TV Squad recently posted its list of the “The seven coolest geeks on television.” I think this is a fun idea (and I’m all for supporting geekdom!) but none of the geeks are women! This may be because, frankly, there are fewer female geeks than male ones on TV; women on TV are supposed to be sexy or not exist at all, whereas there is more wiggle room for men to exhibit a range of behavior.
However, I think I am not alone in loving a smart – even geeky – woman. So here are my seven coolest female geeks on TV (in alphabetical order, because I am that geeky):
Samantha Bee from The Daily Show – Bee’s reporting on everything from pop culture to politics presents a character who is so earnest about her (faulty) expertise I always wonder how she manages to keep a straight face on-camera. It takes a smart woman to pull off deluded with Bee’s panache.
Watch a hilarious clip of her reporting on whether America is ready for a Mormon president after the jump:
Dr. Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel) from Bones – It’s hard to get geekier than this statement from “Bones” Brennan: “
I think you have a subconscious knack for reading body language. Stress in the voice, other subtle yet discernible indicators. It’s not mysterious, but it is impressive and in the future, I will try to accord it an appropriate degree of objective worth.” Woo! Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) from 30 Rock – Do I really need to explain why Liz makes geekdom so darn cool? Nah. Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan) from Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Willow + computers circa 1998 = True Geekdom. ‘Nuff said. Dr. Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) from The X-Files – No one could perform an alien autopsy while exhibiting an acute case of skepticism with the aplomb of Agent Scully. Example: “Mulder, not everything is a labyrinth of dark conspiracy, and not everybody is plotting to deceive, inveigle and obfuscate.” Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox) on CSI – Her no-nonsense demeanor and sly sense of humor makes her potentially fun to hang out with, but it’s her scientific prowess that makes her sexy. Lisa Simpson (voiced by Yeardley Smith) from The Simpsons – Nobody’s smarter or more self-aware than Lisa. Example: “Relax? I can’t relax! Nor can I yield, relent, or… Only two synonyms? Oh my God, I’m losing my perspicacity!” Who are your favorite female TV geeks? Share your preferences in the comments.
