It's casting season for the broadcast networks' fall pilots, and with every casting announcement we get a peek into what kinds of shows the networks are looking at for the fall. The verdict? Eh. I'm underwhelmed. Especially when it comes to the roles for women.

But you can draw you own conclusions — here are some of the pilots in the works and the actresses attached, with my wildly premature speculation thrown in as a bonus. Feel free to add your own observations in the comments.

BAD MOTHER'S HANDBOOK (ABC) - Alicia Silverstone (Miss Match), Alia Shawkat (Arrested Development)

Plot
A comedy about a 32-year-old woman (Silverstone) who is too busy taking care of her 16-year-old daughter (Shawkat) and 48-year-old mother.

Snap Judgment
Would they ever make a comedy called Bad Father's Handbook? No.

Does Alicia Silverstone have a bad track record on TV? Yes.

Will I check this out anyway? Maeby.

GOOD BEHAVIOR (ABC) - Mae Whitman (Arrested Development)

Plot
A dramedy based on the New Zealand show Outrageous Fortune that centers on the matriarch of a family of criminals who straightens out her brood after her husband goes to jail for five years. Whitman plays Roxy, the family's smart teen daughter who has been blackmailing her principal and selling hall passes and permission slips.

Snap Judgment
Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas is writing this show, so I'm semi-optimistic about it. And at least Whitman's character is described as "smart." (Really? Her?)

KINGS (NBC) - Allison Miller

Plot
The story of King David, centering on David Shepherd (Christopher Egan), a pure-hearted young warrior who joins the court of the charismatic and authoritative King Silas (Ian McShane). Miller plays Michelle Benjamin, Silas' daughter who falls in love with David.

Snap Judgment
Another show revolving around a male hero in which virtually all the women's storylines revolve around being someone's love interest? Excellent!

Because we don't see enough of that on The Tudors. Or Mad Men. Or Nip/Tuck. Or in every historical epic or action movie in the theaters. … continue reading

I have a problem with Paula Marshall.

Well, actually, I have a problem with directors and producers and casting directors who haven't found a way to put Marshall on the screen week after week. I want to see more of her — in every sense of the phrase.

I had high hopes for Cupid, a witty 1998 comedy starring Marshall and Jeremy Piven. … continue reading

Have you been watching Nip/Tuck, even though Portia de Rossi has been AWOL for so long? I have, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about the recent psycho stalker story line, with special guest star Sharon Gless. [Warning: Spoilers]

When Gless first showed up on the show, I was thrilled. Her character, Colleen Rose, was sassy, smart and funny — just like I like Gless, and like I'm used to seeing her. But things soon took a turn for the criminally insane. We learned that Colleen wasn't really a talent agent; she was just trying to get close to Dr. Sean. And when an actual agent interfered, teddy-bear-collecting Colleen decided to stuff him. It was one of the most gruesome murder scenes — not to mention one of the trippiest — I've ever seen on TV.

Last week, it looked like Colleen met an untimely death at her own hands. I'm not sure whether she'll be back for one last gasp tonight, or will even be mentioned again. But I do know one thing: I don't understand why Gless took the role. (I'm not the only one.) I guess maybe she thought it would be fun to play crazy. But the story line was just plain misogynist — Colleen the capable professional soon became Colleen the desperate, menopausal, lonely, diabolical crone. It seems very far beneath Gless.

I might be overreacting. But most of the women on Nip/Tuck are appallingly two-dimensional, and not just because they're vain moneyed types seeking plastic surgery. Creator Ryan Murphy (who is gay, not that that means anything at all in terms of his attitude toward women) seems to want to destroy his female characters and erase their humanity. Whether it's Kimber (or Eden) the slut — don't even get me started on their violent sex scene last week — or Colleen the psycho or Julia the meat-seeking rag doll or Liz the barely there prudish lesbian or Kate the fat actress, they're easy to sum up and difficult to care about. … continue reading

Paula Marshall, otherwise known as foxy lesbian daughter Regina on the great-but-canceled Out of Practice, will appear in four episodes of Nip/Tuck next season as Sean McNamara's love interest. I can't think of a bigger waste of her talent — not to mention her foxiness. And that's definitely a step down in terms of costars, though almost anything would be after you've worked with Stockard Channing. … continue reading