Advanced TV Herstory

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/.

Pioneer Women Writers of TV with Annie Berke, PhD

Oct 10, 2023

Advanced TV Herstory’s commitment to connecting the dots of TV & feminism and American politics & culture continues with an examination of the pioneering women writers during the early days of TV.

My guest, Annie Berke, PhD, is the author of Their Own Best Creations: Women Writers in Postwar Television, part of...

A Look at TV Sitcom Very Special Episodes Featuring Author/Historian Lee Gambin - Part 1

Apr 6, 2023

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...

Women of The Americans

Apr 14, 2022

Cold War espionage with an 80s feminist touch - The Americans (FX, 2013-2018) gave us a new form of anti-hero in Elizabeth Jennings, played by Keri Russell. Cynthia and guest author Linda Mizejewski discuss the award-winning series' women, its commitment to accuracy and the bold approach of depicting spies as real...

TV's Single Women Caregivers and Gimme A Break!

Aug 23, 2018

In taking a look at Jeanine Furino's book All the Single Girls, the lead character single woman caregiver has evolved over 60 years. This episode looks at its historical context of 50s and 60s society as well as 1981's Gimme A Break!, which re-introduced us to a mammy character. Dr. Jennifer Fuller of Miami University...

Tending the Fandom

Jul 26, 2018

Women writers & directors bring a distinct lens to their jobs, so too have Dorothy Swanson and Liz Prugh led fan movements in ways that have benefited many. Hear more about how Swanson's "Viewers for Quality Television" grassroots efforts organized fans in the 80s & 90s to encourage and save excellent programming. Liz...