Advanced TV Herstory

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 prize money through televised tournaments. Plus, hear a reflection on Shore's impact through a modern lens, including a look at The Dinah, now the world's largest queer and lesbian music festival.

Druxman, Michael B. (2015) Miss Dinah Shore

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Guest Ann Rosenquist Fee, MFA, a fashion observer, blogger, author/editor & arts non-profit executive

Influence from TV to fashion merchandising and design

60s Patty Duke, Barbara Stanwyck, sew at-home patterns

70s Susan Dey, Cher

80s Christina Applegate & where are all the young women on TV? Did they just disappear?

90s Cast from A Different World, Robin Roberts,

00s Ally McBeal cast teaches us the professional workplace no longer has just one uniform; Hillary Duff as Lizzie McGuire targets the pre-teen fashion with branding aplomb.

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, highlighting the contributions of Hollywood veteran Elizabeth Montgomery, who starred as the lead character and produced the show alongside her then-husband, William Asher. The narrative also examines the pivotal role of Barbara Avedon, a respected female television writer, in crafting the holiday episode's story.

At the episode's core is the message that children naturally embrace differences, a lesson mirrored in the show's premise of a witch living harmoniously among mortals. This episode of Bewitched serves as a compelling reminder of the importance of celebrating diversity and recognizing each individual's unique talents.

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

Bewitched holiday episode, Elizabeth Montgomery, William Asher, Barbara Avedon, Diversity and tolerance in television, 1970s social change, Classic TV series, Children and diversity, Television series development, Advanced TV Herstory podcast, TV history podcast

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. Discover how Nixon used her platform to tackle controversial topics, redefine women's narratives, and influence generations of television storytelling. From her iconic 1978 interview with Dick Cavett to her lasting impact on the industry, this episode celebrates the remarkable contributions of one of daytime TV's most influential women.

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

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 good, with feminist themes peppered throughout the scripts. At the time, the lead character, played by Geena Davis, was one of the few women (wife, mother and daughter) president characters in a TV series or made-for-TV movie.

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

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 infidelity, alcoholism, mental health, menopause, women's rights and abortion, explored by the series.

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 and Pedagogy of Daytime Television Talk Shows.

This form of daytime television had “a culture that has its own logic, topicality, values, market and audiences.” Listeners will learn more about how hosts Maury Povich, Jenny Jones and Judge Judy interacted with their guests. Further, the group explores misogynistic themes about self-control, paternalism, self-esteem, victim blaming and a disregard for trauma that stems from poverty, abuse, addiction and mental health issues.

Vulture Culture (2005) Peter Lang Publishing

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Cultural Studies Association, kathalene razzano, loubna skalli, vulture culture, daytime audience participation shows, maury povich, jenny jones, judge judy, mental health issues, self-control, paternalism, self-esteem, victim blaming . abuse, addiction, guest selection, guest behavior, daytime TV host behavior, manufactured antagonism

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 as Miss Bliss in the forgotten Good Morning, Miss Bliss.

For most of the 20th century, teaching was considered a respectable career for a woman, at least until she married or became pregnant. Television network attempts to appeal to school-aged viewers only occasionally presented quality dramas and comedies set in high schools. Room 222 (1969-1974) remains a time capsule classic.

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

Teachers on TV, TV sitcom classroom, TV sitcom teacher, coming of age TV series, teenage problems on TV, representation in media, women TV teachers, Room 222, Our Miss Brooks, How to Get Away With Murder, Head of the Class, Saved By the Bell, Good Morning, TV teenage audience, TV teenage demographic

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 remains an outspoken feminist, so the two discuss 2016 TV coverage of women and national politics, the anchors and commentators. They focus on various women political figures who continue to find their voices on the nation’s most pressing issues.

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Video Editing - https://nivialopez.com/

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

2016 presidential election, public affairs TV programming, Sunday TV politics shows, second wave feminism, third wave feminism, women who write TV, women TV scriptwriters, women sitcom writer, women comedy writer, Grant Tinker, Mary Tyler Moore, Susan Silver, Maude, Square Pegs