"As an executive, I think people have to be given their due. I think if you're hiring somebody because you think they're very talented, you need to let them do what it is that they do. I also think that you have to give them the opportunity in the community to be viewed as important. Otherwise, you have to be in every meeting, and what's the point of that?"

    About This Interview

    In her nearly three-hour interview, Barbara Corday talks about her early years working as a publicist. She describes her transition to writing, working on several popular sitcoms with her partner, Barbara Avedon. She discusses the way in which women writers were treated in the industry in the 1970s and '80s. She talks about the six-year journey to get landmark police drama Cagney & Lacey on the air, which she co-created with Avedon. She talks about her work as an executive in development at ABC on such series as Bosom Buddies and American Dream. She describes her continued work as an independent producer and her later work in several executive positions including president of Columbia Television (a television first for a female executive) and executive vice president for primetime programming at CBS. Finally, she speaks about her then-recent association with

    In her nearly three-hour interview, Barbara Corday talks about her early years working as a publicist. She describes her transition to writing, working on several popular sitcoms with her partner, Barbara Avedon. She discusses the way in which women writers were treated in the industry in the 1970s and '80s. She talks about the six-year journey to get landmark police drama Cagney & Lacey on the air, which she co-created with Avedon. She talks about her work as an executive in development at ABC on such series as Bosom Buddies and American Dream. She describes her continued work as an independent producer and her later work in several executive positions including president of Columbia Television (a television first for a female executive) and executive vice president for primetime programming at CBS. Finally, she speaks about her then-recent association with USC's School of Cinematic Arts (then the School of Cinema-Television). Darby Maloney conducted the interview on August 12, 2004 in Los Angeles, CA.

    . Darby Maloney conducted the interview on August 12, 2004 in Los Angeles, CA.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Barbara Corday

    Barbara Corday on the genesis and concept of Cagney & Lacey

    03:32
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    Barbara Corday on being named Vice President of Comedy Series Development at ABC

    04:30
    Thumbnail of Barbara Corday

    Barbara Corday on developing Bosom Buddies

    05:51
    Thumbnail of Barbara Corday

    Barbara Corday on pitching a series with Barbara Avedon

    05:41
    Thumbnail of Barbara Corday

    Barbara Corday on the audience bringing Cagney & Lacey back from cancellation

    02:29
    Thumbnail of Barbara Corday

    Barbara Corday on the challenges of being a female executive in television

    03:00
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On her early life and influences; on television shows she watched growing up

    13:01

    On getting into publicity; on her responsibilities as a publicist and what she learned from working in publicity; on moving to Los Angeles to work with Rogers & Cowan

    13:58

    Chapter 2

    On pitching a series with Barbara Avedon; on working on a pilot with Danny Arnold and Barbara Avedon for Barbara Eden; on writing for Sons and Daughters and various other Universal Television shows

    14:20

    On writing for Medical Center; on pitching Cagney & Lacey in 1974 and on being involved in the women's movement at the time; on writing for Wonder Woman and Turnabout, starring Sharon Gless

    14:07

    Chapter 3

    On the genesis and concept of Cagney & Lacey; on the made-for-television movie of Cagney & Lacey; on taking Cagney & Lacey to series and the changes that were made from the TV movie to the series

    11:19

    On casting Tyne Daly as "Mary Beth Lacey" on Cagney & Lacey; on the premise of Cagney & Lacey and on dealing with women's issues on the show

    07:44

    On the first cancellation of Cagney & Lacey and on recasting Meg Foster as "Christine Cagney" with Sharon Gless; on the dynamic between Sharon Gless and Tyne Daly on Cagney & Lacey

    08:17

    Chapter 4

    On her involvement as a creative consultant on Cagney & Lacey once it went to series; on writing the Cagney & Lacey episode "Who Says It's Fair" and on working with Tyne Daly as "Mary Beth Lacey"; on working with Sharon Gless as "Christine Cagney" on Cagney & Lacey

    09:09

    On Cagney & Lacey executive producer Barney Rosenzweig and the issues covered on the show; on how Cagney & Lacey evolved over the years and on her favorite episodes; on the cancellation of Cagney & Lacey and the influence of the show

    11:11

    On being named Vice President of Comedy Series Development at ABC; on her pilot American Dream; on her responsibilities as Vice President of Comedy Series Development at ABC

    08:11

    Chapter 5

    On developing Bosom Buddies; on leaving ABC and starting her own production company; on the shows produced by her production company and being appointed president of Columbia Pictures Television

    14:18

    On the kinds of programs that were produced when she was at Columbia Pictures Television; on her favorite shows at Columbia including Who's the Boss?, Married... With Children, and Designing Women; on executive producing the made-for-television movie I Dream of Jeannie... 15 Years Later and on leaving Columbia

