A funny thing happened when the writers in EW’s TV department each sent around our Top 10 shows of 2009, aside from the usual chastising: CBS’ The Good Wife (new episode tonight!) made many of the lists. It’s a phenomenon I’ve experienced outside the office as well. More than once, I’ve been at dinner with friends, one asks what we’re all watching these days, someone mentions The Good Wife, and suddenly the whole table is having a discussion that resembles what Lisa Schwarzbaum said in a recent issue of EW: ”I stay with The Good Wife because the truth — passed from woman to every TV-watching woman I know — is that this traditionally constructed 10 p.m. show is the most pertinent, articulate, observant, and realistically feminist network-TV drama on the air today. There’s no flash, no wisecracks, and no singing cheerleaders — just superb plotting, crisp writing about issues that matter, and harmonious ensemble performances led by Julianna Margulies, who is all steel and interesting stupor.”
But it’s not just women who get how good this show is, right? The fact that men at EW — including Ken Tucker, who ranked it No. 10 on his official countdown of the year’s best shows — are fans, gives me hope. But I still want to take it to a vote:
In tonight’s episode, Alicia (Margulies) learns more about Peter’s fall from grace by representing his nemesis’ wife in a divorce, and Will (Josh Charles) “gets cozy” with his opposing counsel during a wrongful death suit against a TV commentator played by guest star Craig Bierko (Boston Legal). I’d be lying if I said the tension between Will and Alicia wasn’t one of the reasons I tune in. I wouldn’t want them to cross that line (now), but the sight of two intelligent adults, working late in the office, having a beer in relaxed business attire, is sexy enough for Tuesday at 10.
Photo credit: David M. Russell/CBS
i’ll pass.. CBS is my kryptonite
i would normally agree. i hate CBS programming. but the Good Wife is, well… good!
I third this. The Good Wife is the only show I’ve ever watched on CBS.
I love this show as well
I also agree with this comment..
I made a pact NEVER to watch CBS…but when I heard that Matt Czuchry (Logan) from Gilmore Girls was on the show I gave it a chance…and man, I’m happy I did.
One of the greatest shows on television right now!
That’s just idiotic.
Anita – Matt Czuchry is the reason I decided to give it a try too! Love this show (and for more than just Matt since he’s not a huge role).
This is the only show I watch on CBS, and Margulies is the only reason I started.
That’s a dumb reason not to watch. The Good Wife, HIMYM, and Accidentally On Purpose are shows I regularly watch on CBS. The Good Wife’s the best, of course.
Good Wife AND How I Met Your Mother are my only CBS viewing…
I love this show!!! I was really expecting this show to be an old person’s show. But I love Chris Noth and anything political so I thought I will give it a chance. I was so blown away by the first episode and Julian Marguiles acting!!! And I love how almost everyone underestimates this show and yet it is getting recognized everywhere!!!
She is fab in this role….I wish the husband would die in jail and she ends up with her boss! I LOVE THAT GUY……REMEMBER sports night? Oh and the grandmother can go away too…..love the writing and the cases she has…
I mainly remember Josh Charles from ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead’ (with the awesome Christina Applegate)!
“I’m right on top that, Rose!”
I’ve loved Joss since he was one of the counselor members on the original Hairspray. “Would you swim in an intergated pool?”
Ohmygod he was in Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitters Dead – I LOVED LOVED LOVED that movie!!! I keep looking at him and was trying to recall how I knew him. I even wikied him and saw that he was on Sports Night – but I never watched that show! He is hot but I still love Chris Noth.
I am really curious as to why everyone is warning Julianne Marguiles’ character from Josh Charles’ character.
I absolutely hated Sports Night – West Wing = awesome. Everything else Aaron Sorkin made = awful…
But really, everytime I think of Josh Charles I can’t help but think of Threesome, that movie from the early 90′s.
Julianna Margulies….so dreamy! Can you believe she was in “Snakes on a Plane”?
Um, no. I can’t actually. Surely you jest, but then again everyone thought that movie was going to be a huge hit so…
dont forget she was in Ghost Ship!
There’s a TV department?
I almost passed on this show because it was on CBS…but I caught the first episodeand was instantly hooked. It’s SO unlike my usual tv fare (Gossip Girl, Ugly Betty, Chuck) but it’s such an interesting show.
