During COVID-19, Advanced TV Herstory host Cynthia Bemis Abrams and Summer Martin of The Unconventional Woman Podcast spoke at length about role models and memorable characters, and what they meant for us, our aunties, mothers and friendships. They discussed the kinds of characters audiences find relatable, based on age, self-esteem, ethnic diversity and naivete.

Cynthia and Summer also discuss the powerful impressions of Freddie Brooks of A Different World, The Flying Nun's Sister Bertille and Homeland's Carrie Mathison. Temple University student Maryam Muhammad adds her perspective on Cree Summer's Freddie Brooks.

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

Freddie Brooks, Sister Bertrille, Carrie Mathison, Sally Field, Claire Danes, Cree Summer, representation on TV, COVID-19, teenage influence, role models on TV, TV women of color, cable original programming, anti-heroes, self-determination, agency

Cynthia Bemis Abrams, host of Advanced TV Herstory sits down for a deep COVID Zoom chat with Summer Martin of The Unconventional Woman Podcast about role models & memorable characters and what they meant for us, our aunties, mothers and friendships.

We discuss the impact of Freddie Brooks of A Different World, Mary Richards of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Cosby Show's Clair Huxtable and others on us and generations older and younger. Temple University student Maryam Muhammad adds her perspective on Cree Summer's Freddie Brooks.

- - - - -

Maryam Muhammad, student at Temple University and blogger at Medium, a place where writers, influencers and podcasters get the word out. Find her work at

Instagram: @NeptunesNegress

Summer Martin, co-host and podcaster

Twitter @summerygory, Instagram: unconventional _woman

podcast https://www.tuwpodcast.com/

In 1994, Margaret Cho made TV history as the star of All-American Girl, the first network sitcom with an all-Asian-American cast. In this conversation with Ashley Pacini of The Reel Women and Cynthia Bemis Abrams of Advanced TV Herstory, Cho reflects on the series' groundbreaking legacy and how representation in Hollywood has (and hasn't) evolved.

The discussion explores:

• Lessons from All-American Girl and its cultural significance;
• How white allies can better support underrepresented creatives;
• Building a stronger PoC talent pipeline; and
• Surviving and adapting as a stand-up comedian during COVID lockdown.

Cho also shares advice from her decades in comedy, writing, and production by offering insights for anyone working toward greater diversity and equity in entertainment.

Resources and shoutouts:

The Margaret Cho Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-margaret-cho/id1470515305)

Margaret Cho's memoir I'm the One That I Want (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28356.I_m_the_One_That_I_Want)

Margaret Cho Official Website (https://margaretcho.com/)

The Reel Women (https://thereelwomen.com/)

Arcus Behavioral Health & Wellness (https://www.arcusbehavioralhealth.com/)

CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA and ADVANCED TV HERSTORY

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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/

TV and film professional Pepper Reed shares her path from acting to script supervising to directing. In this episode guest-hosted by Ashley Pacini, Pepper discusses how her work in sci-fi and fantasy genres intersects with her training, her thoughts on ageism, and the importance of professional goal-setting.

As a longtime collaborator with The Reel Women, Pepper's story is one of grit, growth, and intentional networking. Ashley and Pepper discuss the creative and leadership responsibilities of a director, and benefits of formal training in writing and supervision.

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/

This episode of Advanced TV Herstory continues the Reel Women series and spotlights the dynamic Chanel Glover — a filmmaker, teacher, lawyer, and playwright whose work centers queer people of color and real-life storytelling.

Co-hosted by Cynthia Bemis Abrams and Ashley Pacini, the conversation explores Chanel’s career pivot from attorney and educator to screenwriter, and how advocacy informs her creative lens. Chanel discusses the need for systemic change in Hollywood, the inspiration behind her project Sex is a God Thing, and how her identity as a queer Black woman drives the stories she tells.

• Navigating a creative career after law and teaching
• How advocacy shows up in screenwriting
• Building stories around real experiences of marginalized people
• The Reel Women initiative's support of women in filmed entertainment
• Crafting empowering and humorous stories with intention

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/

Chicago-based director and cinematographer Sanicole Young joins Advanced TV Herstory host Cynthia Bemis Abrams and guest co-host Ashley Pacini of The Reel Women, to discuss her journey in filmmaking, education, and rising through the entertainment industry outside the typical Hollywood path. In this intimate conversation, Sanicole reflects on her creative process, the importance of representation, and the inspiration behind her short film Training Wheels.

• Exploring career choices beyond LA & NY
• Chicago's indie film scene and Sanicole’s creative roots
• Insights on her education at Columbia College
• Inspiration from Eve’s Bayou and Black storytelling
• Collaboration with The Reel Women and their impact

This episode is part of Advanced TV Herstory’s ongoing collaboration with The Reel Women to spotlight emerging women creatives shaping the industry from behind the camera.

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/

Every year host Cynthia Bemis Abrams provides an annual report of her experience producing Advanced TV Herstory. This year, she shares observations about the timeliness and relevance of the Broadcast 41 series and a conversation with Univ. of North Carolina professor and author Dr. Charlene Regester. Cynthia offers up an item from the podcast bucket list (which may become an episode of its own soon) which has to do with a talented showrunner who was driven from the industry 30 years ago. There's a book update and forecast about how collaboration with other like-missioned people and organizations will drive the coming year.

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/

Danielle Earle is a filmmaker, educator, and founder of PLEntertainment. In this episode, she joins Cynthia and Reel Women collaborator Ashley Pacini to discuss how she balances a career in production with her role as a digital media teacher at Orange High School in New Jersey.

Key topics include:

• Danielle’s career path from animator to live-action filmmaker
• The mission behind her web series Brooklyn Is in Love
• Creating opportunities for students through internships and mentorship
• Shonda Rhimes’ influence on Danielle's career
• Building a sustainable career through networking and resilience

This episode is part of a series profiling rising women in TV, film, and digital media.

As streaming service Sundance Now unveils the Australian psychological thriller The Secrets She Keeps, co-star Jessica de Gouw talks with Advanced TV Herstory host Cynthia Bemis Abrams about the series. Also in COVID lockdown, Jessica discusses her past roles in historical and fantasy dramas and the increasingly diverse world of international TV. Jessica's recent prominent roles in series produced in the US, UK and Australia include that of Elizabeth Hawkes in (2016) Underground , Wilhelmina "Mina" Murray in Dracula from 2013-14, in 2019's The Hunting and as Lucy Lindsay-Hogg in The Crown (2019).

Sundance Now is AMC Networks' premiere streaming service for engrossing true crime, heart-stopping dramas and fiercely intelligent thrillers from around the world. The Secrets She Keeps is based on a novel of the same name by Michael Robotham. Early in the episode, Jessica mentioned she has just finished viewing (and highly recommends) HBO's I May Destroy You.

Advanced TV Herstory host Cynthia Bemis Abrams thinks it's important to discuss children's programming and animated storytelling as the cultural influencers. "A story is a story is a story," says veteran TV writer Nina Bargiel who's been spinning live-action and animated yarns for years. Nina is an LA-based TV writer and producer who currently writes on Mao Mao, Heroes of Pure Heart (Cartoon Network) and has other projects percolating.

Nina describes her writing philosophy and goals, which focus on crafting stories in which kids see themselves, as well as are entertained. She and her brother co-wrote the coming-of-age bra episode for Lizzie McGuire, a 2001 Disney Channel classic. Earlier this month (during COVID lockdown), Hilary Duff led the the cast for a Zoom table read of this fan-favorite episode as a fundraiser.

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/