In the last 10-20 years, attitudes toward LGBTQ+ people in America have shifted due to more positive visibility and evolving cultural norms. Cynthia takes a look at two moments from 1970s television that revealed glimpses of LGBTQ+ allyship—a talk show and a 1974 Police Woman.
In 1970, June Lockhart appeared on The Virginia Graham Show and stopped the hostess in her tracks, pushing back on stereotypes and tropes common for the time. And the story of how a 54-year-old clip is available for viewing is its own testament to advocacy. LGBTQ+ scholar and media documentarian Steven Capsuto's book, Alternate Channels, helped Cynthia connect the June Lockhart dot to a Police Woman episode.
Capsuto's book is an essential work for every media, gender, and social justice scholar. He traces television and even radio's early depiction of mostly gay characters and the absence of lesbians. His book also details the LGBTQ+ community's organization and support from straight allies that fought against distorted and ugly depictions of gay and lesbian characters in television and film for more than 75 years.
The overall trend in American society has been toward greater understanding and support for LGBTQ+ people and this is, to a significant degree, the result of advocates and allies pushing for more positive and diverse characterizations in popular culture. Television largely ignored lesbians until the 1970s and even then, the characters were bitter, violent, and unstable. With just a few sentences, June Lockhart, in real life, and Angie Dickinson, as Sgt. Pepper Anderson, showed viewers the power of LGBTQ+ allyship.
Della Reese (1931-2017) was a singer, talk show host, actor, ordained minister, and much more. Her career, which spanned seven decades, was marked by faith, resilience, and her ability to break barriers in predominantly white and male-dominated industries.
In 1969, Ms. Reese made history as the first black woman to host her own talk show. Almost more variety show than talk show, every episode offered an entertaining mix of sketch comedy, music, and interviews.
Before her own talk show, Ms. Reese established herself as a prominent television personality by appearing and performing on shows led by Merv Griffin, Ed Sullivan, Phil Donahue, and Johnny Carson. In fact, she was chosen as the first black woman to sub for Johnny Carson as host of the Tonight Show.
In her 1997 memoir, “Angels Along the Way: My Life with Help from Above,” Ms. Reese reflects on the challenges she faced and overcame throughout her life, including racism and financial exploitation, while maintaining a steadfast commitment to helping others. It’s an inspirational look at a remarkable life.
A video version of this episode is on our YouTube Channel @advancedtvherstory.
We continue to celebrate the female voices that have provided a foundation for cultural advancement and modern discourse by featuring a rare TV talk show appearance by two-time Academy Award winner Vivien Leigh.
The year was 1958. The show was “Small World,” hosted by American broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow. Appearing alongside Ms. Leigh are motion picture executive Samuel Goldwyn and British writer and entertainment critic Kenneth Tynan. Ms. Leigh, best known for her work as Scarlett O’Hara in “Gone with the Wind” and Blanche DuBois in “A Streetcar Named Desire,” died in 1967 at the age of 53, but her legacy remains profound. And, while some of the opinions in this broadcast would be considered outdated now, you’ll hear that Ms. Leigh was not afraid to mix it up with some of the most strident male voices of her day.
As always, thank you for listening. For the video version of this episode, visit @advancedtvherstory on YouTube. 03/13/2024
Welcome to the next episode in our special series on TV Talk Shows.
Big talk show moments, especially the controversial ones, provide snapshots that we can use to examine our politics and culture at a singular point in time. Some of the moments we discuss in this series may be unfamiliar to you or they may seem obscure or forgotten, but that’s the point. We’re here to preserve TV Herstory.
Today, when alternative facts are part of our daily life, it’s especially instructive to look back more than 40 years at a grudge match over Truth and Reputation that played out on The Dick Cavett Show in 1980 and beyond. The combatants were two opinionated, strong-willed women: playwright/author Lillian Hellman and novelist/critic Mary McCarthy. Thank you for listening to Advanced TV Herstory. I encourage you to learn more about these women. 12/13/23
Join host Cynthia Bemis Abrams as she launches a new limited series, TV Talk Shows, part of the Advanced TV Herstory podcast.
In this first episode, Cynthia delves into a study that reveals women are more prominently featured in unscripted television shows than in scripted ones—another example of the industry’s inclination to front women in projects that are less expensive to produce. She also touches on the recent strikes by SAG-AFTRA and the WGA, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and representation in scripted television.
