Top Five: TV’s Female Role Models

Tina Fey as Liz Lemon

Tina Fey’s Liz Lemon, on the other hand, wants desperately to marry and have babies. Instead of focusing on a man to provide these for her, she admits it doesn’t matter. Putting her flaws front and center is definitely something played for laughs, but it also makes it okay not to be perfect all of the time. The way television presents most young women is a joke. Thankfully, Liz lets us know that.

Connie Britton as Tammy Taylor

The dramas are the toughest place to find any sort of exemplary female characters. They’re either scheming to undo some self-perceived wrong—Martha Stewart-esque bounty hunters—or obsessed with love and boys—empty and shiny vessels that need a man to fulfill all their needs. Luckily, there is a Tammy Taylor. Connie Britton’s portrayal of the character on Friday Night Lights is a sight to behold. Gorgeous and wicked, sure, but wicked only when she needs to help an unfortunate soul make it out of a dead-end path to Stripperville, U.S.A. She has the ability to put every single person who crosses her path in his or her place. She is both a serious force of nature and the most capable lady on television. With competition from all of the 1980s film actresses swallowing the scenery on cable (like Glenn Close on Damages or Holly Hunter on Saving Grace), that is really saying something. Let’s just say that if you’re a man you’re a little scared, but really impressed; if you’re a woman or young lady, you take mental notes on the type of person you want to be. What’s more, she is one funny mother.

All of the actresses have created very in-depth, moral, and complicated women. Sometimes, they may be frustrating and hardheaded to the smitten boys, girls, men, and women around them, yet they are resourceful and loyal. The future of all of these shows is in jeopardy (believe it or not) so I only hope they stay long enough to make an impact, so girls of future generations have women of guts, glory, and ultimate goofiness.

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