What do you watch on TV?

[kickassangel]

So, I don't watch a whole load of TV, but even though I try to go for better written programs, it's all still very stereotypical.

What is it possible to watch on TV that won't just piss me off? I like a bit of mindless entertainment when I'm done with work, and I'm struggling to find things.

Can we assume that by asking for programs that won't piss you off in the FWR section that you want (pro-)feminist programs?

I like Game of Thrones, Mad Men, and Breaking Bad, but they do depict women in situations that might piss you off...

I love Bones, Elementary, Warehouse 13, Arrow, Grimm, Walking dead, Revolution and Continuum.
Bones especially, has strong female characters , Warehouse 13 too.

I've just realised they are all American, other than Dr Who and Sherlock, we don't really watch UK tv much at all. I did enjoy Call the Midwife and Downton though.

DD has it fixed on Discovery Science, with two boys football takes over. Personally I would rather read Bronte or Poe than watch TV.

I watch the Swedish Arne Dahl series on Saturday evenings. They have a woman boss who is not a loon. In fact some of these Scandinavian programmes are rather acceptable. (Come back, Borgen!)

Nashville - total trash but written by the same woman who did Thelma and Louise so lots of strong interesting female characters, I absolutely love it, but I am a sucker for country music...

The Good Wife (More4) is, I think, my favourite programme ever. Intelligent, funny and lots of interesting female characters.

Another one here who watches Arne Dahl and other scandi series.
It's great to see dramas where older women have key roles and not just younger good looking ones.

Ooh AND parks and recreation which is on bbc3 or bbc4 I think - great great funny programme, written by and starring a Saturday Night Live female comedian Amy Poehler

I saw Parks and Recreation once and rather liked it but somehow never got round to see more.

Dr Who and Only Connect. That's it. If there's a good series on I watch that. So Broadchurch recently for example.

I prefer the radio tbh. Is on most of the time.

Who said Nashville was trash?! It's awesome, has cool as fuck female protagonists and the eye candy is all male. I mean it's created by Callie Khouri who gave us Brad Pitt half naked. What I mean is she gave us a female gaze when all there had ever been was a male one.

Although I realise that replacing one with the other isn't the answer but it does fill a gap so to speak.

I love just listening to Radio 4, really good for chilling out and you can pick and choose what you like on their planner. Women's Hour is amazing!

B

You can't beat a good quiz show

The Good Wife too. I like the older woman who was in Mamma Mia, except I keep expecting her to rip off her suit, fling the male associate across the room and start singing "does your mama know that you're out?!" whilst doing super high leg kicks

I also like Breaking Bad and Mad Men. I can live with them because they're so stylized and obviously not trying to depict reality, so they don't bother me.

Recently been watching the West wing on DVD and finding the token nod to feminism, done in a really obvious and stereotypical way, is annoying.

Haven't looked at the Good Wife.

I live in the US so easy enough to watch American shows.

kickass, PBS is your friend for feminist programming in general. from children's to adults TV- even the news programs. They regularly have feminist documentaries too. 30 Rock if you aren't in to it already.

Scott & Bailey is really good. It's also raised a bit of venom on the usual site, because it's sexist to have two female protaganists and sideline all those poor male actors

LordCopper Was it some of the first series you saw? It's good, but the second series is much funnier. I think both series will be out on dvd/blu-ray in June.

The Fall looks like it might be trying to be a new Prime Suspect, with Gillian Anderson as the strong female lead.
It has however reinforced my "oh of course he would, such a MAN!" stance, but then I see that everywhere at the moment (says more about me than the programmes I watch I think!)

Singing - not sure which one, but it had somebody falling into a giant pit and somebody was trying to turn it into a playground.

When is the The Fall on? Saw that in the telly guide and meant to watch it.

Don't watch much telly these days ...

Another vote for The Good Wife, it is DH's and my favourite program. Possibly of all time.

I can't watch dramas, they require more commitment than I'm prepared to give.

The only thing that springs to mind is the Ben Fogle thing about people living in difficult environments. S'good that.

I am not very up on current programmes, but I have various oldie recommendations that you should be able to watch on Netflix or Hulu.

I would recommend Mad Men, Veronica Mars, Call the Midwife, The X Files, Battlestar Galactica, Firefly, Buffy, Angel, Deadwood. I have heard good things about Breaking Bad and Castle.

Spooks was good - that is on Netflix as MI-5 in the US.

Crime: Foyle's War is probably fairly inoffensive. The Fall is going to be on Netflix in the US from the end of May. The Fall had graphic sexual violence in the first episode though - it remains to be seen whether the rest of it will be like that.

For comedy, I like Arrested Development, Frasier, Spaced, Peep Show and Rev (the last three are British but are def. on Hulu, poss on Netflix too). The Daily Show can be OK but is hit and miss and is very male dominated. I have seen a bit of Raising Hope and I liked that.

Doctor Who these days sets my feminist radar off unfortunately.

I would say head over to Netflix and get stuck in. It is better value than US broadcast TV imo.

NCIS - Abby rocks!

Gilmore Girls boxset :)