonnie Franklin, Mackenzie Phillips, and Valerie Bertinelli, featuring 25 surprising facts about the show!

📦 AUDIOGRAPHY & RECOMMENDED WATCHING

Learn more about Adrienne Barbeau at abarbeau.com or on Instagram @adrienne_barbeau.
Watch The Fog on Pluto,
Escape From New York or Maude on Tubi 

Check out the documentary Hollywood Does Abortion at hollywooddoesabortion.com.
Read Adrienne’s 2022 op-ed on Maude's Dilemma in The Guardian.

Pick up Adrienne's books—There Are Worse Things I Could Do on Amazon.
Listen to it on Spotify or Audible  
Grease: Tell Me More, Tell Me More at Bookshop.org
And her Vampire Trilogy (The Vampyres of Hollywood, Love Bites, Make Me Dead)—at Amazon

Watch the short film Oddities on YouTube. Oddities Short Horror Film | Screamfest
Watch Alice Jacobs is Dead on YouTube. Horror Short Film "Alice Jacobs Is Dead" | ALTER

Be ready for our next multi-episode primer on the classic sitcom, One Day at a Time, streaming on Tubi.

⭐️ Support the Pod: Loved this episode? Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, subscribe on Spotify, and join our Patreon community at patreon.com/80sTVLadies for bonus content!

PROTECT THE VOTE

• Vote.org: Check your voter registration. Make sure you and the young adults in your life are ready to vote. Stay engaged. Let your voice be heard.
• DemocracyDocket.com is protecting our vote. Learn more. 

COMMUNITY CONNECT

• Los Angeles Live Music Event: See indie rocker Michelle Malone live at the Love Song Bar in DTLA on Friday, September 4th! Get tickets at Love Song Bar eventbrite.

🌟🛍️ SPECIAL 8TL PROMOTIONS! 

COZY EARTH - Best Deal - 21% OFF! At Cozy Earth.com
Get the best discount on awesome sheets and pajamas.Use promo code: 80STVLADIES 

TORRAIN BAGS - 15% OFFGood cause - Great bag. Perfect for travel and adventure and back to school!Get your 80s TV Ladies deal: Code: 80sTVLadies

🔗 See ALL our special deals at: https://MyDeals.Page/19wy
🎁 Promo Code: 80STVLADIES


Visit 80sTVLadies.com for more info.

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Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes, video interviews, and exclusive content on PATREON.

"As a TV junkie, the Fall TV Preview was the best time of the year. The network specials highlighted their new shows—they were always informative, joyful, and optimistic because everyone expected these shows to be big hits!" — Sharon Johnson

NEW EPISODE! Summer is winding down, back-to-school season is here, and the 80s TV Ladies are diving into one of the absolute best pop-culture traditions of the 80s: The Network Fall TV Previews! Join hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson, along with producer Melissa Roth and Carnegie Mellon summer intern, Shannon Lee, as they look back at how it felt when fall was approaching and a brand-new season of television was about to drop.

Before streaming, DVRs, or internet spoilers, catching a glimpse of upcoming shows meant waiting with bated breath for the extra-thick TV Guide Fall Preview issue and tuning into wild, star-studded prime-time network specials. Together, the ladies explore the history of TV Guide, the agonizing strategy of choosing between conflicting time slots, bizarre prime-time crossover promos, fever-dream Saturday morning cartoon previews, and the classic fall lineup shows that captured our hearts.
 THE CONVERSATION

• THE HOLY GRAIL OF TV GUIDE: Exploring the history of TV Guide magazine, from its iconic 1953 debut cover featuring Lucille Ball’s newborn son Desi Jr. to why the annual September Fall Preview issue was every TV junkie’s holy grail.
• TIME-SLOT WARS & STRIKE DELAYS: How pre-DVR audiences navigated brutal schedule conflicts (sacrificing new shows for established favorites!), how the 1980 SAG actors' strike delayed fall premieres, and the wild 1980 magazine ads for hard liquor, cigarettes, and brand-new Maxwell VHS videotapes.
• WACKY NETWORK PROMO SPECIALS: Recapping the gloriously surreal prime-time preview specials—from the 1983 ABC Love Boat crossover where real stars boarded in-character, to Kenny Loggins singing "We've Got the Touch" on CBS, and ABC’s bizarre 1985 parody of "I Love L.A."
• SATURDAY MORNING CARTOON FEVER: Remembering the surreal Saturday morning cartoon preview specials hosted by 80s icons like Mr. T, Joyce DeWitt, Ted Knight, Weird Al, and the cast of The Facts of Life.
• FALL SHOW HITS & MISSES: Reminiscing about short-lived gems, cult classics, and massive hits from fall lineups, including WKRP in Cincinnati, Hill Street Blues, Ladies' Man, Freebie and the Bean, Breaking Away, The A-Team, and Hardcastle & McCormick.

