Advanced TV Herstory

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams revisits the powerful cultural legacy of actress Esther Rolle and the groundbreaking Norman Lear sitcom Good Times . As one of the first shows to feature a Black nuclear family, Good Times challenged 1970s television norms—and Esther Rolle was at the heart of it. This episode explores: Esther Rolle's strength and integrity as she demanded more from the character of Florid...

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams explores the one song that changed the use and capacity of a Public Service Announcement (PSA). Tune in to hear Cynthia explore how the Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) landed famed-Canadian feminist singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan and her hit song, Angel . Cynthia details the record-setting amount raised by the PSA effort in 2008 and 2009, a...

In this anniversary episode of Advanced TV Herstory, host Cynthia Bemis Abrams shares some lessons learned, related to content, podcasting and technology, that make the entire endeavor rewarding. From Mother's Day to a woman's right to make her own health care decisions (Sissy Spacek's TV Movie & China Beach ) this year of episodes starts to shape the podcast's feminist structures. The podcast...

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams welcomes TV writer April Smith to Advanced TV Herstory to explore storytelling from a woman's point of view. Writer-turned-novelist April Smith shares her television journey, from Lou Grant (1977-1982) and Cagney & Lacey (1982-1988) to Chicago Hope (1994-2000), and what it took to create Emmy-nominated episodes during a time some consider the "Second Golden Age of Tel...

Barbara Walters, Lesley Stahl, and Connie Chung are the groundbreaking women who reported on the Watergate scandal for national television networks. Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams examines how their coverage shaped journalism history and how each woman leveraged new opportunities during a pivotal era of change. Highlights: Barbara Walters' rise from Washington bureau to Today Show co-anchor; The role o...

In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory , host Cynthia Bemis Abrams explores the remarkable legacy of Shari Lewis , the puppeteer, television host, and educator best known for Lamb Chop . From the early days of children's programming to her lasting cultural influence, this episode dives into how Lewis’s work shaped generations of young viewers. Through her storytelling, song, and interactive learn...

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams interviews Bryan Johnson, the force behind the wildly successful niche fan site "The Concluding Chapter of Joan Crawford." Cynthia and Bryan discuss the careers of aging Hollywood stars, as depicted Ryan Murphy's 2017 mini-series on FX "Feud: Bette and Joan." The series, starring Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange, depicts the very real limitations Hollywood created for its...

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams has long thought of Florence Henderson's role of Carol Brady as having a worldwide effect. Every year at Mother's Day, Florence Henderson (1934-2016) sits atop every TV blogger's list. Cynthia shares some nuggets about the actor and singer's life as Henderson wrote in her 2012 memoir, Life Is Not a Stage: From Broadway Baby to a Lovely Lady and Beyond . Henderson tracks h...

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams welcomes Susan Silver, writer for TV's The Mary Tyler Moore Show , Maude and Square Pegs to talk about some of the most iconic TV series and episodes ever. Cynthia and Susan discuss Susan's 2017 memoir, Hot Pants in Hollywood: Sex, Secrets and Sitcoms, with its frank look at what life was like for a woman writer in Hollywood in the 1970s and 1980s. Susan shares her path t...

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams connects the dots between regional children's TV, women's health, and media's invasion of privacy through the story of Miss Sherri Finkbine. Finkbine was the Arizona-based teacher in the regional educational TV oriented to young Baby Boom viewers, Romper Room , and became a pivotal figure in the Thalidomide tragedy. Cynthia examines how Finkbine's use of Thalidomide for m...

This episode unpacks two defining moments in morning news history: the high-profile departures of Ann Curry and Jane Pauley from The Today Show. Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams draws clear lines between media misogyny, power dynamics, and ageism, calling out the roles of Matt Lauer, Bryant Gumbel, and network leadership in both exits. Cynthia also weaves in ABC's Kelly Ripa and her modern approach to po...

In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory , host Cynthia Bemis Abrams showcases the groundbreaking TV series China Beach (1988-1991), highlighting it as the epitome of exemplary writing and acting in television history. The series offers a unique perspective on the Vietnam War, viewed through the lens of American women. Cynthia focuses on the poignant third-season episode, "Holly's Choice," featurin...

