About This Quiz
TV series were definitely very different in the 1980s. Especially series involving the police. These were much loved and people tuned in every week to catch a glimpse of the goings-ons at the precinct. "Cagney and Lacey" was one such series. Gritty, character-driven, excellent acting - it had it all.Â
And although the show started out a little shakily, it became one of the best cop series of the decade. That is thanks to the fact that, unlike many other shows at the time, Cagney and Lacey dared to be a little different. It did this by having two FEMALE detectives in the lead roles, expertly acted by two actresses that were not new to the game. The supporting cast was strong too, which is important, as that is an area where many shows fell down.Â
Soon, "Cagney and Lacey" had fans tuning in, so much so that CBS decided to put it in the 10 p.m. slot, up against Monday Night Football no less. It not only survived but thrived.
So how much do you remember about this iconic duo, the actors that played them and the early troubled start to the series? Well, this "Cagney and Lacey" quiz will put your knowledge to the test.Â
Although she wanted to carry on in the role of Cagney, producers from "M*A*S*H" would not release her from her contract.
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Gless only joined the show at the start of season 2. The original actress had to pull out as she could not be released from her contract with "M*A*S*H," another massive show at the time.
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Like Tyne Daly, Sharon Gless was an experience actress with many acting credits behind her name before she undertook the role of Cagney. She had appeared in a number of movies, made-for-TV movies and series, including "Switch," "Turnabout" and "Centennial Man."
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"Cagney and Lacey" was set in New York. The two detectives worked from a fictional precinct, however. It was called Midtown South.
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In the show, Lacey was married and had two children. Cagney was single.
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That's fairly impressive. After just six shows in the first season, the final season ran for 22 episodes.
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Detective Cagney's first name was Christine. That makes her initials C.C.
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The Golden Globes are the pinnacle for television productions. Yes, "Cagney and Lacey" achieved that honor.
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Yes, the screenplay was originally intended as a movie. It was changed into a TV pilot eventually, because many Hollywood execs were not sure about the potential success of the show.
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As with most dramas in the '80s, you would have to set aside an hour of your time (with advertisements) to watch an episode of "Cagney and Lacey."
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Daly starred as Maxine Gray in Judging Amy for well over 100 episodes.
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Cagney and Lacey ran for seven seasons, from 1981 to 1988.
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Lacey is far more sensitive than Cagney. It comes with being a married woman and having kids, possibly...
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A tan Dodge Diplomat, standard New York detective issue, was one of the Cagney and Lacey cars throughout the seasons.
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As he was so highly respected by everyone, after he died, producers kept Sidney Clute's name in the credits until the series ended.
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Lacey was played by Tyne Daly, who had appeared in a number of TV series, made-for-TV movies and Hollywood films beforehand. She still continues to act to this day.
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Unbelievably, the show was cancelled at some point, but this made CBS viewers furious. They complained and with reruns well watched, CBS brought the show back.
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That's right. It was very early in his acting career, but Miguel Ferrer and his brother Rafael were cast in guest roles.
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After divorcing co-creator Barbary Corday, Rosenzweig married Sharon Gless.
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Yes, Mary Beth Lacey. It has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?
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After the pilot, Meg Foster joined the show for six episodes. Her contract was not renewed.
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The pilot for "Cagney and Lacey" was first shown in 1981. The season consisted of six episodes after that.
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"Cagney and Lacey" was canned for one reason only... a decline in viewers. Luckily, those who loved the show made enough noise to bring it back.
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John Karlen played Harvey Lacey, husband of Mary Beth. He famously appeared in the series "Dark Shadows."
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Yes, George Clooney was in between careers, so to speak, as his attempts to become a professional sportsman had failed. The rest, as they say, is history.
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This is Hollywood after all. They didn't need to go to New York, they just made Los Angeles look like New York.
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Four made-for-TV movies followed in the 1990s. The first was released in 1994 and the last in 1996.
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Gless stars as Madeline Westen in "Burn Notice." She appears in over 100 episodes.
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Weird, huh? Just missing an E.
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Incredibly, the show won the Best Actress Emmy six years in a row (four wins for Daly and two for Gless). This still remains a record.
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Just as the show's cast became settled, CBS decided to cancel the show. Television executives, hey!
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Barney Rosenzweig was the man behind "Cagney and Lacey" from the very beginning. He was initially married to the co-creator of the show, Barbara Corday.
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Someone wasn't paying attention. They started with numbers 730 and 763, but in some shows, the badge numbers changed to 340 and 790.
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The Gloden Globe was for Best Actress in a TV Drama or Series. It was won by Sharon Gless (Cagney) in 1986.
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Yes, a simple warehouse was made up to look like a New York police station and most internal shots were filmed there.
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