Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Women take the lead
Although I’m far from being a feminist I have to admit it’s good to see that US television is preparing a huge chunk of prime-time programming based on strong women characters who are more than a match for any men that come their way.
While the majority of programmes have strong male lead roles, now a new audience – dominated by us girlie girls – is being catered for. Along with a new serious Bionic Woman – very different from the kitsch 1970s original – there’s the Women's Murder Club, with four amateur women detectives solving crimes. There’s also Lipstick Jungle, with Brooke Shields, and Cashmere Mafia, starring Lucy Liu, based on groups of successful, strong women and Private Practice, starring Kate Walsh, that centres on a woman doctor.
While I’ll be sorry to see the back of George Lopez, What About Brian and According to Jim is no sad loss and while Lipstick Jungle and Cashmere Mafia have a Sex and the City feel to them, they’re less about fashion dating and more about the balance between work and family lives. Let’s just hope the networks don’t go too far the other way and end up having women taking themselves too seriously.