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams interviews Cuban-born actor Marlene Forte about her powerful career trajectory and the persistence it took to break stereotypes in TV and film. Forte shares her experience navigating Hollywood as a Latina actor, often playing maternal roles and advocating for more complex representation. From Fear the Walking Dead to APB , she discusses shifting the narrative for women of...

In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory , host Cynthia Bemis Abrams explores the cultural significance of daytime dramas with television scholar Dr. Elana Levine. Together, they examine how soap operas pushed boundaries and introduced groundbreaking storylines, from interracial relationships and birth control to HIV awareness. Learn how women producer/writers like Claire Labine and Agnes Nixon use...

Advanced TV Herstory host Cynthia Bemis Abrams explores the feminist legacy of Dinah Shore, 20th century singer, TV icon, and unlikely trailblazer for women's rights. Discover how Dinah used her power and platform in 1950s and '60s television to elevate Black artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole. Dinah Shore is credited for transforming women's golf by creating opportunities and boosting...

In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory , host Cynthia Bemis Abrams explores a groundbreaking holiday episode of the classic television series Bewitched ( 1964-1972). The episode "Sisters at Heart" was broadcast on December 24, 1970, and showcases the enduring themes of diversity and tolerance amidst a backdrop of significant social change in America. Cynthia delves into the series' development, h...

In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory, host Cynthia Bemis Abrams examines the life and legacy of Agnes Nixon, the groundbreaking creator behind All My Children and One Life to Live. Joined by media studies professor and daytime drama scholar Dr. Elana Levine, Cynthia explores Nixon's journey from her education at Northwestern University to her role as a transformative force in daytime drama. Dis...

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams takes a deep look at a series that only ran for a single season, 2005-2006, Commander in Chief . Cynthia recounts how it aired during the Bush administration and is one of the few characters who, as a woman vice president, ascends to the American presidency. Without revealing spoilers, Cynthia evaluates the writing and plots, which offer a quality balance of sinister and...

Advanced TV Herstory host Cynthia Bemis Abrams digs into the highly original and occasionally controversial character of Maude Finley of Maude , a 1972-1978 series that was spun off from All in the Family . Cynthia details Bea Arthur's theatrical chops and reputation that made her successful showrunner Norman Lear's top choice for the role. Cynthia also touches on the controversial topics like inf...

Recorded on location at the 2016 Cultural Studies Association national conference, host Cynthia Bemis Abrams talks with media studies experts Kathalene Razzano and Loubna Skalli about audience-participation shows from the 1990s and 2000s. The three media studies scholars analyzed and cataloged behaviors, host/guest dynamics and guest selection processes in their book, Vulture Culture: The Politics...

In this back-to-school episode of Advanced TV Herstory , host Cynthia Bemis Abrams scans the decades of TV sitcoms and dramas that prominently featured a classroom setting. She discovered and relates extraordinary performances, positive messaging & quirky style from such unforgettable characters and series like Viola Davis’ Annalise Keating in How to Get Away With Murder and actor Hayley Mills...

Enjoy this discussion as Advanced TV Herstory host Cynthia Bemis Abrams chats with Susan Silver, noted TV comedy writer. Cynthia probes Susan about her experience writing on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Maude and Square Pegs and how that series created opportunities for women writers and crew. From her position in the writers’ room, Susan was a witness to the first golden era of TV Herstory. Susan r...

In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory , host Cynthia Bemis Abrams takes listeners on a reflective journey through the podcast’s inaugural year. She shares insights on the challenges and triumphs of producing a show that blends feminist history with popular culture and the impact of television representation. Cynthia recounts episodes that delved into the careers and legacies of pioneering women...

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams explores the 15th (final) season of NBC's "ER" and the accomplished Angela Bassett's presence as a lead character of the ensemble cast. The drama begins with exposition of department staff turnover and Cynthia details the workplace culture and tone set by Bassett's character, Dr. Cate Banfield. Cynthia explores the well-crafted backstory of the 9-month plot that guides th...

TV Herstory was made for a number of reasons in 1992, when CBS' Murphy Brown (1988-98) proceeded with an unplanned pregnancy. Advanced TV Herstory host Cynthia Bemis Abrams explores the controversy around the months-long plot line. Cynthia provides the seminal moments that include the celebrated, late actor Colleen Dewhurst as Murphy's mother Avery Brown, then-Vice President Dan Quayle's comments...