Advanced TV Herstory

Summer means the anniversary episode of Advanced TV Herstory. Cynthia Bemis Abrams reflects on the journey of her podcast, sharing insights and stories that shaped episodes during the past year. She revisits instances from interviews and correspondence that fortify her examination of storytelling through TV, and how it documents social progress and challenges. Highlights: Gratitude and Community:...

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams examines the pivotal moments in TV talk show history where hosts overstepped boundaries and guests were challenged to stand up for themselves. Through a series of iconic examples like Lily Tomlin's poised resistance on The Dick Cavett Show and Joan Rivers' sharp retort on CNN, Cynthia highlights the crucial role of media training and self-awareness. When talk show hosts u...

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams speaks with Denise Nicholas, the iconic actress and writer known for her roles in Room 222 (1969-75) and In the Heat of the Night (1988-95). Promoting her long-awaited 2025 memoir Finding Home , Denise opens up about her groundbreaking career in television, the cultural impact of her roles as Liz McIntyre and Harriet DeLong, and her transition to writing. Discover how her...

Advanced TV Herstory's host Cynthia Bemis Abrams takes listeners on a deep dive into the profound connections between television, feminism, and broader cultural and political shifts. Recorded in April 2026, Cynthia explores the implications of the newly revealed Epstein files and their potential impact on how we understand television from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s. She examines the role of powerful...

TV historian and host Cynthia Bemis Abrams welcomes Neal Sabin, Vice Chairman of Weigel Broadcasting, for a conversation about the enduring popularity of classic television and the role of "comfort TV" in modern broadcasting. Sabin oversees programming strategy for Weigel's widely distributed multicast networks, including MeTV, Catchy Comedy, Start TV, Heroes & Icons, Dabl, and Story Televisio...

Lifelong Minnesotan and veteran podcaster Cynthia Bemis Abrams reflects on Minnesota's outsized influence on American television, journalism, and culture in this timely solo episode of Advanced TV Herstory . Prompted by recent federal immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis beginning in December 2025, Cynthia revisits the mission of the podcast and reframes it through Minnesota's unique tel...

TV herstorian Cynthia Bemis Abrams spotlights Regina Jones, a pioneering media entrepreneur who made history as the first Black woman to publish nationally with a focus on soul music. In this episode, Cynthia is joined by Alissa Shapiro, executive producer of Who in the Hell is Regina Jones? , a documentary that explores Jones' impact and SOUL Newspaper, and premieres on Weigel Broadcasting's Dabl...

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams welcomes Mary Owen, daughter of Golden Age film and TV icon Donna Reed, to explore how The Donna Reed Show (1958–1966) pushed boundaries, challenged norms, and influenced portrayals of motherhood and feminism in sitcoms. Reed's character, Donna Stone, was the first TV mom to lead a show focused on everyday family life — earning her a Golden Globe and backlash from Second...

Award-winning showrunner Beth Sullivan joins host Cynthia Bemis Abrams for a deep dive into the creation and legacy of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and The Trials of Rosie O'Neill . Sullivan, a UCLA graduate and screenwriting professor, shares how she built empowering female characters, assembled diverse ensembles, and balanced historical realism with emotional storytelling. The conversation also fea...

TV herstorian Cynthia Bemis Abrams reports back from a star-studded week in Los Angeles, where she met creators, paid tribute to icons, and reflected on the past, present, and future of women in Hollywood. In this personal recap, Cynthia shares highlights from her California adventure, including: Her visit to the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) archives. Paying respects at the Forever Hollywo...

Cynthia Bemis Abrams sits down with actor and singer Stepfanie Kramer at the Paley Center for Media to revisit her trailblazing role as Sgt. Dee Dee McCall on Hunter (1984–1991). Together, they unpack: The cultural legacy of Hunter and its Reagan-era action show peers; Kramer's reflections on fame, aging in Hollywood, and leaving the series; Her influence as a feminist TV figure and enduring globa...

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams connects the dots between TV, feminism, and workplace protections in this powerful episode inspired by her law review article, co-authored with legal scholar Mary Trevor. Their work explores how decades of television shaped public understanding of sexual harassment, particularly the form known as quid pro quo. From prime-time depictions to real-life milestones like Anita...

Celebrate 11 years of Advanced TV Herstory with host Cynthia Bemis Abrams and special guest Elsie Escobar, Podcast Hall of Famer and co-founder of She Podcasts. This milestone conversation dives into the evolution of independent podcasting, technological innovations, and the power of diverse voices in audio storytelling. Cynthia and Elsie explore: Elsie's trailblazing journey as a Latina podcastin...

