Advanced TV Herstory

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams welcomes actor Briana Venskus of Agents of SHIELD, Grace & Frankie , Walking Dead and Outcast to discuss the roles available in the industry. Brianna offers wisdom about fan engagement, particularly in the age of conventions and fan gatherings, as well as social media. Further, she sees progress of LGBTQ storylines and casting, due in part to the strength of streaming...

Advanced TV Herstory spotted an important first-hand account of #MeToo Hollywood misogyny. Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams explores Linda Bloodworth-Thomason's guest column in The Hollywood Reporter , which sheds light on her creative exile. The low-profile showrunner of Designing Women, Evening Shade , and other hit series details the professional damages she suffered at the hands of CBS' Les Moonves....

Whether you've ever watched Aaron Sorkin's 1998–2000 classic series Sports Night or not, this episode explores its ongoing relevance and calls for a reboot. The episode revisits a sexual harassment plot from That Girl (1967) and connects it to a similar storyline in Sports Night , sparking a broader conversation about journalism's commitment to changing workplace harassment. This episode examines...

Advanced TV Herstory shines a spotlight on the influential role that television has played in shaping societal perceptions of unmarried women and their impact on feminist movements. Hosted by Cynthia Bemis Abrams, this four-part series delves into Jeanine Furino’s insightful book, “All the Single Girls,” which examines six decades of how unmarried women have been portrayed in women-centric TV seri...

Storytelling from a woman's perspective is an important area of focus when examining what we see on television. From Dancing with the Stars to her latest documentary, Nevertheless , Sarah Moshman tells stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. The producer and director joins Advanced TV Herstory host Cynthia Bemis Abrams to discuss funding, Netflix's increasing power and platform, rep...

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams takes Advanced TV Herstory on the road to Indianapolis' Pop Con for this live recording about America's TV landscape was changing rapidly in the 70s. Joined by podcasters Martha Southgate and Jen Edds, listeners will enjoy an unscripted conversation about popular characters in Norman Lear's portfolio of iconic shows from the 1970s like All in the Family , The Jeffersons ,...

Three years since publishing our first episode, we're lighting candles & making a wish. This anniversary edition briefly reviews show changes made this year, with a focus on content about leadership, persistence and achievement. Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams also shares more about the work that goes in, behind-the-scenes, to producing content you'll hear nowhere else. Thank you for listening &...

In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory , host Cynthia Bemis Abrams explores a pivotal episode of That Girl (1966-1967), starring Marlo Thomas, which addressed sexual harassment long before the term was widely recognized. The story line features guest star Carroll O'Connor as an opera singer who leverages his influence over Ann Marie (Marlo Thomas) in exchange for an interview, highlighting the co...

It's time we celebrate TV's most complex women. Cynthia Bemis Abrams is joined by Dr. Molly Brost (University of Southern Indiana) to dive into anti-heroines—characters like Marvel's Jessica Jones—who challenge societal norms and expand the definition of justice on TV. This thought-provoking episode explores: How women anti-heroes differ from male ones; The cultural shift toward flawed, layered, m...

The special series of Advanced TV Herstory episodes shines a spotlight on the influential role that television has played in shaping societal perceptions of unmarried women and their impact on feminist movements. Hosted by Cynthia Bemis Abrams, this four-part series delves into Jeanine Furino’s insightful book, All the Single Girls , which examines six decades of how unmarried women have been port...

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams explores MTV's original, animated series Daria (1997-2002) and how it gave representation and voice to Third Wave feminism. At last, women and girls who are smart, discerning and impatient saw themselves in an irreverent, animated TV series. Daria 's impact continues to be felt today in the action and leadership of feminist movements creating change across all aspects of...

This episode continues the insightful interview with Bill Jankowski, co-author of Patty Duke's memoir In the Presence of Greatness . Jankowski and Advanced TV Herstory host Cynthia Bemis Abrams look back at Duke's experiences with Hollywood legends, her remarkable career spanning film, stage, and television, and her courageous advocacy for mental health awareness. Patty Duke's life was noted for h...

From her groundbreaking roles in The Miracle Worker and The Patty Duke Show to her later years of mental health advocacy, Anna "Patty" Duke's story is one of resilience and honesty. Advanced TV Herstory host Cynthia Bemis Abrams sits down with William Jankowski, co-author of In the Presence of Greatness , to discuss the remarkable life and legacy of Patty Duke. Discover how Patty's final memoir wa...