Cynthia then outlines the focus of the TV Talk Shows series, which will explore the historical context, memorable moments, and surprising controversies surrounding unscripted hosts and guests. The episode concludes by acknowledging the pioneering achievements of Della Reese as the first black woman to fill in for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show and Betty White's stance against the broadcast network executives who were reluctant to feature performers of color on her 1950s talk and variety show. 11/17/23
This Mother's Day we celebrate the women who raise us, nurture and help us find our inner strength and outer voice. Typically, they are our mothers or stepmothers—but they also can be foster moms, grandparents, neighbors, dance teachers—any woman who holds a mirror up to our potential. They often enter our lives without warning and change us forever—though sometimes it takes years for us to realize it.
These are my thoughts on Victoria Rowell’s compelling 2007 memoir, The Women Who Raised Me. Ms. Rowell spent her youth in the foster care system. But with the help of many dedicated and caring women, she became an accomplished dancer and successful actor. Her memoir is a tribute to the women who raised her, and she describes them in loving and vivid detail.
“I was never meant to be raised by one mother, but by many.” - Victoria Rowell
Ms. Rowell is a two-time Emmy Award nominee and has received 11 NAACP Image Awards. She is perhaps best known for her 20+ years on The Young and the Restless and eight seasons on Diagnosis: Murder. Rowell continues to act (look for Summer Camp in theaters May 31, 2024) and write, direct, and produce. Additionally, she has been recognized for her work with foster children and advocacy for education, the arts, and mental health awareness, support, and treatment.
Cynthia welcomes Yvonne Perry (ATWT's original Rosanna Cabot) to talk about her work as an intimacy coordinator, primarily for theater. Yvonne is an award-winning actor, drama teacher, director, and intimacy coordinator. Perry originated the role of Rosanna Cabot on "As the World Turns." Yvonne's experience in daytime TV, with its groundbreaking story lines and thoughtful intimacy handling, has informed her approach to work today.
Cynthia and Yvonne reflect on the wins in the 2023 SAG-AFTRA contract, including new standards and protocols for the use of intimacy coordinators. Yvonne discusses her experience working in this emerging field and the value of providing a respectful and collaborative environment for actors, directors, and crew members. Yvonne also shares fun and informative stories from along her career path, including an important lesson she learned as Rosanna Cabot, her first kiss in front of the camera, the relationship between fight choreography and intimacy direction, what major league ballplayers think about daytime TV, and much more. 2/06/24
In this episode, Cynthia virtually sit down with Emmy Award-winning actress Cady McClain to explore her groundbreaking career in daytime television. Best known for her role as Dixie Cooney on All My Children, Cady became the first actor to win Daytime Emmys for performances on three different soap operas. This two-part interview delves into her early beginnings as a child actor, her rise to fame as part of a daytime TV super couple, and her transition to directing and arts advocacy. Discover how Cady’s creative journey reflects the evolving role of women in television, both in front of and behind the camera 3/30/20
In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory, host Cynthia Bemis Abrams continues her conversation with Emmy Award-winning actress Cady McClain. Best known for her iconic role as Dixie Cooney on All My Children, Cady shares her experiences transitioning from daytime TV star to accomplished director and arts advocate. Through her documentary Seeing is Believing: Women Direct, Cady highlights the struggles and triumphs of female filmmakers, offering insights into the creative process and the resilience required to thrive in the entertainment industry. Tune in as Cynthia and Cady explore how storytelling, representation, and the arts drive meaningful change in media and beyond. 3/30/20
In the first episode of the Her Stories series, Cynthia Bemis Abrams and Dr. Elana Levine explore the history of soap operas and their cultural significance. They discuss how pioneers like Irna Phillips, Agnes Nixon, and William Bell used the genre to address complex social issues, including reproductive rights, family dynamics, and societal taboos. This episode examines the rise of daytime dramas from radio to television, revealing how women writers and producers shaped the medium and gave voice to women's stories in groundbreaking ways.
4/15/20
In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory, host Cynthia Bemis Abrams continues the conversation with Dr. Elana Levine, author of Her Stories: Daytime Soap Opera and US Television History. Dr. Levine delves into how advances in TV production technology shaped storytelling, leading to increasingly sophisticated visuals and outrageous narratives. Together, they explore how soap operas transitioned to longer arcs, citing memorable examples like General Hospital’s “Summer on the Run” and Nola’s Hollywood fantasies in The Guiding Light. They discuss how these stories reflected and shaped American culture while drawing audiences into dramatic escapism. 4/19/20
Enjoy audio context clips from As the World Turns, All My Children, The Young Daytime dramas reshaped TV herstory, tackling complex societal issues such as adoptions, reproductive rights, and rape. Dr. Elana Levine provides insights into how soap operas mirrored social changes from the 1960s to today. This episode explores the limited roles for actors of color, often sidelined to secondary storylines, and the centrality of white "super couples." Audio clips from As the World Turns, All My Children, The Young and the Restless, and Ryan's Hope enrich the discussion. Dr. Levine's book Her Stories (Duke Univ. Press) serves as the foundation for this compelling four-part series.
