The Women of Television?

 Dear Vanity Fair & Lee Aronsohn:

I Want More Vagina with My TV, Please

I truly respect and admire the women who appeared in Vanity Fair's “Special TV Issue”. Or rather, the issue that everyone online is calling the "women of television" issue. They have definitely all contributed to the success of their shows. I'm not going to bash any of them for appearing in the magazine. What I’m questioning is why certain women aren't there.

For a special that claims it is focused on women having a great year in television, the magazine focuses on actresses. Are actresses important? Of course they are. Without strong actresses we wouldn't have successful TV shows. But there are a lot of other people who contribute to a television show’s success, and this year a lot of them happened to be women. There are many women who should have been pictured, but aren't: Liz Meriwether, Whitney Cummings, Shonda Rhimes, Molly Solomon, Lena Dunham, Liz Feldman, Nahnatchka Khan, Ellen Degeneres, Emily Spivey, Jane Espenson, Tina Fey, Emily Kapnek, and so many more that naming them all would be ridiculous.

This particular Vanity Fair article is coming out right after Lee Aronsohn (the guy who co-created 'Two and a Half Men') ranted that current television comedies are too focused on women. During this rant he decided to use female genitalia as a euphemism for his disgust. I don't think this is the place to repeat what was said, but Goggle it. He took things way too far.

Despite my disgust at Aronsohn's rants, I'm frustrated that his idea of a big insult is linking female comedy to our reproductive parts. We have a man proclaiming, "enough ladies, I get it, you have periods" while completely ignoring the fact that women (who yes, probably do have periods) are managing to produce and write incredibly successful shows this year. Maybe someone needs to show Aronsohn the number of viewers that 'New Girl' and 'Two Broke Girls' have, compared to his own, male-oriented show.

This takes me back to the Vanity Fair issue. The magazine has created a lot of controversy because it pictures the "women of television" either naked in bed, or clothed only in lingerie. And yes, maybe this will help them sell magazines. Unfortunately, it also sells the idea that women's success lies solely in their sex appeal. I'm sure lots of people are going to only skim this article, immediately argue with me, and say that the magazine has the right to dress women however they want, and that women have the right to agree. Of course that's true. I'm not even sure I'm opposed to the fact that they are dressed in lingerie. What I'm really worried about is the fact that this particular issue of Vanity Fair is placing the "women of television" (who are actually "the actresses of television") into one pretty package. A few of the pictured actresses have producing credits on their shows, but none of them are executive producers or showrunners.

Shouldn't we be asking for more than this? We need successful women in television to be celebrated more, not less, whatever Aronsohn says. Don't believe me? Just look at the numbers: in the last year we saw a massive drop in the number of women behind the scenes of television shows. Only 15% of television writers and 18% of show creators are women. If you ask me, we need exactly the opposite of what Aronsohn wants. I want more vagina with my television, please.

Response to "What a Woman Really Wants From a TV Show"

I recently read “What a Woman Really Wants From a TV Show” on Jezebel. I agreed with almost everything Dodai Stewart wrote.

1. I also miss having both physically and emotionally strong female leads or, as Stewart puts it, “kick ass female lead(s)”.
2. Unlike Stewart, I love a good procedural/medical drama (perhaps more than most), but I don’t think I can stand adding many more to the mix. I already have Law and Order: SVU, Bones, Grey’s Anatomy, Rizzoli and Isles, and Body of Proof. Please, no more.
3.  Two Broke Girls is somehow watchable, but parts of it are definitely racist. Really, really racist.
4. New Girl also has a few funny moments, but Jess as a character is not fleshed out.

What Stewart didn’t discuss, although she did mention it, is ABC’s newest show, Revenge. I’d argue that Revenge, perhaps more than any other show on the air right now, has a strong female lead.

Revenge is centered around Emily (Emily VanCamp), a young woman who moves back to the Hamptons to seek revenge on those who destroyed her father’s reputation. I won’t go into the complex plot right now, but I will tell you that there is one. At the same time, after watching an episode of Revenge it could easily be dismissed as a mindless sexy drama.

