Thursday night, USA rejoins the baddest TV female duo ever as "Cagney & Lacey" stars Tyne Daly and Sharon Gless appear in a special episode of "Burn Notice."
Thursday night, USA rejoins the baddest TV female duo ever as "Cagney & Lacey" stars Tyne Daly and Sharon Gless appear in a special episode of "Burn Notice."
Now into its third season (second half), the Miami-based series is a quirky spy drama that features Jeffrey Donovan as Michael Westen, Gabrielle Anwar as Fiona, Bruce Campbell as Sam and Sharon Gless as Donovan's mother, the slightly conniving, chain-smoking Madeline.
"Burn Notice" happens to be the number one series on cable, and the addition of Tyne Daly to the guest star line up guarantees the mid-series premiere Thursday, January 21 at 10:00 pm. will be a ratings blow out for the Characters Welcome network.
The Thursday episode is titled, "The Dark Road," and in a recent conference call with the two stars, Ms. Daly and Ms. Gless spoke to M&C and some other journalists about their upcoming reunion.
Without further adieu, the full interview with Ms. Daly and Ms. Gless:
How did you all feel about the prospect of re-teaming?
Sharon Gless: Well I've been trying to talk Tyne into coming and doing our show. Tyne said she'll do it if she could play a mute. But Matt Nix said I'm not paying Tyne Daly to not hear that voice of hers.
Do you all think you have a natural chemistry?
Tyne Daly: I guess so.
Sharon Gless: We developed something on Cagney & Lacey. I find it very easy and wonderful working with Tyne when she was with us. When we were in the makeup trailer, we were sitting and chatting and laughing before we began, and that isn't sort of the tone of our makeup trailer, so everybody was going 'boy I wish that we did that more.'
Sharon, can you give us some insight about what’s going to happen in this particular episode too from your perspective?
Sharon Gless: Well apparently I'm not allowed to tell... what I do to Tyne. But it’s very unusual the situations that they put me in with Tyne. They had me go undercover. They weren't able to. They had to have me go undercover because their characters were busy. So we sent (mom) in and the person that I went to deal with was Tyne Daly.
Tyne, what was it that inspired you to ban the television from your house considering it’s a medium that you made a career on?
Tyne Daly: Banned sounds very violent. It’s not about ban it’s just about resting. The world is very noisy and I need to rest from it. There’s far too much technical demand going on. So there'll come a time when I'll probably...I know I'm talking to TV publications, I shouldn't ever say that. I'm now going to not say that, I'll try and be smart.
I'm busy and I can't memorize stuff when I'm looking at other stuff, you know what I'm saying?
Sharon Gless: I sent Tyne a product of mine and she went to her neighbor’s apartment to watch it.
Tyne Daly: Yeah I did, I've watched my brother’s show at my neighbor’s house. I watch Sharon Gless at my neighbor’s house. I rely on the kindness of strangers to allow me to see stuff that I'm really interested in.
Cagney & Lacey still brought up today, does it ever rankle you a bit?
Tyne Daly: There was a time that I promised Sharon that we would not be photographed together and they would not speak in terms of Cagney & Lacey and I was wrong.
But I don't resent it because it means that we have both been able to keep working and keeping plying our trade and do other stuff. And, no, I don't feel bad about it. Not me.
Sharon Gless: Me either. I really do thank Cagney & Lacey for providing all the work that we've been able to have since then. Barney Rosenzweig, our producer, still maintains that we’re worth more together than we are as a single.
Tyne Daly: It could be true but you ain't hurting either babe.
There really hasn't been another show with two very strong female characters kind of leading the show. And I just wondered if you had any thoughts on that and why that is?
Sharon Gless: I was very aware - Tyne used to say, we really did want to pass the gauntlet and to let hopefully another show like that because TV totally plagiarizes, I mean, it steals from itself all the time. And they never did copy the format.
But I heard recently this - I can't remember anybody’s name but the man who produces all the CSI movies - shows that he is now going to do a Cagney & Lacey - not call it that but two female cops together. I don't know how you get away with that and not call it Cagney & Lacey but hey. They say that’s what he’s going to attempt.
Tyne Daly: Maybe we did it so well in the first place that they've hesitated to try and copy it, I don't know.
Sharon Gless: And then...
Tyne Daly: I don't run the zoo and I'm really glad I don't.
Sharon Gless: Yeah, me too.
It’s called Jackson Amber slated to be on TBS. If they asked you to come as Cagney & Lacey just as a cameo would that be something you'd consider to help them re-launch this type of show?
Tyne Daly: Lacey’s retired, man, I don't know about Cag but she’s retired.
