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By
Suzanne
Interview with Sharon Gless and Tyne Daly of "Burn Notice"
USA Network had this interview and graciously sent me
the transcript. Most informative! I not
only love Burn Notice, but I was a huge Cagney and Lacey fan. Actually,
I loved Sharon Gless originally in a show in the 70's called "Switch".
She's only gotten better! I'm looking forward to the return of Burn
Notice this season. Great show!!
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21 at 10pm: Burn Notice [new time!]
When a recently widowed woman hires Michael and Fiona to get her away from
a group of violent con men, Michael turns to Madeline for help - but he
may ask her to go too far. Meanwhile, a mysterious contact goes to extreme
lengths to get Michael's attention.Tyne Daly & Clayne Crawford guest-star
in the Burn Notice winter premiere - "A Dark Road" - airing this Thursday
at a new but familiar time: 10/9C.
Youtube Video List: http://www.youtube.com/burnnoticeonusa
http://facebook.com/BurnNotice
http://twitter.com/BurnNotice_USA
Tuesday, January 12, 2010.
Coordinator: Hello and welcome to the Burn Notice conference call. At
the request of NBC this call is being recorded for instant replay
purposes. A transcript of the call is also being made. With us on
today’s call are Kevin Endsley of NBC and Andrea Epstein of USA.
Andrea Epstein: We would like to welcome you. Hi everybody, this is
Andrea from USA. Thank you so much for taking the time to call in and
join today. On the line, as you know, we have two extraordinary women.
We have Sharon Gless and Tyne Daly. Sharon stars in the Number 1 series
on cable, USA’s original series Burn Notice. And Tyne has reunited with
her to guest on our mid-series premiere.
This episode is titled Dark Road and will premiere on USA network on
Thursday, January 21 at 10:00 pm. If there are no questions we can begin
the call. And again we thank you very much for your participation.
Coordinator: Thank you. The first question is from Earl Dittman,
Wireless Magazine.
Earl Dittman: Hi ladies, how are you all today?
Sharon Gless: Good morning.
Tyne Daly: Hi Earl.
Earl Dittman: It’s great to hear the two of you together. I am so
excited and I know everyone else is excited. How did you all feel about
the prospect of re-teaming?
Sharon Gless: Well I loved. 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
so.
Earl Dittman: Had you all tried to work together in the past few years?
((Crosstalk))
Tyne Daly: Go ahead Sharon.
Sharon Gless: Go ahead Tyne. I did Tyne’s show, the Judging Amy.
Earl Dittman: Oh okay that’s right, that’s right.
Tyne Daly: She did, she came when we were...
((Crosstalk))
Andrea Epstein: I'm sorry, guys, very quickly Sharon and Tyne before you
speak maybe just introduce yourselves so they know which, you know,
which person is speaking to make it easier for the journalists.
Sharon Gless: Oh okay.
Tyne Daly: So it’s Tyne talking now. And Sharon came when we were in
trouble because of - my colleague had died, Richard Crenna, and we
didn't quite - we were thrown into a very unpleasant situation. Sharon
came and pinch hit and was lovely on our show.
And so I figured to do this Burn Notice, you know, turn about is fair
play. And besides that...
Earl Dittman: Yeah.
((Crosstalk))
Tyne Daly: ...play with her, we play very easy together, we have a good
time.
Earl Dittman: Yeah. You know, it was natural. I mean, do you all have a
very natural chemistry?
Tyne Daly: I guess so.
Sharon Gless: Yeah - this is Sharon. We've been doing it a long time.
You know, so, yeah, we developed something on Cagney & Lacey. And I find
it very easy and wonderful working with Tyne when she was with us.
People got so - when we were in the makeup trailer we’re sitting just
chatting and laughing before we begin and that isn't sort of the tone of
our makeup trailer so everybody was going boy I wish that we did that
more.
((Crosstalk))
Sharon Gless: ...and talk to me, I'll talk to you.