But Revenge has a one thing that other shows are missing: a strong female lead.

Emily’s character is intense, intelligent, and manipulative. She’s not necessarily likeable, but she’s a strong woman who successfully achieves her goals. She’s also beautiful, but for once beauty doesn’t make her an airhead, nor does it make her someone who only uses her sexuality to get what she wants. Her character is multi-faceted enough that she is able to use her beauty alongside her intellect, and she is also psychologically complex. That’s a refreshing thing to see on television. 

New isn't always better than old

I have been less than impressed with the new shows this season. I haven’t stumbled upon a single one that I am going to be religiously watching. I suppose that’s good for the older shows, but it makes me a little disillusioned.

Out of the shows that I’ve sampled so far, I have found a few that I think have some promise.

‘Two Broke Girls’ (Monday, CBS, 8:30 pm) is one show that actually has a few funny moments in each episode. At the same time, a lot of its humor is crude and slightly obnoxious. But I think the show could get good, it just needs some work. Oh, and it might also prove to be one of those shows where the acting gets better as the actors gain experience. I’d recommend giving it a chance.

‘Hart of Dixie’ (Monday, The CW, 9 pm) marks Rachel Bilson’s return to television. It was all right, although if you read my review you’ll see that I had quite a few problems with both the premise and the creative direction it was taking.

‘New Girl’ (Tuesday, FOX, 9 pm) is a show that I’ve already hesitantly reviewed. I wasn’t thrilled with the premiere episode, and I’m not a huge Zooey Deschanel fan (something about her quirky personality disagrees with me), but I’m going to keep watching the show. Again…there’s potential.

‘Ringer’ (Tuesday, The CW, 9 pm) stars Sarah Michelle Gellar in her first return to TV since ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. I quite enjoyed the first episode but didn’t love it enough to remember to watch the second episode. This is definitely a show that needs to be watched episode by episode, so I guess I’d better catch up online.

‘Revenge’ (Wednesday, ABC, 10 pm) is the show that I’ve liked the most this season. It’s a high-paced drama with just the right amount of intrigue and murderous intent. It’s something that ABC does well (‘Brothers and Sisters’, ‘Desperate Housewives’, etc.).

Are there any other new shows that I should be watching?

'Revenge' is pretty sweet

If you're looking for the perfect Wednesday late-night show I have a recommendation: 'Revenge'. It marks Emily VanCamp ('Brothers & Sisters') return to TV. In fact, unlike the supporting role she had on 'Brothers & Sisters' she is now playing the lead who, consequently, is also called Emily.

'Revenge' is an intelligent show. Built around short flashbacks to Emily's childhood, it's like a frothier and younger version of 'Damages'.

spoilers

During the first episode we learned a great deal. Emily (VanCamp) used to be called Amanda, back when she was a young child staying at the Hamptons with her father. Her father was involved in a scandal that somehow involved helping to fund the terrorists attacks during 9/11. Disturbed by the fact that her father was not who she thought he was, and legally separated from him due to his legal battles, she spent her teenage years alone. Although we don't yet know why, she eventually ended up serving a prison term. When she was released from prison a strange man, Nolan, greeted her. Nolan claimed to be a friend of her father's, informed her that he had died six months before, and gave her a box that he had left for her. Apparently what was in the box proved that her father was not guilty of any of the crimes that he was accused of, and was betrayed by those he was closest to. Oh, and we also find out that Amanda's father gave Nolan the money to start up his company, and Amanda now has a 49% share.

Amanda, pretending to be a different person named Emily, moves back to the Hamptons.  We quickly learn that the 49% share has made her incredibly wealthy. She asks her friend, Ashley, to describe all of the wealthy people staying at the Hamptons (despite the fact that she knows more about them than Amanda does!). Amanda points out Nolan and explains that his company has done so well that he is wealthier than everyone else. This explains why Amanda has the money to rent a house next to one of the family's who betrayed her father. She then proceeds to cause mayhem in their lives. In this episode alone she poisoned a man, exposed an affair, and effectively got one woman permanently excluded from the Hamptons. She also begins to seduce the son of one of the women who betrayed her father. As she states at the end of the episode she wants one thing: 'Revenge'.

