Classic Sitcoms and Female Representation
You know a TV series has been successful when it begins to influence pop culture. Whether it is fashion, hairstyles or language, when society starts replicating story elements, producers know their show was a hit. The classic examples include the “Rachel” hairstyles from Friends, along with her Ralph Lauren fashion sense, and the launching of nerd culture to the front of people’s minds with The Big Bang Theory.
These shows, along with others like Frasier, were always an “easy watch” and thanks to E4 and Comedy Central, I was able to binge-watch the entire series with early morning, lunchtime and evening episodes. From watching these shows when I was younger to re-watching them now as a 25-year-old girl, I’ve come to realise how problematic the writing was especially when representing women. At the time, jokes, storylines and comments would have gone over my head. So you could imagine my surprise when I recently re-watched these iconic shows and everything I thought I liked about them was challenged.
Frasier (1993 - 2004)
In my house, Frasier has been re-watched countless times. It’s my so-called comfort watch and an iconic American sitcom following Dr Frasier Crane a radio psychiatrist who moves to Seattle for new beginnings and the often absurd and farcical situations he finds himself in. With a stellar cast, the show has won countless awards and deserves all of them for the masterful acting and the majority of the hilarious writing.
One group typically tends to be the butt of the joke in Frasier and that is women. The two main female characters are Daphne, played by Jane Leeves, and Roz, played by Peri Gilpin.
Roz has become a feminist hero in the post-Frasier years. She was a single mother who navigated sexist comments and constant berating of her sex life to become the station manager in the final episode of Frasier. Whilst her promotion to station manager is a testament to her obvious talent and determination knowing what she had to go through to get there is quite overwhelming. Despite being in full control of her sex life Roz was frequently the office victim, with Bull Dog and Noel often physically and sexually touching her every season. She made it through all of this while being witty, funny and the perfect character to call Frasier out for his often pompous, sexist and ridiculous behaviour.
Daphne is introduced as an English rose to care for Martin, Frasier’s dad, yet somehow became their housekeeper who could definitely sue for workplace harassment considering the number of times Niles gawked at her backside. Despite the will they-won’t they love story between Daphne and Niles I was ecstatic when they finally got together. But then Jane Reeves became pregnant in real life so what did they do to Daphne? Why of course, strap on a fat suit and get the “Crane” jokes out. Again, extremely unpleasant viewing. Send her off to the retreat so she can lose a few pounds - see you next season Daph!
All the romantic interests in Frasier’s life are viewed via the male gaze and of course, there is something “wrong” with all of them. His ex-wife Lilith is constantly slagged as the ice queen when in reality she was far more intellectual and refined than Frasier. It’s made out that he was too good for her, but realistically I’d say it is the other way about.
Rules of Engagement (2007 - 2013)
As far as I can remember, Rules of Engagement starring Patrick Warburton, David Spade and Oliver Hudson, was hilarious. Great characters, funny storylines and the series finale was closed out with a brilliant song. I was delighted when I found the series on a streaming site and didn’t think twice about watching a few episodes.
God.
I’ve never heard more date r*pe jokes in one series, ever. I hate everything about it. Jeff, the main character, is a twat. Like imagine the most macho-alpha man ever, and times it by 10, that’s Jeff. Brought to life by Patrick Warburton, I know my red flag for his acting was when he tried to kill Barry in The Bee Movie. His main aim in life is to annoy his wife with sarcasm, hurtful comments and vulgarities. I’m sure at the time the writers thought that having Jeff and Audrey conceive their child via surrogacy was ground-breaking for TV. Well, not whenever Jeff’s lesbian friend carries their baby and all he can do is make crude lesbian jokes about Audrey and Brenda’s relationship. Hyper-sexualisation over your surrogate? Unreal!
Then there is David Spade’s character Russell. It was because of Russell I can’t even put the show on anymore as background noise. He can be compared to the Barney Stinsons of the world (How I Met Your Mother), a manipulative, problematic, dangerous predator. But who does he prey on? Teenage girls, where he often jokes they’re underage, and typically spiked, under the influence or masterfully manipulated. Similar to HIMYM, the girls we met who Russell or Barney has sparked a relationship with are portrayed as stupid, ditzy, impressionable and only interested in these men because they have money and influence. It is such a boring character arc and one that doesn’t belong on our screens.
Women aren’t the only group attacked in Rules of Engagement, Russell’s assistant Timmy is racially abused in every episode. At times it is really unpleasant to watch and listen as these lewd stereotypes are spat at Timmy. During the final episode when Timmy and Russell get married so he can avoid deportation is just peak ridiculousness.