I’ve always been a fan of pretty much the whole cast, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to invest in this show. I let all the episodes sit on my DVR for a long time while I watched other stuff. Then I sat down the weekend before Christmas and watched them all in a row. I really like the characters and the storyline a lot. I hope they give Christine Baranski a little more to do, but overall I think it is a well-balanced show.
I did the exact same thing. Now The Good Wife is the only thing I can stand to watch on CBS.
Love this show! Thanks to the Lenocrapfest being on at the same time, many people have discovered TGW as they quickly changed channels from NBC
I do like the show, I’ve never missed an episode, but each time I watch it drives me crazy to see Julianna’s immobile face. Not sure if it’s just botox or what, but her eyebrows don’t move, and she tries to compensate by do a heck of a lot of blinking.
Yeah, I love this show and Julianna M., but just last night was thinking that she must have gotten Botoxed up recently.
This is a fantastic show!
The thing I like best about the show is that the characters have shades – no one is perfect or evil – they all have various motivations, fears, strengths and weaknesses.
Best new show this season. Best actress in a drama. (Sorry, Glenn Close.) Reminds me when CBS had on “Judging Amy,” and that was on a long
time.
Reminds me of The Practice….I love the shows that surprise you at the end and you don’t see it coming…..like the guy in the wheel chair episode?
I agree 100% with jmfs777. Best new show this season. Well written and well acted. I was surprised I liked it, but I do, I really do.
It’s one of the best new shows of the season, yes. But best actress goes to Kyra Sedgwick. She’s brilliant on “The Closer.”
THIS IS A VERY GOOD NEW SHOW.
IT HAS EXCELLENT WRITERS. I LOVE
JULIANNA MARGUILES ACTING. SHE IS A VERY PRETTY GAL, AND HER SUBTLE APPROACH IS FROM DETERMINATION AND HUMILIATION..NOT BOTOX. SHE WAS MARRIED TO A TOP FIGURE IN POLITICS
NOW SHE HAS TO PROVE HERSELF.
KRISTINE BARANSKI IS ALWAYS SO GOOD
AND PERFECT FOR THE TOP WOMEN HONCHO IN THE STORYLINE.
I AM ANXIOUS TO SEE WHERE THE STORY GOES,BUT FOR A FIRST SEASON
IT WAS TOPS FROM THE VERY 1st NIGHT
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS ONE STAY ON. I AM A FAN.
Why are you yelling?
I haven’t watched it, mainly because I really can’t stand to see another legal drama on TV. I also don’t consider it groundbreaking or forward-thinking to have a woman lawyer on TV. Aren’t most of them these days?
If you were curious enough to read this and comment, then maybe you should give it a try. It is a surprisingly good show.
I agree with Annie – you should give it a shot! It really is more than just another legal drama or having a female lawyer.
I am trying to convince all my friends to start watching this show. But they are all convinced that CBS is an old person’s channel – which is super frustrating!!!!
I have yet to see any commentary that raises this above a legal drama. It has great actors? So do other shows that I don’t watch. I can’t watch every show, so I seek out things that I find unique. I think it’s great that there are great roles on TV for women (as long as they are lawyers, cops, or doctors) but I’m not going to watch a show just because it has a female lead. So calling it “appointment viewing for all” without giving any reason why (other than that others are watching it) isn’t going to get me to watch it. What makes this show different?
Odd, this show was just on a list of most watched show too. Not at the top, but still.
I never even thought to give it a chance. I’m a huge Julianna Marguiles fan, but this was a CBS show and I thought it didn’t stand a chance of being renewed. I guess I was wrong. Perhaps I’ll check it out one of these days.
I love this show, and would like to mention that I’m 22, so it doesn’t just appeal to an older crowd. I agree it’s nothing groundbreaking, it’s just so well written and well acted. I love the office politics, and it’s refreshing to have a drama on tv that isn’t about cops or too soap opera-y.
Agree. I started watching Grey’s and Brothers and Sisters which were good when they started but have since become overly soapy. I miss what they used to be – though ashamedly I still tune in.
And I’m 22 as well, which means none of my friends know that this show exists. Shame. They’re really missing out. I love having a strong central woman character to follow. Most female driven shows are all about romance, but this has a lot more to it.