Best TV shows by and about women
As per the age-old saying "write what you know," it makes sense that the best shows about women's stories are also created by women.
麻豆原创 curated a list of the best TV shows of all time and ranked the top 15 that were primarily about women and created (or co-created) by women. To qualify, the show had to have 15,000 votes on IMDb. Shows were ranked by user rating with ties broken by votes.
While there's no lack of women-led projects on TV and streaming sites today, it wasn't always that way. There was a time when it was rare for a TV show to focus on a female storyline at all, with little-to-no input from women in the writers' room or elsewhere. Betty White, whose television career of more than 80 years surpassed that of any other actor, became the first woman to produce an episode of a national TV show in 1953. She helped pave the way for countless women around the world to lead both in front of and behind the camera.
Keep reading to discover the best TV shows of all time that are by and about women.
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#15. Insecure
- IMDb user rating: 8.0
- Years on the air: 2016鈥2021
HBO's 鈥淚nsecure鈥 brings to life the comedy and drama writing from talent powerhouses Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore. What began as the YouTube web series in 2014 was later adapted into a five-season television show. The slice-of-life narrative captures the Black woman experience through the eyes of protagonists Issa (Issa Rae) and Molly (Yvonne Orji), using a deadpan writing style and a cold directorial color palette.
Through its five-year run, 鈥淚nsecure鈥 received several Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.
#14. GLOW
- IMDb user rating: 8.0
- Years on the air: 2017鈥2019
The Netflix show 鈥淕LOW,鈥 which stands for 鈥淕orgeous Ladies of Wrestling,鈥 takes its name and inspiration from the famous all-female wrestling team of the 1980s. Co-created by Carly Mensch and Liz Flahive, when COVID-19 shut down production.
#13. Daria
- IMDb user rating: 8.1
- Years on the air: 1997鈥2001
鈥淒aria鈥 is an adult animated sitcom that follows its titular character through her high school years. Co-created by writer-producer Susie Lewis, 鈥淒aria鈥 is a spinoff of 鈥淏eavis and Butt-head.鈥 A starring Tracee Ellis Ross as the voice of Jodie, was announced in June 2020 and is set to be released in 2022.
#12. Orange Is the New Black
- IMDb user rating: 8.1
- Years on the air: 2013鈥2019
Dubbed the , 鈥淥range is the New Black鈥 was based on a book from Piper Kerman by the same name. The show, created by writer-producer Jenji Kohan, follows a privileged Piper Chapman as she navigates the world of women鈥檚 prison.
#11. Killing Eve
- IMDb user rating: 8.2
- Years on the air: 2018鈥2022
The spy-thriller "Killing Eve" stars Sandra Oh, Fiona Shaw, and Jodie Comer, and is based on Luke Jenning's "Villanelle" novels, which "Fleabag" creator and star Phoebe Waller-Bridge adapted for the screen. The popular show tells the compelling story of a special agent and an assassin who form a strange and complicated relationship.
#10. Grace and Frankie
- IMDb user rating: 8.3
- Years on the air: 2015鈥2021
Fueled by the uncanny chemistry of stars Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda, 鈥淕race and Frankie鈥濃攚hich follows the pair as they rebuild their lives after finding out their husbands are in love with each other鈥攊s . The comedy鈥檚 seventh and final season aired in 2021.
#9. Gilmore Girls
- IMDb user rating: 8.3
- Years on the air: 2000鈥2007
Writer-producer Amy Sherman-Palladino created this classic multigenerational comedy-drama about a fast-talking mother and daughter duo who live in the fictionalized town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut. In 2016, the story continued with the
#8. 30 Rock
- IMDb user rating: 8.3
- Years on the air: 2006鈥2013
Wracking up , 鈥30 Rock鈥 kept fans laughing for its run from 2006鈥13. Co-creator and star Tina Fey based the satirical sitcom on her experiences writing for 鈥淪aturday Night Live.鈥
#7. Derry Girls
- IMDb user rating: 8.4
- Years on the air: 2018鈥損resent
Inspired by her own background, writer Lisa McGee created this coming-of-age comedy, set in Northern Ireland in the1990s during a violent era known as The Troubles. Despite the chaotic and grim background, 鈥淒erry Girls鈥 is known for its .
#6. Broad City
- IMDb user rating: 8.4
- Years on the air: 2014鈥2019
Getting its original start as a series of web sketches, "Broad City" features Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, two 20-something best friends adventuring around New York. The Comedy Central series was launched in 2014 after as an executive producer.
#5. The Good Wife
- IMDb user rating: 8.4
- Years on the air: 2009鈥2016
Beginning with a scandal involving her high-profile politico husband, 鈥淭he Good Wife鈥 follows Alicia Florrick (played by Julianna Margulies) as she navigates the challenges of returning to the workforce as a litigator after a 13-year hiatus. A sequel and spinoff called 鈥淭he Good Fight,鈥 which follows character Diane Lockhart鈥檚 path starting a year after the end of 鈥淭he Good Wife,鈥 was released in 2017.
#4. Call the Midwife
- IMDb user rating: 8.6
- Years on the air: 2012鈥損resent
The BBC drama 鈥淐all the Midwife鈥 tells the story of Jennifer Worth, who worked as a midwife at an Anglican nursing order in the 1950s. Screenwriter Heidi Thomas is the creator and executive producer of the show, and is
#3. Anne with an E
- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- Years on the air: 2017鈥2019
Adapted from the coming-of-age Canadian novel 鈥淎nne of Green Gables,鈥 鈥淎nne with an E鈥 follows orphan Anne Shirley, played by breakout star Amybeth McNulty. Producer Miranda de Pencier and creator Moira Walley-Beckett aimed to give Fans were devastated to hear that the show would .
#2. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- Years on the air: 2017鈥損resent
Creator Amy Sherman-Palladino holds another spot on this list for the hit series 鈥淭he Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.鈥 She drew inspiration from both her childhood growing up with her stand-up comedian father, as well as. In just three seasons, the show earned
#1. Fleabag
- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- Years on the air: 2016鈥2019
Brainchild of creative genius Phoebe Waller-Bridge, "Fleabag" took the world by storm with its vast emotional range from hilarious to devastating and its surprising fourth wall breaks. Waller-Bridge first created "Fleabag" as a.