The Big Bang Theory (2007 - 2019)
The Big Bang Theory became a cultural phenomenon aided by the award-winning acting of Jim Parsons who portrayed protagonist (and antagonist) Sheldon Cooper. I watched the show religiously on E4 after school but looking back I realise that what I thought was funny was probably just influenced by the laughing track in the background. Despite the laugh tracks, the main male characters in the show are wholly just a group of pr*icks disguised as “sweet nerds” and those guys can do no wrong, right?
Sheldon’s infuriating, Leonard is a dose, Raj is a mixed-up character arc and Howard should have been locked up in season one. Their treatment of the main female leads Penny, Bernadette and Amy are laughable. Penny is constantly criticised for having a sex life whilst Amy is mocked for being considered frigid. In the beginning, Bernadette was written as a bumbling idiot; towards the end of the series, she was a manipulative, highly educated and successful scientist.
Whilst the later seasons, in my opinion, were just not funny anymore the biggest issue I took with the finale was how they made Penny pregnant when she frequently and openly said she didn’t want children. She and Leonard had accepted the fact, it was a prominent storyline, but then in the last few minutes of the entire series we find out she’s expecting a baby so of course, her life was truly complete. I was so cross they did this. Penny is one of the biggest TV female characters in the last decade, it would have been significant if she was “allowed” to remain childless, like the decision she made during the entire final season.
Similar to Timmy’s treatment in Rules of Engagement, Raj is often racially abused in The Big Bang, usually by his “best friend” Howard. Raj and his sister Priya are the punchlines of many racist jokes that are wholly unacceptable. Raj himself, excluding the racist comments he faces, is too an annoying character. Despite having a mental health issue referred to as selected mutism when he does speak Raj is often misogynistic and creepy.
Friends (1994 - 2004)
I’m not even going to spend time writing about how chaotic Friends is.
I’ll sum it up in three words, I hate Ross.
Gavin and Stacey (2007-2010-2019)
I only discovered Gavin and Stacey when the latest Christmas special had been announced. I decided to see what all the fuss was about and couldn’t believe I had waited that long to watch the series. Every time I have re-watched episodes there are still jokes that I’m picking up for the first time or had forgotten about and got to enjoy all over again. It’s an incredible example of masterful characterisation, acting and writing.
Pam Shipman is one of TV’s most iconic characters. Fact.
When writing this blog post and thinking about women’s representation in entertainment Gavin and Stacey’s female leads come to mind. Stacey, Nessa, Pam and Gwen weren’t created to support and lead the story of their male counterparts. Each of them has their own distinct backstory and narrative, with Nessa’s outlandish stories often causing scene-stealing moments for Ruth Jones’ enigmatic character.
In contrast to Roz and Penny, when Gavin and Stacey’s ladies talk about sex it isn’t along the slut shaming lines. It’s them in control of the situation, their sex lives and the open discussion around it. Lest we forget the recurring theme of Pam and Mick’s fantasies of playing Prince (at the time) Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles.
One of my favourite lines from the entire series is when Stacey declares “Like yesterday, I had three just watching Cash in the Attic” when talking about female masturbation. This line stuns Gavin, Smithy and Deano whilst James Corden’s character refers to the Welsh as “filthy” but this is nothing compared to the constant berating other leading ladies have to deal with.
Redefined leading ladies
Whilst Frasier, The Big Bang and Rules of Engagement completely miss the mark on their female protagonists there are some shows that have it perfected. One of my favourite series of all time is Black-ish so of course, I’m talking about Doctor Rainbow Johnson played by Tracee Ellis Ross. She’s incredible, from her career, and fashion sense to tolerating her frequently frustrating husband Dre played by Anthony Anderson.
Bow fights for female and people of colour’s empowerment and uses her medical background to help others and look fabulous doing so. Black-ish itself is a trailblazing show often focusing on serious subjects like racism, divorce and post-partem depression yet doing so with a comedy backdrop.
A personal TV hero of mine is Olivia Benson, played by Mariska Hargitay, from Law and Order: Special Victim’s Unit but I’m working on a separate article for her. SVU is an incredibly important show that I think everyone should be made to watch. That would be my first law if I was made president, Dick Wolf would absolutely love that.
Time capsules
I appreciate that these shows were of a certain era, relevant for their time and reflective of what was going on in society. But my main argument is that these storylines are so archaic and problematic for younger generations both male and female. Female characterisation shouldn’t primarily be to support male storylines, nor should women’s sexuality be critiqued for having too much and mocked for having too little. Strong female leads like Olivia, Bow, Nessa and Pam are what people need to see. Plus, their shows are too damn entertaining to be missed.