Rising to fame as a Black storyteller extraordinaire, showrunner and TV writer Shonda Rhimes conveyed a lot of leadership and life in her 2015 book Year of Yes. Advanced TV Herstory host Cynthia Bemis Abrams, who holds a master's degree in organizational leadership. explores Shonda's wisdom and genius that brought us the TV classic series Grey's Anatomy, Scandal and How to Get Away With Murder . C...

What made Sex and the City a cultural phenomenon? Author Jennifer Keishin Armstrong returns to Advanced TV Herstory to discuss her 2018 book Sex and the City and Us which explores the series' origin story, lasting impact, and contradictions. Hosted by Cynthia Bemis Abrams, the episode covers: The behind-the-scenes inspiration, evolution, and epilogue of SATC The influence of Patricia Field on fash...

This special series of Advanced TV Herstory shines a spotlight on the influential role that television has played in shaping societal perceptions of unmarried women and their impact on feminist movements. Hosted Cynthia Bemis Abrams delves into Jeanine Furino’s insightful book, All the Single Girls , which examines six decades of how unmarried women have been portrayed in women-centric TV series....

Advanced TV Herstory host Cynthia Bemis Abrams reports on the fascinating conversations that took place at Barnard College's (NYC) 2018 Athena Film Festival . The film festival focused on films about women, representation and the power of inclusion at all points of the storytelling process. Audience members were offered support and guidance of how they can change today's norm that continues to be...

In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory , host Cynthia Bemis Abrams examines the current trend toward reboots and extended franchises of movies and TV series from the 1970s, 1980s and the 1990s. Subtle but modern changes have been made to Norman Lear’s classic series One Day at a Time as a great test case for 21st century viewing tastes. The original One Day at a Time (1975-1984) ran for 204 episo...

This special series from Advanced TV Herstory shines a spotlight on the influential role that television has played in shaping societal perceptions of unmarried women and their impact on feminist movements. Hosted by Cynthia Bemis Abrams, this four-part series delves into Jeanine Furino’s insightful book, All the Single Girls , which examines six decades of how unmarried women have been portrayed...

In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory , host Cynthia Bemis Abrams interviews Karen Romanko, author of Television's Female Spies and Crimefighters . The conversation is a fascinating walk through 50 years of series that transcend Second and Third Wave Feminism. Lady spy and crime fighting characters found in sitcoms and dramas and ran the gamut of serious to psychological thriller types. Romanko’...

Guest Producer Monica Rivera, of the long running podcast You Wanna Do What? shares her deep interest in The Honeymooners, which originally aired 1955-1956, and is still seen in syndication and available on DVD. Monica explains how The Honeymooners richly influenced her Gen X urban upbringing, that included apartment living and the love language between and Audrey Meadows' "Alice" and Jackie Gleas...

Advanced TV Herstory host Cynthia Bemis Abrams is a sucker for a holiday sitcom episode. New Year's Eve storytelling on television is often hit-or-miss, but Designing Women delivered a timeless masterpiece with the January 1, 1990 "The First Day of the Last Decade of the Entire 20th Century." Written by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason and directed by Harry Thomason , this heartfelt episode features the...

From child star to seasoned producer/director and now author, Kim Fields has spent four decades thriving in the entertainment industry. In this heartfelt conversation, Advanced TV Herstory host Cynthia Bemis Abrams sits down with Kim to discuss everything from motherhood and mentorship to voice, faith, and self-doubt. Kim shared these themes in her 2017 memoir, Blessed Life . This episode offers a...

In this illuminating episode of Advanced TV Herstory , host Cynthia Bemis Abrams sits down with Dr. Robin Means Coleman at the University of Michigan to discuss the transformative journey of the iconic sitcom A Different World . (1987-1993) Dr. Means Coleman shares her insights into how the series evolved from its first season, filled with challenges to a celebrated depiction of Historically Black...

What happens when one of Hollywood's biggest icons subtly takes over network television for a night? In this live-recorded episode from the 2017 Southgate Media Group Podcast Marathon, Advanced TV Herstory host Cynthia Bemis Abrams breaks down a curious four-episode CBS Monday night lineup from 1996, all subtly promoting Elizabeth Taylor's "Black Pearls" perfume. Cynthia reveals how sitcoms Murphy...