80s TV Ladies

“We asked her daughter, our friend Karin, to come on and talk with us about her mom, Linda, and what it was like to grow up the daughter of an eighties TV lady.” - Susan Lambert Hatem

Susan and Sharon welcome Karin Elstad — a modern TV powerhouse and Vice President at HBO — to celebrate the incredible life and legacy of her mother, the legendary television writer Linda Elstad. From the high stakes of Dallas, to family comedy One Day at a Time, to the hallowed halls of Fame, Linda was a prolific voice who helped shape the landscape of 80s television.

THE CONVERSATION
A PROLIFIC LEGACY: Linda’s impressive career spanning over 20 television shows, including her work on iconic hits like Dallas, Fame, and The Facts of Life.
ONE DAY AT A TIME: Diving into Linda’s time as a staff writer from 1983 to 1984 on the beloved series that defined a generation.
AWARD-WINNING WRITING: Remembering Linda’s 1982 Humanitas Prize win for the television movie Divorce Wars: A Love Story, starring Tom Selleck and Jane Curtin, and her nomination for her work on Fame.
SERVING THE GUILD: Linda’s impactful leadership serving on the Writer’s Guild Board of Directors from 1986 to 1990. And a ground-breaking cultural exchange between Award-winning United States and USSR screenwriters.
MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS: Karin shares personal stories of growing up in the heart of the television industry and how her mother’s trailblazing career influenced her own journey to becoming a top executive at HBO.
THE SCINTILLATING LADIES OF THE 80s: A look back at the shows that featured the complex mother-daughter dynamics we love, from The Golden Girls and Mama’s Family to Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Roseanne, and Kate & Allie.
GREEN ENVELOPE DAYS: How much is the green envelope residual check Linda’s daughter receives for her mom’s 1980s television shows being rerun and streamed? Can you guess before the check is opened on-air?
AUDIO-OGRAPHY
Watch episodes of Fame on Peacock and Dallas at YouTube or Amazon Prime.
Catch One Day at a Time streaming on Tubi.
Find Divorce Wars: A Love Story and other classic TV movies on DVD via Amazon or eBay.
VITAL READING
Check out Democracy Docket here.
Learn more about the ACLU here.
PROMO DEALS
Get 21% OFF on awesome sheets and pajamas at COZY EARTH.
Be sure to use the promo code: 80STVLADIES.
Happy Shopping!

MARCH 8TL DEALS BLOCK:
80s TV Ladies deals and discounts:
Cozy Earth (21% Off)
🔗 Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/19wy
🎁 Code: 80STVLADIES

📻 CONNECT WITH 80s TV LADIES
Official Website: 80sTVLadies.com 
Email Us: [email protected]
Support the Show: Get ad-free episodes and bonus content | Support on Patreon

🎭 SUSAN'S NEW VENTUREArts A La Carte – A non-profit dedicated to helping develop new works in theater.
Website: ArtsALaCarte.org
Instagram: @ArtsALaCarteLA

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.

"I said, John, you know, it's a visual art. You don't give me something to do, at least I'm gonna be something to look at." - Morgan Fairchild 

To celebrate the 100th episode of our podcast 80s TV Ladies, hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson welcome actress, activist, and podcaster Morgan Fairchild to discuss her decades-spanning career and how television and auditioning have changed from in-person meetings to self-tapes and fragmented audiences. 

Fairchild recounts moving from Texas to New York after a young divorce, breaking in through open calls, landing Search for Tomorrow, then relocating to Los Angeles and getting an early role on Rafferty with Patrick McGoohan. She explains shaping layered “bad guy” roles with comedy, including Initiation of Sarah, Flamingo Road (and being labeled “too sexy for TV” by the Moral Majority), and Falcon Crest, where she pushed for a promised incest-repercussions storyline and used fashion as a visual hook.

