There has been a rise in recent years of female-centric TV shows, specifically in the comedy genre. Thankfully, women are finally getting a chance in the comedic spotlight to shine and show off their talents in a historically male-dominated field.
Although we still wish there were more comedy shows with women as the leads, what we do have is brilliant as well as insanely funny. If you can't get enough of Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, you will fall in love with these 10 listed shows.
Updated on July 31st, 2020 by Richard Keller: There are so many channels and shows available today that you can find several programs similar to Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Some look at the daily struggles of female professionals. Others show them rebuilding their lives. Here are a few more shows to watch if you love Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
30 ROCK
Where Mrs. Maisel shows viewers the Manhattan of the early 1960s, 30 Rock provides a contemporary look at women and their daily slogs. In this case, it's about Liz Lemon, an executive producer and show creator at NBC who's surrounded by a quirky group of friends and co-workers. As we meet her, she's introduced to the new executive in charge of her program -- Jack Donaghy.
It seems Jack has the upper-hand, but Liz normally gets her way. During 30 Rock's multiple seasons, Liz and Jack learn to respect and work with each other. By the time the show ends, Ms. Lemon is in a better place in her life.
THE INCREDIBLE KIMMY SCHMIDT
The Netflix series goes beyond the standard tale of a woman who wants to rebuild her life. After spending years as part of a doomsday cult, Kimmy is rescued. She spends a bulk of the series determined to be a victor and not a victim.
As the show is created by Tina Fey, it has much of the same feel as 30 Rock. Kimmy remains upbeat in a majority of situations. She also grows during the program - a staple of Fey's productions. Along with plenty of humor, Kimmy Schmidt also has a large dose of heart.
ZOEY'S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST
This musical dramedy is not about a young woman rebuilding her life. It's the story of someone who must adapt to a new ability -- the power to hear what other people are thinking. Not in the basic way, mind you. Those thoughts come to her in song.
Zoey's is smart, funny, and downright heart-wrenching at times. She spins a musical web through her co-workers, family, and boy-friend who wants to be a boyfriend. The song and dance numbers are not only fun to watch but also poignant in certain circumstances.
GILMORE GIRLS
We can't leave out this long-running dramedy created by Amy Sherman-Palladino. Launched in 2000, Gilmore Girls provided a different perspective on powerful women than the then-popular Sex in the City. It was a program that featured not one, not two, but three strong women from the same family.
Lorelai Gilmore and her daughter Rory move to the Connecticut town of Stars Hollow to be closer to Lorelai's job. Filled with several quirky characters, including soon-to-be-superstar Melissa McCarthy, the duo work to establish themselves. At the same time, they try to please Lorelai's parents, particularly her mother. The humor and drama mix well for a fast-paced show. If you enjoy the rapid pace of The West Wing, you'll like Gilmore Girls.
YOUNGER
Younger is the longest-running original program on TV Land, and there's a reason why. It takes the premise of post-divorce reconstruction and gives it a bit of a twist -- one that viewers have to take with a grain of salt through each season.
The protagonist is Liza Miller, a 40-year-old divorcee with a teenage daughter She attempts to enter the world of publishing but is told she's too old. When a tattoo artist in his mid-20s says he and Liza look the same age, she comes up with a brilliant idea. She poses as a 26-year-old. The series features a regular juggling act as Liza tries to maintain her millennial life at work and her middle-aged one at home.
BROAD CITY
Broad City is without a doubt one of the funniest shows to ever air on TV. It's brutally authentic and honest, following the lives of Abbi Abrams and Ilana Wexler, two best friends who are constantly praising each other and lifting each other up.
Their friendship is a beautiful thing filled with an uplifting spirit and unconditional love that we can't help but admire. There aren't enough female friendships like this on TV, but needless to say, we want (and need) more. It is one of those shows that you will end up quoting for the rest of your life because it's just that iconic.
