Sexist TV Execs Ditch Actress Over Homophobic Slur

The acclaimed female buddy cop drama "Cagney & Lacey" faced controversy early in its 1982 run when original Christine Cagney actress Meg Foster was removed from the series. Network executives expressed concerns that Foster and her co-star Tyne Daly projected an image that was too "butch" and not adequately feminine for the show's target audience. These worries were exacerbated by Foster's previous role portraying a lesbian character, leading to pressure from CBS. To prevent the show's cancellation after only six episodes, executive producer Barney Rosenzweig acceded to the network's demand to recast the role. Sharon Gless subsequently took over the part of Cagney for the remainder of the series and its subsequent reunion movies.