Advanced Tv Herstory |women In Tv |television History | Feminism

Writing, storytelling and 3-dimensional characters are some of the many topics author/TV producer April Smith and Cynthia discuss.  April shares behind-the-scenes insight into writing & researching Mrs. America. We also go back 40 years to discuss #MeToo and a timeless Lou Grant episode. Trailer: Mrs. America (Hulu/FX) Resources: Lou Grant episode Harassment on YouTube Douglass Daniel's Lou Grant: The Making of TV's Top Newspaper Drama April Smith's website Aprilsmith.net

Episode Description Dr. Elana Levine and Cynthia Bemis Abrams wrap up this engaging four-part series by examining the downfall of daytime dramas. They discuss the economic pressures, evolving audience demographics, and shifts in network decision-making that led to the genre's decline. Topics include advertising revenue challenges, the rise of alternative entertainment platforms, and the lasting impact of soap operas on television storytelling. Dr. Levine, author of Her Stories and professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, offers her expert insights into how these shows attempted to adapt and what ultimately replaced the serial drama format. Resources Mentioned Her Stories by Elana Levine (Duke University Press) Book link Related Episodes: Pt. 1 Her Stories with Elana Levine (6.5) Pt. 2 Her Stories with Elana Levine (6.6) Pt. 3 Her Stories: Feminism & Inclusion in Daytime (6.20) Daytime Drama’s Place in TV Herstory (3.2) YouTube Permalink: Watch here

Podcast Episode Description Daytime dramas reshaped TV herstory, tackling complex societal issues such as adoptions, reproductive rights, and rape. Dr. Elana Levine provides insights into how soap operas mirrored social changes from the 1960s to today. This episode explores the limited roles for actors of color, often sidelined to secondary storylines, and the centrality of white "super couples." Audio clips from As the World Turns, All My Children, The Young and the Restless, and Ryan's Hope enrich the discussion. Dr. Levine's book Her Stories (Duke Univ. Press) serves as the foundation for this compelling four-part series. Podcast Episode Plot Summary This episode delves into the social issues tackled by daytime dramas, including reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ representation, and racial diversity. Dr. Levine discusses how these narratives reflected societal changes while grappling with their limitations in inclusivity.   Resources Mentioned Her Stories: Daytime Soaps and Feminism Advanced TV Herstory: Dayti

Podcast Episode Description   In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory, host Cynthia Bemis Abrams continues the conversation with Dr. Elana Levine, author of Her Stories: Daytime Soap Opera and US Television History. Dr. Levine delves into how advances in TV production technology shaped storytelling, leading to increasingly sophisticated visuals and outrageous narratives. Together, they explore how soap operas transitioned to longer arcs, citing memorable examples like General Hospital’s “Summer on the Run” and Nola’s Hollywood fantasies in The Guiding Light. They discuss how these stories reflected and shaped American culture while drawing audiences into dramatic escapism. Podcast Episode Plot Summary Dr. Elana Levine joins Cynthia Bemis Abrams to examine the evolution of soap operas during a transformative time in television history. With the advent of innovative filming techniques and a shift toward serialized storytelling, soap operas grew more complex. Storylines moved beyond single-episode resolutions,

Podcast Episode Description: In the first episode of the Her Stories series, Cynthia Bemis Abrams and Dr. Elana Levine explore the history of soap operas and their cultural significance. They discuss how pioneers like Irna Phillips, Agnes Nixon, and William Bell used the genre to address complex social issues, including reproductive rights, family dynamics, and societal taboos. This episode examines the rise of daytime dramas from radio to television, revealing how women writers and producers shaped the medium and gave voice to women's stories in groundbreaking ways. Podcast Episode Plot Summary: Episode 6.5 kicks off a four-part series diving into the legacy of daytime dramas. Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams and guest Dr. Elana Levine provide an overview of the soap opera genre's origins and evolution. They highlight the contributions of key figures like Irna Phillips and Agnes Nixon, who brought authenticity and depth to daytime storytelling. The discussion also covers Procter & Gamble’s sponsorship model, h

Some of the freshest works on TV today are the result of screen adaptations of best selling novels. Abbe Wright of Penguin Random House, who is also podcast host of The Adaptables and Read it Forward, discusses this current trend of adaptations from the publishing and storytelling perspectives. Since the early days of TV, adaptations of stage and literature have delivered incomparable works to primetime viewers. We discuss the 1977 miniseries Roots, based on the book of the same name. Current works like Little Fires Everywhere, Normal People, and Big Little  Lies (all written and backed by women) are achieving great success with a new approach to storytelling.  

Part 2 of a chat with Emmy-winning actor Cady McClain, known for her years as Dixie Cooney on ABC's All My Children, which explores Cady's decision to pursue directing and arts advocacy. Cady talks about artists' muses and how resilience can be found in the creative process. Recent film Seeing is Believing: Women Direct can be seen at Seed and Spark.  

