Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams continues her conversation with author Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, digging deeper into the brilliant women behind The Mary Tyler Moore Show. In this episode, they explore how casting, style, and behind-the-scenes leadership shaped not just the series, but TV history as well.

Armstrong shares insights from her book Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted, focusing on the show's female writers and creatives like writers Susan Silver, Jenna McMahon, Gail Parent, and Marilyn Suzanne Miller. They discuss what Armstrong learned about casting director Ethel Winant's eye for chemistry and strong ensemble balance.

They discuss costume designer Mimi Kirk and stylist Leslie Hall's visual influence on Mary, Rhoda, and Sue Ann.

Jennifer Keishin Armstrong (2013) Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted

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Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams welcomes Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, author of Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted, to spotlight the pioneering women writers behind The Mary Tyler Moore Show. From interviews with MTM creatives to reflections on iconic episodes, this conversation sets the stage for a three-part series on women in the writer's room and their groundbreaking influence on 1970s television.

Highlights include:

• The era's feminist context and MTM's unique portrayal of wome;
• How Rhoda and Mary's friendship redefined female dynamics on screen;
• Behind-the-scenes insight on the Emmy-winning episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust," written by Joan Darling; and
• Reflections on actors like Cloris Leachman (Phyllis), Betty White (Sue Ann), and Lisa Gerritsen (Bess).

Armstrong also explains how The Dick Van Dyke Show laid groundwork for MTM's success and how real women writers brought humor, nuance, and feminism to prime-time.

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Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams continues the examination of the early years and struggle of television's groundbreaking series, Cagney and Lacey. She reviews the Movie-of-the-Week / pilot that starred Loretta Swit as Cagney, alongside Tyne Daly and the challenges presented by the casting of Meg Foster and the network's decision to regularly change its time slot. Cancellations and resurrection are important life lessons.

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Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams resumes her review of TNT's original series, The Closer (2005-2012). Cynthia examines Deputy Brenda Leigh Johnson's continued leadership growth, which created a rare long look of a police procedural female character. The series devoted energy and realistic depth to Brenda's challenges from Capt. Sharon Raydor, marriage, alcoholism, ambition, succession and professional burnout.

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Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams takes a long look at her favor 4- woman ensemble drama. Sisters has been so relegated to obscurity that only 2 seasons on DVD, though some episodes can be found on YouTube. Cynthia remains loyal to the Emmy Award winning show (for cast and crew categories).

Further, Cynthia explores the post-Sisters careers of Swoosie Kurtz, Patricia Kalember, Sela Ward and Julianne Phillips. Plots included interracial and inter-faith marriage, three plane crashes, menopause, foster parenting the son of a deceased patient, surviving a coma - list nearly never ends. Akin to daytime serials, Sisters is a rare escapist drama that focused on women.

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams considers the backstory of the creation of the hit buddy-cop series, Cagney & Lacey (1982-1988) to be essential feminist knowledge. Cynthia provides insights into the creative process and patience that defied network and production preferences, making the series stronger with every setback. Cynthia explains the roles of producers Barney Rosenzweig, Barbara Avedon and Barbara Corday and how they nearly didn't break through a television glass ceiling and change television.

Advanced TV Herstory host Cynthia Bemis Abrams finds influence and representation throughout the depths of television, including the animated series, The Power Puff Girls (1998-2004).

As Third Wave Feminism took root, a rare animated series featuring three main girl characters Bubbles, Blossom and Buttercup held up a magical, colorful mirror. Suddenly, for viewers of all ages, agency, problemsolving and fighting for what's right were natural traits for girl characters. Cynthia provides the backstory of creator Craig McCracken and the controversy which the series generated among feminists and elementary school principals.

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Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams provides the long overdue look at the primary women characters of Emmy award-winning series Hill Street Blues. Characters Lucy Bates (uniformed police officer) played by Betty Thomas and Joyce Davenport (confident public defender) portrayed by Veronica Hamel.

The two characters provided moral and ethical voice in arcs and story lines that were otherwise the precursor to police procedural dramas. Cynthia notes the two women characters were rarely in same scene and never garnered many lines or airtime each week, yet influenced women to pursue careers in law enforcement and the law.

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Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams frames the appearance of the prime time serial drama genre of the 1970s, which began with Dallas and included Falcon Crest, Knots Landing, Dynasty and The Colbys.

Cynthia discusses the series' longlasting appeal to the older audiences by casting acclaimed film actors Barbara Bel Geddes and Jane Wyman. For TV, these women filled roles considered rare: older woman with quiet power vs. older woman with vocal, aggressive agency. Either way, it was long overdue representation of older woman that is still rare today.

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Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams celebrates the early career and influence of Debbie Allen, the groundbreaking actor, choreographer, director, producer, and businesswoman. This episode explores her journey from Howard University to her star-making role as Lydia Grant in Fame (1982-1987).

In both the film and TV series, Allen shaped the future of Black storytelling on television. Cynthia details Allen's early struggles as a New York actress, her first television role on Good Times, and her breakthrough as Anita in Broadway's 1980 revival of West Side Story. From dancing in the streets of Harlem to guiding A Different World behind the scenes, Allen's legacy in entertainment is unmatched.

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