Every year the new television season rolls around and viewers and critics alike speculate which shows will make it and which will be pulled after just a few airings.
But rather than look at the things that could go wrong with the television schedule this year, why not look at something that’s going right.
This year, it seems is the ‘Year of the Woman’.
That’s right, when it comes to TV this year; it looks like the ladies rule. Every night of the week is chock full of females and most of them are in leading roles.
Even though low ratings led to the end of the reboot of “Charlie’s Angels” and “The Playboy Club” has already closed it’s doors, those shows were centered around women. And, working women at that.
Sure we still have “Two and Half Men’ that’s all about the boys and there are dudes all over the screen, but really the men seem to be taking a back seat while the ladies are taking the wheel.
Sunday night you have Julianna Margulies leading the cast of “The Good Wife ” on CBS while those “Desperate Housewives” are on ABC. Yes, they maybe wrapping up their run, but it was a good one, wasn’t it?
Monday we’re treated to the extremely comedically gifted Melissa McCarthy in “Mike & Molly”. Yes, she shares the title with a guy, but which one of them took home an Emmy recently? The leading lady did!
Monday also has not one but two women making funny fun on “Two Broke Girls” on CBS while Fox’s “New Girl” with Zooey Deschanel was one of the first Freshman series picked up for a full season.
ABC’s “Body of Proof” on Tuesday night is lead by Dana Delaney, an Emmy winner who has consistently worked in television for over twenty years. Switch over to NBC on Tuesday night and you’ll get Lauren Graham, Monica Potter and Bonnie Bedelia showing off their chops on “Parenthood”. This show also features some extremely talented young ladies as well, with Erika Christensen, Sarah Ramos, and Mae Whitman.. Fox’s breakout hit “Glee” gave us break out star Jane Lynch who not only won an Emmy last year but was a phenomenal host of this year’s Emmy awards ceremony.
Martha Plimpton and Cloris Leachman shine in ‘Raising Hope” on Fox Wednesday nights while Patricia Heaton makes “The Middle” a truly fun place to be on ABC and Christina Applegate makes us laugh on “Up All Night.” Oh and let’s not forget the lovelies on “Modern Family”; Sofia Vergara and Emmy winner Julie Bowen.
Over on NBC, Wednesday night truly is ladies night. NBC even rolled out an early season promo around the theme featuring Kathy Bates in “Harry’s Law” and Mariska Hargitay in “Law & Order: SVU.” Check it out here.
Amy Poehler shows how funny is done on “Parks and Recreation” and Whitney Cummings headlines the show that bears her name, “Whitney” on NBC. And, let’s not forget the genius of Tina Fey will return mid-season when “30 Rock” returns.
Add in new shows like “Ringer” with Sarah Michelle Geller, “Revenge” starring Emily Van Camp, “Pan Am’ with lead Christina Ricci, Poppy Montgomery in “Unforgettable” and Maria Bello in “Prime Suspect” and you have a schedule chock full of strong females.
Whether any or all of these shows will make to the end of the television season or not is anyone’s guess, but it is good to see that the women are making a stand on the schedule.
Let’s hear it for the ladies!