    15:28

    Chapter 6

    On becoming Executive Vice President for Primetime Programming at CBS; on the challenges of being a female executive in television; on the development of Murphy Brown

    10:41

    On advice to aspiring television writers and television executives; on her mentors Barbara Avedon, Herman Rush, and Frank Biondi; on how the status of women in television has changed since she started

    09:58

    On her greatest career achievement and on then-current projects; on career regrets and how she'd like to be remembered

    02:24

    Bosom Buddies

    Barbara Corday on developing Bosom Buddies

    05:51

    Cagney & Lacey

    Barbara Corday on pitching Cagney & Lacey in 1974 and on being involved in the women's movement at the time

    05:11

    Barbara Corday on the genesis and concept of Cagney & Lacey

    03:32

    Barbara Corday on the made-for-television movie of Cagney & Lacey

    03:53

    Barbara Corday on taking Cagney & Lacey to series and the changes that were made from the TV movie to the series

    03:54

    Barbara Corday on casting Tyne Daly as "Mary Beth Lacey" on Cagney & Lacey

    03:01

    Barbara Corday on the premise of Cagney & Lacey and on dealing with women's issues on the show

    04:43

    Barbara Corday on the first cancellation of Cagney & Lacey and on recasting Meg Foster as "Christine Cagney" with Sharon Gless

    06:54

    Barbara Corday on the dynamic between Sharon Gless and Tyne Daly on Cagney & Lacey

    01:22

    Barbara Corday on her involvement as a creative consultant on Cagney & Lacey once it went to series

    04:56

    Barbara Corday on writing the Cagney & Lacey episode "Who Says It's Fair" and on working with Tyne Daly as "Mary Beth Lacey"

    01:46

    Barbara Corday on working with Sharon Gless as "Christine Cagney" on Cagney & Lacey

    02:27

    Barbara Corday on Cagney & Lacey executive producer Barney Rosenzweig and the issues covered on the show

    02:01

    Barbara Corday on the audience bringing Cagney & Lacey back from cancellation

    02:29

    Barbara Corday on how Cagney & Lacey evolved over the years and on her favorite episodes

    05:18

    Barbara Corday on the cancellation of Cagney & Lacey and the influence of the show

    01:23

    Designing Women

    Barbara Corday on her favorite shows at Columbia including Who's the Boss?, Married... With Children, and Designing Women

    05:35

    I Dream of Jeannie… 15 Years Later

    Barbara Corday on executive producing the made-for-television movie I Dream of Jeannie... 15 Years Later

    02:48

    Married… With Children

    Barbara Corday on her favorite shows at Columbia including Who's the Boss?, Married... With Children, and Designing Women

    05:35

    Medical Center

    Barbara Corday on writing for Medical Center

    02:01

    Murphy Brown

    Barbara Corday on the development of Murphy Brown

    01:51

    Sons and Daughters (1974)

    Barbara Corday on writing for Sons and Daughters and various other Universal Television shows

    04:33

    Turnabout

    Barbara Corday on writing for Turnabout, starring Sharon Gless

    03:19

    Who's the Boss?

    Barbara Corday on her favorite shows at Columbia including Who's the Boss?, Married... With Children, and Designing Women

    05:35

    Wonder Woman

    Barbara Corday on writing for Wonder Woman

    03:35

    Advice

    Barbara Corday on advice to aspiring television writers

    02:07

    Barbara Corday on advice to aspiring television executives

    01:19

    Creative Influences and Inspiration

    Barbara Corday on pitching a series with Barbara Avedon

    05:41

    Barbara Corday on her mentors Barbara Avedon, Herman Rush, and Frank Biondi

    01:47

    First Big Break

    Barbara Corday on pitching a series with Barbara Avedon

    05:41

    Historic Events and Social Change

    Barbara Corday on pitching Cagney & Lacey in 1974 and on being involved in the women's movement at the time

    05:11

    Barbara Corday on the premise of Cagney & Lacey and on dealing with women's issues on the show

    04:43

    Barbara Corday on the challenges of being a female executive in television

    03:00

    Barbara Corday on how the status of women in television has changed since she started

    04:45

    Pivotal Career Moments

    Barbara Corday on pitching a series with Barbara Avedon

    05:41

    Barbara Corday on her mentors Barbara Avedon, Herman Rush, and Frank Biondi

    01:47

    Representation on Television

    Barbara Corday on pitching Cagney & Lacey in 1974 and on being involved in the women's movement at the time

    05:11

    Barbara Corday on the premise of Cagney & Lacey and on dealing with women's issues on the show

    04:43

    Barbara Corday on how the status of women in television has changed since she started