In her role as All My Children's Dixie, Cady McClain earned a place in TV Herstory for her award-winning acting. More than just half of a 90s "supercouple," Dixie was every woman. In this first of a 2 part interview, Cady shares with us her early years in acting and her time on ABC's All My Children. Part 2 explores her roles behind the scenes as a filmmaker and advocate for women in storytelling. Recent film: Seeing is Believing: Women Direct

L.A. Law (1986-94) lived a glamorous, full life. The series pilot, written by Steven Bochco (Hill Street Blues) and Terry Louise Fisher (writer/producer of Cagney & Lacey), when viewed today is a time capsule of office life that reveals sexism, racism, and generational approaches to power. Full of quality TV promise, L.A. Law launched with a bang. Why isn't it now celebrated for its transformational prowess? We cover that, too, and applaud Alfre Woodard's epic performance, which occurred early in her career.

End of year lists that honor the memories of celebrities and prominent figures are a tradition that this podcast has passed up in recent years. A deeper look at the list of prominent TV women lost in 2019 calls out not just the well-known women - usually actors - but also those who built careers behind the scenes. Join Cynthia in celebrating Katherine Helmond, Georgia Engel, Peggy Lipton, Valerie Harper, Doris Day, Carol Channing, Diahann Carroll, Gloria Vanderbilt, Beth Chapman, Beverley Owen, Toni Morrison, Cokie Roberts and more. Cynthia also reveals 4 women whose work she finds inspiring, as each raises her voice: Jane Fonda, Ava DuVernay, Kathleen Turner and TCM's Sunday Night host Jacqueline Stewart.

TV is once again attempting to bring legendary "girl detective" Nancy Drew to life. We dust off our very first episode for a look at past attempts to put the hugely popular Nancy Drew mysteries on the small screen. The book series' backstory is a fascinating look at ego & the evolution of publishing. Excerpts are included from Melanie Rehak's 2005 "Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her." We explore why the Sunday night series that paired actress Pamela Sue Martin's Nancy Drew with The Hardy Boys failed in 1977-1979 and how the books have impacted TV herstory. Here are links for further reading: "The Not So Hidden Racism of Nancy Drew" https://electricliterature.com/the-not-so-hidden-racism-of-nancy-drew/ "How does Nancy Drew connect to the books? Almost everything is different" https://www.bustle.com/p/how-does-nancy-drew-connect-to-the-books-almost-everything-is-different-19199448 "Why does it matter who wrote Nancy Drew anyway?" https://crimereads.com/why-does-it-matter-who-wrote

Refreshing the writing and timeline of a 2016 episode, Advanced TV Herstory examines the most basic elements of an event that changed the lives of American women. It captivated millions of viewers and was talked about by millions more. Before #MeToo, Weinstein, Kavanaugh and Cosby, Anita Hill's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1991 brought the topic of sexual harassment and Clarence Thomas's fitness to be a judge into the conversation. Episode provides historical context to Robert Bork's earlier nomination to the Supreme Court,  and the roles of then-Senators Biden and Specter. Additional info from two books (1995) Jordan, Emma Coleman., and Anita Hill. Race, Gender and Power in America: the Legend of the Hill-Thomas Hearings. Oxford University Press (1997) Anita Hill. Speaking Truth to Power. Anchor Books Advanced TV Herstory's theme music can be found at Free Music Archive, Music Take Me Higher by Jahzzar Other music in episode is Uniq - Art of Silence: "Uniq - Art of Silence" is under a

The topic of Hollywood Blacklisting has recently added a chapter - the impact it had on the budding TV industry, and more specifically, women. Researched and backed by FBI files of author/scholar Dr. Carol Stabile (University of Oregon), this 4 episode series mentions names of talented women whose careers were maliciously ruined with the publication of Red Channels. Trumped up accusations, which later the FBI admitted were unfounded, were accepted as proof enough to break contracts, withdraw offers and freeze out women who otherwise would have changed the look, sound and depth of TV's first decade. Episode 3, featured a frank conversation with author and scholar, Dr. Charlene Regester (of the Univ. of NC Chapel Hill) about how racism further changed the course of early TV. Lillian Hellman on Dick Cavett 1973 Lillian Hellman's letter, read by Liza Minnelli (rare video of the 1974 telecast of the 1972 Off Broadway stage production in which actors portrayed blacklisted people from the entertainment world during

Episode Description This 4-episode series examines anti-communism/McCarthyism blacklisting's impact on the careers of women who likely would have changed the look, depth, and sound of TV. Cynthia and author/scholar, Dr. Charlene Regester of the University of North Carolina, have a frank conversation about how racism, stereotyped roles, and Jim Crow laws delayed TV's depiction of African American life by more than a decade. This adds to the story of a previous podcast episode about TV's Single Women and how even in the 1980s, a TV series cast a black woman as a household domestic. Episode Players Cynthia Bemis Abrams Carol Stabile Charlene Regester   Resources Mentioned Charlene Regester (2010) African American Actresses: The Struggle for Visibility 1900-1960 North Carolina PBS featuring Dr. Charlene Regester discussing her book PBS North Carolina Carol Stabile (2018) The Broadcast 41: Women and the Anti-Communist Blacklist James Gavin (2010) Stormy Weather: The Life of Lena Horne Advanced TV Herstory

