For years, women have been struggling for a voice on mainstream television. In the past, women like Lucille Ball and Carol Burnette earned the respect of TV audiences by showing that talent plays a bigger role than gender in earning credibility.
And now that these pioneers have paved the way for the female television personalities we see today, I can’t help feel that, as important as it is for women to have a voice, some of them need to keep the volume down.
5. Judge Judy
Trying to promote the idea that you don’t have to be right, as long as you’re loud. Besides, even if she is wrong every now and then, she’s an old judge – so she has experience and legal authority on her side.
4. Stacy London
Known for destroying the self-esteem of female fashion victims, the What Not to Wear co-host is an opportunistic loud-mouth. She waits for just the right moment (usually when the guest is on the verge of tears) before going in for the kill.
To her credit, she does recognize when she has gone too far. As soon as a guest sheds a tear, Stacy is quick to console her with a sincere embrace and a reminder of why they’re on the show in the first place.
She also gets bonus points for being hot.
3. Mary Murphy
Dubbed the official “Queen of scream”, this hot tamale advocate is similar to Stacy London in that she prefers to save her ear-piercing squeals for just the right moment. But when she unleashes, watch out because no one is safe. But hey - at least she can dance (or so she thinks).
2. The View
More than one woman, but they come together like Voltron to form one of the loudest group of TV hens ever assembled! This would probably be the appropriate time to mention that each woman offers a unique view on a range of issues. Unfortunately, I have no idea what any of them believe in because it’s hard to decipher any meaning out of the all that squawking.
1. Nancy Grace
An ex-prosecutor turned pundit, Grace spends 60 minutes dissecting every gory detail of America’s most gruesome criminal cases. She invites case experts to participate on her show and encourages them to shout out reasons why, in their opinion, the person being accused of the crime is guilty. The louder the response, the more likely it is to be credible. Unless, of course, that shouting contradicts Grace’s own theories. In that case, Grace employs a clever tactic to argue against her own guests: she interrupts them and raises her voice until the guest decides to give up.
If that doesn’t work, she shuts off their mic.
But aside from pronouncing people guilty by using speculation and fear tactics, this screaming-head also takes time out to offer her sanctimonious views on current events and celebrity gossip.
So what’s your Top 5?