📦 AUDIOGRAPHY & RECOMMENDED WATCHING

• Check out the digitized 1980 TV Guide Fall Preview Issue (September 13–19, 1980) to browse the original schedules, ads, and show previews.
• Get Ready for our Next Guest: Watch The Fog on Pluto, Escape From New York or Maude on Tubi to get ready for upcoming dream-guest interview with the legendary Adrienne Barbeau!
• Be ready for our next multi-episode primer on the classic sitcom, One Day at a Time, streaming on Tubi.

THE PREVIEW AND PROMO SPECIALS
YouTube has a lot of the Fall TV Specials and promos. 

• Here is a curated playlist of many ABC Network Fall preview videos.
• Promo for the 1983 ABC Love Boat Special.
• The entire (we think) 1983 ABC Love Boat Fall Preview Special
• Article and review of The Love Boat Special at Tune in Tonight.
• 1980 You and Me and ABC - Fancy Dance number.
• CBS We've Got the Touch Kenny Rogers Promos 1985
• 1984 CBS Saturday Morning Preview Special with Ted Knight!
• 1983 NBC You've Got to NBC Be There" Short Promo
• 1985 ABC Fall Preview Promo "I Love LA" parody - Always Something Good to See... on ABC.

PROTECT THE VOTE

• Vote.org: Check your voter registration. Make sure you and the young adults in your life are ready to vote. Stay engaged. Let your voice be heard.
• DemocracyDocket.com is protecting our vote. Learn more. 

COMMUNITY CONNECT

• Los Angeles Live Music Event: See indie rocker Michelle Malone live at the Love Song Bar in DTLA on Friday, September 4th! Get tickets at Love Song Bar eventbrite.
• Connect with 80s TV Ladies: Follow along on Instagram and Facebook @80sTVLadies

🌟🛍️ SPECIAL 8TL PROMOTIONS! 

COZY EARTH - Best Deal - 21% OFF! At Cozy Earth.com
Get the best discount on awesome sheets and pajamas.Use promo code: 80STVLADIES 


TORRAIN BAGS - 15% OFFGood cause - Great bag. Perfect for travel and adventure and back to school!Get your 80s TV Ladies deal: Code: 80sTVLadies

🔗 See ALL our special deals at: https://MyDeals.Page/19wy
🎁 Promo Code: 80STVLADIES

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Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes, video interviews, and exclusive content on PATREON.

"A lot of production companies who decide to do stories about people of color are not used to having the people of color they hire coming in with an opinion. Coming in contradicting them on certain things." — Neema Barnette

REWIND EPISODE: Happy Summer! We made it to August. This is our last rerun episode of the summer. In a few weeks we’ll be 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 legendary producer and director Neema Barnette is so powerful and timely. We hope you enjoy it, too!

Sharon and Susan welcome legendary producer-director Neema Barnette to talk about her incredible journey from Harlem to Hollywood. Ms. Barnette made television history in 1986 when she became the first African American woman to direct a prime-time sitcom (What’s Happening Now?). She followed this historic milestone with episodes of Frank’s Place, It’s A Living, and The Cosby Show before directing seven iconic episodes of A Different World. With over 50 film and TV directing credits to her name, she was also the first African American woman to sign a three-picture deal with Sony Pictures.

Neema also served as producer-director for Season 1 of Ava DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey’s Queen Sugar. In this episode, she shares stories of making the transition from New York theater to Hollywood sets, fighting for creative integrity, inspiring new generations with the truth, and applying actual "strategies for revolution" to transform the entertainment industry.

🗣️ THE CONVERSATION

• BARBARA CORDAY’S INSTANT YES: How one look at Neema’s directing reel prompted the head of Columbia Pictures to demand, "Get this woman a job!"
• STRATEGIES FOR REVOLUTION: Taking a college course on revolutionary strategy and directly applying those lessons to navigate, challenge, and disrupt Hollywood's power structures.
• MAKING SITCOM HISTORY: Directing the groundbreaking episode of What’s Happening Now? with support from Shirley Hemphill, and helming The Cosby Show episode where Bill gets pregnant.
• FROM HARLEM TO THE APOLLO: Growing up in the 1960s, grabbing Sherman’s BBQ, spending 12-hour days at the Apollo Theater watching Aretha Franklin, and bringing authentic New York theater sensibilities to West Coast sets.
• THE QUEEN SUGAR LEGACY: Being called away from teaching to produce and direct Queen Sugar, and how Ava DuVernay permanently shifted the industry landscape by hiring only female directors.

📦 AUDIOGRAPHY & RECOMMENDED WATCHING

• Watch A Different World -- streaming on Netflix and Philo.
• Follow Neema Barnette on Instagram.com/neemafilms 
• Black History Mini-Docs: Explore Neema’s educational micro-documentaries celebrating Black heritage at BlackHistoryMiniDocs.com.

🛍️ FAMOUS LAKE PARK FREE SCREENING!
See Susan at the NYC Film premiere of Famous Lake Park - the wild and hilarious puppet animation comedy short. Premiering at the International Puppet Fringe Festival in the Lower East Side! 

• Get your FREE Tickets at PuppetFringeNYC.com
• Saturday & Sunday, August 15 and 16.

