“Katie and I, our relationship could be a little exciting -- I had to watch my step, I had to toe the line. I had to behave myself or I’d get taken to the principal’s office... And she was the principal.” -- Bruce Boxleitner

REWIND EPISODE: The 80s TV Ladies - Sharon and Susan - are both moving! More details in our next episode. Meanwhile, please enjoy a few of our favorite episodes on repeat - consider it early summer rerun season. Let us know what you think about Bruce, Lee Stetson, and Scarecrow and Mrs. King. We think it's one of the most adorable interviews with Bruce Boxleitner ever. :)

In Part Two of their conversation, Bruce reflects on the differences between doing TV then and now, his relationship with Kate Jackson -- and how the long hours can sometimes turn your co-stars into your family…

Bruce Boxleitner’s television career started way back in 1973 with an appearance on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and he has since appeared in over 100 films and TV shows including Gunsmoke, Baretta, Police Woman, Hawaii 5-0, Babylon 5, Crossing Jordan, Commander in Chief, American Dad, Cold Case, Heroes, Chuck, NCIS, Supergirl, The Orville, When Calls The Heart, How The West Was Won, Bring ‘Em Back Alive, The Gambler and Tron.

THE PART 2 CONVERSATION

THE UGLY SIDE OF LEE STETSON: When Lee slaps Amanda in “Burn Out” (S2; EP.21) What was going on? -- “Kate said, “Hit me.” It was no fun. I didn’t enjoy doing it at all.”
ON THE JAZZ: In Europe, Mel Stuart -- a saxophonist -- fell in with some local jazz musicians and ended up sitting-in in clubs all over Munich.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: Bruce finds out the strange reason his stunt double Gary Davis did the pilot’s helicopter stunts with no safety cable!
On doing network TV: “This is where I come off sounding like a grumpy old man, but in my day, we had fun. Nobody is having fun anymore. Because we have cell phones on the set, everyone’s on their cell phone. No one’s talking.”
WHO CAN TURN THE WORLD ON WITH HIS SMILE? Bruce got his first gig on The Mary Tyler Moore Show because the producer owed his agent a favor.
On doing a streaming series: “I’m doing a series now -- six episodes. They call that a series? I call it a two-parter.”
Bruce gets a surprise walking onto the Gunsmoke set when he discovers the entire town is built inside a soundstage.
On filming pilots: “George Clooney says he’s the king of the unsold pilots. Well, buddy, I’m the runner-up!”
While shooting The Orville, Bruce finds out that the biggest SMK fan… is Seth McFarlane!
How do you marry Lee and Amanda? Should you marry Lee and Amanda?

So, join Susan and Sharon -- and Bruce -- as they talk How The West Was Won, Ted Knight, Tron, Juanita Bartlett, Susan Diol, Police Woman. Plus pranking Martha Smith -- and Kate Jackson -- AND Beverly Garland… and the sad, tragic life of “Dean, the Boyfriend”!

AUDIO-OGRAPHY
Find out more about Bruce Boxleitner at Facebook.com
Follow him at Instagram.com/BoxleitnerBruce
Catch him on Cameo at Cameo.com/BoxleitnerBruce
Watch S2, Ep. 21: Burn out on Tubi

Get The Ultimate Fan’s Guide to Scarecrow & Mrs. King by David Johnson, Taya Johnston and Sabine Ludewig at Amazon.

CONNECT
Visit 80sTVLadies.com for transcripts.
Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list.
Support us and get ad-free episodes on PATREON.

AUDIO-OGRAPHY
Find out more about Bruce Boxleitner at Facebook.com
Follow him at Instagram.com/BoxleitnerBruce
Catch him on Cameo at Cameo.com/BoxleitnerBruce
Watch SMK for free at Internet Archive.
Watch S2, Ep. 21: Burn out on Internet Archive here.

Read the NY Times review of Bruce’s 1973 Broadway play debut, Status Quo Vadis. And guess who else was in the cast? (Hint: Sam from Cheers!)

CONNECT
Visit 80sTVLadies.com for transcripts.
Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list.
Support us and get ad-free episodes on PATREON.

VOTE
REMEMBER: Make sure you're ready.
Register or Check your US Election Registration at Vote.org
Be sure to vote in your primaries.
Find out what's on your ballot at BallotReady.org

July 15th this year is the 47th anniversary of President Carter's Crisis of Confidence speech. Read Susan’s play about the speech and the confidence it takes to be president in challenging times: Confidence (and the Speech) at Conchord Publishing DPS.

Credits: 80s TV Ladies™ Episode RERUN 305: Produced by 134 West and Susan Lambert Hatem. Hosted by Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson. Guest: Bruce Boxleitner. Sound Engineer and Editor: Kevin Ducey. Producers: Melissa Roth, Richard Hatem, Sharon Johnson. Associate Producers: Sergio Perez, Sailor Franklin. Music by Amy Engelhardt. Copyright 2024 2026 134 West, LLC and Susan Lambert. All Rights Reserved.

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