Cagney & Lacey

Mary Beth Lacey and Chris Cagney are teamed up as NYPD police detectives. Their opposing personalities (one is tough and the other sensitive) mesh to make this one of the great crime-fighting duos of all time.

Cagney & Lacey (1982-1988) is a United States network crime drama created by Barbara Avedon and Barbara Corday for CBS. Mary Beth Lacey (Tyne Daly) and Christine Cagney (Sharon Gless) are NYPD detectives whose opposing temperaments, one tough and one sensitive, make them an unlikely and effective partnership. Their engine is the daily grind of investigating street crimes while fighting for respect in a male-dominated precinct, and each case pulls at their home lives, including Mary Beth's marriage to Harvey Lacey (John Karlen) and the wider demands on their families. Across seven seasons and 125 episodes, the show is built mostly as a case-of-the-week procedural, with recurring supervisors and colleagues like Lieutenant Bert Samuels (Al Waxman) giving the precinct a steady backbone. The tone is gritty and character focused, with working class New York street realism, sincere emotional stakes, and moments of warmth between the two women. Fans of Hill Street Blues, Prime Suspect and NYPD Blue will find resonance in its blend of police work and personal drama.

Audiences regard Cagney & Lacey as a mixed but strongly admired police drama whose partnership and character work stand out, with the strongest seasons rated highly.

• Hill Street Bluesshared police procedural format, character driven partnership drama, New York police setting
• Prime Suspectshared female detective buddy pairing and gritty big city crime tone
• NYPD Blueshared workplace crime drama with strong ensemble of working cops and personal life spillover

Created by

Barbara Avedon, Barbara Corday

Release Date

1982-03-25

Episode runtime

45 min

Rating

6.9 / 10 (75)

What is Cagney & Lacey about?

Two New York City detectives, one tough and one sensitive, team up to crack cases and push back against a male-dominated police force.

What is Cagney & Lacey like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Cagney & Lacey as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Cagney & Lacey violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Cagney & Lacey as moderate.

What did critics think of Cagney & Lacey?

Audiences regard Cagney & Lacey as a mixed but strongly admired police drama whose partnership and character work stand out, with the strongest seasons rated highly.

Which shows are like Cagney & Lacey?

Shows with a similar feel include Hill Street Blues, Prime Suspect, and NYPD Blue.

How long is Cagney & Lacey?

Cagney & Lacey: 7 seasons, 125 episodes.

Is Cagney & Lacey still running?

No, Cagney & Lacey has ended.

Where can I watch Cagney & Lacey?

In United States, Cagney & Lacey streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.