I don't know about you, but I get a little thrill out of seeing a woman in power. Put a woman in command in a movie or TV show, and suddenly, I'm interested — the only reason I watched all seven seasons of Star Trek: Voyager when I really don't like Star Trek is because of Captain Janeway. (Okay, Seven of Nine helped there, too).

In light of the patriotic holiday that is upon us here in the U.S., the recent news that Fox's 24 is considering having a female president on next season, and of course, the '08 election, I thought I'd highlight some of the most powerful fictional women (or fictional takes on historical women). So here's my list, in no particular order, of women in film and TV (and a book) who have served in the highest (or second-highest) office in the land.

Joan Allen as the Vice Presidential Nominee in The Contender (2000)
Allen is excellent in this movie that brilliantly illustrates the double-standards applied to women in power. As a Senator nominated for the vice presidency, she steadfastly refuses to comment on a photo circulated by enemies in the Republican party that purports to show her engaged in group sex while she was in college, insisting "I just can't respond to these accusations because it's not okay for them to be made."

Mary McDonnell as President Laura Roslin in the Sci Fi Channel's Battlestar Galactica (2004 - today)
With the world as they know it is destroyed, President Roslin and the head of the military (Edward James Olmos) must work together to fight off the evil Cylons, maintain morale, and find a new home. As a former teacher who took over the presidency after everyone else in the line of succession was killed, she rose to the occasion and demonstrated a steely reserve behind the calm and gentle demeanor. Plus, she's kinda hot.

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Cable channel Turner Classic Movies has announced that in honor of Gay Pride in June, it's going to air a month-long series of films exploring "the varied concepts, stereotypes and imagery of gays & lesbians as represented in classic Hollywood cinema." Hosted by film historian Richard Barrios (Screened Out: Playing Gay in Hollywood from Edison to Stonewall), the series — which will air every Monday and Wednesday night in June at 8 p.m. ET — will also have guest commentary from "several prominent figures [who] will provide their thoughts and remarks, including Michael Musto, Tab Hunter, Ron Nyswaner, Charles Busch and Alan Cumming."

My first thought upon hearing this: Cool! Strong women in menswear!

My second thought: Hey, none of those people in that press release are women. Some of the films the series will air include The Broadway Melody (1929), The Maltese Falcon (1941), The Picture of Dorian Grey (1945) and Designing Woman (1957). These are undoubtedly classics, but where are the ladies? … continue reading