APPLE TV+s Lessons in Chemistry explores the rise of daytime television in the ’50s. When Elizabeth Zott (Brie Larson), a genius chemist, is kicked out of her research institute, she trades her lab coat for an apron—and agrees to host a new cooking show. To some, her career shift is a demotion, but to Zott, it’s an opportunity to empower women.

The series, which was adapted from Bonnie Garmus’s novel of the same name, premiered on October 13. Now, fans are wondering if the Apple TV+ series is based on a true story. The answer is both yes and no. Lessons in Chemistry is technically a work of fiction, in the sense that Zott, her career, and her life story are entirely fabricated. However, the show’s concept was inspired by local broadcasting of yesteryear. According to The New York TimesLessons in Chemistry draws inspiration from pre-Hollywood cooking shows. Before culinary television went mainstream, stations would hire local women to produce and star in their own series.

Lessons in Chemistry writer, Elissa Karasik, said Zott’s attitude as an “independent thinker” was inspired by television chefs such as Julia Child, Alma Kitchell, and Dione Lucas—all of whom helmed their own shows. The ’50s were the early days of the Women’s Rights Movement, just a decade before second-wave feminism became popular. Given the historical context, culinary shows were a way to empower women who felt dismissed by society.

Apple TV+

While Lessons in Chemistry largely follows Zott’s plight for independence, it also touches on how women were portrayed in the media. In one episode, Zott’s producer insists she stop wearing pants on set. “Big hair, tight dress, homey set,” he says. “We need a sexy wife, [a] loving mother that every man loves to see when he comes home from work.” According to Karasik, female chefs were often filmed in domestic settings and dressed accordingly, while their male counterparts were offered restaurant-styled kitchens to work from.

Despite the pressure from her producer to fall in line, Zott uses wry humor to reclaim her power and connect with her audience. “I stand proudly with the overlooked workhorse of the kitchen,” she jokes during a cooking tutorial, “women and baked potatoes.” Her witty quips resemble Ruth Lyons, the host of The 50/50 Club. Marsha Cassidy, the author of What Women Watched: Daytime Television in the 1950s, wrote that Lyons subverted expectations. Instead of appearing as sweet and docile, she was “brash” and “outspoken,” and frequently teased her male co-stars on air.

Zott is not real, but her character is a stunning depiction of the real chefs who came before her. If you’re feeling inspired by Zott’s determination, you can learn a few Lessons in Chemistry on Apple TV+. New episodes debut every Friday.


This story originally appeared on Esquire US.

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