She shares behind-the-scenes stories from Pee-wee’s Big Adventure with Paul Reubens, friendships with classic Hollywood stars, her AIDS activism and COVID education, and her new podcast with sister Catherine Hart, Two Bitches from Texas.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
02:48 How TV Has Changed
04:46 Texas to New York Breakthrough
07:21 First Hollywood Job Story
11:43 Making Characters Pop
13:21 Becoming the Power Bitch
16:25 Too Sexy for TV
18:03 Falcon Crest Storyline Fight
21:38 Pee Wee Movie Chaos
26:27 Old Hollywood Friendships
31:53 Doubts and Survival
33:25 Career Doubts Persist
34:06 Divas Christmas Set
36:20 Sequel Push Lifetime
36:55 AIDS Activism Costs
39:17 Staying Engaged Today
44:29 Podcast With Sister
48:08 Guests And Format
49:33 Naming The Show
53:14 Bonnie And Clyde Double
55:28 Finding The Set and Meeting Warren Beatty
01:00:15 Podcast Plugs Farewell
01:01:55 Call Your Reps
01:02:23 Next Series Tease

AUDIOOGRAPHY
Find Morgan Fairchild at Morganfairchild.com
Listen to Morgan Fairchild and Catherine Hart at their website Two Bitches from Texas or wherever you find your podcasts.

Check out Morgan Fairchild's book, Morgan Fairchild Super Looks, at eBay
Find out more about Catherine Hart's acting classes at her website Heart and Soul
Connect with 80s TV Ladies at 80sTVLadies.com
Take action at 5Calls.org  

PROMO DEALS
Get awesome sheets and pajamas at COZY EARTH.
Be sure to use the promo code: 80STVLADIES.
Happy Shopping!

MARCH DEALS BLOCK
80s TV Ladies deals and discounts:
Cozy Earth (21% Off)
🔗 Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/19wy
🎁 Code: 80STVLADIES

NEW DEALS - Just added!
Bear Knuckles premium leather work gloves (15% Off)
Afuera Coffee sustainable coffee (15% Off)
🔗 Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/19wy
🎁Code: 80STVLADIES

📻 CONNECT WITH 80s TV LADIES
Official Website: 80sTVLadies.com 
Email Us: [email protected]
Support the Show: Get ad-free episodes and bonus content | Support on Patreon

🎭 SUSAN'S NEW VENTURE
Arts A La Carte – A non-profit dedicated to helping develop new works in theater. You can help us. Support the Arts! DONATE at ArtsALaCarte.org
Instagram: @ArtsALaCarteLA

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.

“ Barney and I were interviewed about that episode on Entertainment Tonight because the word “condom” had never been used on television before.” - Georgia Jeffries, Cagney & Lacey writer

Hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson welcome writer-producer-professor Georgia Jeffries, an Award-winning writer known for Cagney & Lacey, China Beach, and Sisters. Jeffries recounts growing up as an only child, loving The Twilight Zone, reading history, and finding an early spark for writing through school assignments and UCLA journalism and creative writing courses.

She talks about her time working as a freelance journalist while caring for her family. And the pivotal LAPD ride-along that inspired her first produced Cagney & Lacey episode, “An Unusual Occurrence,” which won a WGA Award. 

She compares the culture of Cagney & Lacey with China Beach, discusses unproduced pilots and projects (including HBO series, and an unmade Cher/Jessica Lange/to-be-directed by Frank Oz movie, Confessions) She reflects on writing episodes that tackled addiction, AIDS-era conversations, and sexual assault. Jeffries also shares details about her novel, The Younger Girl, current writing projects, and advice to emerging writers.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
01:33 Childhood TV Influences
03:56 Good Girl Expectations
05:16 Finding Writing Path
07:48 Early Jobs and Teaching
10:43 LAPD Ride Along Story
14:34 Cagney and Lacey Breakthrough
16:09 Feminism and California Move
18:09 Film Journalism to Screenwriting
19:34 Unmade Cher Lange Film
24:16 Women in Film Opens Doors
29:47 HBO Script to Book Rights
34:54 Working Mother on Set
36:14 Writers Room Culture Then
39:55 Favorite Episodes Tease
40:09 Why This Story Matters
40:47 Writing Cagney and Lacey
44:28 TV Breaking Taboos4
6:45 Breaking Into Screenwriting
48:17 Saying Yes and No
49:11 Joy and Rejection
51:11 Unmade Pilots Heartbreak
52:55 China Beach Bigger Canvas
55:55 Writers Room Culture
57:50 Showrunner Dream Team
58:39 Vista Clara and Timing
01:00:31 Teaching at USC
01:01:07 Resist AI Stay Original
01:02:00 You Write Like a Man
01:04:33 Working on Sisters
01:06:27 The Younger Girl Novel
01:14:36 Prose Versus Screenwriting
01:16:49 New Work and Wrap Up
01:19:11 Where to Find Everything
01:21:58 Final Thanks and Callouts

