by James Sherman
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“The Goldbergs” was a beloved radio program and a pioneering television sitcom. Created by Gertrude Berg, who starred as Jewish matriarch Molly Goldberg, the series brought the joys and struggles of Jewish American family life into millions of homes.

Inspired by true events, The First Lady of Television unfolds during a single day of rehearsal in 1950. Philip Loeb, Berg’s co-star, close friend and an outspoken Jewish labor activist, has been accused of being a communist. Under mounting pressure from the show’s sponsors, Berg must make an impossible choice: fire Loeb or risk the cancellation of the program she created. Blending comedy and drama, this compelling period piece explores friendship, loyalty, prejudice and the personal cost of standing by one’s principles. It is a story from television history that resonates powerfully today.