Earl Dittman: And Tyne, what did, you know, I mean I'm sure you saw
Sharon on the Nip/Tuck so what did she warn you about Burn Notice before
you came on? Did she say don't worry it’s nothing like that, what were
some of the - or was it all great things?
Tyne Daly: Well actually I have to confess that I did not see Sharon on
Nip/Tuck although I heard tales. Because I've needed to have a rest from
the 21st Century I no longer have a television set.
Earl Dittman: You’re kidding?
Tyne Daly: So - I wouldn't kid you about a thing like that. But I heard
- I heard about Nip/Tuck. And one day when I'm very calm I'll sit down
and screen it and - but I didn't have that to scare me off. She can't
scare me, man.
Earl Dittman: So what did she tell you about coming on Burn Notice?
Tyne Daly: She said there was a part. She said it wasn't big enough. She
said come anyway and I said yeah.
Earl Dittman: Oh that’s great. That’s great. Well your fans are looking
- I'll let you go because I know other people want to talk to you but
I'm so glad you ladies are together and I hope we see more of you
together. And you need to get a TV Tyne. There’s too much great stuff
especially even with Sharon. So you've got to watch it.
Tyne Daly: Thank you, I'll take your advice.
Sharon Gless: Thank you, Earl.
Earl Dittman: Thank you.
Coordinator: Allison Waldman, TV Week.
Allison Waldman: Hi Sharon, hi Tyne. It’s a pleasure speaking with you
today. I'm so excited. I'm a die-hard fan of yours. Sharon, I think I
met you on the set of Burn Notice. I told you at the time I was a big
Cagney & Lacey fan. And...
((Crosstalk))
Allison Waldman: And at the time you told me you were trying to get Tyne
there and I'm really excited that you guys are finally working together
on Burn Notice which is such a fun show.
Tyne...
Sharon Gless: Thank you.
Allison Waldman: ...tell me something - what did you feel - what kind of
a vibe did you get from Burn Notice when you went to work on the show?
Tyne Daly: What kind of vibe?
Allison Waldman: Yeah, did you get a vibe working on Burn Notice?
Tyne Daly: Yeah, yeah, no that Sharon was safe and sound, that they love
her there. They admire her there. They - and I, you know, I threatened
everybody if they weren't treating her right that I would lean on them,
you know. But it seems to be a good working place.
I don't know that we'll ever replicate the kind of work we did in our
primes, you know. We had the advantage of - let’s see, an opportunity to
do something that hadn't been done on TV before. But I figure, you know,
the two of us are continuing to do what we do. And if we do it with some
kind of class I'm grateful for that.
Sharon Gless: I'll tell you what happened - this is Sharon.
Allison Waldman: Yeah.
Sharon Gless: When Tyne walked in - we always walked in together - over
that set the likes of which I've never seen. I said to the crew, I said,
I didn't get this kind of respect when I walked in. But the two of us
together - I was fascinated because I know my crew. They were just so,
so respectful wanting to watch us work together.
Tyne Daly: And we felt like, you know, it’s kind of like bicycle riding
- this is Tyne - you know, with Sharon we just fall into a rhythm and it
was nice and easy. It was really fun. We had only what three or four
scenes but the - it felt like a very great tennis match.
Allison Waldman: Let me ask you one follow up and then I'll pass it on
to somebody else. When you - going back in time do you guys remember
when you first started working together. Tyne, what did you learn from
Sharon? And Sharon, what did you learn from Tyne? We'll start with Tyne.
Tyne Daly: What did I learn from Sharon?
Allison Waldman: Yeah.
Tyne Daly: That laughing - that laughing is important in a situation.
When you’re working really hard laughing is important to do as much as
humanly possible. We laughed - I think we laughed everyday. And there
were some tense days too but we laughed anyway. That’s what I learned
from Sharon.
Allison Waldman: And what about you Sharon?
