While on the "Dobie Gillis" board, one poster mused that a big reason a Zelda Gilroy spinoff didn't happen was because Shelia James was not a overly glammed up woman and would have not fit in the sixties sitcom landscape. Unfortunately, this is very true. How many sitcoms have beat the sterotype and put a funny but not very glamorous female actress front and center?

Gimme a Break
Hazel
Roseanne

Grace Under Fire

While on the "Dobie Gillis" board, one poster mused that a big reason a Zelda Gilroy spinoff didn't happen was because Shelia James was not a overly glammed up woman and would have not fit in the sixties sitcom landscape. Unfortunately, this is very true. How many sitcoms have beat the sterotype and put a funny but not very glamorous female actress front and center?

It didn't happen because they found out she was a dyke and wouldn't be believable in a role chasing men.

It didn't happen because they found out she was a dyke and wouldn't be believable in a role chasing men.
She had no trouble chasing Dobie all those years!! Her sexual orientation has no bearing on what characters she could have played. The PTB just didn't want to build a series around her after they became aware of her orientation. it was their prejudice not her acting ability that torpedoed the spinoff.

It didn't happen because they found out she was a dyke

Such an eloquent way to state that. :rolleyes:

Roseanne
Married With Children
Grace Under Fire
Maude

She had no trouble chasing Dobie all those years!! Her sexual orientation has no bearing on what characters she could have played. The PTB just didn't want to build a series around her after they became aware of her orientation. it was their prejudice not her acting ability that torpedoed the spinoff.

Has nothing to do with prejudice, they didn't think she could be a realistic heterosexual lead. That's why so much of Hollywood goes to extraordinary lengths to pretend to be straight. Women aren't going to go see Tom Cruise or George Clooney playing romantic leads if they find out they're gay. Just the way the world works.

How many sitcoms have beat the sterotype and put a funny but not very glamorous female actress front and center?



You're all forgetting the one obvious choice: The Golden Girls!!

Bosom Buddies LOL! :happyface

Such an eloquent way to state that. :rolleyes:

Yes, full of respect, too.

Seriously, is this kind of post something we want to tolerate?

Yes, full of respect, too.

Seriously, is this kind of post something we want to tolerate?

I do not doubt that he has a great knowledge of television, but that doesn't give him a pass to behave like this.

Laverne and Shirley

A Touch of Grace
Golden Palace
Mike and Molly
All American Girl
Waiting for God (UK)

Everybody Loves Raymond: Neither Patricia Heaton or Doris Roberts are what I'd call "glamorous".

Pretty much any show where somebody played a maid.


I wouldn't call either Isabel Sanford (The Jeffersons) or Esther Rolle (Good Times) glamorous either.

You're all forgetting the one obvious choice: The Golden Girls!!


I don't know, Blanche was a fairly glam character.. or at least she presented herself as such and believed she was.

Everybody Loves Raymond: Neither Patricia Heaton or Doris Roberts are what I'd call "glamorous".


Patricia Heaton is attractive.

Patricia Heaton is attractive.


Attractive, maybe, but glamorous I'd say no. And she especially fits this as the role of Debra was designed as deliberately not glamorous, she was meant to be a ordinary, plain housewife.

Mary Hartman
Thelma "Mama" Harper
Jessica Fletcher (she was attractive but not glamorous)

Attractive, maybe, but glamorous I'd say no. And she especially fits this as the role of Debra was designed as deliberately not glamorous, she was meant to be a ordinary, plain housewife.


Debra's very bad attitude and demeanor made her really unattractive IMO! :(

Gidget

Mel's Diner

Needles and Pins. Not that anybody remembers the show, but it was the first to come to mind because the show's oo-creator is on the record bashing the female lead for her non-glamor: I mean, it was like they put Kirk Douglas in the leading lady role

OUCH

Good Times

This is touchy subject for in a way you are bashing the actress. Sheila James may not be the prettiest actress but you almost saying she is homely. I would like to go the other way, what actress who is a bombshell got a part because she dulled herself up. One actress is Audrey Meadows. So the story goes Jackie wouldn't hire her for she was too good looking, so she unglammed herself and got he part.

Blossom - Mayim Bialik

The Facts of Life. 5 female leads but the only "glamorous" one was Blair. All 5 of the characters got equal representation.