In this first of a two-part episode of Advanced TV Herstory, host Cynthia Bemis Abrams welcomes Elva Green to discuss her book, The Jeffersons: A Fresh Look Back. Ms. Green shares her personal journey as a writer and the impetus for the book, which offers insights, interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and rare photos from the iconic TV series. Green interviewed cast and crew members, including the legendary Norman Lear and the incomparable Marla Gibbs, agreed to write the foreword for the book.

Ms. Green also speaks fondly of Berlinda Tolbert, Ernest Harden Jr., and others whose willingness to share stories and contacts enhanced her research and writing. Her unconventional path to becoming an author began with her desire to inspire her grandson by writing about her father, Eddie Green, an early 1900s Black American entertainment pioneer who achieved fame despite the challenges faced by African Americans in the first half of the last century.

Listeners are encouraged to read Green's books, as they offer exclusive insights into entertainment, black history, and well-crafted narratives. Be sure to tune into our next episode to learn more from Elva Green and her unexpected role in preserving the legacy of The Jeffersons.

BOOKS BY ELVA GREEN The Jeffersons: A Fresh Look Back Eddie Green: The Rise of an Early 1900s Black American Entertainment Pioneer https://bearmanor-digital.myshopify.com/search?q=elva+diane+green

AUDIO CLIPS The Jeffersons: The Best of Florence - https://youtu.be/pmxflexREKc

Mother Jefferson Has a New Boyfriend - https://youtu.be/222kxW5mlbs

Lionel and Jenny Kiss & Make Up -

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/

In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory, host Cynthia Bemis Abrams delves into the groundbreaking sitcom Cheers, focusing on the iconic female characters, Carla Tortelli and Diane Chambers. Cynthia examines the complexities of these characters, portrayed by Rhea Perlman and Shelley Long, respectively, and their impact as strong female figures in 1980s television.

The episode explores the intertwining themes of workplace dynamics, gender roles, and the comedic yet often problematic portrayal of relationships and sexism. Cynthia also highlights the contributions of female writers like Heide Perlman in shaping the series and questions whether Cheers has aged well in the context of contemporary views on gender and power dynamics.

Episode Highlights

• Introduction to Cheers: Overview of the show's premise and its cultural impact.
• Focus on Female Characters: Examination of Carla Tortelli and Diane Chambers as pioneering roles for women in television.
• Performances of Rhea Perlman and Shelley Long.
• Heide Perlman's contributions and the role of female writers in the series.
• Gender Dynamics: Workplace relationships and sexism in the show.
• How Cheers reflects and challenges societal norms of the 1980s.
• Does Cheers stands the test of time in modern society.

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/

I am very excited to share the second of a two-part conversation with author and TV/film historian, Lee Gambin.

His double-volume work, Tonight, On a Very Special Episode: When TV Sitcoms Sometimes Got Serious, provides a launch pad for our thoughtful and fast-paced discussion of the issues and activists behind TV's "very special episodes," which date back 50 years or more. These TV events—featuring familiar, beloved characters—mixed serious topics with comedy so effectively that, in many cases, activists were born, movements were started, legislation was passed, and minds were changed.

Legendary showrunners like Norman Lear and Linda Bloodworth-Thomason used the sitcom format to normalize awareness and discussion of race relations, women's issues, representation, discrimination, divorce, alcoholism and drug addiction, sexual assault, HIV/AIDS, and LGBTQ rights. Fronting these issues shaped our culture in ways that should not be lost to history.

Join us for a discussion of the iconic episodes and the legends who made them happen, as well as how they continue to impact us today.

