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.

Feminist Lessons from The Judy Garland Show: Part 5

Feb 1, 2019

What role does Judy Garland and her short-lived TV series play in TV Herstory? This episode explores storytelling, persistence, and sexism in entertainment, offering modern lessons on power within television. Cynthia is joined by Emmy-nominated performer and Garland scholar Angela Ingersoll to discuss Judy’s impact...

Iconic Guests & Duets of The Judy Garland Show: Part 4

Feb 1, 2019

Episode 5.4 focuses on The Judy Garland Show’s groundbreaking guest appearances and musical performances. Cynthia Bemis Abrams and Angela Ingersoll explore how Judy Garland’s series brought together some of the most influential talents of the era, from Broadway legends like Ethel Merman to rising stars like...

Wild Network Demands: The Judy Garland Show Falters Part 3

Feb 1, 2019

In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory, Cynthia Bemis Abrams and Emmy-nominated performer Angela Ingersoll take a hard look at the monumental production pressures Judy Garland faced during her legendary CBS variety show. The Judy Garland Show was given an unprecedented budget, setting high standards in production...

Framing Judy Garland’s Feminist Life Via Her TV Show: Part 2

Feb 1, 2019

In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory, Cynthia Bemis Abrams and Emmy-nominated performer and Garland scholar Angela Ingersoll return to examine the 50th anniversary of Judy Garland’s passing. With a deep dive into The Judy Garland Show, Cynthia and Angela explore the male-dominated narratives that shaped Garland’s...

Judy Garland's TV Breakthrough: The Judy Garland Show's Impact - Part 1

Feb 1, 2019

In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory, host Cynthia Bemis Abrams dives into the fascinating world of Judy Garland’s short-lived yet legendary CBS variety show, The Judy Garland Show. Joined by Emmy-nominated performer and Judy Garland scholar Angela Ingersoll, this is the first of a five-part series exploring the...