I am very excited to share the second of a two-part conversation with author and TV/film historian, Lee Gambin. His double-volume work, "Tonight, On a Very Special Episode: When TV Sitcoms Sometimes Got Serious," provides a launch pad for our thoughtful and fast-paced discussion of the issues and activists behind TV’s “very special episodes,” which date back 50 years or more.
These TV events—featuring familiar, beloved characters—mixed serious topics with comedy so effectively that, in many cases, activists were born, movements were started, legislation was passed, and minds were changed.
Legendary showrunners like Norman Lear and Linda Bloodworth-Thomason used the sitcom format to normalize awareness and discussion of race relations, women’s issues, representation, discrimination, divorce, alcoholism and drug addiction, sexual assault, HIV/AIDS, and LGBTQ rights.
Fronting these issues shaped our culture in ways that should not be lost to history. Join us for a discussion of the iconic episodes and the legends who made them happen, as well as how they continue to impact us today.
CONNECT WITH LEE GAMBIN
Tonight, On A Very Special Episode: When TV Sitcoms Sometimes Got Serious Volume 1: 1957-1985
Tonight, On A Very Special Episode: When TV Sitcoms Sometimes Got Serious Volume 2: 1986-1998
Cinemaniacs
SOUND CLIPS
Diff’rent Strokes: The Bicycle Man (S5.E16-17)
Designing Women: Killing All the Right People (S2.E4)
All in The Family: Edith’s 50th Birthday (S8.E4-5)
BOOKS / ARTICLES
Norman Lear Memoir - Even This I Get to Experience
PERTINENT EPISODES OF ADVANCED TV HERSTORY
Designing Women 1, Body-shaming 0
Sports Night: More Relevant Than Ever
Eating Disorder Movies: TV For and About Women
CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA BEMIS ABRAMS and ADVANCED TV HERSTORY
Website
Podcasts
YouTube
PRODUCTION
Jahzzar on Free Music Archive