Welcome to Season 2: Advanced TV Herstory w/Cynthia Bemis Abrams, Part 1

80s TV Ladies

Welcome to 80’s TV Ladies: Season Two!
Susan and Sharon kick-off the new season with Cynthia Bemis-Abrams, the host of sister podcast “Advanced TV Herstory” -- a fascinating deep dive into the backstory of women in television, that connects the dots between TV, feminism, American culture and politics.
In Part One of a two-part conversation, we’ll talk about the shows, actresses and characters that stood out as landmarks for women over the past five decades. We also tease what’s coming up as Susan and Sharon turn their attention from one-hour mysteries to half-hour comedies including “Designing Women”, “227”, “A Different World” and “It’s A Living”!
THE CONVERSATION

• What does one do when the kids have gone off to college and “some old people have died”? If you’re Cynthia Bemis-Abrams YOU START A PODCAST!
• How Charlie’s Angels (and women’s tennis?!) helped Cynthia find her way toward what she wanted to be.
• 80’s MONIED MATRIARCHS: Jane Wyman of Falcon Crest, Barbara Bel Geddes of Dallas and the importance of BIG power, BIG hair – and BIG SHOULDER PADS!
• SAVING FAMILY DINNERS: When you’re struggling to find common ground with older relatives at family functions, ask them what their favorite shows from the 60’s and 70’s were…. And WHY.
• From James L. Brooks to Barney Rosenzweig: how feminist men helped women writers and directors advance in Television.
• The importance of staking out time and space to recognize and elevate women’s achievements – and why it’s so hard for women to do…
• Some favorite episodes of “Advanced TV Herstory”: Robin Means Coleman on “A Different World”; Margaret Cho on “American Girl” and Linda Bloodworth-Thomason’s game-changing “Designing Women” episode “They Shoot Fat Women, Don’t They?”
• The Legend of the “Difficult Woman” – how do powerful, creative women navigate a career through the maze of male Hollywood?
• Betty Thomas, we want to interview you!
• What is it like living a mile from Mary Tyler Moore’s apartment?!

So join Susan, Sharon – and Cynthia – as they talk what to do about "problematic men", “WKRP in Cincinnati” turkeys – and the importance of a good VHS cassette.
Thank you all so much for joining us as we begin our journey into Season Two of 80’s TV Ladies!
Tell us what shows you love -- Go to 80sTVLadies.com and give us feedback.
AUDIOGRAPHY
Cynthia Bemis-Abrams podcast “Advanced TV Herstory”
Find Advanced TV Herstory on Twitter.
Find Kenya Rothstein’s podcast, “Thank You For Saying NO”
Check out Totally 80s 90s Recall podcast.
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