AUDIOOGRAPHY
Find out more about Georgia Jeffries at georgiajeffries.com
Get Georgia’s book, The Younger Girl at Bookshop.org
Find out more about the groundbreaking and Emmy-winning show at CagneyandLacey.com
Call your Reps. Let your voice be heard. Go to 5calls.org
Watch on Roku for Sisters and China Beach. 

PROMO DEALS
Get awesome sheets and pajamas at COZY EARTH.
Be sure to use the promo code: 80STVLADIES.
Happy Shopping!

MARCH 8TL DEALS BLOCK:
80s TV Ladies deals and discounts:
Cozy Earth (21% Off)
🔗 Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/19wy
🎁 Code: 80STVLADIES

📻 CONNECT WITH 80s TV LADIES
Official Website: 80sTVLadies.com 
Email Us: [email protected]
Support the Show: Get ad-free episodes and bonus content | Support on Patreon
🎭 SUSAN'S NEW VENTUREArts A La Carte – A non-profit dedicated to helping develop new works in theater.
Website: ArtsALaCarte.org
Instagram: @ArtsALaCarteLA

CELEBRATE 100!
OUR 100th EPISODE is coming! Don't miss our special episode with Ms. Morgan Fairchild!! 

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.

90s TV Babies Meet The Golden Girls: Uncovering Timeless Comedy | 80s TV Podcast

Join co-hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson as they welcome back the “’90s TV Babies”—Sergio Perez, Sailor Franklin, and Serita Fontanesi—plus first-time (almost silent) guest: the 20s² TV Baby Theo —for a 2026 discussion of The Golden Girls.

The group is assigned a lineup of key episodes across Seasons 1, 2, 4, 6, and the two-part series finale.

They catch up on the last six months: Serita welcomes baby Theo (nearly six months old), shares his love of his Paddington bear, and talks about returning to work; Sailor celebrates a new solo apartment in South Pasadena, a promotion to visual and performing arts associate at a nonprofit, and performing in a 134 West variety show (“Merry Queerness: A Wildly Inappropriate Holiday Show”) featuring a “Last Christmas” number; Sergio describes his first “adult summer” without children’s theater, a year in a new apartment with Koji, and travel to the dunes at Pismo Beach.

Theo’s teething, sock-removing, and foot-in-mouth milestones frequently steal the spotlight.

On The Golden Girls, the guests discuss its lasting impact, rapid-fire joke writing, and how boldly early seasons tackled topics like LGBTQ+ themes, age gaps, consent/power dynamics, teen pregnancy, grief, and loss—often balancing heart with humor. 

Sergio admits he’s watching the series for the first time and praises the show’s intelligence and influence on later sitcoms; Sailor highlights the value of 24-plus-episode seasons and names Dorothy as her favorite; Sergio chooses Rose and admires Betty White’s performance.

They single out “Mrs. George Devereaux” for its emotional weight and structure, and critique the pacing and feel of the series finale’s ending. They also touch on behind-the-scenes context discussed on the podcast, including Estelle Getty’s later-season memory issues and reported tensions between Bea Arthur and Betty White, and briefly fan-cast a hypothetical reboot.

