Women Taking Over the Television*

Now that we are well into 2015, many of our favorite television shows are returning for new seasons or mid-winter premieres. Many of these shows have female energy exuding from the cast and their respective storylines. One might say this year in television has been the “Year of the Woman.” According to The Atlantic, “strong female characters on network TV make up a sizable chunk of the pie…and network tv is becoming the land of women.” This trend is extremely significant, because women are not simply in the shows as side characters, but taking lead roles, dominating casts, and holding positions of authority with their roles.

Nicole Beharie as Lt. Abbie Mills in FOX's "Sleepy Hollow"

On the Fox Network, “Gotham” and “Sleepy Hollow” made mid-season returns earlier this month. Still in its first season, Gotham is a notable show, particularly for comic book fans, giving viewers a two-fold look into the origin story of Bruce Wayne long before he becomes the “Dark Knight,” while also introducing many of Batman’s supporting characters. Although the show is centered on the rise of Gotham City Police detective Jim Gordon, several of the show’s women hold positions of power. Whether it is night club owner and mob boss Maria Mercedes “Fish” Mooney (Jada Pinkett Smith), or Selina “Cat” Kyle (Camren Bicondova), a clever homeless youth who has an intriguing influence and connection with young Bruce Wayne, or Captain Sarah Essen who is Jim Gordon’s boss in the Gotham City PD, women are not just sidekicks or eye-candy, but equals to their male counterparts. Staying with this theme of women in power, “Sleepy Hollow” employs a woman of color in the lead role. This casting is significant considering the original story of Sleepy Hollow does not include any women of color, so this series is a modern-day retelling of the 1820 Halloween short story that adds color to the storyline. Juilliard-trained actress Nicole Beharie (42, Shame) who plays Lieutenant Abbie Mills, an FBI-trained officer, provides a commentary that one might call the driving force in the future of understanding the new Sleepy Hollow. Shows like “Gotham” and “Sleepy Hollow” provide a fresh scripted story that helps to balance out the reality shows.

Viola Davis as Annalise Keating in ABC's "How to Get Away With Murder"

Flipping through the TV guide, I realized that the ABC network seems to have the largest number of shows returning as well as some new additions to their line-up, such as the new series “Marvel’s Agent Carter,” where audiences get to see one of the original comic book heroines in her own lead series. This should be interesting and entertaining as we get to see a stylish action heroine rule the television screen. One of my personal faves premiered yesterday with the return “TGIT” (Thank God It’s Thursday). Creator and executive producer Shonda Rhimes takes over Thursday nights with her female-dominated shows. “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal” are veterans in Rhimes’ Thursday group, and her newest creation “How to Get Away With Murder” is well on its way to obtaining that same acclaim. Viola Davis plays hard-core, high-profile law professor Annalise Keating, commanding the attention of audiences such that Davis won the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) award for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Drama, being the only African American nominated, and beating out some tough competition. A well-deserved winner, Davis exudes the confidence and humility of a sage actress. During her acceptance speech, she thanked the writers, producers, and creators for “thinking that a sexualized, messy, mysterious woman could be a 49 year old dark-skinned African American woman who looks like me.” Her observation is significant in indirectly calling Hollywood out on its historical (and contemporary) racism, and ageism as well. Davis stated it best: “It’s a victory for people of color, it’s a victory for actors who aren’t ‘fresh-faced and in their 20’s.’” All in all, both Nicole Beharie’s and Viola Davis’ characters offer invigorating alternatives to the typical Jezebel or Mammy figures placed on African American women in television.

Women are not just dominating traditional TV networks, but they streaming onto internet channels as well. With the complete third season of “House of Cards” returning to Netflix on February 27th , we not only get to watch Golden Globe winner Kevin Spacey reprise his role as the ruthless, cunning Congressman turned Commander-in-Chief Francis Underwood; additionally, we get to tune in to his secret weapon, his gorgeous, ambitious, and equally conniving wife, Claire (Golden Globe winner Robin Wright). This Summer on Netflix, audiences will be able to watch the ladies of Litchfield prison return to our computer screens in season 3 of the SAG award winning (Outstanding Performance by an ensemble in a comedy series) “Orange is the New Black.” Hopefully, we will get to see more of “Crazy Eyes” (Uzo Aduba) too!

Netflix shows (l-r) "House of Cards" starring Robin Wright as Claire Underwood and "Orange is the New Black" with cast members Laura Prepon as Alex Vause and Taylor Schilling as Piper Chapman.

There is lots of exciting television coming in 2015, full of leading ladies reminding viewers that they’re not going anywhere! Whether defying the odds, winning high-profile cases in fashion-forward styles, or saving lives, the strong women are here to stay! So whether you tune in to NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, HBO, or Netflix, there is a plethora of television shows to choose from for your viewing pleasure.

So what will YOU be watching this 2015??

*As seen also in The Berkeley Graduate

Dear Hollywood....

Now I could not resist this re-post, this is so very problematic on so many levels. As I was strolling through my Facebook I came across a picture and commentary from Bougie Black Girl that stopped me cold in my tracks... Check it out for yourself...  

It has been reported that Zoe Saldana will replace Mary J. Blige in the role of Nina Simone. Nina Simone was a real life person. We know what she looked like and well it looks like Hollywood is at it again. I for one am outraged. There are far more actresses in Hollywood who could have taken this role.

Let me also say that this is not a slight at Ms. Saldana. She is a great actress but Ms. Salda

na in no way shape or form even looks like the legendary Nina Simone. Nina Simone was a Black woman from Tryon, North Carolina and not a Latina.

