TV Talk Shows: The First in a Series
11/17/23 • 18 min
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.
RESOURCES
Foundation Interviews - Della Reese on Guest Hosting “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” - https://youtu.be/M8hfse64sFU?si=8cIu3DrRN2AIdiBL
The Television Academy Foundation – Della Reese - https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/della-reese
“He Stays”: Betty White refused to remove Black dancer from her show in 1954 - https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2022/01/01/betty-white-black-dancer-arthur-duncan/9067252002/
Retro Televisions – The Betty White Show (11-29-54) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k23zM-eLoI
CBS Los Angeles KCAL - https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/women-more-represented-on-reality-tv-than-scripted-shows-sdsu-report-finds/
CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA and ADVANCED TV HERSTORY
ATVH Newsletter - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/
Website - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/
Podcast Archive - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/advanced-tv-herstory
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/advancedtvherstory/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/tvherstory
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Media.Cynthia
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@advancedtvherstory/featured
PRODUCTION
Podcast Editing - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariloumarosz/
Music by Jahzzar - https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/
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.
RESOURCES
Foundation Interviews - Della Reese on Guest Hosting “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” - https://youtu.be/M8hfse64sFU?si=8cIu3DrRN2AIdiBL
The Television Academy Foundation – Della Reese - https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/della-reese
“He Stays”: Betty White refused to remove Black dancer from her show in 1954 - https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2022/01/01/betty-white-black-dancer-arthur-duncan/9067252002/
Retro Televisions – The Betty White Show (11-29-54) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k23zM-eLoI
CBS Los Angeles KCAL - https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/women-more-represented-on-reality-tv-than-scripted-shows-sdsu-report-finds/
CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA and ADVANCED TV HERSTORY
ATVH Newsletter - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/
Website - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/
Podcast Archive - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/advanced-tv-herstory
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/advancedtvherstory/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/tvherstory
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Media.Cynthia
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@advancedtvherstory/featured
PRODUCTION
Podcast Editing - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariloumarosz/
Music by Jahzzar - https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/
Previous Episode
Pioneer Women Writers of TV with Annie Berke, PhD
Advanced TV Herstory’s commitment to connecting the dots of TV & feminism and American politics & culture continues with an examination of the pioneering women writers during the early days of TV.
My guest, Annie Berke, PhD, is the author of Their Own Best Creations: Women Writers in Postwar Television, part of the Feminist Media Histories book series by the University of California Press.
With a focus on 1949-1963, Dr. Berke’s foundational work appeals to scholars and students as well as others with an interest in gender roles, women in the workplace, and the cultural influence of women in media.
Along with a review of under-studied and influential women writers profiled in the book, our discussion leads to some interesting places, including the emergence of second-wave feminism and how postwar and current-day writers share many of the same struggles.
I know you’ll enjoy this fun and fast-paced episode. Thank you for listening!
CONNECT WITH ANNIE BERKE
Website - https://www.annieberke.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-berke-ph-d-a102509/
Instagram, X (Twitter), and Bluesky - @sayanniething
RESOURCES
Pioneer Peg Lynch - https://around.uoregon.edu/content/library-exhibit-celebrates-legacy-tv-pioneer-peg-lynch
The Broadcast 41 by Carol A. Stabile - https://broadcast41.uoregon.edu/
CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA and ADVANCED TV HERSTORY
ATVH Newsletter - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/
Website - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/
Podcast Archive - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/advanced-tv-herstory
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/advancedtvherstory/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/tvherstory
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Media.Cynthia
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@advancedtvherstory/featured
PRODUCTION
Podcast Editing - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariloumarosz/
Music by Jahzzar - https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/
Next Episode
Annie Potts: Hooked on Helping
We know her as Meemaw, Mary Jo Shively, Emmie Sims, and the voice of Bo Peep. But Annie Potts is hooked on helping others—she’s very hands on—and she’s here to tell us about that part of her life. In doing so, she inspires us with her commitment and challenges us to “turn the car around.”
Annie’s charitable organization, The Heart Channels, provides direct support quickly and creatively to people at critical crossroads in their life. Its mission reflects what Annie witnessed growing up—that wherever there was a need, people opened their hearts and quietly stepped in to help however they could.
The Heart Channels also mirrors Annie’s belief that we are one human family, no matter where on the planet we are. By opening our eyes to the needs of others, we can respond lovingly and immediately—neighbor to neighbor and heart to heart.
I hope you’ll join us for this very special discussion. And please consider helping out. All donations to The Heart Channels—100%—are tax deductible and go directly to people in need.
FOLLOW AND DONATE TO THE HEART CHANNELS
The Heart Channels - https://www.theheartchannels.org/
On Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theheartchannels
On Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theheartchannels/
CONNECT WITH ANNIE POTTS
Cameo (all proceeds go to The Heart Channels) - https://www.cameo.com/anniepotts
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thisisanniepotts/?hl=en
CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA and ADVANCED TV HERSTORY
ATVH Newsletter – tvherstory.com
Website - https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/
Podcast Archive - tvherstory.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/advancedtvherstory/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/tvherstory
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Media.Cynthia
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@advancedtvherstory/featured
PRODUCTION
Podcast Editing - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariloumarosz/
Music by Jahzzar - https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/
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