As this year's shows wrap up, we are dying to know what new shows we can look forward to. We already know the CW's summer premiere line-up will be pretty ridiculous, but now we have a full look at our fall pilot line-up. Of course, not all of them will make it into the network schedules (we'll find out for sure on May 12), but maybe if we get excited about certain shows now and spread the word they'll have a better shot at making it to production.
So. What does television need more of? Shows for women. I'm not talking about shows women enjoy, (because I like the Bachelor, but last season showed just how anti-feminist that thing could be), but we need actual shows written with us in mind. With that in mind, let's see how the networks will stack up this fall.
MADAM SECRETARY — CBS
This show details the life of a female Secretary of State (Tea Leoni) as she "drives international diplomacy, wrangles office politics, and balances a complex family life." I'm into trying any show that casts a woman in a position of political importance. Currently women hold less than 30 percent of all political positions. Perhaps Madam Secretary will open people's eyes up to this issue the way shows like Veep have.
HOW I MET YOUR DAD — CBS
When I first heard about this show I was wary of the spinoff attempt. But then I heard it's not an exact replica. We get new faces, a new story line, and someone new to root for after Ted let us all down by going back to Robin. Plus getting to see the Mother's point of view, played by indie star Greta Gerwig, will be a welcome change to the male-dominated voice of the previous show.
GOOD SESSION — CBS
Mandy Moore and Tracey Ullman play a couple in therapy deciding if they want to have a baby "but quickly discover they have more to discuss." This show has potential. Maybe the "more" they have to discuss is whether they are just trying to have a baby because society is telling them that's what they should be doing. Maybe this show will delve into the politics of the pressure women feel to pop out babies as soon as they get married. Or maybe not, but a girl can dream.
DAMAGED GOODS — ABC
This show is a "comedy about the sexual politics that have changed between men and women in this post-feminist era." The comedy part of this scares me because I don't want another 2 Broke Girls situation where they think they're being edgy and relatable, but really the jokes are just offensive. But perhaps this show will use humor to enlighten the audience about this actually very important topic of changing sexual politics.
SAINT FRANCIS — ABC
A Long Island police officer butts heads with the "modern, liberal world" when his sister gets pregnant out of wedlock. (Gasp!) I am holding out hope that ABC is seeking to show that the cop's views are outdated and that he needs to get with the modern-day program that women can have babies whether they're married or not and that's okay.
DANGEROUS LIAISONS — ABC
"Two equally-matched, powerful socialites (Katie Holmes and Rufus Sewell) play out their obsessive attraction and seduction of each other through their manipulation of others." You had me at those dream words "equally-matched." Gotta love when a woman is given equal footing as a man.
THE MCKENNA FILES — ABC
This crime drama stars Jee Young Han as a former convict turned criminologist. This is a big deal because giving the lead in a show to an Asian actress is practically unheard of these days. As of 2008 (the last time the study was done), just 3.8 percent of all television and theatrical roles were portrayed by Asian Pacific Islander actors. Han's bringing her badass diversity to ABC and we couldn't be more excited.
UNTITLED TINA FEY/ROBERT CARLOCK PROJECT — NBC
The Office's Ellie Kemper stars as a woman who spent 15 years living in a cult and decides to start her new life in the big city of NYC. I feel safe knowing that in Fey's hands, this will be a show about women for women.
BAD JUDGE — NBC
"A hard-living, sexually unapologetic woman (Kate Walsh) partakes in an edgy life that often clashes with the fact that she happens to be a judge." Kate Walsh was my favorite on Grey's Anatomy because her character just didn't give a shit about anyone else. She was there and she was amazing at her job and she knew it. I don't doubt she'll bring that confidence to this new "sexually unapologetic" character and it will make for great TV and a great female role. You can be who you want to be and still kill it at work. Boom.
MISSION CONTROL — NBC
Set in 1965, Breaking Bad's Krysten Ritter stars as a strong woman who doesn't get along with the "macho astronaut and a too-cool-for-school former test pilot" at work. Ritter is amazing and I know she'll do amazing in this role as her character explores the 1960s boundaries women faced.
STATE OF AFFAIRS — NBC
A CIA agent balances her political life and her personal life. Say what you will about Katherine Heigl, but if she pulls this character off, we'll get another strong female role model to look up to in the traditionally male-dominated world of the CIA.
MYSTERIES OF LAURA — NBC
Another crime drama, this time starring Debra Messing as a quirky homicide detective juggling work and home life. As long as it acknowledges that it's playing with the "women have to have it all" trope, this could be another great show.
CABOT COLLEGE — FOX
"An all-female university in rural New Hampshire opens its doors to four men for the first time." Normally I'd be wary of this premise, fearful that the four men would portray the typical college douchbags who make jokes about all the women they get to bang at the all-girls school. But feminist superstar Margaret Cho is the lead, so you know this is going to be a powerful show. Plus, it also comes from the mind of Queen Tina Fey.
Images: Tumblr/tvgrrrl; giphy; Tumblr/teddywestside; mashable