Dr. Elana Levine is a Professor of Media, Cinema and Digital Studies in the Department of English at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Levine's recently published Her Stories (Duke Univ. Press) forms the backbone of this 4-part series on soap operas. 4/22/20
Dr. Elana Levine and Cynthia Bemis Abrams wrap up this engaging four-part series by examining the downfall of daytime dramas. They discuss the economic pressures, evolving audience demographics, and shifts in network decision-making that led to the genre's decline. Topics include advertising revenue challenges, the rise of alternative entertainment platforms, and the lasting impact of soap operas on television storytelling. Dr. Levine, author of Her Stories and professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, offers her expert insights into how these shows attempted to adapt and what ultimately replaced the serial drama format.
4/27/20
In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory, host Cynthia Bemis Abrams explores the cultural significance of daytime dramas with television scholar Dr. Elana Levine. Together, they examine how soap operas pushed boundaries and introduced groundbreaking storylines, from interracial relationships and birth control to HIV awareness. Learn how women writers and producers used daytime television to address controversial topics and reflect societal changes, leaving a lasting impact on the evolution of American television. Dr. Levine shares insights from her extensive research and forthcoming book, Her Stories: Daytime Soap Operas and US Television History. 2/8/17
In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory, host Cynthia Bemis Abrams delves into the life and legacy of Agnes Nixon, the groundbreaking creator behind All My Children and One Life to Live. Joined by media studies professor Dr. Elana Levine, Cynthia explores Nixon’s journey from her education at Northwestern University to her role as a transformative force in daytime drama. Discover how Nixon used her platform to tackle controversial topics, redefine women’s narratives, and influence generations of television storytelling. From her iconic 1978 interview with Dick Cavett to her lasting impact on the industry, this episode celebrates the remarkable contributions of one of TV’s most influential women. 11/26/17
In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory, host Cynthia Bemis Abrams discusses the compelling documentary Shari and Lambchop with Mallory Lewis and director Lisa D’Apolito (Love, Gilda). The film chronicles Shari Lewis' life and her constant reinvention across a variety of roles—TV show host, magician, dancer, singer, actress, author, and even symphony conductor.
Featuring archival footage and interviews, this documentary uncovers the multifaceted talent of Shari Lewis, including her work as a feminist, philosopher, and visionary in children’s television. Sesame Street’s Megan Piphus Peace provides a generational perspective on Shari Lewis’ enduring influence and creative genius. 10/16/2024
"A story is a story is a story." So says veteran TV writer Nina Bargiel who's been spinning live-action and animated yarns for years.
Nina is an LA-based TV writer and producer who currently writes on Mao Mao, Heroes of Pure Heart (Cartoon Network) and has other projects percolating. Nina describes her writing philosophy and goals, which focus on crafting stories in which kids see themselves, as well as are entertained. She and her brother co-wrote the coming-of-age bra episode for Lizzie McGuire, a 2001 Disney Channel classic. Earlier this month, Hilary Duff led the the cast for a Zoom table read/fundraiser of this episode. 5/31/20
Mallory Lewis joins host Cynthia Bemis Abrams for a fun chat about her book, Shari Lewis and Lambchop: The Team That Changed Children's Television. Mallory's book, published by University of Kentucky Press in fall 2022, is a collection of stories from Shari's childhood and career as a businesswoman and multifaceted entertainer. While Shari Lewis died from cancer in 1998, Lambchop continues to charm audiences with the help of her sister, Mallory. South America is a continent that is often overlooked by travelers, but it has so much to offer. From the colorful streets of Cartagena to the majestic ruins of Machu Picchu, I discovered some hidden gems that left me in awe. 12/12/22
In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory, host Cynthia Bemis Abrams and Dwight Hurst, of The Broken Brain podcast explore the remarkable legacy of Shari Lewis, the puppeteer, television host, and educator best known for Lamb Chop. From the early days of children's programming to her lasting cultural influence, this episode dives into how Lewis’s work shaped generations of young viewers.
Dwight Hurst, a licensed professional counselor, explains how Shari's storytelling, song, and interactive learning improved language and comprehension skills of her young viewers. Shari Lewis created an educational TV environment that was both entertaining and formative. The discussion covers her career highlights, her battle against the commercialization of children’s programming, and the enduring impact of Lamb Chop’s Play-Along and other beloved works.
6/5/17
