Non-glamorous female sitcom leads - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

installLSC · 11-29-2014, 02:56 AM

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?

Zoneboy · 11-29-2014, 03:10 AM

Gimme a Break
Hazel
Roseanne

Marvo301 · 11-29-2014, 05:16 PM

Grace Under Fire

bencasey · 11-30-2014, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by installLSC

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.

Marvo301 · 11-30-2014, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bencasey

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.

HuntingtonM15 · 11-30-2014, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bencasey

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

Such an eloquent way to state that.

jimpickens · 11-30-2014, 07:57 PM

Roseanne
Married With Children
Grace Under Fire
Maude

bencasey · 12-01-2014, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

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.

Sal · 12-06-2014, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by installLSC

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!!

tlc38tlc38 · 12-06-2014, 01:47 PM

Bosom Buddies LOL!

Retro4Life · 12-06-2014, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuntingtonM15

Such an eloquent way to state that.

Yes, full of respect, too.

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

Vahan · 12-06-2014, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

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.

dakert · 12-06-2014, 03:00 PM

Laverne and Shirley

Retro4Life · 12-06-2014, 03:14 PM

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

factsoflife · 12-07-2014, 03:16 AM

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.

11-29-2014, 02:56 AM	#1
installLSC Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 19, 2013 Location: United States Posts: 271	Non-glamorous female sitcom leads 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?

11-29-2014, 03:10 AM	#2
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,381	Gimme a Break Hazel Roseanne
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11-29-2014, 05:16 PM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,453	Grace Under Fire
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12-06-2014, 01:47 PM	#10
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,258	Bosom Buddies LOL!
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12-07-2014, 03:16 AM	#15
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,744	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.
	__________________ "and to the fans. I was only supposed to be on every other Tuesday. But, thanks to you, I'm here, and I promise! I will try my best never to let you down. I am going back into that studio on Monday, and I'm going to play Erica Kane for all she's worth!"-- Susan Lucci, May 1999 Daytime Emmy Speech.

11-30-2014, 07:57 PM	#7
jimpickens Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2007 Location: weston,wv Posts: 1,389	Roseanne Married With Children Grace Under Fire Maude

12-06-2014, 03:00 PM	#13
dakert Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Altoona PA Posts: 3,411	Laverne and Shirley

12-06-2014, 03:14 PM	#14
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	A Touch of Grace Golden Palace Mike and Molly All American Girl Waiting for God (UK)