She Spies was created by two NBC advertising executives, Vince Manze and Joe Livecchi, for MGM Television, and was developed under the working title B.A.I.T.

Creator Vince Manze said he was aiming to do a female version of Lethal Weapon or Rush Hour with the show.

Natasha Henstridge was initially reluctant to sign on to play Cassie because she didn't want to do another 'three spies' story, but was convinced when producers pitched the show as a spoof with comedy elements rather than drama like Charlie's Angels.

The show's fight choreography relied on martial arts and hand-to-hand combat, and the female leads never used guns as weapons.

The show bore noticeable production and directorial similarities to Charlie's Angels, and one review compared its parodic approach to cop shows as being like Police Squad was to the genre, but for Charlie's Angels.

The comedic tone shifted significantly between seasons: season one featured heavy self-referential humor and fourth-wall breaking, both of which were removed in season two.

Disappointing ratings during the second season led to the show's cancellation after season two concluded.

NBC aired only the first four episodes before the show moved into first-run syndication as a partnership between NBC Enterprises and MGM Television, with a broadcast of the film Species used as a lead-in before the premiere.