CONNECT WITH LEE GAMBIN

Tonight, On A Very Special Episode: When TV Sitcoms Sometimes Got Serious Volume 1: 1957-1985 - https://bearmanor-digital.myshopify.com/products/tonight-on-a-very-special-episode-when-tv-sitcoms-sometimes-got-serious-volume-1-1957-1985-paperback?_pos=1&_sid=72a8817db&_ss=r

Tonight, On A Very Special Episode: When TV Sitcoms Sometimes Got Serious Volume 2: 1986-1998 - https://bearmanor-digital.myshopify.com/products/tonight-on-a-very-special-episode-when-tv-sitcoms-sometimes-got-serious-volume-2-1986-1998-paperback?_pos=3&_sid=72a8817db&_ss=r

Cinemaniacs - https://cinemaniacs.com.au/

SOUND CLIPS

Diff'rent Strokes: The Bicycle Man (S5.E16-17) -https://youtu.be/XX-yeqTaltE

Designing Women: Killing All the Right People (S2.E4) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cozd3HN6xS8

All in The Family: Edith's 50th Birthday (S8.E4-5) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eGFuSpSn1U

BOOKS / ARTICLES

Norman Lear Memoir, Even This I Get to Experience - https://www.normanlear.com/the-book

PERTINENT EPISODES OF ADVANCED TV HERSTORY

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

Sports Night: More Relevant Than Ever - https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/d099dbfb-e591-4877-879b-6a7781c7b9f2.mp3

Eating Disorder Movies: TV For and About Women - https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/ec92735c-cb8d-4916-8c8f-2ff9ab9e5d86.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/

I am very excited to share the first of a two-part conversation with author and TV/film historian, Lee Gambin. His double-volume work, Tonight, On a Very Special Episode: When TV Sitcoms Sometimes Got Serious, provides a launch pad for our thoughtful and fast-paced discussion of the issues and activists behind TV's "very special episodes," which date back 50 years or more. These TV events, featuring familiar, beloved characters, mixed serious topics with comedy so effectively that, in many cases, activists were born, movements were started, legislation was passed, and minds were changed.

Legendary showrunners like Norman Lear and Linda Bloodworth-Thomason used the sitcom format to normalize awareness and discussion of race relations, women's issues, representation, discrimination, divorce, alcoholism and drug addiction, sexual assault, HIV/AIDS, and LGBTQ rights. Fronting these issues shaped our culture in ways that should not be lost to history. Join us for a discussion of the iconic episodes and the legends who made them happen, as well as how they continue to impact us today.

CONNECT WITH LEE GAMBIN

Tonight, On A Very Special Episode: When TV Sitcoms Sometimes Got Serious Volume 1: 1957-1985 - https://bearmanor-digital.myshopify.com/products/tonight-on-a-very-special-episode-when-tv-sitcoms-sometimes-got-serious-volume-1-1957-1985-paperback?_pos=1&_sid=72a8817db&_ss=r

Tonight, On A Very Special Episode: When TV Sitcoms Sometimes Got Serious Volume 2: 1986-1998 - https://bearmanor-digital.myshopify.com/products/tonight-on-a-very-special-episode-when-tv-sitcoms-sometimes-got-serious-volume-2-1986-1998-paperback?_pos=3&_sid=72a8817db&_ss=r

Cinemaniacs - https://cinemaniacs.com.au/

SOUND CLIPS

Diff'rent Strokes: The Bicycle Man (S5.E16-17) -https://youtu.be/XX-yeqTaltE

Designing Women: Killing All the Right People (S2.E4) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cozd3HN6xS8

All in The Family: Edith's 50th Birthday (S8.E4-5) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eGFuSpSn1U

BOOKS / ARTICLES

Norman Lear Memoir, Even This I Get to Experience - https://www.normanlear.com/the-book

PERTINENT EPISODES OF ADVANCED TV HERSTORY

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

Sports Night: More Relevant Than Ever - https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/d099dbfb-e591-4877-879b-6a7781c7b9f2.mp3

Eating Disorder Movies: TV For and About Women - https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/ec92735c-cb8d-4916-8c8f-2ff9ab9e5d86.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/

In 1989, Oprah Winfrey produced and starred in the two-part TV miniseries, The Women of Brewster Place, which was based on Gloria Naylor's award-winning debut novel. The book, and the movie, explore a variety of personal issues and social themes faced by seven Black women who live in an urban housing project.