🛍️ PROMO DEALS - SPECIAL COZY EARTH PROMOTION!  
Get 21% OFF at CozyEarth.com - or the BEST DEAL they have going.
Great deals on awesome cozy sheets and pajamas at COZY EARTH.
Be sure to use the promo code: 80STVLADIES for the best deal they’re offering. 

Happy Shopping!
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🎁 Code: 80STVLADIES

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Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list.
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Find more cool podcasts at our host sight, Weirding Way Media. 





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Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes, video interviews, and exclusive content on PATREON.

"We have to look back, not in anger, but in amazement and in hope over how much had changed... We're sending the message that all of our blackness is good." — Susan Fales-Hill

REWIND EPISODE! The 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 legendary showrunner, writer, and author Susan Fales-Hill is so insightful. We hope you enjoy it, too!

Content Warning: At approximately 53:00-58:00, this episode includes a short discussion of date rape and child sexual assault.

Susan shares what it was like rising from writer’s apprentice to showrunner on A Different World, working alongside Debbie Allen, writing for icons like Diahann Carroll and Patti LaBelle, and battling network executives to tell real, impactful stories about Black culture, college life, and social change.

Sharon and Susan continue their look at the groundbreaking 80s sitcom A Different World (1987–1993). In this episode, they sit down with award-winning television writer, producer, and author Susan Fales-Hill. Susan started her career on The Cosby Show before joining A Different World, where she rose from story editor to showrunner—making her one of the youngest and few Black female showrunners in Hollywood at the time.

Together, they dive deep into the behind-the-scenes realities of taking over the show alongside Debbie Allen, fighting network pushback to tackle heavy topics like AIDS and date rape, and using comedy as a powerful form of cultural resilience.

🗣️ THE CONVERSATION

• FROM WRITER'S APPRENTICE TO SHOWRUNNER: How Susan navigated pitching directly to Bill Cosby, "re-potting" her voice in the writers' room, and rising to executive producer at a record age.
• THE DEBBIE ALLEN RESET: How bringing in Debbie Allen transformed the tone of the show, allowing the cast to explore authentic college experiences, topical issues, and integrated dance sequences.
• LEGENDS ON SET: Writing iconic comedic moments for Diahann Carroll and Patti LaBelle, and the deeply moving moment Diahann Carroll shared with the young cast about Black representation in Hollywood.
• PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE NETWORK: Battles over covering real-world issues like The Amistad, the LA Uprisings, HIV/AIDS, and date rape, and how the show shifted public perception and inspired generations to attend college.
• THE POWER OF COMEDIC RESILIENCE: How growing up surrounded by theatrical legends shaped her approach to comedy, and how humor acts as a vital tool for survival and storytelling.

📦 AUDIOGRAPHY & RECOMMENDED WATCHING

• Watch A Different World: Stream the series on Max, or catch Seasons 1 and 2 via Hoopla through your local library (also available for purchase on Amazon Prime).
• Must-Watch Episode: Check out the Season 4 Thanksgiving episode "Faith, Hope, and Charity," featuring the legendary pairing of Diahann Carroll and Patti LaBelle.
• Discover Susan’s Books: Explore Susan Fales-Hill’s memoir Always Wear Joy and her four other published books at your favorite local bookstore or Bookshop.org.
• Met Museum Feature: Watch Susan's Met Museum video discussing her life, biracial identity, and creative journey "in the in-between."

AUDIOGRAPHY
Watch A Different World -- streaming on Netflix and Philo.
Find out more about Susan at SusanFales-Hill.com
Follow her at Instagram.com/madamefaleshill
Must-Watch Episode: Check out the Season 4 Thanksgiving episode "Faith, Hope, and Charity," featuring the legendary pairing of Diahann Carroll and Patti LaBelle.
Explore Susan Fales-Hill’s memoir Always Wear Joy and her four other published books at Barnes and Noble.


Get Susan’s President Carter play, Confidence (and the Speech) at Broadway Licensing.
Help Abortion Access at Abortionfinder.org.

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"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 Levy


REWIND EPISODE
The 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 CONVERSATION

• 80s 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!

AUDIOGRAPHY
Watch 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.

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CONNECT
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Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes, video interviews, and exclusive content on PATREON.

"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 Jones

For 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 CONVERSATION

• STEPPING 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 WORK

• Official 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 ADVOCACY

• Get 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.org
• Your 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 LADIES

• Support 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!

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"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 Hatem

The 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 CONVERSATION

• The 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 2
Artist | Song Title | Release | Picked By | Link

Paula Abdul | Straight Up | 1988 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube 
Pat Benatar | Hit Me With Your Best Shot | 1980 | Susan | Watch on YouTube
Eurythmics | 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 YouTube
The Impressions | People Get Ready | 1965 | Watch on YouTube
Genesis | Invisible Touch | 1986 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube
Van 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 YouTube

PROTECT THE VOTE

• Vote.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. 

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• Website: 80sTVLadies.com
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