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This year is an amazing time for women on TV.
There's no doubt that the entertainment world has a long way to go before we can say it's completely inclusive of all stories, but the television landscape has proven through series like "Scandal," "Jessica Jones" and "Jane the Virgin" that interesting female characters on TV don't have to be the exception, they can be the rule.
In the past month alone, there have been compelling debuts of female-led comedies and dramas that offer up complex, nuanced portrayals of women from all backgrounds. It's incredibly exciting to see what's next.
Below are 35 shows, currently running, new and returning, that anyone who loves female-empowered TV shows should be watching:
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9 "The Good Wife"
CBSJulianna Margules has reigned as HBIC on this CBS drama for years, and if rumors about the show ending in its seventh season are true, she's going out on an incredibly high note.
Watch Sundays at 9p ET on CBS -
11 "American Crime"
ABCRegina King won an Emmy for her brilliant performance in Season 1 of "American Crime," and now she's back alongside Andre Benjamin in the second series of the anthology series. This time, the story focuses on the fallout after a student at a prestigious private school accuses several classmates of sexually assaulting him.
Watch Wednesdays at 10p ET on ABC -
12 "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend"
The CWRachel Bloom won a Golden Globe for her quirky performance as a woman who travels halfway across the country for a man. While the premise and the title may seem to play into stereotypes about women, the show is actually a refreshing celebration of woman who get what they want.
Watch Mondays at 8p ET on CW -
13 "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee"
Maarten de Boer via Getty ImagesWhen it was first announced that Jon Stewart would be leaving "The Daily Show," comedienne and "Daily Show" correspondent Samantha Bee's name was suggested as a possible replacement. Of course, the job eventually went to Trevor Noah, keeping the all-male late night show landscape intact. Thankfully, Bee is gearing up for the premiere of her own show on TBS, which is sure to be a hilariously refreshing change to late night TV.
Premieres February 8 at 10:30p ET on TBS -
14 "Scandal"
Eric McCandless via Getty ImagesShonda's Thursday night block of twists and turns is back, with Kerry Washington once again coming to snatch edges as Olivia Pope. The midseason's powerful, subtle reveal of Olivia's decision to get an abortion, plus her epic breakup with Fitz, cemented the show as a leader in presenting a strong, but complex, female lead. Can't wait for more.
Returns February 11 at 9p ET on ABC -
15 "How to Get Away with Murder"
Mitch Haaseth via Getty ImagesThe Shonda goodness continues with Viola Davis as Annalise Keating, a high-powered lawyer and law professor with a crazy personal life that just keeps getting crazier. Not only is "HTGWM" one of the most intense shows on TV right now, it's also one of the few stellar shows on that focuses on a middle-aged woman of color.
Returns February 11 at 10p ET on ABC -
16 "Broad City"
Carolyn Cole via Getty ImagesIlana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson return with a third season of their hit Comedy Central show, "Broad City." The show's frank, in-your-face humor is enough of a draw, but promos for the new season have also hinted at cameos from producer Amy Poehler and Hillary Clinton.
S3 premieres February 17 at 10p ET on Comedy Central -
17 "Girls"
HBO/Craig BlankenhornLena Dunham's HBO Comedy has had its ups and downs over the last few seasons, but it's remained a consistently honest portrait of four young women figuring out life in New York, starting conversations about body positivity and slut-shaming.
S5 premieres February 21 at 10p ET on HBO -
18 "The Family"
ABCJoan Allen returns to TV in ABC's latest political drama, "The Family." The series, executive produced by former Shondaland writer Jenna Bans, revolves around corrupt mayor Claire Warren (Allen), who announced a bid for Governor after the mysterious return of her youngest son -- 10 years after he was presumed dead.
Premieres March 6 at 9pm ET on ABC -
20 "Underground"
WGNJurnee Smollett-Bell stars in this new WGN original series alongside Aldis Hodge, Christopher Meloni, and Jussie Smollett. The 10-episode period-drama will center on the stories of slaves attempting to secure their freedom via the Underground Railroad.
Premieres March 9 at 10p ET on WGN -
21 "The Catch"
ABCFrom Shonda Rhimes comes a new show for us to obsess over -- "The Catch." Starring Mirelle Enos as fraud investigator Alice Vaughan, the thriller follows Vaughan as she solves cases and tries to hunt down the man attempting to ruin her life and career.
Premieres March 24 at 10p ET on ABC -
22 "Empire"
FOX via Getty Images"Empire" may have had a few hiccups during its second season, but there's no denying that Cookie Lyon is still one of the most exciting and entertaining heroines on TV right now. And after her awesome Golden Globes speech earlier this month, how can anyone not be rooting for Taraji P. Henson to shine?
Returns March 30 at 9p ET on Fox -
24 "Outlander"
StarzLast season of "Outlander" pushed viewers to the brink as Claire and Jamie battled both physically and psychologically against the sadistic captain Black Jack Randall. In the new season, we follow the time-traveling Claire from Scotland to France for more adventures.
Season 3 premieres April on Starz -
25 "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"
Steve Sands via Getty ImagesTina Fey comedy received some valid criticism for this Netflix series, due to a few off-color jokes and a tone-deaf Native American storyline. Hopefully, the show will have less of that in Season 2 and more of Ellie Kemper's wonderful and dynamic comedic turn as the titular character, Kimmy Schmidt.
S2 premieres April 15 on Netflix -
28 "Grace and Frankie"
Amanda Edwards via Getty ImagesStarring Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda, Netflix's "Grace and Frankie" is one of the first shows in recent years that has focused on older women. Grace and Frankie are vibrant, sexual, gloriously nuanced characters -- the kinds of women in TV we'd like to see more of.
S2 premieres May 6 on Netflix -
29 "Orange is the New Black"
NetflixJenji Kohan changed the game when she created "Orange is the New Black," which returns for its fourth season this summer. The show follows women of different ages, races, sexual orientations, and economic backgrounds, enriching the Hollywood landscape with stellar actresses like Uzo Aduba and Laverne Cox. Oh, and it's entertaining as hell.
S4 premieres July 17 on Netflix -
30 "Insecure"
Anne Cusack via Getty ImagesThere's no word yet on an official premiere date for Issa Rae's highly anticipated HBO show, but it's reported to debut sometime this year. Rae, known for her viral "Awkward Black Girl" series, will star alongside Yvonne Orji in this comedy about two modern black women navigating the awkward moments of life.
Premiere date TBA -
31 "Search Party"
TBSAlia Shawkat is finally getting her own show! The "Arrested Development" actress will play Dory, a bored 20-something who suddenly becomes obsessed with finding a missing girl who she went to college with but barely knew. The dark comedy is set to premiere on TBS sometime this year.
Premiere date TBA -
33 "Divorce"
Craig Blankenhorn/HBOOver a decade after the finale of "Sex and the City," Sarah Jessica Parker is returning to television for a new HBO series, "Divorce." Parker is executive producer of the comedy series, described as “the story of a very, very long divorce.” The show will make its debut in the spring or summer of 2016.
Premiere date TBA -
34 "The Crown"
NetflixThe trailer for this upcoming Netflix series is enough to get us hooked already -- Claire Foy plays a young Princess Elizabeth, just as she prepares to take on the role as the ruling monarch of the United Kingdom.
Premiere date TBA
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