6 Things You Didn’t Know About Groundbreaking Cop Drama ‘Cagney & Lacey’

When Cagney & Lacey hit the airwaves on March 25, 1982, it wasn’t just another cop show — it marked a revolution for female characters. Though they weren’t TV’s first lady “buddy cops,” thanks to Charlie’s Angels, Christine Cagney and Mary Beth Lacey represented TV’s first everywoman characters, whose personal lives and struggles mattered as much as their detective skills. As Cagney and Lacey, Sharon Gless and Tyne Daly didn’t just solve crimes; they tackled real-life social issues, from workplace sexism to gun violence to alcoholism and beyond, in a clear-eyed way that was rare for television — especially when female characters led the show.

But the road to success was as complicated as its lead detectives’ lives. Cagney & Lacey weathered multiple casting changes, network interference from CBS, and even an early cancellation before an outpouring of fan support resurrected it. What followed was a remarkable six-season run that redefined the police-procedural genre, earned 14 Emmys (most for its leads), and paved the way for today’s female-led dramas.