Advanced TV Herstory

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 learning, Shari Lewis created an educational TV environment that was both entertaining and formative. The discussion covers her career highlights, her battle against the commercialization of children’s programming, and the enduring impact of Lamb Chop’s Play-Along and other beloved works.

This episode explores:

• How Shari Lewis broke barriers for women in television.
• The origins and rise of Lamb Chop, Charlie Horse, and Hush Puppy.
• The balance between commercial success and educational integrity in kids' programming.
• The evolution of children's TV and its impact on modern programming.

Through interviews and expert insights, this episode honors Lewis’s contributions to children’s media, highlighting why her work remains relevant today.

Referenced Series:

• Lamb Chop’s Play-Along
• The Shari Lewis Show
• Charlie Horse Music Pizza

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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 aging women actors, with limited opportunities in film.

As Johnson explains, Crawford's late career appearances on TV were important to her self-worth before she chose to step back from the public eye.

The Concluding Chapter of Joan Crawford: https://www.theconcludingchapterofcrawford.com/

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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 her humble beginnings, to Broadway, clear through to her extensive television career.

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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 to becoming a TV writer and the supportive environments she encountered.

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

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 morning sickness triggered a medical and legal crisis that preceded Roe V. Wade. The incident however launched an international discussion on a woman's rights to make decisions about her own body and health care. This major event in Second Wave Feminist history was brought to the small screen in the 1992 made-for-TV movie A Private Matter, starring Sissy Spacek.

This unforgettable story illustrates how early television shaped public awareness around women's healthcare, abortion, and agency.

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

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 power, branding, and defiance.

Topics covered:

• Ann Curry's emotional on-air goodbye
• NBC's year-long campaign to force Curry out;
• Jane Pauley's quiet replacement by Deborah Norville in 1989;
• Media bias, sexism, and ageism across generations of women in broadcast news;
• Kelly Ripa's refusal to quietly fade after Regis's departure.

Resources:

CNN's coverage of Curry's departure from The Today Show https://youtu.be/uVUfFUKXaUA?si=1sU7CiGZfx1aBV-s

Brian Stelter's 2013 book, Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV. https://brianstelter.com/

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

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," featuring Ricki Lake as Holly, an aid worker. Writers used a reverse storytelling structure, a technique that adds depth and intensity and the director executed it well.

Through "Holly's Choice," Cynthia unpacks the complex layers of meaning inherent in wartime narratives, particularly the disparate value assigned to military versus civilian lives. Seeking an abortion, Holly is judged by medical professionals, government officials, soldiers, and women. Moreover, the episode underscores the challenges faced by women like Holly and KC, who are often thwarted by the male-dominated hierarchy. With dramatic performances by actors such as Marg Helgenberger and Dana Delaney, the episode showcases the enduring power of women-focused TV dramas.

The discussion underscores why Advanced TV Herstory exists: to provide a thorough exploration of significant yet sometimes overlooked TV episodes that present moral, ethical, and interpersonal layers in a well-written script.

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

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 color and stepping beyond "crying mother" tropes. Cynthia and Marlene dig into friendship, industry change, and what it means to keep going in a business that wasn't built for you.

Topics Covered:

• Latina representation in TV and film;
• Breaking stereotypes and token roles;
• Forte's roles in Fear the Walking Dead, APB, and more;
• The challenges and wins of aging in Hollywood; and
• Persistence as a creative and professional theme.

Marlene Forte on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marleneforte/

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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 used daytime television to address controversial topics and reflect societal changes. Scholars are still analyzing daytime dramas' llasting impact on the evolution of American television. Dr. Levine shares insights from her extensive research and forthcoming book, Her Stories: Daytime Soap Operas and US Television History.

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