Barney Rosenzweig

Producer


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In the two-and-a-half-hour solo portion of his interview, Barney Rosenzweig describes his entrance into show business at MGM, starting in the mailroom, and shortly thereafter rising through the ranks as a studio publicist. He recounts becoming an associate producer at 20th Century Fox for feature films, and outlines his first television work as a producer on Daniel Boone in the late 1960s. He explains reviving the series in its final seasons, with less emphasis on action and more on contemporary political views. He talks of producing Charlie's Angels, and then details the series with which he is most closely associated: Cagney & Lacey. Rosenzweig describes launching Cagney & Lacey, taking it from a feature film script, to a television movie, and finally to a series. He talks of casting the series, shooting at a downtown Los Angeles warehouse, and the series struggling in the ratings. He then discusses The Trials of Rosie O'Neill, recalling his approach to the series and marrying lead Sharon Gless during the run of the show. He also talks about producing the series Christy and the Cagney & Lacey television movies.

In the thirty-minute joint portion of their interview, Barney Rosenzweig and Sharon Gless talk about their work together and their personal relationship. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interviews on October 15, 2008 in North Hollywood, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"We changed not only the way women are perceived, today you watch television and there are women in the police precinct or women in the hospital, and nobody feels it necessary to explain what they're doing there. Nobody. You don't have to have backstory as to why the woman has that job. They just do. It's accepted. That was not true before 'Cagney & Lacey.'"

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Barney Rosenzweig on how he got the idea for Cagney & Lacey
01:16
Barney Rosenzweig on meeting the writing team of Barbara Avedon and Barbara Corday
00:55
Barney Rosenzweig on how Sharon Gless replaced Meg Foster as "Cagney" on Cagney & Lacey
04:03
Barney Rosenzweig on how he'd like to be remembered
00:56
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his childhood and early influences; on hobbies as a child and loving to perform; on getting a job in the mailroom at MGM
On his rise as a publicist at MGM; on handling the premiere of "Ben-Hur"; on wanting to become a producer
On the opportunity to become an Associate Producer and subsequently quitting
On taking over as producer of Daniel Boone in its fourth season
On being influenced by the themes of "Easy Rider"; on how he transformed Daniel Boone (by "introverting" the show)
On the short-lived Sons and Daughters

Chapter 2

On what he learned from Sons and Daughters
On the long road to getting hired as a producer on Charlie's Angels and changes he brought to the show
On the idea for Cagney & Lacey; on the show's journey from movie, to TV movie, to series, and cast changes along the way
On winning the Emmy for Best Drama for Cagney & Lacey; on the core idea behind the show and social issues addressed on the program

Chapter 3

On Cagney & Lacey's Sharon Gless and Tyne Daly; on how the show changed television
On his goal for The Trials of Rosie O'Neill; on marrying Sharon Gless and how their relationship affected the show
On reuniting with Tyne Daly on Christy
On four Cagney & Lacey reunion movies and trying to make a deal with Orion to own the whole run of the series
On his book, Cagney & Lacey And Me and the DVD release of Cagney & Lacey
On advice to aspiring producers and how he'd like to be remembered

Chapter 4

START OF JOINT INTERVIEW WITH SHARON GLESS: On how they met and casting Sharon Gless as the third and final "Cagney" on Cagney & Lacey; on fighting with each other on set
On interacting with the fans of Cagney & Lacey and Queer as Folk
On developing the story arc about alcoholism on Cagney & Lacey
On not living in Los Angeles; on their professional relationship and how they fell in love; on their favorite stories about each other
Shows

Cagney & Lacey

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Barney Rosenzweig on the idea for Cagney & Lacey
01:42
Barney Rosenzweig on the first steps of Cagney & Lacey becoming a TV movie rather than a motion picture
01:31
Barney Rosenzweig on Barbara Avedon and Barbara Corday writing the script for the movie version of Cagney & Lacey
02:16
Barney Rosenzweig on Cagney & Lacey moving to television and moving shooting from Toronto to Los Angeles
14:12
Barney Rosenzweig on the cast of the first episodes of the TV series Cagney & Lacey and cast changes after the first six episodes
07:21
Barney Rosenzweig on Cagney & Lacey getting cancelled and coming back as a 10pm, not 9pm show, and the publicity tour for the show
06:54
Barney Rosenzweig on how Sharon Gless replaced Meg Foster as "Cagney" on Cagney & Lacey
04:03
Barney Rosenzweig on winning an Emmy for best drama series for Cagney & Lacey
02:21
Barney Rosenzweig on what Cagney & Lacey was about at its core
03:41
Barney Rosenzweig on addressing social issues on Cagney & Lacey
02:33
Barney Rosenzweig on Cagney & Lacey's Sharon Gless and Tyne Daly
08:56
Barney Rosenzweig on the legacy of Cagney & Lacey and what it did for the portrayal of women on television; on how it changed television
02:59
Barney Rosenzweig on four Cagney & Lacey reunion movies and trying to make a deal with Orion to own the whole run of the series
05:49
Barney Rosenzweig on not being a "hyphenate," but on primarily being the producer of Cagney & Lacey
00:40
Sharon Gless and Barney Rosenzweig on making last minute tweaks ("writing with an eraser") on Cagney & Lacey
02:09
Sharon Gless on getting letters from female cops who went into the field because of Cagney & Lacey
01:09
Barney Rosenzweig and Sharon Gless on developing the theme of alcoholism for "Christine Cagney" and her father on Cagney & Lacey
05:36