'Revenge': Wednesday, ABC, 10 pm

Premiere Dates of Television Shows Fall 2011-2012

It's September, so it is officially time to prepare for the premieres of some of your favorite shows. Pull out that calendar, here are the dates that you need to keep free:

Returning shows (in order of release):

'Glee'
When? Wednesday, Sept 21st at 8 pm
Where? FOX
What? High school Glee club, made up of a bunch of ostracized misfits and popular Cheerleaders, sing and compete and date and break-up.

'Community'
When? Thursday, Sept 22nd at 8 pm
Where? NBC
What? A hilarious half-hour show about a study group at a quirky community college. Plus, Joel McHale.

'Parks and Recreation'
When? Thursday, Sept 22nd at 8:30 pm
Where? NBC
What? A hilarious half-hour show about a group of colleges at a Parks & Rec department. Plus, Amy Poehler.

'The Office'
When? Thursday, Sept 22nd at 9 pm
Where? NBC
What? Employees at a paper company work together, and insanity ensues. Also, no more Steve Carell?

'Desperate Housewives'
When? Sunday, Sept 25th at 9 pm
Where? ABC
What? Focuses on the crazy, crazy lives of a bunch of housewives and their families in a fictional suburb. Frankly, I'm a little shocked this is still on the air.

'Dexter'
When? Sunday, Oct 2nd at 9 pm
Where? Showtime
What? A serial killer who actually works for the police, and only kills bad guys. You need to be caught up on all the older seasons or you'll have no idea what's happening.

'Bones'
When? Thursday, Nov 3rd at 8 pm
Where? FOX
What? Forensic anthropologists and FBI guy solve crimes together, and may or may not be desperately in love with each other. Plus, now there will be two babies!

New shows you might want to watch (in order of release date)...

'Free Agents'
When? Wednesday, Sept 14th at 10:30 pm
Where? NBC
What? Remake of a British comedy (but aren't they all?), two co-workers deal with the aftermath of a one-night stand. Plus, Anthony Stewart Head!

'Two Broke Girls'
When? Monday, Sept 19th at 9:30 pm
Where? CBS
What? Two broke girls, who waitress and nanny. I think it's a comedy.

'New Girl'
When? Tuesday, Sept 20th at 9 pm
Where? FOX
What? Zooey Deschanel (little sis to the star of FOX's hit show, 'Bones') finally has her own show. Basically, she plays an awkward girl who moves in with three guys. Based on the previews, this will either be really funny or really obnoxious.

'Unforgettable'
When? Tuesday, Sept 20th at 10 pm
Where? CBS
What? Poppy Montgomery (of 'Without at Trace' fame) finally gets her own show. What a shock that it's another crime ridden one! She tries to solve the murder of her sister, who was killed when they were children. Oh, and she has the uncanny ability to remember everything (except the murder of her sister).

'Revenge'
When? Wednesday, Sept 21st at 10 pm
Where? ABC
What? A girl wants revenge on the people she believes are responsible for destroying her family. Basically, ABC attempts to use Emily VanCamp in a new show now that they canceled her old one ('Brothers and Sisters').

'Charlie's Angels'
When? Tuesday, Sept 22nd at 8 pm
Where? ABC
What? Modern remake of...'Charlie's Angels'

'Pan Am'
When? Sunday, Sept 25th at 10 pm
Where? ABC
What? Trying to grab some of the fans of 'Mad Men', this show revolves around the lives of beautiful Pan Am stewardesses. Back when they were called 'stewardesses'.

'The Playboy Club'
When? Sunday, Sept 25th at 10 pm
Where? NBC
What? This show revolves around the lives of hot Playboy bunnies, and their love interests/sleazy criminal interactions. Back when Playboy bunnies...never-mind.

'Hart of Dixie'
When? Monday, Sept 26th at 9 pm
Where? CW
What? Big city female surgeon gets sent to small Southern town. If you can buy Rachel Bilson as a surgeon (I said IF!) then you might buy into this show.


Want the release dates and times of other new or old shows? Just leave me a comment!