Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams connects the dots between TV, feminism, and workplace protections in this powerful episode inspired by her law review article, co-authored with legal scholar Mary Trevor.

Their work explores how decades of television shaped public understanding of sexual harassment, particularly the form known as quid pro quo. From prime-time depictions to real-life milestones like Anita Hill's Senate testimony, Cynthia and Mary walk us through the TV, cultural and legal shifts that defined the transition from Second to Third Wave Feminist movement.

The law review article, Power Plays: Women and Progressive Television Battle Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment in the 20th Century, was published in 2025 by the Howard University Human and Civil Rights Law Review. It's available upon request.

YouTube: Law Review Article Explained https://youtu.be/RbrQSxh_MI4?si=II0oBh12dlveSDzO

Mentioned Episodes:

2.7 – I Believe Anita Hill: The 1991 Hearings and Their Legacy

https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/5e8bd659-e882-403c-85e2-6923cd9b2125.mp3

4.14 How "That Girl" Tackled Sexual Harassment in the 1960s

https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/5391f7c3-d5a6-4d65-9dd9-83133ca3deda.mp3

4.20 Sports Night: More Relevant Than Ever

https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/d099dbfb-e591-4877-879b-6a7781c7b9f2.mp3

5.15 – I Still Believe Anita Hill: The Impact of 1991 Senate Hearings

https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/967daa56-dd95-42f6-9ffc-e2788e07424b.mp3

CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA and ADVANCED TV HERSTORY

Monthly Newsletter - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/

Website - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/

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

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

PRODUCTION

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

Video Editing - https://nivialopez.com/

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

Celebrate 11 years of Advanced TV Herstory with host Cynthia Bemis Abrams and special guest Elsie Escobar, Podcast Hall of Famer and co-founder of She Podcasts. This milestone conversation dives into the evolution of independent podcasting, technological innovations, and the power of diverse voices in audio storytelling.

Cynthia and Elsie explore:

Elsie's trailblazing journey as a Latina podcasting leader;

Key shifts in podcast technology, audience experience, and distribution;

How women-led podcasts are shaping the industry;

Lessons from Elsie's advocacy for creators in non-English-speaking communities; and

TV series that influenced Elsie's creative voice from El Salvador to California.

Whether you're a podcaster, content creator, or simply curious about the podcast revolution, this episode highlights the grit, innovation, and community-building that define 11 years of success.

Elsie Escobar Page: https://elsieescobar.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theelsieescobar/

CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA and ADVANCED TV HERSTORY

Monthly Newsletter - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/

Website - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/

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

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

PRODUCTION

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

Video Editing - https://nivialopez.com/

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

Award-winning writer and professor Georgia Jeffries joins Cynthia Bemis Abrams to reflect on her pioneering work in television and screenwriting. From her early magazine articles to Emmy-winning work on Cagney & Lacey, China Beach and Sisters, Jeffries reveals how she broke into Hollywood's writers' rooms and built a career defined by dramatic integrity and feminist storytelling.

Georgia discusses:

• Her transition from journalism to writing TV scripts on spec;
• Championing women writers through her work with the Writers Guild;
• Launching USC's first undergrad screenwriting thesis program; and
• How writing fiction compares to TV script writing.

Learn more about her 2024 novel The Younger Girl, based on real events in Illinois at https://georgiajeffries.com/

Referenced episodes with Cagney & Lacey and Lou Grant writer April Smith:

TV Writer April Smith on Lou Grant & Storytelling

https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/646f4a94-f444-4ab9-b351-058a23238b0f.mp3

Mrs. America & TV's Dimensional Feminism

https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/e0f75b62-4be6-4857-9a15-cf9fe3f5465c.mp3

Why do cozy mysteries still dominate the mystery genre, decades after their prime? Cynthia Bemis Abrams welcomes Prof. Bridget Kies of Oakland University for an insightful conversation exploring the fan favorite series Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996) and the enduring appeal of the cozy crime format.

Explore:

• Angela Lansbury's legacy as the iconic Jessica Fletcher;
• How Murder, She Wrote exemplifies the cozy mystery genre across TV and books;
• The academic relevance of the Wayne State University Press's TV Milestone Series;
• Why female-driven mysteries and older women protagonists remain culturally powerful; and
• Murder, She Wrote's influence on Hallmark mysteries, true crime fandom, and TikTok sleuths.

With real-life insights from a TV scholar, fan anecdotes, and an acknowledgment of the series' reboot potential, this episode offers a smart and nostalgic look at why Murder, She Wrote still matters.