Sharon Gless: Thank you Tyne. Thank you. I think the more tense - the
more tense the situation became the more we started laughing.
((Crosstalk))
Tyne Daly: There’s hysterical laughing too, there’s nervous laughing,
that’s right.
Sharon Gless: Right. What did I learn from Tyne?
Allison Waldman: Yeah.
Sharon Gless: When I first started the show I learned generosity towards
another actor. I'd never seen anything like that. Tyne was so generous
in welcoming me to the show. I was her third Cagney. She liked the last
one she worked with. And made me feel like I was welcome and it was my
home now. And she was just wonderful.
And I try to do that when we have guests who are nervous, you know, I
always remember how generous she was to me so.
Allison Waldman: Terrific. Thank you guys, really appreciate it. I'm
really looking forward to seeing you together again.
Sharon Gless: Thank you.
Tyne Daly: Thank you.
Coordinator: April McIntyre, Monsters and Critics.
April McIntyre: Hi ladies. Thanks so much and it’s a pleasure to speak
to you both.
Tyne Daly: Thank you.
Sharon Gless: Thank you.
April McIntyre: So I have notes from this episode, I have not been sent
a screener so I’m flying blind. But the notes that I have are that your
character, Tyne, is an intelligence asset. And I was wondering if you
could...
Tyne Daly: Intelligence what?
April McIntyre: Yes, an intelligence asset for Michael.
Tyne Daly: I thought you said something else, my gosh.
April McIntyre: An asset. No, no, no, no.
Tyne Daly: You know, it’s a difficult connection we got here. An
intelligence asset.
April McIntyre: Intelligence asset that you share a wardrobe and a
cigarette together or a cigarette brand; these are the notes that I have
so please tell me about your character.
Tyne Daly: To me she was just kind of a little, you know, a low-rate
bureaucrat. She’s protective of her position. And then she meets a woman
who sort of offered her friendship and she’s so knocked off her game
that she gets conned.
April McIntyre: Is there only one episode?
Tyne Daly: Maybe it’s a different show man?
April McIntyre: No, no, no, this is actually from the USA site.
Tyne Daly: What do you know?
April McIntyre: Yeah.
Tyne Daly: You know, there little bites they have in the TV Guide and
stuff like that about what the show is about are often very misleading
as far as I'm concerned.
April McIntyre: Yeah.
Tyne Daly: Are you only on for this one episode?
Sharon Gless: She was absolutely wonderful - this is Sharon - she was
absolutely wonderful.
April McIntyre: Can you give us some insight about what’s going to
happen in this particular episode too from your perspective - from your
character's?
Sharon Gless: For Sharon?
April McIntyre: Yeah.
Sharon Gless: From Sharon's? Well apparently - apparently I'm not
allowed to tell...
((Crosstalk))
Sharon Gless: ...what I do, what I do to Tyne. But it’s very, very
unusual the situations that they put me in with Tyne. They had me go
undercover.
April McIntyre: I have a question...
Sharon Gless: They weren't able to.
April McIntyre: I'm sorry.
Sharon Gless: They had to have me go undercover because they were busy.
And - their characters were busy. So we sent (mom) in and the person
that I went to deal with was Tyne Daly.
April McIntyre: Tyne, I have to ask from that last question what was it
that inspired you to ban the television from your house considering it’s
a medium that, you know, one of the many mediums, you know, theater
actor and what not and film but TV was also part of your...
((Crosstalk))
Tyne Daly: Banned sounds very violent. It’s not about ban it’s just
about resting. The world is very noisy and, you know, 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...
((Crosstalk))
Tyne Daly: 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 just - I'm
busy and I can't memorize stuff when I'm looking at other stuff you know
what I'm saying?
April McIntyre: I hear you. I hear you.
((Crosstalk))
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, you know, 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.
April McIntyre: Well that’s so funny. Thank you both so much.
Tyne Daly: Thank you.
Sharon Gless: Thank you, bye.