Charlie's Angels

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Barney Rosenzweig on the long road to getting hired on Charlie's Angels and changes he brought to the show
08:22
Barney Rosenzweig on the stars of Charlie's Angels
01:50

Daniel Boone

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Barney Rosenzweig on disliking Daniel Boone in its first three seasons
01:29
Barney Rosenzweig on taking over as producer of Daniel Boone in its fourth season
05:08
Barney Rosenzweig on why he's proud of his work on Daniel Boone
02:12
Barney Rosenzweig on how he transformed Daniel Boone in its fourth season (by "introverting" the show)
10:52

Queer as Folk

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Sharon Gless on being hugged by fans, and the impact of Queer as Folk
01:41

Sons and Daughters (1974)

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Barney Rosenzweig on the short-lived Sons and Daughters
02:29
Barney Rosenzweig on what he learned from the short-lived Sons and Daughters
00:31

Trials of Rosie O'Neill, The

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Barney Rosenzweig on his goal for The Trials of Rosie O'Neill
01:40
Barney Rosenzweig on marrying Sharon Gless and how their relationship affected The Trials of Rosie O'Neill
03:53
Topics

Creative Influences and Inspiration

View Topic
Barney Rosenzweig on being influenced by the themes of "Easy Rider"
02:44

Drama

View Topic
Sharon Gless and Barney Rosenzweig on developing the theme of alcoholism for "Christine Cagney" and her father on Cagney and Lacey
05:36

Emmy Awards

View Topic
Barney Rosenzweig on winning an Emmy for Cagney & Lacey
02:21
Sharon Gless and Barney Rosenzweig on Gless "finally" winning an Emmy for Cagney & Lacey
02:22

Fame and Celebrity

View Topic
Sharon Gless and Barney Rosenzweig on getting recognized by and interacting with fans
04:14
Sharon Gless on being hugged by fans, and the impact of Queer as Folk
01:41

Pivotal Career Moments

View Topic
Barney Rosenzweig on being influenced by the themes of "Easy Rider"
02:44

Representation on Television

View Topic
Barney Rosenzweig on giving Aaron Spelling criticisms of Charlie's Angels and wanting to incorporate the themes of the Women's Movement into the show
04:53
Barney Rosenzweig on the idea for Cagney & Lacey
01:42
Barney Rosenzweig on what Cagney & Lacey was about at its core
03:41
Barney Rosenzweig on the legacy of Cagney & Lacey and what it did for the portrayal of women on television
01:55

Television Industry

View Topic
Barney Rosenzweig on trying to make a deal with Orion to own the whole run of Cagney & Lacey
02:18
Barney Rosenzweig on advice to aspiring producers and how the business has changed
01:37
Sharon Gless and Barney Rosenzweig on getting recognized by and interacting with fans
04:14
Sharon Gless on being hugged by fans, and the impact of Queer as Folk
01:41

Women

View Topic
Barney Rosenzweig on giving Aaron Spelling criticisms of Charlie's Angels and wanting to incorporate the themes of the Women's Movement into the show
04:53
Barney Rosenzweig on the idea for Cagney & Lacey
01:42
Barney Rosenzweig on what Cagney & Lacey was about at its core
03:41
Barney Rosenzweig on the legacy of Cagney & Lacey and what it did for the portrayal of women on television
01:55
Professions

Producers

View Profession
Barney Rosenzweig on wanting to become a producer and leave publicity at MGM
00:47
Barney Rosenzweig on advice to aspiring producers and how the business has changed
01:37
Barney Rosenzweig on advice to aspiring producers and how the business has changed
01:37
Barney Rosenzweig on not being a "hyphenate," but on primarily being the producer of Cagney & Lacey
00:40
Barney Rosenzweig on making last minute tweaks to the show
02:09
Barney Rosenzweig and Sharon Gless on developing the theme of alcoholism for "Christine Cagney" and her father on Cagney & Lacey
05:36
Genres

