Stealing the Show

How Women Are Revolutionizing Television

Joy Press

• Publisher: Atria Books
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN:
  9781501137723
• eBook ISBN:
  9781501137730
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Television

From a leading cultural journalist, the definitive cultural history of female showrunners—including exclusive interviews with such influential figures as Shonda Rhimes, Amy Sherman-Palladino, Mindy Kaling, Amy Schumer, and many more. "An urgent and entertaining history of the transformative powers of women in TV" ( Kirkus Reviews, starred review). In recent years, women have radically transformed the television industry both behind and in front of the camera. From Murphy Brown to 30 Rock and beyond, these shows and the extraordinary women behind them have shaken up the entertainment landscape, making it look as if equal opportunities abound. But it took decades of determination in the face of outright exclusion to reach this new era.In this "sharp, funny, and gorgeously researched" (Emily Nussbaum, The New Yorker ) book, veteran journalist Joy Press tells the story of the maverick women who broke through the barricades and the iconic shows that redefined the television landscape starting with Diane English and Roseanne Barr—and even incited controversy that reached as far as the White House. Drawing on a wealth of original interviews with the key players like Amy Sherman-Palladino ( Gilmore Girls ), Jenji Kohan ( Orange is the New Black ), and Jill Soloway ( Transparent ) who created storylines and characters that changed how women are seen and how they see themselves, this is the exhilarating behind-the-scenes story of a cultural revolution.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Dedication
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Look Back in Anchor: Diane English’s Murphy Brown and the Culture Wars
• Chapter 2: From Rage to Riches: Roseanne Barr and
• Chapter 3: Walking and Talking as Fast as They Can: Amy Sherman-Palladino’s Gilmore Girls
• Chapter 4: The Vajayjay Monologues: The Prime-Time Empire of Shonda Rhimes
• Chapter 5: Sitcom and the Single Girl: Tina Fey’s 30 Rock, Liz Meriwether’s New Girl, and Mindy Kaling’s The Mindy Project
• Chapter 6: A Voice of a Generation: Lena Dunham’s Girls
• Chapter 7: Gross Encounters: Inside Amy Schumer and Broad City
• Chapter 8: Crime Family Values: Jenji Kohan’s Weeds and Orange Is the New Black
• Chapter 9: Body Politic: Jill Soloway’s Transparent
• Epilogue
• Acknowledgments
• About the Author
• Index
• Photo Credits
• Copyright