When, just for fun, we asked the new artificial intelligence software, ChatGPT, to connect Oprah's cultural influence with themes from the book/movie, the AI chatbot got it… sort of right. Sort of. It dispassionately summarized many of the challenges faced by the women in the story. And it mentioned Oprah's commitment to highlighting personal and social issues.

But ChatGPT failed to find the essential storyline. And it's no wonder. The online content about The Women of Brewster Place neglects the underlying racism that's at work when urban planners and policymakers target the destruction of specific neighborhoods in the name of progress. As long as history is "written by the victors," the online trough that feeds artificial intelligence will prevent AI, and the people who rely on it, from making the most crucial connections of all.

MENTIONS AND REFERENCES We encourage you to visit your local bookseller or library. Book by Gloria Naylor - The Women of Brewster Place -https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/women-of-brewster-place-gloria-naylor/1102236580

Movie on YouTube - The Women of Brewster Place - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-XFelzSXfc

People Magazine Article - Oprah Goes Hollywood - https://people.com/archive/oprah-goes-hollywood-vol-29-no-23/

Book by Carol Stabile, PhD - The Broadcast 41 - https://thereadingwarehouse.com/book.php?ISBN=9781912685424

Vulture Article - 30 Years Ago, The Women of Brewster Place Cracked Open the Door for Queer TV - https://www.vulture.com/2019/05/the-women-of-brewster-place-theresa-lorraine.html

Vice Article - I've Made More Than 1,700 Wikipedia Entries on Women Scientists and I'm Not Yet Done - https://www.vice.com/en/article/z34k9e/wikipedia-pages-women-scientists-jessica-wade-stem

CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA BEMIS ABRAMS and ADVANCED TV HERSTORY Website - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com

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

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Media.Cynthia

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

On this episode of Advanced TV Herstory, we connect the dots between TV and feminism with American culture and politics by remembering the 1979 television miniseries, Backstairs at the White House. The series is based on the New York Times bestseller by Lillian Rogers Parks, a seamstress in the White House from 1939-1961. Parks based the book on her own experiences and on those of her mother, Maggie Rogers, who, as a maid in the White House from 1909-1939, was encouraged by Eleanor Roosevelt to keep a diary of her time serving the various first families.

MENTIONS AND REFERENCES (We encourage you to visit your local bookseller or library.) Jackie Kennedy - Interview with Sander Vanocur, NBC - March 1961 - https://youtu.be/j3ZvIzL1JbI

My Thirty Years Backstairs at the White House - by Lillian Rogers Parks in collaboration with Frances Spatz Leighton -

Michelle Obama - Speech at 2016 Democratic National Convention - https://youtu.be/4ZNWYqDU948

White House Historical Association - https://www.whitehousehistory.org

CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA BEMIS ABRAMS

Website - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/

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

As we wrap up our two-part In Memoriam for 2022 by honoring women with famous names and faces, we also pay tribute to those who were less visible yet made significant contributions to TV, movies, news, and science. This celebration is the perfect time to reflect on the importance of acting as a champion for other women. Their success does not detract from our own—instead, it strengthens us all. The wonderful women featured in this episode will continue to entertain and teach and inform us for decades thanks to syndication. They are why I podcast.

MENTIONS AND REFERENCES (We encourage you to visit your local bookseller or library.)

