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Welcome to Advanced TV Herstory, the podcast that connects the dots of TV & feminism and American politics & culture. We tell the stories of women in TV who have had a profound impact on the confidence and aspirations of generations of girls and women.

We highlight the pioneering journalists, talented actresses, and gutsy writers who challenged societal norms and provide historical context for their achievements within the cultural and political trends of the time. By exploring the past, we ensure that the struggles, triumphs, and milestones of these women are not lost to history.

Hosted and produced by television scholar Cynthia Bemis Abrams, Advanced TV Herstory is more than just a podcast. It is a research-based examination of the evolution of television and women in our society. Each episode is an opportunity to inspire listeners to believe in themselves, challenge norms, break barriers, and shape the future of television and our world.

Learn more and subscribe to our newsletter at www.tvherstory.com/.

Jan 5, 2016

No podcast on women in television is complete without a long hard look at the life and career of Lucille Ball. Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams found that even with a lot of research, Lucy left this world as a bit of a mystery. There's just not much written. Ball seemed to have kept wisdom to herself (or at least kept it closely held). Cynthia navigates Ball's public appearances and statements gleaned from available sources, finding points where Ball's humility and pride are profound. Kennedy Center Honors and then-Pres. Ronald Reagan celebrated Ball, but it's important to understand the contexts of Ball's run in with the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and Communist blacklisting. There's the marriage and divorce from the Desi Arnaz and how it resulted in a settlement that included the studio. From talk shows to famous quotes, Cynthia walks a detailed history that makes Lucille Ball a solid feminist.Cynthia Bemis Abrams

Great resource: Stefan Kanfer's Ball of Fire: The Tumultuous Life & Comic Art of Lucille Ball.

* Two TV interview clips (Johnny Carson Tonight Show 1969 and a Barbara Walters Special 1977) retrieved from YouTube contain background noise that we were unable to filter out.