Advanced TV Herstory

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 fashion and the show's iconic style Amy B. Harris's role in shaping the series
• How the show broke new ground with realistic gay characters and sexual storylines
• The show's flaws — including lack of diversity and its mixed feminist legacy

Cynthia and Jennifer also examine the media-fueled tension between stars Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall, and how that dynamic shaped the show's public narrative.

Check out Jennifer's writing at https://jenniferkarmstrong.com

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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. Each episode explores different facets of this depiction:

1. TV’s Single Women: This episode sets the stage by discussing the evolution of single female characters on television and their cultural significance.

2. The Single Woman Who Doesn’t Know What She Wants: Here, the focus is on characters who struggle with indecisiveness and the quest for self-discovery.

3. Caregivers and ‘Give Me a Break!': Featuring insights from Jennifer Fuller, PhD, this episode examines the trope of Black women as caregivers, highlighting characters.

4. The Feminerd: Furino introduces the concept of the "feminerd," discussing female characters who are pioneering yet relatable, such as those portrayed by trailblazers like Tina Fey.

Through interviews and analysis, the series offers a comprehensive look at how these TV portrayals have mirrored and influenced Second and Third Wave feminism. It also considers why certain series have become timeless classics.

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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 oriented toward white, heterosexual men. Cynthia enjoyed hearing from leaders of stage, digital, academia and film, as they addressed "revising the canon" and how we, as intersectional feminists, must shift the acceptable norms of storytelling.

Quick takes on documentaries: Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story and I Am Evidence, produced by Law & Order SVU's Mariska Hargitay through her Joyful Heart Foundation.

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Joyful heart foundation, representation in media, intersectional feminism, hedy lamarr, documentary about rape kits, mariska hargitay, athena film festival, barnard college, women storytellers, women documenting feminism

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 episodes and tracked the lives of an Indianapolis single-parent household. Bonnie Franklin as Ann Romano was a working mom to Julie (Mackenzie Phillips) and Barbara (Valerie Bertinelli) encountered conflicts and situations of coming of age, feminism and new morals and the working world.

Enter the 21st century reboot which features 86 year old Rita Moreno, America’s most prominent (EGOT!)and acclaimed Latina actress, and Justina Machado, of Six Feet Under and Jane the Virgin.

Books mentioned 2012 Rita Moreno: A Memoir

Norman Lear's 2014 Even This I Get to Experience

Mackenzie Phillips' 2009 High On Arrival

Mackenzie Phillips' 2017 Hopeful Healing: Essays on Managing Recover

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TV sitcom with single mom, Norman Lear, second wave feminism, representation on TV, TV sitcom with family of color, family-based comedy, EGOT, Rita Moreno racism insights, racism in Hollywood, racial bias in hollywood casting, racial passing in casting, TV plots about teenage sex, TV plots about school bullies

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 women-centric TV series. Each episode explores different facets of this depiction:

1. TV’s Single Women: This episode sets the stage by discussing the evolution of single female characters on television and their cultural significance.

2. The Single Woman Who Doesn’t Know What She Wants: Here, the focus is on characters who struggle with indecisiveness and the quest for self-discovery.

3. Caregivers and ‘Give Me a Break!’: Featuring insights from Jennifer Fuller, PhD, this episode examines the trope of Black women as caregivers, highlighting characters.

4. The Feminerd: Furino introduces the concept of the "feminerd," discussing female characters who are pioneering yet relatable, such as those portrayed by trailblazers like Tina Fey.

Through interviews and analysis, the series offers a comprehensive look at how these TV portrayals have mirrored and influenced Second and Third Wave feminism. It also considers why certain series have become timeless classics.

CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA and ADVANCED TV HERSTORY

Monthly Newsletter - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/

Website - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/advancedtvherstory/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@advancedtvherstory

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-bemis-abrams-5046573/

PRODUCTION

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Music by Jahzzar - https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/

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’s book is thorough, covering 600 characters and shows, including such classics as Honey West, Charlie’s Angels and Nancy Drew. Listeners learn how Romanko’s background and life-long interest in TV led her to compile this robust list.

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Karen Romanko, television’s female spies and crimefighters, honey west, Ann Francis, Agent 99, Barbara Feldon, farrah fawcett, women of TV, pioneering women TV writers, women-centric TV series, TV history podcast, TV character development, TV adaptations of novels.

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 Gleason’s "Ralph" Kramden. Monica examines how Audrey Meadows is an unsung talented feminist from TV’s first generation.

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The Honeymooners, You Wanna Do What podcast, latina podcaster, jackie gleason, ralph kramden, alice kramden, audrey meadows, classic television, black and white TV sitcom, physical humor in sitcom, Leonard B. Stern

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 original cast—Dixie Carter, Delta Burke, Jean Smart, and Annie Potts—gathering in support of Charlene as she welcomes her baby into the world. It also includes Dolly Parton in a dream sequence, delivering a message of hope and wisdom as Charlene’s Guardian Angel. In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory, host Cynthia Bemis Abrams explores the cultural and emotional significance of this classic Designing Women moment, highlighting the late-80s sentimentality, strong female friendships, and enduring legacy of the series.

Cynthia discusses:

• The original cast’s performances, featuring Dixie Carter, Delta Burke, Jean Smart, and Annie Potts.
• Dolly Parton’s iconic role as Charlene’s dream Guardian Angel and the wisdom she imparts.
• The warmth and emotion of the episode’s final moments, as the women reflect on the past decade and the future ahead.

Related Advanced TV Herstory episode

Designing Women v. Body Shaming https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/f3f2d126-490f-4cf0-96c7-fb3d7bab9621.mp3

CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA and ADVANCED TV HERSTORY

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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 candid look at:

• How Fields found her voice and overcame internal doubt;
• Life lessons from parenting and mid-life reflection;
• The ongoing cultural relevance of The Facts of Life and Living Single;
• Representation, resilience, and her hopes for future creative work; and
• Fan stories that underscore the impact of visibility on screen.

Referenced book: Blessed Life by Kim Fields https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/kim-fields/blessed-life/9781478923398/?lens=faithwords YouTube Audio Only https://youtu.be/36ItrM3eUYw

CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA and ADVANCED TV HERSTORY

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PRODUCTION

Podcast Editing - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariloumarosz/

Video Editing - https://nivialopez.com/

Music by Jahzzar - https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/