Zoe Saldana describes herself by saying "I’m just Zoe. Not a little bit Dominican, not a little bit Puerto Rican, none of that silliness… I am what you want me to be if that’s what it takes for you to overcome your insecurities. As a Latina, I think we should be very proud of our heritage. We tend to look for European roots and reject the indigenous and the African, and that is disgusting. Being Latin is a mix of everything. I want my people to not be as insecure, and to adore what we are because it’s beautiful.”

Nina Simone was a beautiful dark skin Black woman.

Once again Hollywood shows no regard for authenticity when it comes to Black women. In the recent movie called Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter the character of President Abraham Lincoln was portrayed by an actor who looked like one of our nation's greatest presidents. Unfortunately, when casting the role of Harriet Tubman the casting director diverted from this and chose a biracial Dutch actress to play the role of one of America's greatest heroines and former Black slave Harriet Tubman.

I wonder is Hollywood that oblivious to their blatant colorism they display when casting Black women but only conscience of authenticity when it comes to white characters. Only They know they truth.

Black people images have power. This is why it is imperative that we Black women speak up and let our voices be heard. The most powerful thing we can do is control our image if not others will shape it for you.

I can think of four different people who could play this role WAY SO MUCH BETTER (Nicole Beharie, Rutina Wesley, India Arie, Naomi Harris)!! 

What are your thoughts?!

 

 

The Disappearance of the Black Female Action Heroine

After watching the 2011 mystery thriller The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, I left the theater with a plethora of emotions. Excited, empowered, proud, somber, a bit in confused, and somewhat in limbo. This idea of the female action heroine reincarnated just kept calling out to me. But then I would take it a step further and ask what about the black female action heroine? Well…uhhhh…She’s nowhere to be found…"MIA"

Don’t get me wrong The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is a remarkable film (that you should still see) that provides a foundation for audiences to see that the female actress can do more than just cry, sit behind a desk, stand by her man, and take care of her family. She exemplifies a female force to be "reckoned with" and someone who can stand on her own two feet. 

Breakout star 26-year old Rooney Mara who plays Lisbeth Salander in TGWTDT re-introduces a character that has been somewhat dormant . Yes recently we have had similar personalities or “sister-cousins” come to the big screen like Saoirse Ronan in Hanna and Chloe Grace Moretz in Kick-Ass (this one could be debatable,) but the last closely-related action heroine like Salander would be Anne Parillaud in the 1990 film La Femme Nikita. Both tell these bizarre, psychological  stories of a troubled, unsocialized and vulnerable young woman who climbs her way through her own personal horrific trenches and transform into a “female killing machine”. 

But back to my dilemma...While this is all well and good…YAY FEMALE POWER!! nevertheless, my problem with this picture is the lack of diversity with the female action heroine. If someone were to ask me name 5 female action heroine who had leading roles in Hollywood, I could easily spit out Angelina Jolie (Wanted, Tomb Raider), Kate Beckinsale (Underworld), Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil), Linda Hamilton (Terminator) and of course we can’t forget who some say got the “action heroine” ball rolling Sigourney Weaver (Aliens) and that's just round one. However, what’s wrong with this list…"the woman of color"…Even if I did a Google or Bing search it would struggle to just to even pull out two women of color (No Joke...Trust me I tried). 

Speaking as an African American/Black women I am constantly searching for those images that present heroine that looks like me, and finding that female action heroine of color is a further daunting task. Now please note it is not an anomaly that a female action heroine of color existed, it’s just the gap of how long another one will present itself to the forefront. Hmmmm…the last true female action heroine of color that was able to break ground in mainstream Hollywood would be that of Pam Grier’s character Foxy Brown and the late Tamara Dobson's portrayal of Cleopatra Jones from the 1970s Blaxploitation film era….notice the date 30+ years ago….Problemmatic!! 

It becomes somewhat of concern when there are numerous actresses of color that seem to be overlooked, downplayed, or selected on rare occasions for action hero roles. I guess I should be thankful that Halle Berry played a Black/African superhero X-Men’s Storm, or that Jada Pinkett-Smith plays a rebel martial artist in The Matrix Reloaded…mmmmm try again. Or maybe Hollywood wants me to be satisfied with one film every so many years like the 2011 summer action flick Columbiana starring Dominican/Puerto Rican bred Zoe Saldana. Alas, this is the most recent flick to have a female of color play the lead action heroine. Fortunately and unfortunately she has been the only “go-to” female of color to play an action heroine. 

Please make no mistake Saldana has skills, but this wealth could be shared. There are numerous women who have more than proved their skills and talents, like newbie/indie star Nicole Beharie, Jurnee Smollett, Tariji P. Henson, British born Naomie Harris, True Blood star Rutina Wesley, Sanaa Lathan, and I would even suggest Kerry Washington step out from her traditional drama roles and position her self in an action role, shoot even Jada Pinkett-Smith still has great potential. So my question now is, "Hollywood who and when will the next one be?"

It’s not there are not any women of color to choose from to fill these roles it’s just a matter of them being selected. Hello they are there and available!! Some might say we should satisfied that women of color are beginning to have lead roles or be more visible in drama and comedy films, unfortunately that is unsatisfactory.Or maybe Hollywood should expand its thought process to consider and thus eventually include Black female actress in these action-heroine roles. Historically, Black women have been fighting just to get quality roles and top billing (in general) and even in 2012 Black actresses are still trying to get to that mountain peak. We have made strides, slowly but surely, but not nearly enough as it should be. Black women should be able to represent all across the board not just in certain genres/areas. I mean for real are white woman the only ones capable of “kicking some ass” in the movies, and Black women just kind of fall off the map and worse the radar?

I guess the question that should be addressed is, “Can Hollywood Handle A Female Action Hero of Color?”