Primetime Divas

You’re kicking back
after a hard day at work or managing kids or both. What’s on television
tonight? Reality shows, crime dramas, game shows, situation comedies. Wouldn’t
it be nice to tune into a show featuring some brave women–some true Divas?
Thanks to bigger cracks in the glass ceiling, every year there are more
noteworthy female roles.

Here are some top choices. This list
only covers primetime series actresses, and does not include many of the greatest
Divas such as Oprah Winfrey.

Brooke Shields as
Wendy Healy -Lipstick Jungle – NBC

Sally Field as Nora
Holden-Walker -Brothers &
Sisters – ABC

Teri Hatcher as
Susan Mayer -Desperate Housewives
- ABC

Kyra Sedgwick as
Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson -The Closer – TNT

Glenn Close as
Patty Hewes -Damages – FX Networks

Mariska Hargitay as
Olivia Benson -Law & Order:
Special Victims Unit – NBC

Holly Hunter as
Grace Hanadarko -Saving Grace – TNT

Julia Louis-Dreyfus
as Christine Campbell -The New Adventures Of
Old Christine – CBS

Christina Applegate
as Samantha Newly -Samantha Who? – ABC

Tina Fey as Liz
Lemon -30 Rock – NBC

America Ferrera as
Betty Suarez -Ugly Betty – ABC

Mary-Louise Parker
as Nancy Botwin -Weeds – Showtime

Jaime Pressly as
Joy Turner -My Name Is Earl – NBC

Katherine Heigl as
Isobel “Izzie” Stevens -Grey’s Anatomy – ABC

Sally Field as Nora
Walker -Brothers &
Sisters – ABC

Kyra Sedgwick as
Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson-The Closer – TNT

THE DIVA PRIMETIME HALL OF FAME

Here are a few of the
greatest primetime Divas from yesteryear.

Edie Falco as
Carmela Soprano -The Sopranos – HBO

Megan Mullally as
Karen Walker -Will & Grace -
NBC

Sarah Jessica
Parker as Caroline Marie Bradshaw -Sex and the City -
HBO

Candice Bergen as
Murphy Brown -Murphy Brown – CBS

Joan Collins as
Alexis Carrington -Dynasty – ABC

Linda Gray as Sue
Ellen Shepard Ewing -Dallas – CBS

Isabel Sanford as
Louise WeezyJefferson -The Jeffersons – CBS

Mary Tyler Moore as
Mary Richards -The Mary Tyler Moore
Show – CBS

Lucille Ball as
herself -The Lucy Show – CBS

Audrey Meadows as
Alice Kramden -The Honeymooners -
CBS

They’re fictional, but they are women with style and substance. Women to be celebrated–even the wild and wacky Joy Turner. After all, she’s doing the best that she can!