The episode includes a Cozy Earth ad read (41% off with the show’s promo code - ONLY GOOD UNTIL MARCH), mentions a 40th anniversary Golden Girls special on Hulu (2025), shares Serita’s Venmo for diaper money, and plugs Susan’s arts organization Arts à la Carte

The hosts preview upcoming episodes featuring writer/producer/professor Georgia Jeffries (episode 99) and announce Morgan Fairchild as the special guest for the show’s 100th episode.

THE ASSIGNMENT
If you want to watch what the 90s TV Babies watched…
Here is your assignment should you choose to accept it:

S1E1 Pilot, The Engagement
S1.E9 Blanche and the Younger Man
S1.E13 A Little Romance
S1.E25 The Way We Met
S2.E02 Ladies of the Evening
S2.E24 To Catch a Neighbor
S4.E15 Valentine’s Day
S6.E9 Mrs. George Devereaux
S7.25 & S7.26 One Flew Out of the Cuckoo’s Nest

BONUS EXTRA CREDIT EPISODES
S2.E5 Isn’t it Romantic
S2.E21 Dorothy’s Prized Pupil
S6.E14 Sister of the Bride
S7.E2 The Case of the Libertine Bell
S3, Ep1 - Friendship and Memories

00:00 Welcome Back + Golden Girls Episode Assignment
02:24 Meet the Nineties TV Babies (and Baby Theo!)
03:24 Serita’s Life Update: New Baby, Time Off, Paddington Bear
05:04 Sailor’s Update: Shows, Audio Fixes, and Holiday Performance
11:11 Sailor’s Big News: New Apartment + Promotion
12:20 Sergio’s Update: Post-Theater Freedom and Travel Adventures
18:57 Back to the Show: Everyone’s Golden Girls History
24:29 Sailor’s Take: Why Golden Girls Still Hits in 2026
28:39 Campy vs. heartfelt: unpacking the dream episode’s wild tonal mix
30:00 Bring back 24-episode seasons: why filler, flashbacks & character color matter
32:20 Sergio’s first-time watch: rapid-fire jokes, smart writing, and trusting the audience
34:15 Standout lines & bold topics: teen pregnancy, grief, and jokes that land
36:16 Sponsor break: Cozy Earth bamboo sheets (41% off)
36:59 Why Golden Girls still feels ahead of its time (and the case for a reboot)
39:53 Surprises on rewatch: dramatic acting, theater-style sitcoms, and that gut-punch ending
46:38 Favorite Girl debate: Dorothy vs. Rose, and what makes each character click
49:00 Behind-the-scenes: cast dynamics, Estelle Getty’s memory issues, and Betty White lore
53:14 Finale reactions: hating Stan, rushed romance, and an ending without a button
57:26 Monoculture is gone: streaming chaos, reboot realities, and dream fan-casting
01:01:50 Wrap-up & plugs: anniversary special, links, Patreon, and what’s next

AUDIOOGRAPHY

🎙️ FEATURED GUESTS
Sergio Perez – Associate Producer, actor, writer & "90s TV Baby"
Sailor Franklin – South Pasadena based stage manager, performer and Visual & Performing Arts Associate | Connect on Instagram
Serita Fontanesi – New mom to baby Theodore; host of Not Ugly | Venmo Theo diapers!  Visit Serita.co or Listen to Not Ugly Pod
👵 GOLDEN GIRLS RESOURCESFIND GOLDEN GIRLS
Watch On Hulu or Philo
Also YouTube and Apple TV
DVDs are available through eBay, Walmart, and your local library.
40th Anniversary Special (2025) – 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship | Watch on Hulu
Official Social Media – Stay updated with the girls | Follow on Facebook
📻 CONNECT WITH 80s TV LADIES
Official Website: 80sTVLadies.com
Email Us: [email protected]
Support the Show: Get ad-free episodes and bonus content | Support on Patreon
🎭 SUSAN'S NEW VENTURE
Arts A La Carte – A non-profit dedicated to helping develop new works in theater.
Website: ArtsALaCarte.org
Instagram: @ArtsALaCarteLA
🛌 SPECIAL DEALS FOR LISTENERS
Get awesome sheets and pajamas at COZY EARTH.
Be sure to use the promo code: 80STVLADIES. Happy Shopping!