INSECURE
Insecure would be nothing without the witty and brilliant Issa Rae who not only created the HBO show but also stars as the leading protagonist. Rae brands herself as the "awkward black girl" (the name of her award-winning web series as well as her bestseller book) who has yet to figure out what she wants and needs out of life. Like Maisel, Rae has big aspirations as an artist and she wants to be recognized for her talents. The series is effortlessly charming thanks to the insanely funny women in Issa's circle of friends as the leading characters. Each one of them offers a unique perspective that you absolutely don't want to miss.
GIRLS
Girls is a thought-provoking satire with so many screamingly funny moments that are doused in cleverness. Centering around four New York City girls named Hannah, Jessa, Shoshanna, and Marnie, these ladies slowly realize that their lives in NYC are nothing like that of the glamorous women in Sex and the City (as much as they wish it was). There are scenes throughout this show that are uncomfortably realistic to the point where we are stunned by how authentic and vulnerable the series is willing to get. Nothing about this HBO series is airbrushed or glamorized, and that is exactly why we appreciate it so much.
THE NANNY
If you don't have the theme song to The Nanny starring Fran Drescher memorized by now, you have some catching up to do. The Nanny centers around a hilariously outspoken Jewish woman from Queens, who finds herself nannying for an Upper East Side family of WASPs. She teaches the family how to live and she teaches them to loosen up a bit. It's an unforgettable sitcom due to Fran Drescher's charms. Fran is iconic in her approach to life as well as her jaw-dropping sense of style. It's safe to say that Miriam Maisel would approve.
FLEABAG
Who wouldn't want to watch a series based on a one-woman show? That sounds awesome to us! And guess what? It totally is. Fleabag is the name of the leading character, a woman who is struggling to cope after the loss of her best friend, Boo. She feels partially responsible and guilt-ridden because of the death of her best friend, and she will never be the same because of it. Despite the dark concept, this British-comedy still manages to incorporate humor into the series in a brilliantly balanced way. It is without question that fans of Maisel will fall in love with Fleabag.
ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK
Orange is the New Black is a must-see series for anyone who appreciates a good dramedy. We're just going to say it: This series is practically revolutionary. It features a brilliant cast of outrageously funny ladies who know how to make us burst into laughter as well as tears. That takes true talent to be able to make us cry and laugh all at once, in a single episode. There is not a dry moment on this show that isn't captivating as well as thought-provoking. Now that's good television if you ask us.
WEEDS
Being a woman is a challenging experience on its own, but being a woman in the drug business? Now that's even more of a difficult experience. In a male-dominated industry, Nancy Botwin uses her feminine charms to her advantage on Weeds in order to make it to the top of the drug business.
Created by Jenji Kohan, the brilliant mastermind behind Orange is the New Black, this series is all about strong-willed, headstrong women, (who also happen to be funny as hell), that are trying to find a sense of purpose in their boring and conventional suburban town. It is a must-see series.
PARKS AND RECREATION
Parks and Recreation has some of the funniest female leads on TV. Whether it's Leslie Knope, April Ludgate, or Donna Meagle, these characters are all brilliantly layered. They also just so happen to be comedic-geniuses.
Whether it's April's puckish charm and outlandish comments muttered under her breath, or Leslie's sheer obsession with work, friendship, and waffles, there is no way you won't crack up at these leading women. If you want a show with well-crafted multidimensional women, this is a perfect example of one of those shows.
CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, starring Rachel Bloom as Rebecca, is a brilliant musical-comedy series from The CW and is also currently on Netflix (thank god for small favors). This series is overflowing with hilariously eccentric characters and unforgettable song numbers that you'll make a point of memorizing due to them being so darn good. This show is an underrated masterpiece and the women in the series shine as hilarious as well as extremely well-written individuals. It is a series that everyone should check out because it is just that good.
CHEWING GUM
Chewing Gum is a hidden gem on Netflix, filled with many laughs and heartwarming moments. Tracy, the leading protagonist played to perfection by Michaela Coel, is as quirky and outrageously awkward as a leading character can get, which is one of the reasons why this show is so magnificent from start to finish. There is never a moment on Chewing Gum that is not brimming with wit and charm. It is a feel-good series that brings hilarious women into the spotlight. What more could you possibly want in a show?