Sharon Gless: Yeah, who - what is the show? Is that the one that the CSI guy is doing?
Jackson Amber.
Sharon Gless: Is that where it’s two female cops? Right. I don't know I'd have to see the part. But I don't think I'd come on as Chris Cagney.
There aren't a lot of details out yet but it’s definitely getting compared to Cagney & Lacey.
Sharon Gless: I be that...
Tyne Daly: Everything gets compared to everything in Hollywood, and they say you’re the new this or the new that, that’s a long standing game. If I were the producers of this new show I wouldn't be concerned about it for a moment.
Tyne, are you interested in doing a regular TV gig, and if Tina was offered up as a regular role, would you take it?
Tyne Daly: Well at the moment I don't have time. I'm doing the Caberet, I actually open tonight in San Francisco and then New York and LA and wherever else...Yeah so I'm doing my Caberet and after that I'm obliged to play in Washington.
When I finished Judging Amy I was ready to take some time to be in a kind of theater where you’re in the same room as your audience. So, musical theater, legitimate theater, cabaret all have to do with being with your audience at the same time and not being on film.
When I tire of this we'll see if anybody wants to ever take my picture again. That’s in 10 years time.
Do you see each other socially?
Sharon Gless: Whenever we can. We live in different cities but we’re very, very close.
Tyne Daly: Yeah, right now we’re both in San Francisco. Sharon is opening a play. I'm opening at the Raz Room and our schedules are exactly the same so we’re going to be able to maybe have a glass of wine and a hamburger together. But we’re not going to be able to see each other’s shows which is too bad.
Sharon Gless: I know.
Tyne Daly: Staying busy is great. The drawback is you don't have a lot of leisure time. But I am always grateful to Cagney & Lacey because I got my friend Sharon out of it. She’s a real friend and a friend for life. And that doesn't always happen in our business. It’s really pretty rare.
What did each of you want in the Burn Notice script in order to work together again?
Tyne Daly: The best jokes.
Sharon Gless: I'm not allowed to tell exactly what happens between us. But I don't know if they could pull us back together again after what happened. But that's after what happens on film.
Tyne Daly: That'd be fun.
Sharon Gless: Yeah.
Tyne Daly: You know, Sharon how interested I am in power.
Sharon Gless: I know.
In what ways do both of you see how women on TV today are benefiting from the ground you paved on Cagney & Lacey?
Sharon Gless: There are some wonderful shows on starring really, really wonderful women. It’s mostly motion picture stars that - who would never touch television who now are flying to it who are playing strong women - the leads.
There’s never been a format like Cagney & Lacey again where it was two sharing it.
Tyne, for you, how do you see it?
Tyne Daly: Well, television serves very briefly in its own time as far as I'm concerned. So we hit a very lucky time when we could reflect - because I don't think television leads, I think it reflects. We could reflect some of the influences that were happening in the society.
Women come up to me and say how grateful they were that they spent time with their moms watching TV or that, they were encouraged to be professionals because of the images that they saw on - saw us do.
We served (then), whether or not that thing would be of use in the 21st Century I don't know. We’re onto third-wave feminism and a whole bunch of stuff that I'm - don't understand completely.
But I do think we did good service in our time. And I can stay proud of that.
Sharon Gless: While we were on the air we got lots of mail from young girls saying we’re going to join the force.
Tyne Daly: Oh God.
Sharon Gless: And I always wanted to say are you crazy, you could get killed. But now it’s been 20 years later and I've met so many of them who are now have put in their 20 and they’re retiring.
What are the differences you've seen in your opportunities since Cagney & Lacey?
Sharon Gless: I'm not equipped to discuss the culture but there are better parts now for women than there were when we were television. I think that’s why we got the acclaim we did. And while we were on the air no other woman ever won the Emmy. And it’s because we had the material.
But I think Cagney & Lacey certainly had impact. And it’s probably one of the reasons why there’s so many good women’s roles today. There were not at that time.
Tyne Daly: I think though on another level, you make your own opportunities, you make your own opportunities, you find them. There are places to go and serve as an actor and be entertaining or amusing or interesting if you’re willing to find them.
If you think there’s only one place to do it like it has to be Broadway or it has to be Hollywood then you limit yourself. I'm enjoying at this point well after my prime, you know, being able to go and be an actor or a singer or whatever I'm doing in different places.
I think actors limit themselves to a specific location and that’s the only allowable success. Does that make any sense? So if you accept limitations then, yeah, you'll be limited. If you don't accept limitations then the horizon is pretty vast.
What do each of you do to get through the tough times in your careers? What was like cheered you up and made things better?
Tyne Daly: Well we call each other.