FEBRUARY 8TL DEALS BLOCK:
Get your 80s TV Ladies deals and discounts:
Cozy Earth bamboo sheets and pjs (41% Off) - This DEAL ENDS SOON!

https://MyDeals.Page/19wy
🎁Code: 80STVLADIES

NEW DEALS - Just added!
Bear Knuckles premium leather work gloves (15% Off)
Afuera Coffee sustainable coffee (15% Off)
🔗 Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/19wy
🎁Code: 80STVLADIES

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.

"Golden Girls is just so good. It's been with me my entire life, and there were opportunities to do more than just a rewatch podcast. We could bring in historical stuff and the history of the show." - Patrick Hinds, Golden Girls Deep Dive podcast

Join hosts Sharon Johnson and Susan Lambert Hatem on 80s TV Ladies as they chat with the award-winning podcaster Patrick Hinds. Known for his work on Theatre People, Broadway Backstory, True Crime Obsessed, and The Golden Girls Deep Dive podcast, Patrick Hinds is a familiar name for fans of podcasting. In this episode, Hinds delves into his experiences creating podcasts, his episode walkthrough of The Golden Girls, and his journey from theater to true crime. He discusses working with Jennifer Simard, the impact of Golden Girls on the LGBTQ community, and his book 'Failure is Not, Not an Option.' 

Patrick also talks about working with Gillian Pensavalle on creating the True Crime Obsessed podcast. The conversation touches upon behind-the-scenes stories, the enduring appeal of The Golden Girls, getting hated on by Bea Arthur, and the importance of community and storytelling. Perfect for those who delight in 80s TV, podcasting, and theater.

AUDIOOGRAPHY

Explore the world of Patrick Hinds and his shows:
Golden Girls Deep Dive Podcast 
True Crime Obsessed Podcast 
Get Patrick's book, Failure is Not, Not an Option 

Connect with Patrick at PatrickTours.com  
Or at Instagram.com/patrickhinds

FIND GOLDEN GIRLS
On Hulu or Philo
Also YouTube and Apple TV
 For those interested in physical copies, DVDs are available through eBay, Walmart, and your local library.
Dive into the beats of nostalgia and learn more about your favorite shows, actors, and the intricate stories behind them with the "80s TV Ladies" podcast!

SPECIAL 8TL PROMO DEALS
Get awesome sheets and pajamas at COZY EARTH.
Use the promo code: 80STVLADIES.
Happy Shopping!

FEBRUARY 8TL DEALS BLOCK:
Get your 80s TV Ladies deals and discounts:
Cozy Earth bamboo sheets and pjs (41% Off)
Old Glory iconic music, movies, TV and sports shirts (15% Off)

🔗 Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/19wy
🎁Code: 80STVLADIES

NEW DEALS - Just added!
Bear Knuckles premium leather work gloves (15% Off)
Afuera Coffee sustainable coffee (15% Off)

🔗 Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/19wy
🎁Code: 80STVLADIES

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
01:02 Golden Girls Deep Dive with Patrick Hinds
01:41 Working with Jennifer Simard
02:59 From True Crime to Golden Girls
04:04 Theater Podcasting Journey
05:33 Memorable Interviews and Broadway Stories
13:13 The Birth of Broadway Backstory
16:27 Creating a True Crime Podcast with Gillian Pensavalle
20:38 The Appeal of True Crime
25:36 Golden Girls: A Cultural Phenomenon
33:54 Different Standards for Women in Media
34:20 Interviewing Wendy Mallick
35:20 Stan Zimmerman and Theater Connections
37:32 Balancing Podcast Episodes and Interviews
38:09 Challenges of True Crime Podcasting
44:14 Golden Girls: A Timeless Classic
46:54 The Impact of 80s and 90s TV Shows
48:07 Patrick Hinds' Book: Failure is Not, Not an Option
50:10 Bea Arthur's Tough Exterior
52:41 Favorite 80s TV Shows and Final Thoughts

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.