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Love TV? TV women have brought us great lessons in leadership, achievement and diligence. It’s time their stories are told and in many cases, placed in the proper context of the women’s movement, social change and political trends. Representation of women on TV – whether it’s in the news, programming schedule or sports – is a fraction of the amount of screen time men get. Yet every generation of women is profoundly impacted by what they see. It’s more than the memory of watching it, it’s the confidence that if a girl or woman sees another doing it, she is more likely to believe in herself.

Advanced TV Herstory connects the dots of TV and feminism with American politics and culture. Within each episode, we zero in on the life lessons discovered through research and analysis. Shows from every era and genre, and the women who made them, get their place in the spotlight. 

Hosted and produced by Cynthia Bemis Abrams

Oct 18, 2018

The series Charmed, originally airing from 1998 to 2006 on the WB, can now be seen as a TV classic. Charmed tells the story of the three (sometimes four) Halliwell sisters who discover that they're powerful witches with the duty to fight all matter of evil.

With the 2018 reboot of Charmed premiering just earlier this week and declaring itself a "fierce, funny, and feminist reboot of the original," it's a prime opportunity to ask the question: is the original Charmed actually feminist? How does it compare to the reboot?

In this episode, we discuss Charmed's roots, its central themes, and the unwavering activism of two of its main actresses, Alyssa Milano and Rose McGowan, in the #MeToo movement. On top of that, we include a very brief history of feminism with reference to an amazing article by Constance Grady written for Vox.com.

Enjoy & thanks for listening!

Links

History of waves of feminism
https://www.vox.com/2018/3/20/16955588/feminism-waves-explained-first-second-third-fourth

Charmed actresses reaction to reboot
https://news.avclub.com/none-of-the-original-charmed-actresses-are-into-the-reb-1828306336

Brad Kern's Firing
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/02/arts/television/brad-kern-cbs-fired.html

Tarana Burke & MeToo
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/20/us/me-too-movement-tarana-burke.html

Alyssa Milano & MeToo
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2017/dec/01/alyssa-milano-mee-too-sexual-harassment-abuse

Rose McGowan Memoir
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2018/01/29/11-big-revelations-from-rose-mcgowans-memoir-brave-including-her-childhood-in-a-cult/?utm_term=.77ef5bd17c0e