Coordinator: Ken Gold, Media Boulevard.
Ken Gold: Hi.
Tyne Daly: I'm sorry, Sharon. I'll cut it out.
Sharon Gless: It’s fine with me. I think somebody talked you into it.
((Crosstalk))
Tyne Daly: Who we got?
Ken Gold: ...that’s okay. This is Ken Gold from Media Boulevard. Thanks
a lot for - both of you it’s really a pleasure to talk to you today.
Sharon Gless: Thank you.
Tyne Daly: Hi Ken.
Ken Gold: My first question was (unintelligible) back at Cagney & Lacey
I think you’re both really (unintelligible) every time even though so
many other things every time either one of your name’s comes up it goes
back to Cagney & Lacey. And does that bother you now, I mean, 25 years -
or more than 25 years later to still be associated with those
characters?
Tyne Daly: This is Tyne.
((Crosstalk))
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.
Ken Gold: So I don't think there’s really been another show since Cagney
& Lacey with two such strong female characters together. Why do you
think it’s been so long or why have we not had that again, did you guys
just kind of ruin that genre for everybody or...
Sharon Gless: I didn't hear - I didn't understand the question.
Tyne Daly: Me either. I'm sorry, we’re having a - I didn't get it
either.
Ken Gold: Okay I'll try and speak up. I was saying I think really since
Cagney & Lacey, you know, 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: Well this is Sharon. I was very aware - Tyne used to say,
you know, 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.
Ken Gold: Yeah, that new show just got at least picked up for scripts
orders it’s called Jackson Amber and it’s also 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...
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?
Ken Gold: Yeah, it’s called Jackson Amber. And...
Sharon Gless: Is that where - where it’s two female cops?
Ken Gold: Right.
Sharon Gless: Right. I don't know I'd have to see the part. But I don't
think I'd come on as Chris Cagney.
((Crosstalk))
Sharon Gless: I mean, Chris Cagney is, I mean, I'm a little long in the
tooth now to be playing that character.
Ken Gold: I don't know about that but...
Sharon Gless: Does it take place in New York like ours did?
Ken Gold: Yeah, I'm not sure where it’s taking place. There aren't a lot
of details out yet but it’s definitely getting compared to Cagney &
Lacey in pretty much every mention so.
Sharon Gless: I be that...
((Crosstalk))
Tyne Daly: Everything gets compared to everything in Hollywood.
Ken Gold: Right.
Tyne Daly: Yeah, you go into Hollywood and they say you’re the new this
or the new that, that’s a long standing game. I wouldn't be - if I were
the producers of this new show I wouldn't be concerned about it for a
moment.
Ken Gold: Okay thank you. I'll let somebody else go. It’s been a
pleasure talking to you both. Thank you.
Tyne Daly: Thank you.
Coordinator: Jim Halterman, jimhalterman.com.
Jim Halterman: Hi. I wanted to know, Tyne, are you interested in doing
like a regular TV gig and if Tina was offered up as a regular gig 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 it is unintelligible. 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, you
know, 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.
Jim Halterman: Okay. And a question for both of you, outside of working
together once in a while since Cagney & Lacey are you in touch? Do you
guys see each other, you know, socially?
Sharon Gless: Whenever we can. This is Sharon. We live in different
cities but we’re very, very close. Tyne, oh never mind, that’s right.
Yeah, we...
((Crosstalk))
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, you know, 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. You know, she’s a real friend and a
friend for life. And that doesn't always happen in our business. It’s
really pretty rare.
Jim Halterman: Okay thank you so much, continued success for both of
you.
Sharon Gless: Thank you.
Coordinator: Reg Seeton, the deadbolt.com.
Tyne Daly: That’s it? Hello, goodbye.
Reg Seeton: Hello?
Tyne Daly: Hello?
Reg Seeton: Hi ladies. Thanks for taking the time.
Sharon Gless: Hi, what’s your name?
Reg Seeton: Reg from the deadbolt.com.
Sharon Gless: Reg? Hi.
Reg Seeton: Hi. I wanted to know what did each of you want in the Burn
Notice script in order to work together again?
Tyne Daly: The best jokes. That’s Tyne talking.
Sharon Gless: Well we’re not allowed - this is Sharon. 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...
((Crosstalk))
Sharon Gless: ...after what happens on film.
((Crosstalk))
Sharon Gless: I still think - it’s really Tyne’s idea but I promote - I
think she should be playing the woman who actually is behind this whole
Burn Notice thing.
Tyne Daly: That'd be fun.
Sharon Gless: Yeah.
Tyne Daly: You know, Sharon, you know, Sharon how interested I am in
power.
Sharon Gless: I know.
Reg Seeton: Well in what ways do both of you see how women on TV today
are benefiting from the ground you paved on Cagney & Lacey?
Tyne Daly: Sharon?
Sharon Gless: Yeah. Shoot, I knew you were going to say that. How are
women benefitting today was your question?
Reg Seeton: Yeah, 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 no one - there’s never been a format like Cagney &
Lacey again where it was two sharing it.
But I was just told that there is some producer now who’s going to try
and do a show like Cagney & Lacey. I hope we had some impact, I mean,
there’s some wonderful women on the air now in strong roles.
Reg Seeton: And Tyne, for you, how do you see it?
Tyne Daly: Well, you know, 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, you know, 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.
((Crosstalk))
Sharon Gless: While we were on the air - this is Sharon -
(unintelligible) 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.
((Crosstalk))
Reg Seeton: Well what do you - what do you each appreciate about each
other now that you, you know, that you couldn't during the height of
Cagney & Lacey?
((Crosstalk))
Tyne Daly: ...we've been pretty good at appreciating each other.
Sharon Gless: Yeah. I still appreciate Tyne’s talent and I appreciate
her friendship.
Tyne Daly: I am encouraged that Sharon keeps finding new things to do
and new ways to be, you know, of service as an actor and so I can too.
If I get blue and I get bummed I think well, you know, Gless has gone to
London and done a play and she’s developing a new plan thing. And so
I...
Sharon Gless: If Gless can do it...
((Crosstalk))
Tyne Daly: Really but, you know, I wanted to be a long distance runner,
you know, when I started out. And Sharon is being one and I'm being one
in a profession where usually, you know, you do your sprint and then
it’s over...
Sharon Gless: Yeah.
Tyne Daly: ...especially for women in some way. Women don't tend to last
in this business. They think their shelf life is much shorter than the
guy's. So I'm encouraged by Miss Gless.
Sharon Gless: Thank you my friend and I you.
Reg Seeton: Well it’s been a pleasure ladies, thank you very much.
Sharon Gless: Thank you.
Tyne Daly: Thank you.
Coordinator: Sarah Fulghum, Totally Her.
Sarah Fulghum: Hi. Thank you for taking the time to talk with me.
Tyne Daly: What are we doing? I can't hear.
Sharon Gless: Hi.
Sarah Fulghum: Hello?
Tyne Daly: Hi.
Sarah Fulghum: Hi. This is Sarah from Totally Her.
((Crosstalk))
Sharon Gless: The connection is terrible for me.
Sarah Fulghum: I'm sorry what?
Sharon Gless: I just - this is Sharon - I said hello.
Sarah Fulghum: Hello. I was wondering for both of you what are the
differences you've seen in your opportunities since Cagney & Lacey?
Sharon Gless: I'm sorry what are the different - you mean different from
each other?
Sarah Fulghum: Differences as in the culture changing, roles available
for women.
Sharon Gless: Well this is Sharon. 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.
Sarah Fulghum: I agree.
Tyne Daly: I'm - it’s Tyne talking. I think though on another level, you
know, 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, you
know, 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?
Sarah Fulghum: Oh it makes perfect sense. In fact that’s extremely
insightful. Thank you.