Award-winning writer and professor Georgia Jeffries joins Cynthia Bemis Abrams to reflect on her pioneering work in television and screenwriting. From her early magazine articles to Emmy-winning work on Cagney & Lacey, China Beach and Sisters , Jeffries reveals how she broke into Hollywood's writers' rooms and built a career defined by dramatic integrity and feminist storytelling. Georgia disc...

Why do cozy mysteries still dominate the mystery genre, decades after their prime? Cynthia Bemis Abrams welcomes Prof. Bridget Kies of Oakland University for an insightful conversation exploring the fan favorite series Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996) and the enduring appeal of the cozy crime format. Explore: Angela Lansbury's legacy as the iconic Jessica Fletcher; How Murder, She Wrote exemplifies t...

From Lucille Ball to Tina Fey, from Joan Rivers to Margaret Cho, women have been rewriting the rules of comedy for decades, and they're not done yet. Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams is joined by Lynn Harris, founder of Gold Comedy, to explore the legacy and future of funny women on TV. Together, they dissect the comedic influence of legends like Mary Tyler Moore, Moms Mabley, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus — a...

Cynthia says,"There's no better definition of representation than the career of Connie Chung." Look no further than TV news anchor Connie Chung's groundbreaking career for the textbook definition of representation. Advanced TV Herstory host Cynthia Bemis Abrams explores Chung's impact as a trailblazing Chinese-American journalist through the lens of her 2024 book, Connie, A Memoir . Revisit Chung'...

Cynthia Bemis Abrams sits down with Oscar-nominated documentary director Julie Cohen to explore her career in network TV journalism and filmmaking. The conversation covers Cohen's path to power as a storyteller, highlighting her work on films about Pauli Murray, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Julia Child. Cohen shares insights into her acclaimed projects, including: RBG (2018), the documentary about Jus...

In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory , host Cynthia Bemis Abrams is joined by author Angela Beauchamp to explore how Eleanor Roosevelt, a trailblazing communicator, shaped early public affairs programming. They discuss Roosevelt's prolific media presence, from her "My Day" newspaper column and radio broadcasts to her groundbreaking television appearances. The conversation highlights how Rooseve...

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams and filmmaker Lisa D'Apolito pick up the conversation about documentaries, this time about Gilda Radner and the 2018 film, Love, Gilda . In fall 2024, Lisa was a guest along with Mallory Lewis to discuss the documentary, Shari and Lamb Chop . Cynthia and Lisa explore Lisa's journey from acting to filmmaking and why Lisa uses her talents to tell the stories of women whose...

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams takes you to The Paley Center for Media in New York City, exploring its role in preserving television history and hosting key industry events like PaleyFest. Cynthia dives into The Paley Archive during her visit, recounting her observations while watching the iconic 1973 broadcast of Billie Jean King versus Bobby Riggs in the historic "Battle of the Sexes." Listen in as C...

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams speaks with Karly Beaumont, creator of Core Temp Arts and contributor to TV Movie Mistress , about the comforting power of television. As a Dominican native and lifelong creative, Karly shares her journey as a podcaster and media critic, offering insights into how shows like Bluey, You're the Worst, and UnREAL are her emotional touchstones during challenging times. Cynthi...

In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory , host Cynthia Bemis Abrams discusses the compelling documentary Shari and Lambchop with Mallory Lewis and director Lisa D’Apolito ( Love, Gilda ). The film chronicles Shari Lewis' life and her constant reinvention across a variety of roles—TV show host, magician, dancer, singer, actress, author, and even symphony conductor. Featuring archival footage and in...

In the last 10-20 years, attitudes toward LGBTQ+ people in America have shifted due to more positive visibility and evolving cultural norms. Cynthia takes a look at two moments from 1970s television that revealed glimpses of LGBTQ+ allyship—a talk show moment and a 1974 episode of Police Woman . In 1970, June Lockhart appeared on The Virginia Graham Show and stopped the hostess in her tracks, push...

"One look comparing TV from the early part of the 80s to the latter years reveals A LOT of change - technology, sophistication and subject matter most immediately come to mind," Cynthia observes. Advanced TV Herstory host Cynthia Bemis Abrams loves to talk TV. "I really enjoy every exchange with Susan [Lambert] and Sharon [Johnson], otherwise known as the 80s TV Ladies . When their podcast, 80s TV...