Preview Mode Links will not work in preview mode

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/.

  1. All Episodes
  2. WGA, MTM and Hollywood Stories with Victoria Riskin

WGA, MTM and Hollywood Stories with Victoria Riskin

Sep 12, 2023

Hollywood legacy meets union leadership in this revealing conversation with Victoria Riskin. A second-generation screenwriter and former President of the Writers Guild of America West, Riskin brings stories from inside the industry’s golden era—and the picket lines of today.

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams and Riskin discuss the evolving power dynamics between writers and studios, tracing the WGA's long fight for equity. With insights into Riskin's parents—Oscar-winning screenwriter Robert Riskin and King Kong star Fay Wray—this episode blends personal history, feminist storytelling, and behind-the-scenes power plays in television and film.

You’ll hear about:

  • The Writers Guild’s formation and Riskin’s presidency

  • Her father’s battle for writer recognition in 1930s Hollywood

  • Stories of Norman Lear, Mary Tyler Moore, Carl Reiner, and Larry Gelbart

  • Victoria’s global human rights advocacy and leadership


Riskin is also the author of Fay Wray and Robert Riskin: A Hollywood Memoir, a sweeping family chronicle that echoes the very themes this episode explores.


Referenced Resources: