Hi everyone.Can anyone remind me of well known/successful sitcoms that have had women as the main characters?I missed the one with Liza Tarbuck-What was that called?All the ones i like-or can think of-seem to be male led,even with women in the main cast (eg,NGO,Black Books)
Just search under "Carla Lane" and "Jennifer Saunders".
Hi niteowl. Good topic.
Badge has a good point - Vivienne Vyle and Jam and Jerusalem are the latest in quite a long line of female led sitcoms.
The first one that springs to mind for me though is Birds of a Feather - don't ask me why!
The Vicar of Dibley, To the Manor Born and Keeping Up Appearances all obviously have a central female character.
Agony, Nighty Night and Dinnerladies are another three I can think of off the top of my head.
Yes of course.I am a fool!I'm not keen on Saunders so didnt think of her stuff.I think I got stuck thinking about a particular style of sitcom as well and forgot the ones you mention.Am off to search for more,thanks for unsticking me!
Incidentally,what are peoples thoughts on the differences between male and female led sitcoms?
Depends who is writing them.
And who they think they are writing them for.
Gimme Gimme Gimme? Or is Tom too much a factor? I guess one could argue he's a woman anyway.
2 Point 4 Children, some would argue that Bill is the driving force behind the family, but I think I personally would think it's Ben a little more who leads the show.
The Magnificent Evans? I think she's probably in it a bit more than he is, and definitely more of the mouthpiece, as t'were, to the audience.
Nothing else off the top of my head.
In regards to the differences question, can you define "differences"?
Interesting topic. Of my own personal favourites, I can't think of any that have had female leads. I remember really loving early Absolute Fabulous, but that seemed to implode towards the end and, as yet, I haven't had the energy or inclination to go back to them. Nighty Night was pretty good, although it falls short of classic status by quite some way.
Not a sitcom, but comedy-wise (well...), Tittybangbang.
30 Rock in America at the moment (Tina Fey) um... must be some more american ones...Golden Girls...Roseanne...
You could argue that League of Gentlemen is female led, considering all the bloody female characters they played.
I wouldn't though.
Spaced is half boy, half girl.
I was classing Spaced as male-led.Because I associate it with Simon Pegg.
On the differences question,I'm not sure what I mean because I'm still trying to work it out myself.Obviously there are/have been female led/driven sitcoms-some of which I've enjoyed now I've been reminded of them,but why do I need reminding and why do the male-led ones come to mind so much easier?
Who wrote GGG?Because again I wouldnt automatically think of that as female-led.
Are male leads stronger?Is it the writers gender that affects perception?Sorry to be so vague-I'm going to have to think about this some more to get a handle on whats bugging me
Nighty Night!
Fan bloody Tastic
Quote: niteowl @ November 14, 2007, 7:54 PMI was classing Spaced as male-led.Because I associate it with Simon Pegg.
On the differences question,I'm not sure what I mean because I'm still trying to work it out myself.Obviously there are/have been female led/driven sitcoms-some of which I've enjoyed now I've been reminded of them,but why do I need reminding and why do the male-led ones come to mind so much easier?
Who wrote GGG?Because again I wouldnt automatically think of that as female-led.
Are male leads stronger?Is it the writers gender that affects perception?Sorry to be so vague-I'm going to have to think about this some more to get a handle on whats bugging me
To be honest, I think you need to look at your own brainbox.
Spaced to YOU is all about Simon Pegg. To me it's equally Simon and Jessica. Gimme Gimme Gimme to YOU is apparently all about the bloke, whereas to me the ginger Kathy seems like the main character.
It was quite easy for me to think of several female led sitcoms, but harder for you.
Everyone's different.
was there one called the liver birds?
And dinner ladies was mainly female led.
Can't believe I didn't think of this earlier, seeing as the DVD is almost right in front of me, but Girls On Top.
Quote: jacparov @ November 14, 2007, 8:20 PMwas there one called the liver birds?
Indeed there was, indeed there was.