Cagney & Lacey, Season 3

Despite nearly unanimous critical acclaim, Cagney & Lacey was cancelled after Season 2 due to low ratings. Producer Barney Rosenzweig and various feminist heavyweights, including the National Organization for Women (NOW), led a well-publicized letter-writing campaign to continue the series. Due to the deluge of mail from the extremely loyal fan base, as well as star Tyne Daley’s stumping for the series, Cagney & Lacey was brought back in midseason for these seven episodes. It finishing the season in the Top 10 and garnered multiple Emmy nominations and awards, including the actress award for Daly. Though short, this season had several memorable episodes; in the first ("Matinee"), the detectives solved the murder of a housewife from Cagney’s home town, revealing much about her past. Controversial as always, the season includes an episode involving the murder of a porn star in "Victimless Crime," and another about a crooked baby broker. In the final episode of the season ("Choices"), a sub-plot delves into unmarried Cagney's pregnancy scare. Continued heavy press coverage and strong ratings paved the way for the series to continue to take chances for the remainder of the show's run.