sissyspacek

 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 - https://bearmanor-digital.myshopify.com/products/tonight-on-a-very-special-episode-when-tv-sitcoms-sometimes-got-serious-volume-1-1957-1985-paperback?_pos=1&_sid=72a8817db&_ss=r

Tonight, On A Very Special Episode: When TV Sitcoms Sometimes Got Serious Volume 2: 1986-1998 - https://bearmanor-digital.myshopify.com/products/tonight-on-a-very-special-episode-when-tv-sitcoms-sometimes-got-serious-volume-2-1986-1998-paperback?_pos=3&_sid=72a8817db&_ss=r

Cinemaniacs - https://cinemaniacs.com.au/

SOUND CLIPS

Diff’rent Strokes: The Bicycle Man (S5.E16-17) -https://youtu.be/XX-yeqTaltE

Designing Women: Killing All the Right People (S2.E4) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cozd3HN6xS8

All in The Family: Edith’s 50^th Birthday (S8.E4-5) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eGFuSpSn1U

BOOKS / ARTICLES

Norman Lear Memoir - Even This I Get to Experience - https://www.normanlear.com/the-book

PERTINENT EPISODES OF ADVANCED TV HERSTORY

 Designing Women 1, Body-shaming 0 - https://advancedtvherstory.libsyn.com/designing-women-1-bodyshaming-0

Sports Night: More Relevant Than Ever - https://advancedtvherstory.libsyn.com/sports-night-more-relevant-than-ever

Eating Disorder Movies: TV For and About Women - https://advancedtvherstory.libsyn.com/eating-disorder-movies-tv-for-and-about-women

ATVH NEWSLETTER

Sign up at https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/

CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA BEMIS ABRAMS and ADVANCED TV HERSTORY

Website:  https://cynthiabemisabrams.com/

Podcasts:  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

Music:  Jahzzar - https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/

Charles Skaggs & Xan Sprouse continue their retrospective of Twin Peaks Actors in Other Films by discussing Carrie, the 1976 supernatural horror film based on the novel by Stephen King and directed by Brian De Palma, starring Sissy Spacek as Carrie White, Piper Laurie as Margaret White, Nancy Allen as Chris Hargensen, and John Travolta as Billy Nolan!

For this special episode, Tim is joined by Guy and Jeremy to celebrate 45 years of Brian De Palma's, "Carrie!" This is part two of two of the guys covering the Carrie story. Check out part one on the Stephen King Podcast, "Dark Tower Radio!" 

World's End Video Essay

Tim: Tim's YouTube Channel!   | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Anything Goes Podcast 

Guy: Twitter | Instagram

Please Rewind Social Links: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Find our show here and please give us a review! 

Apple Podcasts: iTunes |

Stitcher Radio: Sticher  |

Our Website: Real Fans

Charles Skaggs & Xan Sprouse discuss The Straight Story, the 1999 biographical road drama film directed by David Lynch, starring Richard Farnsworth as Alvin Straight, Sissy Spacek as Rose Straight, Everett McGill as Tom, and Harry Dean Stanton as Lyle Straight!

In this episode, our hosts take another sip from the David Lowery chalice and sit down to discuss 2018's The Old Man and The Gun. 

The film has a wonderfully light touch, and this episode breezes by as the boys discuss the films many highlights including an effortless performance from Robert Redford in his final film role.

next week: Mark Jenkin's low-fi 2019 drama, Bait 

They’re all going to laugh at you, throw tampons at you and lock you in the Jesus closet. But you’ll show them when you set the dance floor on fire. Literally.

Dennis visits Emmy-winning actor Leslie Jordan in his L.A. apartment on the eve of his one-man show "Fruit Fly" returning to the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center's Renberg Theater from December 4th to the 21st.  The show's origins and the theme of a gay man and his mother are but one of the many topics on the agenda.  Leslie also tells wonderful and outrageous stories about his Emmy night nightmare, how his Emmy for "Will and Grace" got damaged, the "Dancing with the Stars" outing he'd like to forget, the "Sordid Lives" phenomenon, Jessica Lange, Lily Tomlin, pubic hair, being on UK Big Brother, having his first boyfriend after 50, the biggest diva fit he ever threw and much, much more.  Leslie's an amazing storyteller, on stage and off, and this is one episode of Dennis Anyone? you'll want to play over and over again.