# "We Three Queens of Sitcoms Are" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 10, 2000, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436 "2000-10-10T17:57:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/1 "2000-10-10T17:57:11Z")
Bette Midler. Geena Davis. Christine Baranski. I like all three of 'em, I really do. But I have not heard ONE GOOD WORD about their sitcoms, debuting tonight and tomorrow night. I feel badly for them—obviously, they took these jobs because no one is offering decent movie roles to middle-aged women. So I will strap myself down and sit through these shows at least once or twice, to give these gals an even break. But I have a dark suspicion this will end in tears. Anyone else going to watch these shows? Anyone else think they can possibly end in anything but utter disaster and further career annhilation? ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/2 "2000-10-10T18:18:06Z")
I didn’t even know Bette Midler and Christine Baranski _had_ sitcoms coming out. I might watch their shows, but I was never a fan of Geena Davis. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/3 "2000-10-10T18:25:51Z")
Holy crap! I’ve lived long enough to hear Geena Davis referred to as a “middle-aged woman.” Well, I was gonna watch those shows 'cause I like all three of 'em, but now I’m gonna feel _old_ while I’m watching! [heavy sarcasm]Thanks alot, Eve…[/heavy sarcasm] ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/4 "2000-10-10T18:37:21Z")
How do you think I feel, Xenophon? I’m exactly the same age as Geena Davis! ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/5 "2000-10-10T18:38:50Z")
**Eve,** I’m shocked! I read the title of your thread, then I read your name. I clicked on the link muttering, “Hmm, Eve’s sitcom queens?.. Okay, this will be about **Lucille Ball** … that’s a gimme… and **Eve Arden** maybe… yeah, I know she really digs Eve Arden… and hmm, dunno, maybe that **Mrs. Drysdale babe** she loves…” Then the link opens… and it’s about **Bette Midler, Geena Davis and Christine Baranski!!!** Geez, **Eve,** not only are they not appearing in black-and-white, but they’re all still living! This can’t be the same **Eve** we all know and love. [**Uke,** quick, call 911 and get an ambulance!] ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/6 "2000-10-10T18:43:49Z")
I love Bette and I’ll watch, even tho the teasers I’ve seen are SO LAME!! Dunno about the others - so little on TV is worth the time it takes to watch. Frankly, I spend more time surfing and chatting on line than in front of the tube. But it does stink that such talented women are reduced to crappy TV when they belong on the big screen. Aren’t there any middle-aged women producers out there? \ ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/7 "2000-10-10T19:09:36Z")
Bette Midler seems to have been playing “Bette Midler” in most of her roles of late (ala’ Robin Williams and Hugh Grant, who only play themselves. They never seem to have any character to their characters). Still, she seems to have the most to lose. I can’t name more than a handful of movies that Geena Davis has appeared in (Beetlejuice, The Fly, and Accidental Tourist) and I remember her more for what she almost wore to the Emmys. Christine Baranski deserves a shot at her own show, but I don’t know if it will make it. Network TV just seems to more and more of the same dreck and I think people are becoming incredibly bored with it all. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/8 "2000-10-10T19:09:50Z")
Bette Midler seems to have been playing “Bette Midler” in most of her roles of late (ala’ Robin Williams and Hugh Grant, who only play themselves. They never seem to have any character to their characters). Still, she seems to have the most to lose. I can’t name more than a handful of movies that Geena Davis has appeared in (Beetlejuice, The Fly, and Accidental Tourist) and I remember her more for what she almost wore to the Emmys. Christine Baranski deserves a shot at her own show, but I don’t know if it will make it. Network TV just seems to be more and more of the same dreck and I think people are becoming incredibly bored with it all. ---
**Author:** ![Inky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@Inky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inky_1)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/9 "2000-10-10T19:17:32Z")
While Midler’s show may well be quite fun, I’ll be glad when the promotions are done. 'Cause Bette’s airbrush’ed leer from a billboard does peer Menacing me daily aside highway 101. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/10 "2000-10-10T21:02:14Z")
Actually, most of the reviews I’ve read about the Bette Midler show have been at least slightly positive. The reviewers seem to be writing from the viewpoint that they’re incredibly surprised that it doesn’t completely suck. The reviewers praise the strong supporting cast and the fact that the structure of the show allows Midler to just be herself and not strive too hard for laughs. What I’ve read of the Christine Baranski show has been less positive, although not overly negative. Nobody in the universe seems to like the Geena Davis thing, though. ---
**Author:** ![ReservoirDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@ReservoirDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReservoirDog)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/11 "2000-10-10T21:25:02Z")
Who in the hell is Christine Baranski? I give Bette about six weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/12 "2000-10-10T23:35:55Z")
Christine Baranski is best known as Cybill Shepherd’s lush pal on the _AbFab_ clone _Cybill_. Whe was also the annoyingly perky camp counsellor in _Addams Family Values_. Yeah, I think middle aged women don’t get even half the break that men geezers do in Hollywood. 'taint fair. Geena _is_ 43 so I suppose she qualifies for middle aged on a probationary basis. Christine is only five years older. ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/13 "2000-10-10T23:38:52Z")
Says **Eve** > [@](#): > > But I have not heard ONE GOOD WORD about their sitcoms Tits. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/14 "2000-10-10T23:54:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ChiefScott \* > \*\*Says **Eve** > > > [@](#): > > > > But I have not heard ONE GOOD WORD about their sitcoms > > Tits. \*\* especially the visible kind at the Emmys…nothing says “desperate for ratings” like going commando at a gala event… ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/15 "2000-10-11T12:21:02Z")
Technically, I think “Tits” should count as two words. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/16 "2000-10-11T12:35:49Z")
It’s unfair, I agree. But like the saying goes: In hollywood, older men become distinguished, older women become invisible. That said I won’t watch any of these shows. But then again I haven’t watched a modern sitcom for years. They’re all the same dreck over and over again. MASH was bad enough…they’re still doing it 20 years later? ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/17 "2000-10-11T13:15:01Z")
Wednesday morning. Poor Geena Davis. Poor, POOR Geena Davis. Ouch. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/18 "2000-10-11T14:06:46Z")
No can do, Eve. Much as I’d love to support Geena, Tuesdays are “Buffy” night. (Sarah Michelle is kinda starting to show her age, tho.) ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/19 "2000-10-11T14:10:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\*Wednesday morning. > > Poor Geena Davis. Poor, POOR Geena Davis. > > Ouch. \*\* oh yes. all the more so, since we can already know the next four episodes. ow… Can’t you almost see the special “Thanksgiving” one, where she promises to go to the little girls class party and has trouble roasting the turkey? ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436/20 "2000-10-11T14:12:57Z")
I watched about 5 mins of Geena Davis last night, and I felt so bad. That was the single most unfunny show (This side of Maddigan Men) that I have ever seen. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-three-queens-of-sitcoms-are/36436.md?page=2)