Tyne Daly: So if you accept limitations then, yeah, you'll be limited.
If you don't accept limitations then the horizon is pretty vast.
Sarah Fulghum: That makes sense. I'm sure for both of you, you know,
careers are, you know, how they are where they have their ups and downs.
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, you know, it depends on what - it’s Tyne again - 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, you know, 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,
you know, 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.
Sarah Fulghum: That is definitely true. Thank you for answering my
questions.
Tyne Daly: Thank you.
Sharon Gless: Thank you.
Coordinator: Amy Harrington, Pop Culture Passionistas.
Tyne Daly: Hi Amy.
Amy Harrington: Hi. Thanks so much for taking the time with us today.
We’re really honored to speak with you.
Sharon Gless: Aren't you nice.
Amy Harrington: We know you’re both doing a lot of theater these days,
Sharon, you’re doing the Round Heeled Woman in San Francisco and Tyne,
you have your play right now in addition to all the past Broadway stuff
you've done. We’re just wondering if you could describe the process a
little bit especially about starting a new show, Sharon, with the Round
Heeled Woman.
Sharon Gless: Oh the process. This has gone on - I bought this - 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,
you know, so...
Amy Harrington: Right.
((Crosstalk))
Amy Harrington: 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.
((Crosstalk))
Tyne Daly: I think - this is Tyne talking - I think we've been pretty
good supporters of each other, you know, 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...
Sharon Gless: Yeah.
Tyne Daly: ...but I think we don't hesitate to, you know, 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. You know, she came to New York to see my -
me try this Cabaret thing at Feinstein’s in New York and was not only a
supporter and a booster but also, you know, somebody who told me the
straight story about what she liked and what she didn't.
Sharon Gless: She was fabulous.
Amy Harrington: Would you guys ever consider doing...
Sharon Gless: And I loved her shoes.
Amy Harrington: ...a play together?
Tyne Daly: I guess - are you the best fashionista lady? I never spent so
much money on shoes in my whole life and I....
((Crosstalk))
Tyne Daly: I'm now working this Cabaret all over the country to work off
the shoes because....
Amy Harrington: Would you guys ever consider doing theater together
maybe (unintelligible)?
Sharon Gless: Absolutely, I would.
Tyne Daly: Sure we actually...
((Crosstalk))
Tyne Daly: ...there’s a time, yeah.
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. You know, years ago, I mean, years ago we were
approached to do some production somewhere of Arsenic and Old Lace. And
we both kind of got, you know, 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...
Sharon Gless: Yeah.
Tyne Daly: ...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 lover her to come back to Burn Notice. They loved her.
Tyne Daly: I had a good time. I had a good time.
Amy Harrington: Well thank you so much for your time and good luck with
your projects.
Tyne Daly: Thank you.
Sharon Gless: Thank you.
Coordinator: Cynthia Boris, TV Verdict.
Cynthia Boris: Hi ladies.
Tyne Daly: Hi.
Sharon Gless: Hello.
Cynthia Boris: And I know the moderator said you needed to say who you
were when you talked but we'd be really bad fans if we couldn't tell
your voices apart.
((Crosstalk))
Cynthia Boris: You both have such wonderful voices.
Sharon Gless: Thank you.
Tyne Daly: Thank you.
Cynthia Boris: My question is you guys have done a lot of things in your
life and I wonder what is the most adventurous thing you have done?
Sharon Gless: I couldn't hear your question, I'm so sorry.
Cynthia Boris: I wanted to know 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 is Sharon.
Cynthia Boris: Anywhere you want - anywhere you want to take it.
Sharon Gless: This play I'm about to start is the frightening thing I've
ever done.
Tyne Daly: The most adventurous thing - well I'm not sure that I
interpret it - this is Tyne - as frightening. 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.
Cynthia Boris: I hesitate to say how'd that work out for you or...
Tyne Daly: Well 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.
