AfterEllen.com's Most Appealing Women on TV
by Sarah Warn and Karman Kregloe, September 25, 2006
Maxim magazine recently published its list of "TV's Least Appealing Ladies", which included The L Word's Pam Grier, Deadwood's Calamity Jane, and Saturday Night Live's Tina Fey (they left Rosie O'Donnell off the list because she was "too obvious"). In addition to being juvenile and mean-spirited, the list is simply wrong -- only in the boneheaded world of Maxim could brains, talent, and a wicked sense of humor be considered liabilities.
We feel compelled to create a list of our own, one that celebrates the women who make television worth watching. (We didn't put Ellen DeGeneres on the list because it would be "too obvious".) No, not all of the women listed below are lesbians, but they all challenge stereotypes, take risks, and are just as likely to enlighten as they are to entertain. That's why they're our "Most Appealing Women on TV".
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Rosie
O'Donnell
In an electrifying return to daytime TV, Rosie O'Donnell is revolutionizing The View--and perhaps television itself--with the nonchalant assertion of her big gay perspective. Whether she's joking about Oprah and Gayle being "a little gay," criticizing Christian fundamentalists, or helping her straight View co-hosts understand the torment of living a closeted life, O'Donnell doesn't shy away from conflict or controversy. When she lovingly refers to her family--wife Kelli and their children--in nearly every episode, she puts a face on gay marriage and gay rights for millions of viewers.
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Grey's
Anatomy's Cristina / Sandra Oh
Direct, openly ambitious, and fiercely loyal, Grey's Anatomy's
hard-working surgical intern Cristina Yang is a nuanced, complex
career woman whose poorly developed social skills and difficulty
handling emotion only makes her more endearing. She's also
one of the most well-developed Asian American characters on
TV. Off-screen,
35-year-old newly divorced Korean Canadian Golden Globe-winning actress Sandra
Oh is outspoken and openly feminist, and won the hearts of
many a queer woman when she played Diane Lane's lesbian best
friend in 2003's Under the Tuscan Sun, and rode off
on a motorcycle in 2004's Sideways. Sexy, smart,
and could probably kick your ass? We'll take her!
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Tina
Fey
A champion of smart, politically aware women everywhere,
this Emmy-winning actress / writer / producer was the first
(and still only) female head writer for Saturday Night
Live, wrote and co-starred in the hit 2004 movie Mean
Girls, and is now producing and starring in a new NBC
sitcom 30 Rock. Tina
is also an openly feminist, married mother of one who’s
known for her black-rimmed spectacles and a classy, understated
appearance. But when it comes to non-lesbian lesbian couples on TV, it doesn't get much better than Fey and her SNL Weekend Update "partner" Amy Poehler.
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The L Word's Alice
/ Leisha Hailey
Whether in character as The L Word's kooky bisexual journalist with a heart of gold, or out of character as an openly gay actress and musician (she was in the band The Murmurs/Gush), Hailey is someone we always want to watch. She started her own record label and executive produced a documentary about teenagers raised by gay parents (Raising Teens). Hailey also played an adorable pink-haired punk girl in the classic lesbian teen film All Over Me. She brings depth, heart and humor to her role on Showtime's hit show, so we'll forgive those lame Yoplait ads and her bizarre turn on CSI as a werewolf girl. We are, however, growing impatient for that overdue Emmy nomination.
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Jackie
Warner
Thanks to fitness trainer and entrepreneur Jackie Warner, the tired old lesbian gym teacher stereotype has officially been benched. Who would have guessed that a reality program (Bravo's Work Out) would provide one of the most fascinating portrayals of a lesbian on television? With her sunny, direct personality, Warner inspires her clients, markets her own clothing line, and masterfully navigates a tough relationship with her conservative mother. So what is this attractive dynamo doing in such a disastrous (and potentially dangerous) relationship? The contrast between her public and private lives is maddening, and all too realistic. We're riveted, and we don't give up on Jackie because she never gives up on herself. |
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Veronica
Mars (Kristen Bell)
The teen sleuth at the heart of the UPN-turned-CW drama Veronica
Mars routinely takes on racism, classism, and sexism,
sometimes in the same week. In an era in which teenage girls
still too often serve primarily as eye candy,
or a catalyst to the boy’s story, Veronica is arguably
the most realistic and nuanced teenage girl on TV; think Nancy
Drew meets Buffy, without the Hardy Boys or the bloody stakes.
Whether she’s dealing with date rape, closeted gay students
being outed, or her missing alcoholic mother, Veronica isn’t
afraid to stand up for herself and others--and all without
veering into ABC After School Special territory.
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Studio
60's Harriet / Sarah Paulson
The singer/actress played by Sarah Paulson on the NBC new
drama Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip may be the best
Christian character on network TV in years: open-minded, self-confidant,
and funny, she’s strong in her faith, but openly rejects
the bigotry and extremism espoused by Christian fundamentalists.
That the actress who plays her is openly gay--she attended the 2005 Tony Awards with girlfriend actress Cherry Jones--only makes Harriet
even more interesting. If Studio 60 survives, Harriet might
just make moderate, open-minded Christianity look cool again--and
give lesbian viewers someone new to drool over…er, root
for. |
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Salma
Hayek
Yes, we know she's better known for her film roles than for television. But Hayek is the executive producer of ABC's Ugly Betty and plays a small role on the new show, which gives us an excuse to put her on this list. Hayek
brought the story of bisexual artist Frida Kahlo to the big screen without compromising the queer content of Kahlo's life, and earned an Academy Award nomination for her starring role. Hayek is also a passionate advocate for women's and immigrants' rights. Maxim doesn't know this, but activism is sexy.
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Lorelei
and Rory Gilmore (Lauren Graham & Alexis Bledel)
No one is better than Rory and Lorelei Gilmore at exploring
and celebrating the complex relationship of mothers and daughters.
During The Gilmore Girls six seasons on The WB (it’s
now airing on The CW), this mother-daughter team has had its
ups and downs--including an ill-conceived season-long estrangement--but
even at their worst, Rory and Lorelei are among the most convincing,
interesting, and funny women you’ll find on almost TV.
Plus, Lauren Graham is really hot.
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Tyra
Banks
As the Executive Producer of our favorite guilty pleasure, America's Next Top Model, Tyra Banks might seem an unlikely choice for this list. But she's one of the few people on primetime television to openly take on the historically taboo topics of body image, racism and homophobia, and she does it with humor and sincerity. The supermodel-turned-businesswoman takes obvious pride in mentoring the young hopefuls who sashay before her in hopes of becoming the next, well, Tyra.
This isn't the first list she's made this year; Time Magazine recently named Banks as one of the "100 People Who Shape Our World". Now that's fierce.
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