Advanced TV Herstory

Connect the dots of TV and feminism to American culture and politics with host Cynthia Bemis Abrams. Interviews with top names - in front of and behind the scenes - offer insights into TV that has shaped American culture and influenced the world. Check out episodes with actors Annie Potts, Margaret Cho, Stepfanie Kramer of Hunter, Kim Fields of Facts of Life and Living Single, and daytime's Cady McClain. Television veteran writers Georgia Jeffries, Victoria Riskin and April Smith are featured in episodes that explain storytelling as a writing craft. These discussions will forever change how you watch TV. Explore issues of race through interviews with academics Robin Means-Coleman and Charlene Regester, and influencer Karly Beaumont. Ever since the #MeToo Movement of 2017-18, Cynthia has highlighted key episodes and events surrounding sexual harassment - fictional and real life. With listeners around the world, Cynthia celebrates the progress of representation in media and captures the stories and insights that make TV a powerful storyteller and mirror of truth. In 2025, Cynthia started revealing more about the book she and a colleague are writing. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at www.tvherstory.com. Promise, your data will never be sold.

Diana Ross' 1983 Central Park Concert: TV and Music Herstory

Dec 2, 2015

Podcast Episode Description

In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory, host Cynthia Bemis Abrams explores Diana Ross’ legendary 1983 Central Park concert, where music and leadership collided amidst a torrential downpour. Discover how Ross captivated a bi-racial crowd, managed chaos with grace, and turned a challenging...

Treva Silverman: Writing Herstory on MTM - Part 3

Nov 23, 2015

Treva Silverman, the primary writer for The Mary Tyler Moore Show, broke ground as one of the few women in the writers' room during television's golden age. In this episode, Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, author of Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted, joins host Cynthia Bemis Abrams to discuss Silverman’s career, legacy, and...

MTM’s Women Writers: Casting, Fashion & Rhoda - Part 2

Nov 18, 2015

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.

Armstrong shares...

MTM Women Writers: Chuckles, Rhoda & Reform - Part 1

Nov 12, 2015

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...

6 Lost Episodes of Cagney and Lacey

Nov 6, 2015

In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory, host Cynthia Bemis Abrams delves into the complexities and groundbreaking elements of the Emmy award-winning police drama series, Cagney & Lacey. The episode offers an in-depth examination of the show's early years, highlighting its struggle for stability amidst...