When “Cagney & Lacey” first appeared on CBS in 1982, it was with Meg Foster in the role of Christine Cagney, the serious, career-focused detective, the role had already been played by Loretta Swit in a TV Movie pilot for the series. The show, created by Barbara Corday and Barbara Avedon, aimed to depict the lives of two female police officers in a realistic and gritty manner. However, this initial pairing didn’t click with the audience, and after just six episodes, Foster was replaced by Sharon Gless. It wasn’t a matter of Foster’s talent, but rather a matter of the tone and feel of the series, and what CBS felt its audience wanted.
The network’s concern wasn’t due to any perceived acting shortcomings on Foster’s part but more about how they believed her portrayal of Cagney was perhaps too harsh, too unsympathetic. The network stated that the audience couldn’t connect with Foster’s Cagney, who was seen as a little too tough around the edges. The executives at CBS had envisioned a series about strong women that viewers could also find relatable and, dare we say, likeable.
In real life, Foster is known to be a very nice person, but this didn’t come across with the character she played, or so the network felt. The show’s executives felt Foster’s portrayal, in contrast to Tyne Daly’s Mary Beth Lacey, created an imbalance. They thought the characters needed to complement each other better. Foster played Cagney as a very guarded character, always a little on edge, which made it difficult for viewers to establish a connection with her. CBS wanted that connection. They also believed that the original dynamic was too similar to another show, “Starsky & Hutch,” and wanted it to be more character-driven than procedural.
The move to replace Foster with Gless is quite unusual. While it’s not uncommon for shows to tweak casting choices, replacing a lead after a handful of episodes is a fairly drastic step. But CBS was convinced it was necessary to save a show which it thought had a good premise. They knew that if they didn’t act fast that the series would just fade into obscurity. When Gless was brought in, her style of acting, which is warmer and more approachable, provided the needed balance with Tyne Daly’s Lacey, whose character was more outgoing and empathetic.
With Gless, Christine Cagney became more of a layered character, still driven and independent, but with a sense of vulnerability. She created a more even balance between the two main characters. The chemistry between Gless and Daly was evident immediately, and the show’s audience responded positively. Gless brought a certain relatability to the role that made Cagney less of an enigma. This shift in the character dynamic allowed “Cagney & Lacey” to become the long-running hit that it is still known as today. It allowed the audience to become invested in the characters, not just the police cases they were dealing with.
The change from Foster to Gless highlights a key point in television production, that casting is not just about talent, it’s about fitting into the tone and style of the series and, most importantly, audience expectations. While Foster is a terrific actress, her portrayal of Cagney was just not what CBS wanted for the show.
The show went on to become a critical and popular success, earning numerous Emmy Awards for its cast and writers, not to mention its groundbreaking depiction of women in law enforcement. It wouldn’t have been possible without the on screen chemistry of Daly and Gless. It’s a good example of how a shift in a character can change the trajectory of a series. The series went on for six seasons after the replacement of Foster.
