TV's Alpha Female

There's a new female populating some of the most popular TV shows. She's strong in all ways, and she's a hottie in law enforcement who doesn't know she's hot. I call her the Alpha Female Ugly Duckling. Like the children's story of the Ugly Duckling, the poor dear doesn't know she's beautiful unless she sees her reflection, usually in someone else's eyes.

Detective Rizzoli

Let's take the most recent example: Angie Harmon's character in Rizzoli and Isles. Angie works hard at being blue-collar, dressing down, swigging beer, and catching bad guys. Not to mention being more alpha male than any guy on the force.

No (obvious) makeup, hair styling, or girlie clothes. In a couple of episodes, she complains about her gal pal's femininity by griping: "Do you always look ready for a model shoot?"

Duh!

Perhaps this would cause less eye-rolling if Harmon hadn't been a model in a previous career as well as still drop dead gorgeous. Get real. If you want us to believe that Harmon doesn't also look ready for a model shoot, then have her gain 40 pounds or hire another actress who looks more like one of the guys.

Federal Marshal Mary

Another Example? How about In Plain Sight where Federal Marshal Mary Shannon, played excellently by Mary McCormack, looks shocked when someone says she's hot. She even asks: "You think I'm hot?"

Of course she's hot! She's blond with a good body, and she packs a big honking gun. What guy doesn't like that? By contrast, her partner is so in touch with his sensitivity as to be hilarious in this role reversal buddy-cop show.

Flash, A New Entry

The fall season brings Flash. Not Flash Forward and not Flash Point, with another blond Federal Marshal. Previews show her subduing an escaping felon. Lots of tough talk in which the audience learns that she isn't soft and girly because her mom died when she was a kid.

I sense a disturbance in the force. Warning! A new alpha female is coming to the small screen near you.