Pregnancy made its first appearance on American TV in the 1948 sitcom Mary Kay and Johnny, bringing with it all those now-timeworn tropes that include the bumbling dad driving off to the hospital and leaving his wife in labor at home. Just a few years later, even the mere mention of the "p-word" on I Love Lucy—with the star comedian's real-life pregnancy written into the script—was too controversial for CBS executives. She was "expecting."
Calling the opioid epidemic “a real struggle for our country that’s getting worse,” U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy urged a different approach in fighting the crisis during a panel presented by Hollywood, Health & Society, telling a standing-room audience and viewers watching on Facebook Live that those struggling with addiction have a chronic illness and need treatment, along with counseling, compassion and support.
In 1997, China resumed control of Hong Kong, ending 156 years of British rule. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 7,000 for the first time. The New York Times reported that the number of AIDS deaths dropped 19% in the U.S. partly because of breakthrough drug therapies, while TV audiences tuned in to watch Ally McBeal, Friends, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Third Rock From the Sun and The X Files.
Hollywood, Health & Society's panel “Clinical Trials So White: When Life-Saving Research Leaves People of Color Behind” explored the impact of clinical research trials on illnesses, particularly diabetes, obesity, heart disease and stroke.
Hollywood, Health & Society’s panel “Atomic Football: The Nuclear Playbook in a Strange New Era” was a night to think about the unthinkable: nuclear proliferation and war, near-catastrophic errors when it comes to keeping arsenals secure, the use of cyber attacks and the grim prospect of terrorists getting their hands on a weapon of mass destruction.
Madam Secretary, East Los High, black-ish and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver were among the winners at the 17th annual Sentinel Awards ceremony, a glittering evening that celebrated exemplary TV storylines about health and climate change topics and featured a special appearance by legendary TV producer Norman Lear.
Entertainment is an effective way to inform viewers about important health and social issues, with TV and streaming shows such as Grey's Anatomy, East Los High, Parenthood and 90210 credited with educating audiences about autism, breast cancer and domestic violence. Modern Family and Transparent have helped transform portrayals of LGBT characters and added to the cultural discussion of marriage equality and trans rights.
"California, for its part, is a powerhouse of social progress and change. . . . And Los Angeles is a global city. What you do here can inspire cities everywhere. In that spirit, I ask you to take on a leadership role in support of the Sustainable Development Goals. . . . I therefore urge you to engage the storytellers and artists of your creative community to spread knowledge of the 17 Goals." (Portions of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's remarks to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council)
In mid-March, individuals from an unusual mix of communities and professional sectors gathered at the headquarters of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) in New Jersey. The group included the Foundation; Purple States, a documentary production company; Hollywood, Health & Society (HH&S), a program of the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center; and advisors from across the country, whose personal and professional experiences span cultures and communities. At the day-long summit, they embarked on a frank and provocative conversation about how culture influences health.
Hollywood, Health & Society’s panel event, “Telling Life Stories: Crisis and Care at the Beginning, Middle and End,” drew a full house to the WGAW, where writers and producers from four leading network, cable and streaming TV shows—joined by experts and local storytellers— explored the issues of aging and health care.
