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04/10/2026 | Cynthia Bemis Abrams

TV Writer April Smith on Lou Grant, Cagney and Lacey and Storytelling

Show Notes:

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams welcomes TV writer April Smith to Advanced TV Herstory to explore storytelling from a woman’s point of view — side by side with men in the writers’ room. Novelist April Smith shares her television journey, from Lou Grant and Cagney & Lacey to Chicago Hope and Emmy-nominated episodes. Smith’s story is one of persistence, vision, and creative grit, as she wrote across genres and decades with unmistakable voice.

This episode dives into:

  • Smith’s rise through Hollywood’s male-dominated writing rooms
  • Emmy-winning work on Lou Grant and dramatic arcs for Cagney & Lacey
  • How women’s voices shaped TV’s most powerful characters
  • Smith’s transition into writing thrillers and historical fiction
  • The balance of professional storytelling and political commentary
  • Reflections on character-driven drama and timeless storytelling lessons
April Smith’s Website:  https://aprilsmith.net/