Women Who Reported Watergate (July 2, 2017 podcast) https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/03c5bd3d-4d3b-44b0-a801-3fff167bf26e.mp3

Audition: A Memoir by Barbara Walters https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2847470-audition

Kirstie Alley - List of Works https://www.biblio.com/kirstie-alley/author/15520

Nichelle Nichols on Martin Luther King, Jr. https://youtu.be/zrzygziT11I

Beyond Uhura by Nichelle Nichols https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/672094.Beyond_Uhura

Sacheen Littlefeather was a Native American icon. Her sisters say she was an ethnic fraud https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/Sacheen-Littlefeather-oscar-Native-pretendian-17520648.php

Louise Fletcher Wins Best Actress: 48th Oscars (1976) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGl5U7nNlkY

Dizzy & Jimmy by Liz Sheridan https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/dizzy--jimmy-my-life-with-james-dean--a-love-story_liz-sheridan/348349/

Reeling Back by Michael Walsh https://reelingback.com/articles/creative_women_needed

CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA BEMIS ABRAMS

Website & Podcast Archive - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/

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

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

Our In Memoriam episodes have become an annual tradition. As the universe of known, talented women in TV gets larger every year, so too does the number of women that we honor. In this first of two episodes, we highlight some of the women of music and theatre who made significant contributions to our culture and society.

We lost some very big names in 2022, but as you've come to expect with these episodes, we also celebrate the talent and achievements of those who were not quite thought of as a "big name."

REFERENCES AND MENTIONS In Memoriam:

Pat Carroll: Gertrude Stein was never a bore https://www.csmonitor.com/1981/0108/010861.html

Olivia Newton-John - the Making of "Physical" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXitXrVsndg

Olivia Newton-John on Murphy Brown https://youtu.be/YrwqwZ02gM0

In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory, host Cynthia Bemis Abrams welcomes Mallory Lewis, daughter of legendary puppeteer Shari Lewis, for an engaging discussion about her book, Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop: The Team That Changed Children’s Television. Published by the University of Kentucky Press, the book chronicles Shari’s extraordinary career, from her childhood beginnings to her groundbreaking work as a businesswoman, entertainer, and advocate for quality children’s programming.

While Shari Lewis passed away in 1998, her iconic puppet Lamb Chop continues to delight audiences with the help of Mallory. The conversation explores Shari’s influence on children’s television, the challenges she faced in the entertainment industry, and the enduring magic of Lamb Chop, Charlie Horse, and Hush Puppy.

Shari Lewis remains one of the most influential figures in children’s television, blending entertainment, education, and interactive storytelling. In this episode, Cynthia and Mallory discuss:

• Shari’s commitment to quality programming and her battle against commercialized children's television.
• How Shari’s death in 1998 led to legal and ownership challenges regarding her work.
• The revival of Lamb Chop and how Mallory carries on her mother’s legacy.
• Real-life lessons from Shari’s career, including practice, preparation, and mastering your craft.

Referenced Shows and Networks:

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

Guest Resources:

• Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop: The Team That Changed Children’s Television – Nat Segaloff & Mallory Lewis (University of Kentucky Press)
• https://www.kentuckypress.com/9780813196268/shari-lewis-and-lamb-chop/

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/

Angela Lansbury's remarkable career spanned generations and mediums — from her early days at MGM to her iconic portrayal of Jessica Fletcher in Murder, She Wrote. In this tribute episode, Advanced TV Herstory host Cynthia Bemis Abrams is joined by Professor Bridget Kies of Oakland University to celebrate Lansbury's creative influence and enduring presence in film, television, and theater.

Listeners will hear reflections on Lansbury's professionalism, acclaim, and her unwavering commitment to complex female characters. Drawing from Kies' academic work and upcoming book, this episode examines Lansbury's impact on feminist storytelling and her role as a symbol of older women's visibility on screen.

Topics include:

• Lansbury's Emmy nominations and overlooked wins;
• Her legacy through Murder, She Wrote and its cultural relevance;
• Representation of older women in TV; and
• Reflections from Lansbury's personal archive Insight from the Cabot Cove Gazette podcast.

Referenced podcast: Cabot Cove Gazette https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cabot-cove-gazette-a-murder-she-wrote-podcast/id1592905783

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/