    04:45

    Barbara Corday on the challenges of being a female executive in television

    03:00

    Television Industry

    Barbara Corday on leaving ABC and starting her own production company

    02:17

    Barbara Corday on the shows produced by her production company and being appointed President of Columbia Pictures Television

    06:10

    Barbara Corday on the kinds of programs that were produced when she was at Columbia Pictures Television

    04:17

    Barbara Corday on becoming Chief Operating Office of Columbia/Embassy Television and on leaving Columbia

    01:49

    Barbara Corday on becoming Executive Vice President for Primetime Programming at CBS

    05:49

    Barbara Corday on advice to aspiring television writers

    02:07

    Barbara Corday on advice to aspiring television executives

    01:19

    Women

    Barbara Corday on pitching Cagney & Lacey in 1974 and on being involved in the women's movement at the time

    05:11

    Barbara Corday on the premise of Cagney & Lacey and on dealing with women's issues on the show

    04:43

    Barbara Corday on the challenges of being a female executive in television

    03:00

    Barbara Corday on how the status of women in television has changed since she started

    04:45

    Executives

    Barbara Corday on her responsibilities as Vice President of Comedy Series Development at ABC

    01:28

    Barbara Corday on being named Vice President of Comedy Series Development at ABC

    04:30

    Barbara Corday on the kinds of programs that were produced when she was at Columbia Pictures Television

    04:17

    Barbara Corday on advice to aspiring television executives

    01:19

    Publicist

    Barbara Corday on her responsibilities as a publicist and what she learned from working in publicity

    04:38

    Barbara Corday on getting into publicity

    04:05

    Representatives

    Barbara Corday on her responsibilities as a publicist and what she learned from working in publicity

    04:38

    Barbara Corday on getting into publicity

    04:05

    Television Executive

    Barbara Corday on her responsibilities as Vice President of Comedy Series Development at ABC

    01:28

    Barbara Corday on being named Vice President of Comedy Series Development at ABC

    04:30

    Barbara Corday on the kinds of programs that were produced when she was at Columbia Pictures Television

    04:17

    Barbara Corday on advice to aspiring television executives

    01:19

    Writers

    Barbara Corday on advice to aspiring television writers

    02:07

    Adventure/Espionage Series

    Barbara Corday on writing for Wonder Woman

    03:35

    Comedy Series

    Barbara Corday on writing for Turnabout, starring Sharon Gless

    03:19

    Barbara Corday on Murphy Brown

    01:48

    Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

    Barbara Corday on pitching Cagney & Lacey in 1974 and on being involved in the women's movement at the time

    05:11

    Barbara Corday on Cagney & Lacey

    27:21

    Barbara Corday on creating Cagney and Lacey

    20:20

    Drama Series

    Barbara Corday on writing for Sons and Daughters and various other Universal Television shows

    04:34

    TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

    Barbara Corday on executive producing the made-for-television movie I Dream of Jeannie... 15 Years Later

    02:48

    Danny Arnold

    Barbara Corday on working on a pilot with Danny Arnold and Barbara Avedon for Barbara Eden

    04:05

    Barbara Avedon

    Barbara Corday on pitching a series with Barbara Avedon

    05:41

    Barbara Corday on working on a pilot with Danny Arnold and Barbara Avedon for Barbara Eden

    04:05

    Barbara Corday on one of her mentors: Barbara Avedon

    01:45

    Frank Biondi

    Barbara Corday on one of her mentors: Frank Biondi

    00:37

    Tyne Daly

    Barbara Corday on casting Tyne Daly as "Mary Beth Lacey" on Cagney & Lacey

    02:59

    Barbara Corday on the dynamic between Sharon Gless and Tyne Daly on Cagney & Lacey

    01:22

    Barbara Corday on writing the Cagney & Lacey episode "Who Says It's Fair" and on working with Tyne Daly as "Mary Beth Lacey"

    01:46

    Barbara Eden

    Barbara Corday on working on a pilot with Danny Arnold and Barbara Avedon for Barbara Eden

    04:05

    Sharon Gless

    Barbara Corday on writing for Turnabout, starring Sharon Gless

    03:20

    Barbara Corday on the first cancellation of Cagney & Lacey and on recasting Meg Foster as "Christine Cagney" with Sharon Gless

    06:54

    Barbara Corday on the dynamic between Sharon Gless and Tyne Daly on Cagney & Lacey

    01:22

    Barbara Corday on working with Sharon Gless as "Christine Cagney" on Cagney & Lacey

    02:27

    Tom Hanks

    Barbara Corday on developing Bosom Buddies, starring Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari

    05:51

    Barney Rosenzweig

    Barbara Corday on Cagney & Lacey executive producer Barney Rosenzweig and the issues covered on the show

    02:01

    Peter Scolari

    Barbara Corday on developing Bosom Buddies, starring Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari

    05:51

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