Sharon Gless: We go out and have a hot fudge sundae together.
Tyne Daly: Hot fudge sundaes help, yeah.
Sharon Gless: I don't know what I'd do. I mean I've been very fortunate. So - this is Sharon - as Tyne to continue working. Since Cagney & Lacey I think both of us have really been on the air, or as Tyne on stage, ever since then.
Tyne Daly: Yeah, it depends on what you’re willing to accept. When I started Judging Amy which was another television series that went for six years which most television shows do not, all I had to do was cut my price and play 10 years older than I was.
But I wanted to be acting. And I wanted to be acting on television. I wanted that regular job again. I spent several years of not having a regular job and it was time to fulfill my obligations as a worker so that turned out okay.
After that you change as it comes. Sharon said okay I'm going to do this - what do you call it - Queer as Folk and I'm going to move to Canada, she had to live and work in Canada. She had to be willing to do that.
So there haven't been a lot of patches of inactivity really for either one of us which is pretty...
Sharon Gless: Yeah, we've been very, very blessed because that isn't...
Tyne Daly: Very lucky.
Sharon Gless: ...the situation, yeah, with most of our colleagues. So, yeah, I think we’re both very blessed.
Sharon, can you describe the process for prepping a play a little bit especially about starting a new show, Sharon, with the Round Heeled Woman.
Sharon Gless: Oh the process. I bought the option on this book about nine years ago. It’s gone through many lives and now it’s actually happening here in San Francisco. But it’s been a long time coming, long, long, long. And I'm nervous.
But I don't know really how to describe the process it just took time and patience and finding the right people to do it; I can't do it alone.
Do you guys give each other advice about your respective shows?
Sharon Gless: Well I fit Tyne in the script and she applauded my courage.
Tyne Daly: I think we've been pretty good supporters of each other since Cagney & Lacey.
I'm interested in Sharon’s work and what she’s doing and trying to follow it and she in mine. Right now we’re both in San Francisco and yet our schedules are so much the same that I'm not going to get to see her play and she’s not to get to come over and see the Cabaret which is too bad.
But I think we don't hesitate to tell each other our opinions. And you can't get straight opinions out of a lot of people in this business. So I think in some ways I rely on Sharon to give me the straight story.
She came to New York to see me try this Cabaret thing at Feinstein’s in New York and was not only a supporter and a booster but also somebody who told me the straight story about what she liked and what she didn't.
Sharon Gless: She was fabulous.
Would you two ever consider doing a play together?
Sharon Gless: We actually were approached by a company in London to do a project that just turned - time wise it didn't work out for either of us but.
Tyne Daly: There'll be a time. I think there'll be a time to say if the gods subscribe. Years ago, we were approached to do some production somewhere of Arsenic and Old Lace. And we both kind of got a little huffy and said we’re too - but in another 10 years, Shar - Arsenic and Old Lace might be right up our street.
It’s nice to know it’s over there in case we need it when we get......when we get well into our 70s. Sure...
Sharon Gless: But in the interim I'd love her to come back - in the interim I'd love her to come back to Burn Notice. They loved her.
Tyne Daly: I had a good time!
What is the most adventurous thing you have ever done in your life?
Sharon Gless: Adventurous I would call frightening - the most frightening thing I've ever done in my life?
This play I'm about to start is the frightening thing I've ever done.
Tyne Daly: I think the most adventurous thing you can do is actually follow your impulses, your deep impulses. The most adventurous thing I did in my life was get married... 27 years and three kids and two and a half grandchildren - I got another grandchild coming is not too bad so far, so far so good.
Like half of American marriages that ended in divorce, but I'm not going to throw out that part of it for the value of the marriage itself was fantastic.
Tyne, how was working with Jeffrey?
Tyne Daly: Well we didn't have very much of an opportunity. He was very gracious and behaved the way the star of a television show should behave in terms of greeting guest stars.
You can always feel on a set whether it’s a happy set or not, whether the people are engaged in the work they’re doing.
He was lovely. And bing-bang, I was gone, so we didn't have much to do together. But I think he knew the value of how fun it was for me to be playing with my erstwhile colleague and he was nice about it. He was deferential I could say.
Sharon, what else is coming up for Madeline?
Sharon Gless: I don't know, I haven't seen the new scripts. And I don't remember - the ending one was - they used Madeline a lot. It was a very emotional piece.
But the first one they put me undercover was here with Tyne.
So do you and Michael come to a better understanding you think of where you’re both at?
Sharon Gless: Based on this episode with Tyne it wasn't - yes, I mean, there’s a lovely scene at the end where - our understandings kind of - if you've seen our relationship - are unspoken.
