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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/.

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  2. Ann Curry, Jane Pauley & the Politics of Morning TV

Ann Curry, Jane Pauley & the Politics of Morning TV

Mar 20, 2017

This episode unpacks two defining moments in morning news history: the high-profile departures of Ann Curry and Jane Pauley from The Today Show. Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams draws clear lines between media misogyny, power dynamics, and ageism—calling out the roles of Matt Lauer, Bryant Gumbel, and network leadership in both exits. Cynthia also weaves in ABC's Kelly Ripa and her modern approach to power, branding, and defiance.

Topics covered:
  • Ann Curry’s emotional on-air goodbye and NBC’s year-long campaign to force her out.

  • Jane Pauley’s quiet replacement by Deborah Norville in 1989.

  • Media bias, sexism, and ageism across generations of women in broadcast news.

  • Kelly Ripa’s refusal to quietly fade after Regis’s departure.

Resources:

CNN's coverage of Curry's departure from The Today Show https://youtu.be/uVUfFUKXaUA?si=1sU7CiGZfx1aBV-s

 Brian Stelter's (then a reporter for the New York Times) 2013 book, Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV.  https://brianstelter.com/

 

YouTube (Audio Only):
https://youtu.be/eYYN02x6F9Y?si=fRTIeOZtk0Esp18M