Cynthia Boris: Excellent, that is excellent.
Tyne Daly: Yeah.
Cynthia Boris: Yeah.
Tyne Daly: Like half of American marriages that ended in divorce but I'm
not going to throw out the - that part of it for the value of the
marriage itself was fantastic.
Cynthia Boris: That’s a good run, definitely. And Sharon I just wanted
to say what - you keep saying about how terrified you are of this play.
What exactly are you worried about?
Sharon Gless: Well it’s an original piece. I've owned it for nine years.
Cynthia Boris: Wow.
Sharon Gless: It’s finally being made in San Francisco. And it’s a true
story of a woman who took - a 66-year old woman took an ad out in the
New York Review of Books who wanted to strike the intellectual - asking
for sex. And I'm playing it. And it’s very - it’s scary. It’s unlike
anything I've ever done.
And the woman I'm actually playing is going to be there opening night
so...
Cynthia Boris: Oh.
Tyne Daly: Yeah.
Cynthia Boris: That would be a little intimidating definitely. Well I’m
sure it’s going to be wonderful and I look forward to seeing more of you
ladies in many, many different things. Thank you.
Sharon Gless: Thank you very much.
Coordinator: Curt Wagner, Red Eye.
Curt Wagner: Hi ladies, thanks for talking to us. I wanted to find out,
Sharon, we talked a year ago or maybe a year and a half ago about how
much fun it is working with Jeffrey and you guys have this very lovely
scene at the end of this episode. I was wondering...
Sharon Gless: Have you seen it? Have you seen this?
Curt Wagner: Yes. Yes I did. And I was wondering to hear what Tyne - you
didn't work much with Jeffrey but how was working with him?
Tyne Daly: Well we didn't have very much of an opportunity. He was very
gracious and behaved the way a, you know, the star of a television show
should behave in terms of greeting guest stars. I think - you can always
feel on a set, you know, whether something is - whether it’s a happy set
or not, whether the people are engaged in the work they’re doing.
So, you know, he was lovely. And big 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.
Curt Wagner: Well it was great seeing...
Sharon Gless: They were all very excited that she was on the show.
Curt Wagner: Yeah. It was great seeing you two together. Sharon...
Tyne Daly: Thank you.
Curt Wagner: ...what else is coming up for Madeline?
Sharon Gless: I don't know, I haven't seen the new scripts.
Curt Wagner: Oh okay.
Sharon Gless: I do know - I do know since they - our show is - the
second half of Year 3 is premiering January 21 I think. And I don't
remember - the very, very ending one was - they used Madeline a lot. It
was a very emotional piece.
Curt Wagner: Okay.
Sharon Gless: But the first one they put me undercover was here with
Tyne.
Curt Wagner: Right, all right. 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, you know, I think - that isn't the nature of
this show.
Curt Wagner: Right.
Sharon Gless: There’s - 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, you know. So it’s - there’s a slight little
distance between them that is - that’s almost becoming, I like it.
Curt Wagner: Okay.
Sharon Gless: Because it gives you someplace to go, you know?
Tyne Daly: Sharon, you make me want to see the show.
Curt Wagner: Oh you should watch.
((Crosstalk))
Sharon Gless: ...show Tyne.
Curt Wagner: You guys...
Tyne Daly: Hey, I'm going to have to look at it now.
Curt Wagner: You guys are great together. You guys are great together.
Tyne Daly: Thanks.
Curt Wagner: And I would argue that neither of you are past your prime
yet either.
Sharon Gless: Thank you.
Curt Wagner: All right.
((Crosstalk))
Sharon Gless: I'll drink to that.
Curt Wagner: That’s all I have, thanks.
Tyne Daly: Thanks.
Coordinator: Monica Garsky, Flash News.
Monica Garsky: Hi ladies, thanks for your time.
Tyne Daly: Thank you.
Sharon Gless: Hi.
