Pop Culture’s Depth and Impact
Pop culture''s depth and impact is on display every year at the Pop Culture Association national conference. I attended this year's gathering Chicago, joining media and cultural studies folks from around the world. It is fascinating to see the array of panels on television, anime, film, literature and digital media. Yes, I scout the panels and speakers for potential guests. Further,...
Women Characters in the Military
Veterans Day was approaching, which got me thinking about TV's women characters in the military. In my November newsletter, I listed TV series that featured women in traditional service. I didn't recognize my tunnel vision. Novelist, coach and podcaster Beth Barany reminded me of those I missed. Namely, the TV women characters in the military in space: Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, and Killjoys (2015-2019). Beth...
Annie Potts!
TV and film actor Annie Potts came on Advanced TV Herstory to discuss her new charity dedicated to helping others. It’s often said, usually when one is debating whether or not to do something, that “you can’t get a hit if you don’t swing.” A few weeks ago I stumbled upon a social media post about Annie Potts and the...
The State of Trust: Podcasters Score Big
This month, Acast, the world’s largest independent podcast company, released some fascinating findings of listener opinions. Acast reports that half of all U.S. podcast listeners consider podcasters the most trustworthy sources of information. YouTube comes in second. Mainstream journalism seems to have lost a lot of ground where credibility is concerned. My past is filled with numerous roles where I...
Vanessa Redgrave Memoir, a book recommendation
Vanessa Redgrave memoir is worth reading, even if you know little or nothing about the famous actor. Before reading her 1994 autobiography, I only knew “of” Redgrave. I had seen a few of her films (Julia, Howard’s End), and heard her narrate as Nurse Lee on TV’s Call the Midwife. Further, I was aware of her reputation as a committed activist....
Televised Women’s Sports Drama: Summer Edition
Televised women’s sports delivered some great change this summer. Worldwide, sports will never be the same. Let's take a look at some of the drama. Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales kissed women soccer players who had just won the 2023 Women’s World Cup. His stunning behavior detracted from Spain’s historic win and the team’s amazing play. Each month, we...
SAG-AFTRA & The WGA: The Virtual Picket Line
SAG-AFTRA and the WGA strike of 2023 holds great implications for the entertainment industry, amid a sea of technological and economic change. Our mission is to connect the dots of TV and feminism to American culture and politics. This massive effort by Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists is a...
Before Fran Drescher
Before Fran Drescher (star of TV's The Nanny) made headlines about entertainment industry labor struggles, the future of TV and film seemed solid. No one can dispute the powerful role TV and entertainment plays in today’s world, but is it in jeopardy? Advanced TV Herstory’s organic evolution has certainly been steered by the headlines of the last eight years. SAG-AFTRA and the...
Feminist TV History Podcast: Preparing for Progress
This is the script for our 8th anniversary episode (July 2023) Feminist TV history podcast celebrates its 8th anniversary with a look back, and forward! Happy Anniversary, listeners! It was in late June 2015 that I jumped into podcasting. I chose as my topical area the vast HIStory of television that had been little discussed, barely written about. I wanted to...