The topic of Hollywood Blacklisting has recently added a chapter - the impact it had on the budding TV industry, and more specifically, women. Researched and backed by FBI files of author/scholar Dr. Carol Stabile (University of Oregon), this 4 episode series mentions names of talented women whose careers were maliciously ruined with the publication of Red Channels. You’ll also hear from another author and scholar, Dr. Charlene Regester. In episode 3, listen in on our frank conversation about how racism, Jim Crow laws and segregation further changed the course of early TV. Carol Stabile Broadcast41.com Charlene Regester (2010) African American Actresses: The Struggle for Visibility, 1900–1960 Madeline Lee Gilford on YouTube Ruth Gordon on Hugh Downs 1981

The topic of Hollywood Blacklisting has recently added a chapter - the impact it had on the budding TV industry, and more specifically, women. Researched and backed by FBI files of author/scholar Dr. Carol Stabile (University of Oregon), this 4 episode series mentions names of talented women whose careers were maliciously ruined with the publication of Red Channels. Stabile delivers quotes, right from FBI files she's requested for more than a decade, that assert that many of the charges and allegations that smeared these progressive women were unfounded or made up. You’ll also hear from another author and scholar, Dr. Charlene Regester. In episode 3, listen in on our frank conversation about how racism, Jim Crowe laws and segregation further changed the course of early TV. Carol Stabile Broadcast41.com Lillian Hellman on Dick Cavett 1973 Lillian Hellman's letter, read by Liza Minnelli (rare video of the 1974 telecast of the 1972 Off Broadway stage production in which actors portrayed blacklisted people from

Celebration of 4 years of independent podcasting about TV women - those behind the camera as well as in front of it. Cynthia's thanks her team of Jen Edds, Catherine Yang and Elsie Escobar and recaps highlights and changes made to the show's format and outreach. She also does some deep thinking about social change, social media, feminism and the power of representation as the entertainment industry wrestles with hashtag movements #MeToo and #Times Up. Near the end, Cynthia reveals a big goal. Audio clip was from June 2019 ESPN's "First Take" show hosted by Molly Qerim with Lavar Ball as a guest. Advanced TV Herstory's theme music can be found at Free Music Archive, Music Take Me Higher by Jahzzar

Listeners of episodes 1 & 2 receive a full background of how cable evolved to have the financing and capacity to produce original content. This episode walks through a few series and channel milestones with scholar, author & podcaster Amanda Lotz, covers the financial incentives now in place that govern series production and syndication and finally, a short list of cable series and channels that are part of TV Herstory. Find more at www.tvherstory.com Learn more about Amanda Lotz, her books, articles and her podcast "Media Business Matters" at amandalotz.com. Learn more about art historian, professor, author Emily L. Newman and her books at emilynewman.com.

Podcast Episode Description In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory, host Cynthia Bemis Abrams sits down with art historian, professor, and author Emily L. Newman to examine how made-for-TV movies tackled the sensitive subject of eating disorders. From the 1980s through today, these stories offered a platform to educate audiences while reflecting societal pressures on women. They discuss milestone productions such as Kate's Secret (1986), starring Meredith Baxter, and Love of Nancy (1994), featuring Tracey Gold, along with the influence of real-life figures like Karen Carpenter. This episode dives into how these narratives shaped public understanding of anorexia and bulimia and how television has served as a tool for advocacy and awareness. Podcast Episode Plot Summary Television has long been a medium for tackling societal issues, and the made-for-TV movie genre became a vital platform for exploring eating disorders. In this episode, Cynthia Bemis Abrams and Emily L. Newman discuss how films like Kate’s Se

Podcast Episode Description   In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory, host Cynthia Bemis Abrams explores the evolution of cable TV and its pivotal role in elevating women’s voices on screen. Joined by media scholars Dr. Amanda Lotz and Emily L. Newman, the discussion highlights the birth of cable channels like Lifetime, Hallmark, OWN, and Oxygen—spaces dedicated to telling women’s stories. They delve into the business side of cable, examining how bundled services, programming needs, and financial models influenced the creation of female-focused networks. From Oprah Winfrey’s OWN to the Hallmark Channel, discover how money, mergers, and marketing shaped the media landscape for women. Podcast Episode Plot Summary   The media landscape was forever changed by the rise of cable TV, which provided new opportunities to create content for and about women. In this episode, Cynthia Bemis Abrams, Dr. Amanda Lotz, and Emily L. Newman discuss how networks like Lifetime and OWN became cultural staples, offering everythi