Monica Garsky: Hi. So I was wondering if you could maybe share with us
your 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: This is Tyne talking now. We used to, you know, there was
diminishing returns. 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, you know, I had kids and a husband at home and - but we
would stay and run through the next day’s scenes, you know, as we’re -
how do you call that - whatever was on the call sheet for the next day.
And 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.
And 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.
Sharon Gless: Because I can't - I don't think I've ever had a costar
who’s interested in doing it with me but then I have to hire somebody to
be my Tyne Daly because like...
Monica Garsky: Ah.
Sharon Gless: ...there was such value in that process...
Tyne Daly: Yeah, the work ethic was really pretty impeccable considering
that we were in the, you know, 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.
Monica Garsky: Absolutely. And Sharon, were there any giggles during the
Burn Notice filming or anything like that or did they not work you guys
so tirelessly?
Sharon Gless: We didn't really have a chance on the set to laugh a lot.
Our scenes were sort of emotional.
Tyne Daly: Yeah. Well...
Sharon Gless: But we certainly laughed in the makeup trailer and
laughed, you know, we went out to dinner and laughed and...
Tyne Daly: I'd say for Sharon, you know, I think for Sharon - this is
Tyne talking. 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, you know, that character get exploded out of just, you
know, 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, so we got - we went out and had dinner and laughed a
lot in the relief part when it’s over and you go...
Monica Garsky: Right.
((Crosstalk))
Tyne Daly: Okay, good, congratulations, it’s the end of your season.
Let’s have a dinner and eat too much and drink too much and laugh too
much. It was swell.
Sharon Gless: Actually it wasn't the end of the season because this show
is in the - (unintelligible) is confusing.
Tyne Daly: Okay.
Sharon Gless: This show opens the second half of Year 3. Does that make
sense?
Tyne Daly: All right.
Sharon Gless: So I still had like six more to do but that didn't stop me
from going out and playing with Tyne.
Monica Garsky: Sounds like a good time.
Sharon Gless: Yeah.
Monica Garsky: Great. Well thank you both so much.
((Crosstalk))
Andrea Epstein: Thanks everybody. We just have time for one more
question please.
Tyne Daly: Yes please because I've got to get to rehearsal.
Coordinator: Thank you. Joe Hummel, Pop Culture.
Joe Hummel: Hi guys, thanks for talking to us today and I'll...
Tyne Daly: Hi Joe.
Joe Hummel: I'll try to make this quick. It’s obvious listening to you
guys for the best hour or so that you guys have become friends. And I
wanted to ask you to go back in time a little bit and ask what was that
like Cagney & Lacey off the set time that you realized you weren't just
coworkers?
Tyne Daly: Well people used to - go ahead Shar.
Sharon Gless: Well we became - you’re asking when we became more than
coworkers?
Joe Hummel: Yeah.
Sharon Gless: 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...
((Crosstalk))
Tyne Daly: This is Tyne talking. 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, you know, 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.
((Crosstalk))
Tyne Daly: Yes, Memorial Day. And Memorial Day - I should, you know, 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, you know, come out and play. The thing can't go
forever, for God sake it'll never go over.
It’s about, you know, 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, you know,
the thing that convinced her to finally say yes.
Sharon Gless: Well that - there were a lot of reasons actually.
((Crosstalk))
Sharon Gless: 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, you know, the story was
mainly about one or the other, the prize went to one or the other, you
know, 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. You know...
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.
Joe Hummel: Oh that’s really neat story, thank you.
Sharon Gless: Thank you. I have to go to rehearsal too.
Andrea Epstein: Yes, thanks everybody for calling.
Tyne Daly: Are we done?
Andrea Epstein: Yes we’re done. Thank you to Tyne and Sharon and thanks
everyone...
Tyne Daly: Thank you.
Andrea Epstein: ...for taking the time and the transcript will be
available. (Audra), you want to finish?
Coordinator: Certainly.
Tyne Daly: Okay can I talk to Gless for a second?
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