I mean if we came across like Father Knows Best, I think... that isn't the nature of this show.
Definitely she loves him, I mean, she’s crazy about him. And I believe he loves her too it’s just there’s a lot of blood under the bridge. So it’s - there’s a slight little distance between them that is - that’s almost becoming, I like it.
Because it gives you someplace to go, you know?
Tyne Daly: Sharon, you make me want to see the show.
What are some favorite memories from your time on Cagney & Lacey. I'm sure working together again on this show made you reminisce a little bit. So anything you guys laughed about on the set or anything like that?
Tyne Daly: Oh darling it’s so long ago I can't remember a thing. I deny everything. I remember nothing.
Sharon Gless: I do remember my favorite time and Tyne referred to it earlier, we did laugh a lot. And my favorite time we occasionally - when we were so tired, I mean, 17 hour days, we'd get to a part of a scene and one of us would get the giggles.
And we couldn't stop. They'd cut, start again and when we'd get to that exact same place, I mean, we'd be so, so tired that we'd just start giggling.
Tyne Daly: There'd get to a place where you’re so tired and there is really no point in going on then. Only the smartest of directors or producers would say you know something let’s call it for the day, this is over.
But I'll tell you what I appreciated a great deal about Miss Gless, when we started working together I needed to do the next day’s work before I went home. And, I had kids and a husband at home but we would stay and run through the next day’s scenes, whatever was on the call sheet for the next day.
We would go through it and we would pound it to death until we felt we understood it so that we could come in in the morning and know what we were up to. And she was willing to do that kind of rehearsing and investigating that I found - felt was absolutely necessary.
I don't think, Shar, tell me if I'm wrong but you weren't sort of brought up in that tradition.
Sharon Gless: No but I loved it so much that I became dependant on it. And any show I've done since then that’s what I have to do.
Tyne Daly: Yeah, the work ethic was really pretty impeccable considering that we were in the terrible shoals of television land where everybody puts it down and says it’s less than. We had a work ethic that was pretty fine.
What was it like filming this episode of Burn Notice?
Sharon Gless: We didn't really have a chance on the set to laugh a lot. Our scenes were sort of emotional. But we certainly laughed in the makeup trailer and laughed, we went out to dinner and laughed ...
Tyne Daly: For Sharon it was a really responsible part. It’s a kind of opportunity on Burn Notice that she hasn't had before, it’s quite exciting to see that character get exploded out of just his mom.
But I was there on a three day vacation. I came down and did my little bit and did my supporting of my friend whom I love dearly and would go anywhere to give a boost to. And then the rest of the time I could just kind of fool around. And by the end of it it was the end of the season right Shar?
Sharon Gless: Yes.
Tyne Daly: Yeah, we went out and had dinner and laughed a lot in the relief part when it’s over and you go...
Sharon Gless: I still had like six more (episodes) to do but that didn't stop me from going out and playing with Tyne.
At what point filming Cagney & Lacey that you realized you weren't just coworkers?
Sharon Gless: Well that happened for me before we ever started working together. Tyne Daly came to my house with champagne and balloons before we ever stepped in front of a camera and I fell in love. So...
Tyne Daly: I was charged to get Sharon to do the show. We had had Loretta Swit, we had had Meg Foster and they were recasting again. I was deeply pissed off, you know, I wanted to get on with it. I loved the project and I loved the idea of these two women as colleagues.
And so the agents and the managers and the thing and the producers had all been in it. But Sharon luckily had a birthday on the 31st of May which is one of those national holidays - what the hell is it?
Sharon Gless: Memorial Day.
Tyne Daly: Yes, Memorial Day. I should be grateful to all of us who fought. But so everybody was out of town. And I called her up and I said I know it’s your birthday, let me come over, let’s talk this over. And we sat on the floor of her little house in California and I said come out and play. The thing can't go forever, for God sake it'll never go over.
It’s about two women are the stars. But it’s a good gig and please come out and play with me. And I think that was the the thing that convinced her to finally say yes.
Sharon Gless: Well that - there were a lot of reasons actually. But - and we polished off that bottle of champagne together.
Tyne Daly: We did. And celebrated her birthday and sort of decided - I think at that point we decided to be partners and colleagues. And that was unshakeable for the next six years whether the story was mainly about one or the other, the prize went to one or the other whatever the vicissitudes - the billing - we had a huge fight about billing, we had a huge fight about all sorts of things.
But we sort of let them fight while we stayed tight.
Sharon Gless: Yeah.
Tyne Daly: And that was a lesson of colleague-ness that turned into friendship for me. It wasn't so at the beginning but it turned into this lady who’s a friend of mine.
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