Adventure/Espionage Series

View Genre
Barney Rosenzweig on the long road to getting hired on Charlie's Angels and changes he brought to the show
08:22
Barney Rosenzweig on the long road to getting hired on Charlie's Angels and changes he brought to the show
08:22

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

View Genre
Barney Rosenzweig on the idea for and several cast changes for Cagney & Lacey
37:59
Barney Rosenzweig on what Cagney & Lacey was about at its core and social issues addressed on the show
06:14
Barney Rosenzweig on the cast and the legacy of Cagney & Lacey and what it did for the portrayal of women on television, and on how it changed television
11:55

Drama Series

View Genre
Barney Rosenzweig on the idea for and several cast changes for Cagney & Lacey
37:59
Barney Rosenzweig on what Cagney & Lacey was about at its core and social issues addressed on the show
06:14
Barney Rosenzweig on the cast and the legacy of Cagney & Lacey and what it did for the portrayal of women on television; on how it changed television

Western Series

View Genre
Barney Rosenzweig on taking over as producer of Daniel Boone in its fourth season
05:08
Barney Rosenzweig on why he's proud of his work on Daniel Boone
02:12
Barney Rosenzweig on how he transformed Daniel Boone in its fourth season (by "introverting" the show)
10:52
People

Aaron Spelling

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Barney Rosenzweig on offering Aaron Spelling his thoughts on Charlie's Angels and getting hired as a producer
02:59

Barbara Avedon

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Barney Rosenzweig on meeting the writing team of Barbara Avedon and Barbara Corday
00:55
Barney Rosenzweig on Barbara Avedon and Barbara Corday writing the script for the movie version of Cagney & Lacey
02:16

Barbara Corday

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Barney Rosenzweig on meeting the writing team of Barbara Avedon and Barbara Corday
00:55
Barney Rosenzweig on Barbara Avedon and Barbara Corday writing the script for the movie version of Cagney & Lacey
02:16
Barney Rosenzweig on Cagney & Lacey moving to television and Barbara Corday becoming an executive
03:34

David O. Selznick

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Barney Rosenzweig on how he'd like to be remembered
00:52

Farrah Fawcett

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Barney Rosenzweig on the stars of Charlie's Angels - Farrah Fawcett
00:36

Fess Parker

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Barney Rosenzweig on Fess Parker approving him to become producer on Daniel Boone
01:00
Barney Rosenzweig on working with Fess Parker on Daniel Boone
00:57

Frank Sinatra

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Barney Rosenzweig on putting together the movie "Tony Rome" with Frank Sinatra, but not getting to see it through production
02:18

Hedda Hopper

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Barney Rosenzweig on his PR role at MGM and dinners with Hedda Hopper
01:00

Jaclyn Smith

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Barney Rosenzweig on the stars of Charlie's Angels - Jaclyn Smith
00:17

Kate Jackson

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Barney Rosenzweig on the stars of Charlie's Angels - Kate Jackson
00:57

Leonard Goldberg

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Barney Rosenzweig on fighting with Leonard Goldberg about Charlie's Angels
03:01

Loretta Swit

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Barney Rosenzweig on Loretta Swit getting cast in the Cagney & Lacey television movie
01:34

Peter Frankovich

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Barney Rosenzweig on Peter Frankovich buying Cagney & Lacey for television
01:16

Sharon Gless

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Barney Rosenzweig on wanting Sharon Gless to play "Cagney" on Cagney & Lacey, Gless not being available, but coming aboard when the show became a series
03:33
Barney Rosenzweig on the cast of the first episodes of the TV series Cagney & Lacey (Meg Foster and Tyne Daly) and how Sharon Gless was still unavailable to play "Cagney"
03:01
Barney Rosenzweig on how Sharon Gless replaced Meg Foster as "Cagney" on Cagney & Lacey
04:03
Barney Rosenzweig on Cagney & Lacey's Sharon Gless
06:35
Barney Rosenzweig on his goal for The Trials of Rosie O'Neill
01:40
Barney Rosenzweig on marrying Sharon Gless and how their relationship affected The Trials of Rosie O'Neill
03:53

Sherry Lansing

View Person Page
Barney Rosenzweig on Sherry Lansing loving the Cagney & Lacey script
00:58

Susan Clark

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Barney Rosenzweig on Susan Clark being considered for "Cagney" on Cagney & Lacey  
02:32

Tyne Daly

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Barney Rosenzweig on the cast of the first episodes of the TV series Cagney & Lacey (Meg Foster and Tyne Daly)
05:33
Barney Rosenzweig on Cagney & Lacey's Tyne Daly
02:21
Barney Rosenzweig on reuniting with Tyne Daly on Christy
02:03
Sharon Gless on walking down the streets of New York with Tyne Daly and the reaction of fans
01:46

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