Bridget Kies: "Murder, She Wrote was popular at a really important time in TV history, when everything about TV was changing. It started before those changes and ended in the middle of them. It tells us so much about TV's transitions from the early '80s to the mid-'90s.

Resources: Kies, Bridget (2023). Murder, She Wrote (TV Milestone Series), Wayne State University Press https://wsupress.wayne.edu/9780814350119/

CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA and ADVANCED TV HERSTORY

Monthly Newsletter - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/

Website - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/

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

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PRODUCTION

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

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

From Lucille Ball to Tina Fey, from Joan Rivers to Margaret Cho, women have been rewriting the rules of comedy for decades, and they're not done yet. Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams is joined by Lynn Harris, founder of Gold Comedy, to explore the legacy and future of funny women on TV. Together, they dissect the comedic influence of legends like Mary Tyler Moore, Moms Mabley, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus — and discuss why shows like SNL still present challenges for women today. With a nod to streaming, social media, and evolving industry gatekeepers, this episode dives into how women and non-binary creatives are shaping the next chapter of television comedy.

Background & Mentions Gold Comedy – https://goldcomedy.com/

Book recommendations:

Joan Rivers (1986) Enter Talking and Carol Burnett (2011) This Time Together

Learn more about Moms Mabley https://nmaahc.si.edu/moms-mabley

TV series Ellen (1994-98) S.4, e 22 The Puppy Episode https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xnty3f

WI Public Radio interview with Hacks creators https://www.wpr.org/culture/hacks-co-creators-on-their-emmy-winning-comedy-show

CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA and ADVANCED TV HERSTORY & subscribe to the newsletter: https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/

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

Bluesky Social - @cynthiabemisabrams.bsky.social

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

Cynthia says,"There's no better definition of representation than the career of Connie Chung."

Look no further than TV news anchor Connie Chung's groundbreaking career for the textbook definition of representation. Advanced TV Herstory host Cynthia Bemis Abrams explores Chung's impact as a trailblazing Chinese-American journalist through the lens of her 2024 book, Connie, A Memoir.

Revisit Chung's rise through national television journalism, her lasting legacy, and her influence on American culture—including the surprise moment during her 2024 appearance on The Kelly Clarkson. Cynthia also reflects on Chung's open letter in The Washington Post, written in support of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford during the Kavanaugh hearings, and how Chung's career helped define resilience in the face of systemic barriers.

The Kelly Clarkson Show Nov. 2024 https://youtu.be/9j97G7bXwCw?si=oTiCc-sXcauJUkpi

Chung's open letter in The Washington Post as reported in Time Magazine https://time.com/5414736/connie-chung-letter/

Resources or Mentions:

Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV (2014) by Brian Stelter

Connie: A Memoir https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/connie-chung/connie/9781668639528/

Past Advanced TV Herstory eps about TV news or Connie Chung:

The Women Who Reported Watergate

https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/03c5bd3d-4d3b-44b0-a801-3fff167bf26e.mp3

On-Air Power of Curry & Pauley

https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/d796fda1-44a1-4705-81de-89c135370b1c.mp3

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

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

Video Editing - https://nivialopez.com/

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

Cynthia Bemis Abrams sits down with Oscar-nominated documentary director Julie Cohen to explore her career in network TV journalism and filmmaking. The conversation covers Cohen's path to power as a storyteller, highlighting her work on films about Pauli Murray, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Julia Child.

Cohen shares insights into her acclaimed projects, including:

RBG (2018), the documentary about Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, which gained widespread recognition.

My Name is Pauli Murray (2021), the film on the groundbreaking but lesser-known civil rights activist and attorney. Every Body (2023), a documentary about the intersex rights movement and personal narratives.

Cynthia and Julie discuss highlights of Julia Child's pioneering influence on television and women's roles in professional kitchens. Cohen provides insight into Child's legacy as a feminist figure and the impact of her political activism, particularly regarding reproductive rights and HIV/AIDS awareness.

Julie Cohen actively promotes her latest documentary, The Path Forward (2024).

Personal stories shared in the film and their broader significance Julie Cohen's Films: Julia (2021): https://imagine-entertainment.com/documentary/julia/

The Path Forward (2024): https://deadline.com/video/the-path-forward-trailer-julie-cohen-mo-husseini-documentary/

My Name is Pauli Murray (2021): https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/sep/15/my-name-is-pauli-murray-review-the-legacy-of-a-fearless-campaigner

RBG (2018): https://www.magpictures.com/rbg/

Every Body (2023): https://www.focusfeatures.com/every-body

To book a screening of A Path Forward : https://grasshopperfilm.com/

By Spring 2025, A Path Forward will be available on paid streaming channels, including Apple+.

CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA and ADVANCED TV HERSTORY

Monthly Newsletter - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/

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

PRODUCTION

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

Video Editing - https://nivialopez.com/

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

In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory, host Cynthia Bemis Abrams is joined by author Angela Beauchamp to explore how Eleanor Roosevelt, a trailblazing communicator, shaped early public affairs programming. They discuss Roosevelt's prolific media presence, from her "My Day" newspaper column and radio broadcasts to her groundbreaking television appearances.

The conversation highlights how Roosevelt's political influence extended beyond her time as First Lady, using media to engage the public and advocate for change. Angela Beauchamp shares insights from her book Eleanor Roosevelt on Screen: The First Lady's Appearances in Film and Television, 1932-1962, that details the evolution of Roosevelt's on-screen presence (hair, wardrobe and sets!) and her pioneering role as a media influencer.

Referenced Series & Networks:

Meet the Press Prospects of Mankind (1959–1962)

Mrs. Roosevelt Meets the Public (1950–1951)

Today with Mrs. Roosevelt (1950)

Related Episodes of Advanced TV Herstory: FLOTUS on TV: Roosevelt & Ford (1.25)

https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/e7c53b72-bca7-4434-bc6e-08607b60c48a.mp3

Resources: Media History Project https://mediahistoryproject.org/

Eleanor Roosevelt on Screen: The First Lady's Appearances in Film and Television, 1932–1962 by Angela Beauchamp https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/eleanor-roosevelt-on-screen/

Pastor Hall https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastor_Hall

Blanche Wiesen Cook (ER biographer) https://blanchewcook.com/

Eleanor Roosevelt Paper's Project at George Washington University https://erpapers.columbian.gwu.edu/

CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA and ADVANCED TV HERSTORY

Monthly Newsletter - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/

Website - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/

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

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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/

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams and filmmaker Lisa D'Apolito pick up the conversation about documentaries, this time about Gilda Radner and the 2018 film, Love, Gilda. In fall 2024, Lisa was a guest along with Mallory Lewis to discuss the documentary, Shari and Lamb Chop.

Cynthia and Lisa explore Lisa's journey from acting to filmmaking and why Lisa uses her talents to tell the stories of women whose accomplishments and impact have been overlooked. They discuss Gilda's diaries, comedians interviewed for the film like Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolf, Bill Hader and Melissa McCarthy and how Lisa built trust with Gilda's friends and family to obtain access to private archives.

The film's premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival (NYC) intro by Tina Fey. https://youtu.be/1B44XRFotuo?si=JjYYdMIzU5iG0QHz

DVD: Love, Gilda https://www.target.com/p/love-gilda-dvd-2018/-/A-90690431

Book: It's Always Something, by Gilda Radner (1989) https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Its-Always-Something/Gilda-Radner/9781439148860

Advanced TV Herstory 2024 episode on film, Shari and Lamb Chop

https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/2a27a3c3-a623-4099-9b0c-bd8a345a907f.mp3

CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA and ADVANCED TV HERSTORY

Monthly Newsletter - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/

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

PRODUCTION

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

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

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams takes you to The Paley Center for Media in New York City, exploring its role in preserving television history and hosting key industry events like PaleyFest.

Cynthia dives into The Paley Archive during her visit, recounting her observations while watching the iconic 1973 broadcast of Billie Jean King versus Bobby Riggs in the historic "Battle of the Sexes." Listen in as Cynthia unpacks the significance of the archive, her first searches in the database, and her candid reactions to Howard Cosell's commentary alongside Rosie Casals and Gene Scott.

Episode Resources Battle of the Sexes: King vs. Riggs 1973 (1.6) - https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/caebe101-cf7f-4cbc-9491-0533166381bd.mp3

TV's Smiling Feminist: Dinah Shore -

https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/4e17ef34-fd00-41dc-8296-b6721ec0624b.mp3

The Paley Center for Media Website - https://www.paleycenter.org/

YouTube 1973 broadcast of tennis match https://youtu.be/R9C5XNREzNg?si=4O9Nv5K8ynL30ur0

CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA and ADVANCED TV HERSTORY

Monthly Newsletter - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/

Website - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/

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

PRODUCTION

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

Video Editing - https://nivialopez.com/

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