Showtime: Lifetime with balls

Weeds, Nurse Jackie, United States of Tara, The Big C, The L Word. All Showtime shows focused around women, written by women, and usually watched by...women. Have we entered a rabbit hole that has put Lifetime and Oxygen on Acid? Or is the opportunity for good television that focuses on women only successful when you can say shit and fuck (maybe a sex scene or two)?


Now of course you may say, what about Showtime’s Dexter, the serial killer with a conscience? Dexter (If only I had started this blog a few months ago because I have TONS to say about that show, but it must wait...) seems to be the alpha male force surrounding Showtime. But with United States of Tara and Nurse Jackie back to back on Mondays and Laura Linney alongside Precious’ Gabourey Sidibe in The Big C coming out summertime with Weeds, it's hard to disagree that Showtime is taking a soft and smooth transition towards a more female focused channel. I know many men who enjoy USOT and Weeds but the influx of female to male character ratio is a bit curious.

Ever since Carrie & co. exited the scene several years ago, women have been waiting anxiously for some strong females to hold their own with the men who dominate the stronger shows of premium cable. Enter Mary Louise Parker, also known as Nancy Botwin, the drug toting soccer mom of Agrestic. Weeds was a haven for elitist suburban pot smokers around the globe, and the humor brought upon by goof offs Doug (Kevin Nealon) and Andy (Justin Kirk) along with the sarcastic and flawless bitchiness of Celia (Elizabeth Perkins) made the show a hit. The show now seems to have taken a much more far-fetched road of plot twists than most had ever expected or really hoped for, but it garnered an audience that basked in the glory of its female protagonist, flaws and all.

Season Two of United States of Tara has left me a wee bit worried for its return. But I suppose, again for you reality spawn, I shall summarize. Oscar winning writer Diablo Cody (Juno) takes on television with Toni Collette as her muse. Toni plays Tara, a seemingly loving (AND un-medicated) wife of two eccentric children, wife to the delicious Aidan from Sex and the City (or we can refer to him as the loving and accepting boyfriend from My Big Fat Greek Wedding), and home to three (four?) absurd and hilarious personalities. Buck, T, and Alice; these are the complete opposites on the triangular spectrum drawn up in the mind of Cody. The show also lends itself to some of the most diverse family interaction you could ever think up. There’s the crazy mom who sometimes dresses like her daughter…or a man; the possibly gay son Marshall who decides to follow a deliciously (and secretly) bi-curious evangelist; the multi-color haired daughter Kate on the cusp of skankdom and sarcasm simultaneously; and of course the mediator and most normal of them all, Max the dad. Hilarity ensues and when you throw in a couple more characters (Patton Oswald as the strange little friend and strange little romantic interest of Tara’s sister Charmaine; let’s not forget creepy Gene from the restaurant where Kate works) the show is balled up into one unforgettable season, full of twists, turns, and tit jobs. The season ends in a big cluster fucky mess, leaving you a little heartbroken and a little curious as to the beginning of what has now started just this week as the second season. One episode in, I can’t make judgments on the success or failure of Cody’s TV baby, but I do know that the first season is certainly worth a shot.

In conclusion, bravo Showtime! Thank you for taking a chance on a female dominant season of good television, I applaud your efforts and successes. But one word to Jenji Kohan (creator and writer of Weeds) please kill Esteban, this plot twist has ruined your show.

Thank you for reading. I am, the TV enforcer.