The show was canceled at the end of the 1982-83 season, due to low ratings. In response, viewers wrote to CBS, protesting the cancellation. This effort, combined with the show's increasing ratings during the summer reruns, prompted the network to reverse the decision. Although the cast members had just been released from their contracts, they were soon brought back to work on the show. The series was reinstated in March of 1984, and ran until 1988.
In the TV movie that inspired the series, Christine Cagney was played by Loretta Swit. When the show first began, Meg Foster took over the role of Christine Cagney. After a few episodes, Sharon Gless eventually won the role and played Cagney for six years. A CBS spokesperson was quoted at the time as saying the reason for replacing Foster with Gless was the audience had trouble telling "the two leads apart".
Every year the show was on the air, the Emmy for Best Actress in a Drama Series went to one of the stars of this show. Tyne Dalywon the award four times and Sharon Gless won twice.
Cast member Sidney Clute passed away during the run of the show. The producers included his name and picture during the opening credits of every episode after his death as a tribute to him.
