Entertainment

I should have kept true to my Pollyanna self. Two weeks ago I reported that Wonder Woman would not be returning to television anytime soon. But thanks to NBC's new president of entertainment, Bob Greenblatt, she is. Greenblatt gave the go-ahead for David E. Kelley's Wonder Woman pilot last week, in one of his first moves after taking over the reins at NBC.

We'll have to wait and see if Kelley's version of the superheroine is worthy, but now we at least get to judge that for ourselves.



P.S. — Look for the "Who should be Wonder Woman?" poll to return shortly.

Why it is so difficult to get a Wonder Woman film or television project off the ground I cannot fully explain. Certainly a sexist Hollywood mindset would supply part of the answer. But still...

Friday it was reported that David E. Kelley and DC Entertainment, after shopping around a spec script that Kelley had written, couldn't find a network willing to take on Wonder Woman. CW, which is under the same Warner Bros. parent umbrella as DC Entertainment, turned down the series because the license fees were too demanding. (Huh?) This may not be the final word on Kelley's Wonder Woman, but don't hold your breath.

There is a bit of good news to report, however. Twilight writer Melissa Rosenberg is working with ABC, whose parent company, Disney, now owns Marvel Comics, to bring Jessica Jones to television next fall. Consequently, one superheroine will have her own television series—and before Halley's comet returns (knock on wood).

The year that just ended was a busy one, too busy even to summarize in one short post. But here are a few of the many noteworthy items from 2010.

The University of Connecticut women's basketball team won 90 games straight, a new record for college basketball.

Kelly Kulick became the first female Professional Bowlers Association champion.

The IAAF, after demonstrating clearly how grotesque is the enterprise of gender testing, cleared track athlete Caster Semenya for return to competition. (Unfortunately, that still left us with some whining.)

Jordanian Farah Malhass became the first Arab woman to compete in an international bodybuilding competition.

Female athletes, not surprisingly, brought their A-game to the 2010 Winter Olympics, particularly Lindsey Vonn.

In entertainment news, Covert Affairs was, in my view, the best thing to come about in 2010; I can hardly wait for its return this summer.

I try to post little amusements throughout the year that perhaps elicit a chuckle while making a point. One from 2010 that I remember
fondly is the Knight and Day stunt rehearsal gone wrong, so good it is worth a repeat. Enjoy and have a Happy New Year!—

Before Title IX was even a pipe dream, Vicki Unus and untold other athletic women managed somehow to give expression to their physicality. Certainly that was the case for the two female boxers seen in this rare video clip, without which they might otherwise be lost to history.

Former taekwondo champion and Rigged star Rebecca Welsh, née Neuenswander, is a rightful contender to be Wonder Woman. In her case, however, a script may not be required—she already plays a wonder woman in real life with her HALO foundation. This year she once again asks that we help out too, by playing Santa Claus to her Wonder Woman:

There seems to be modest interest in the Who should be Wonder Woman? poll, I'm happy to report. And thus far voting has been spread evenly, without a runaway leader; I assume this follows from a superb group of contenders. Continue voting—you can vote more than once—and sending in nominations, or rather, start sending them in, as I haven't received any recently.

Oh, and have a wonderful holiday too!—

Finally it is time to ask, "Who should be Wonder Woman?" And to your left (also here) you'll see a fancy (garish?) new poll where you can respond with your vote. There are, to begin with, ten candidates from which to make your choice. These women are, in the main, plausible and impeccably qualified; but the list also shuns banality. For example, it includes two world-class athletes (Gina Carano and Natalie Coughlin), the selection of either of whom to don the costume would set in place a grand message for young women.

But there is room for more, so (sensible) nominations are welcome. You can leave a comment here, or send in your suggestion by email.

Elizabeth Grunewald explains why, in her view, the new television series must succeed. But also in her post at the Escapist she ably provides a road map for how the series will succeed, namely:

Casting is going to be key. No, I'm underplaying it: casting is going to be crucial. Kelley needs to find an actress (perhaps an unknown, or at least a lesser-known) that can both redefine Wonder Woman for the generation that grew up on Lynda Carter, and introduce Diana Prince to a new generation of impressionable minds.

(Grunewald puts forth Gina Torres for the role, a good choice were this a few years ago. Jodi Lyn O'Keefe still gets my nod.)

Wonder Woman will rise or fall with the new Wonder Woman. The actress who will be Wonder Woman to this generation must embody the strength and dignity of the character, so that she is admired and respected by young and old, male and female alike. We've seen many times over on this blog that Hollywood is replete nowadays with talented athletic actresses. Let's hope that the people in charge of the new series put this bounty to good advantage.

Tess Kielhamer proves a maxim of mine: never mess with a ballerina.

As Helen Mirren demonstrates in Red, due in theaters October 15:

Like many people, I was thinking we'd see her next in a live-action film. But now it is starting to look as if Wonder Woman will be returning to television. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. A high-profile television series—one well-produced, well-written, and with the right star—could be equally worth looking forward to.

A group of young women encounter their first Marine drill instructor. Her job: start preparing these raw recruits to be warriors:

I was more than a little disappointed to learn that Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) will be the only female Avenger to appear in the forthcoming movie. Moreover, Whedon's "but she will not be the only female character" is something of a cop-out, since any additional female characters will most likely be nothing more than love interests for the movie's male Avengers.

Nor can the excuse that there aren't enough extant female Avengers be used. The Avengers team has had a number of potent and interesting heroines associated with it over the years, including one of the strongest characters to be found in any superhero team: She-Hulk.

What a missed opportunity.

Another gymnastics standout making the transition to acting and stunt work. Only Ariana Berlin has a story that could fairly be judged miraculous, and a demo reel more rhythmic than any previously featured here:

Already happily enjoying Covert Affairs, I could almost be convinced that halcyon days have returned to television looking at the fall lineup. Perhaps you are as encouraged as I am:

Kelli Giddish plays Deputy U.S. Marshal Annie Frost in Chase. Right now, I'd have to say that Chase has most piqued my interest:



La Femme Nikita gets a reboot of sorts with Nikita starring Maggie Q:



Not strictly a female action series—think instead Mr. & Mrs. Smith—Undercovers looks somewhat promising as well: