Kathy Bates in the poster for Matlock
Any project that gets Kathy Bates back on our screens is a good thing. CBS' Matlock has already won over fans, with its debut episode on September 22 making it the network's most-watched non-Super Bowl premiere in five years. It's not just the name recognition of the classic series that is making Matlock a success; it's also the fact that audiences are simply loving Bates' character.
A recent NPR report found that with broadcast television in particular, "the percentage of major female characters plummeted from 42 percent in their 30s to 15 percent in their 40s." When it comes to projects highlighting women past the age of 60, that number drops to just 3 percent.
Older Actresses Should Be Starring in Roles Like 'Matlock' — and There's Been Some Progress Close That's not to say that everyone in Hollywood is discriminating against older female actors. Mega-producer Ryan Murphyhas been a huge proponent of casting more senior women, and this has led to the revitalization of several legendary actors' careers, including Jessica Lange, Angela Bassett, and Bates herself.
The hope is that as the industry continues to see how successful these projects can be , they'll create a trend by casting more senior actors as leads. Audiences do want to see more authentic reflections of their lives. Eliminating anyone over 40 from television is not only unrealistic, but it's also not really what people want in their programming. People need to see women on-screen who are not only just surviving, but thriving, in their golden years.
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